1 10 291 https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/b435990c9158e8301824bf2d2df46d8a.pdf d72aacbfba979670978264c9e8f84bf3 PDF Text Text D e c e m b e r 1 4 t h - D e c e m b e r 2 8 t h 2 0 1 8 | Vo l . 2 1 I s s u e 2 3 ( N o . 3 9 6 ) advo cating justice | building communit y Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. Push Back or get Pushed Out Local public art found in Over-The-Rhine Article on page 8 This Issue is sponsored by Cecilia and Tom Kloecker Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.org Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION N o v 14 2 - -NDec. o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Dec. 15,2 02018 396 From The Director: E very year at this time we work with our Member Organizations to gather the names of people whose lives were cut short by homelessness throughout the year. This is a very grounding process. It is the ultimate proof of why our Homeless Coalition must exist and why we as a society, must end homelessness. People have immeasurable value. In this human existence you cant get simpler than the sanctity of human life. As we are always proclaiming, homelessness is a systemic problem that can be ended with significant systemic change and replacement of the existing structures that cause and sustain it. We are not finished collecting this year’s list of peoples’ names, but thus far, the average age of people who have passed is fifty-one. How can it be that we have a problem caused by lack of investment in affordable housing, publicly incentivized displacement and gentrification, unjust eviction processes and criminalization that results in the death of people and we haven’t fixed the problems? Greed, prejudice, ethnocentrism, racism and classism sit strongly as pieces of the foundation that continue to uphold this life-stealing problem. And often, people turn a blind eye to oppression, hardship and suffering and are distracted by less important decisions or are afraid to risk their own balance to fight. Sometimes people feel they don’t have enough power to make change. Human Life JOSH SPRING Executive Director Josh Spring Credit: Homeless Coalition Many times when a person dies, it is said that: “it was their time to go”. And certainly, many people have had the opportunity to reach the natural end of their days on earth. But for people whose lives have been shortened by homelessness, for the people on this year’s list, it was not “their time to go”. “Their time to go” whenever that would have been, was stolen. They and those around them were deprived of that time and all the time in between. The general standard when a person steals is that they are prosecuted (even when that isn’t always the right thing to do). When someone directly murders another person, the standard is that they are tried for a crime. What about when it’s a society? What about when it’s systems, run and maintained by people? Shouldn’t we as a people bring these systems to trial, prove their guilt and dismantle them? The immeasurable value of human life dictates that we must do all that is humanly possible to prevent loss of life and instead empower fruitful, joyful lives. Through organizing, advocating, educating each other, demanding, strategizing, and building our peoples’ strength, we can accomplish this. We truly can end homelessness. Just like the death of our people this year at the average age of fifty-one was not inevitable, neither is homelessness. Homelessness ends human life, but the systems that create it are created by humans and can be ended by humansby us! Thank you to all of you who are using your own strengths and experiences to be a part of fighting for processes, interactions and systems that have a foundation of valuing people and stand as a force against injustice. Please join us on Friday, December 21st at 5:30 PM in Washington Park as we join with people across the country on National Homeless Memorial Day. Together we will honor and remember those of us who have left earth early because of homelessness and we will further galvanize our commitment to ending homelessness. Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor: Gabriela Godinez Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Josh Spring, Brian Taylor, Micheal Earl Patton, Bill Woods, Willa Jones, Dr. Mark Mussman, Kim Green, Robert Park, Siqi Cheng, Leah Rutz, Yuliya Milkitin, Kristina McKinley, M.T. ------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: Homeless Coalition, Wikipedia (Fair Use), Morgan Mitchell, Gabriela Godinez ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 215, - N2018 o v 19, 2 0 18 Dec. 143-|Dec. | No. 396 3 COALITION The Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition is Awarded Yuliya Mikitin Contributing Writer O n December 6th, 2018 the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition attended the Tri State of Financial Institutions League Holiday Luncheon. According to their website, “TSL is a community and forum of small community banks, savings and loan associations, savings banks and building loan companies in Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana”. They have generously chosen us as their designated charity for 2018 and for that we are so thankful because without outside donations from our members and from people within the TSL community we wouldn’t be able to do the work that we are doing. In April they provided us with sanitary items to help alleviate the costs of running the office and then this past event we received a $7,500 donation. Lauren Bailey and I were in attendance and Lauren gave an amazing speech on the different areas of work that we focus on such as advocacy, education, and Streetvibes. After the speech, someone attending the event donated a gift card to us that we plan on using at our Annual Dinner on December 13th. We were surprised that so many of the professional bankers attending the event donated their money to our great cause and were able to later make connections from Lauren’s speech and reach out to us and donate the gifts they received in the gift exchange. I cannot stress the importance of our organization members and outside donations that keep us above water. We are proud to not be government funded or funded through organizations that do not support everything that we stand for. The Homeless Coalition and their work is truly for the community and keeping affordable housing affordable while providing some direct services such as the Streetvibes newspaper. Thanksgiving has passed but we are always grateful. Happy Holidays and thank you again to TSL for their hospitality and kindness. Findlay Playground Leah Rutz Contributing Writer T he opening sentence of a Cincinnati Local 12 article published in late October titled, Over-the-Rhine park that's a hotbed for crime closing; new park to be built, reads as follows, “In the hopes of pushing out the bad guys and building a better park, Findlay Playground in Over-the-Rhine will close.” This language immediately registers to me as classist propaganda used to attack the low-income residents of Over the Rhine. The phrase that sticks out the most being, “bad guys.” This playful term is an indication of the glossed over discrimination towards certain race and class demographics in Over the Rhine, the vast majority of Findlay Playground users. Working class people of color. The author of this article must be referring to them, because there’s no way he is referring to criminals. Crime maps have shown that there is no specific “hotbed” in the playground, contrary to the title of the article. I critically perceived this article as an announcement of plans to displace more OTR residents, this time heading north of Liberty, as much of the region south of Liberty has already been touched by the gentrifying hands of private developers. The tactics for reducing crime in a park were left up to the imagination since this and other articles gave no specific information, and I imagined heavy policing, privatization, and inaccessibility. At the very least, closing the park would have an impact on those who use it. I had a lot of questions for the city and the Cincinnati Recreation Commission, the current owners of the property, so I sent some emails. One of my questions was answered: the renovation plans will in fact involve private developers as well as public and faith based organizations. The other questions, like, when will the community input take place? And, what are the demolition and construction plans for the park? What is the timeline? Remained unanswered. I understand that the plans supposedly will not be concrete until proper community engagement has taken place, but it’s also abundantly obvious that a closing wouldn’t have been publicly announced if the CRC didn’t already have at least an idea of what was to become of the park. I was told that safety and design issues were identified through the CPTED process, which stands for Crime Prevention through Environmental Design. Nothing else was specified. Such a lack of transparency for a public space is not appropriate. I also had questions for the people who live near the playground and use it regularly, so I’ve asked them too, in canvassing groups with the Cincinnati Homeless Coalition. Our questions started out vague and broad, and so did the people’s responses. There was a general disposition of somberness or apathy towards the closing. Some people said that they’d really like to see a better playground for the kids, maybe get a bathroom and nicer grills. One individual I spoke to was interested in increased security, but most others were not. Many people spoke of their disdain for greater police presence because they have been subject to stop-and-frisks while walking home from a corner store or leaving work. A stop-and-frisk is the act of a police officer briefly detaining a civilian and searching them for weapons or contraband. These stops are very racially charged, inconvenient and humiliating for those being detained just for walking through a public space. To a lot of the people I talked to living north of Liberty Street, increased police presence does not make them feel safer, it makes them feel paranoia, criminalized, and less safe. Another frequent topic that came up when park users started to share a little bit more about what closing and renovating Findlay would mean to them, was the aftermath of the Washington Park makeover. One individual gestured towards the table where he was playing dominos and pointed out that Washington Park didn’t have any tables anymore for people to sit for extended periods of time. Someone said that it’s clear which population these parks are serving when you stop to recognize that basketball courts were replaced with a dog park. A few people told me that they’d been shooed away from the space near the dog park for loitering without THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED a dog. One person agreed when I asked if it felt like the city cared more about dogs than people. Most of the folks we canvassed felt certain that they’d no longer be welcome in one of the only neutral free public places that existed in OTR after the closing and reconstruction. They felt, to put it frankly, that the park closure and renovation was a plan to attract White middle class Cincinnatians and further displace working or unemployed people of color who could not or prefer not to pay for private amenities. I agree with them. From what I’ve come to understand, criminality is a systemic issue that favors the wealthy and punishes the poor. The crime of carrying an open container, for instance, is illegal in a public place like a park, but conveniently, it is legal when it is sold in said park and money can be made off of it. If you can afford the time and expenses of owning a dog, then you get a VIP pass to Washington Park. But if you don’t, and you perhaps instead need to take a nap on a bench, you are escorted away so that you don’t make the dog owners feel uncomfortable. While public parks are a major player when it comes to the affordability and accessibility of a neighborhood, the issue of displacement goes far deeper than that. Cincinnati in particular has got a lot of soul searching to do when it comes to this sort of displacement. Perhaps we can start by asking ourselves, who are the “bad guys” here? �4 LOCAL THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED N o v 214 - N v 19,15, 2 02018 18 | N| oNo. . 393 Dec. - oDec. 396 �No. 39 ov 2 15, - N o2018 v 19, |2No. 0 18396 Dec. 143 -| N Dec. 5 LOCAL The Hidden Costs of Being a Sexual Assault Survivor Siqi Cheng Contributing Writer O n August 23rd, I went into the University of Cincinnati Medical Center (UCMC) emergency department seeking a sexual assault forensic exam, commonly known as a “rape kit.” After roughly six hours of examination, I was discharged with an after-visit summary which included the names of the antibiotics and blood tests I was given and a two-page attachment on sexual assault. I had a campus-based advocate from Women Helping Women accompany me during the emergency room visit. She informed me that the cost of the emergency room visit, along with the rape kit, would be covered by state funding that serves and supports sexual assault survivors. State funding for these emergency services is crucial because emergency room visits and the forensic exams conducted by specially trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) are expensive. A forensic exam bill alone is anywhere from $900 to $1200 per survivor. According to RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), the largest anti-sexual violence organization in the US, evidence from sexual assault forensic exams increases the likelihood of identifying the perpetrator, carries significant weight in court, holds perpetrators accountable, and prevents future sexual assaults from occurring. In fact, prosecution of sexual assault is unlikely to proceed without DNA evidence. On October 26th, I received a bill from my insurance company notifying me of the amount of money I owed UCMC for my emergency room visit two months prior. The bill came as a total surprise. The fact that I was charged for my emergency room visit has serious implications. All sexual assault forensic exams take place in a hospital’s emergency unit. If survivors are billed for these visits, it means they need to have the financial means to cover the emergency medical care and forensic exam. This financial barrier deters survivors from seeking care and preserving forensic evidence, decreasing their chances to effectively pursue justice. Making sense of my emergency room bill was incredibly difficult. I called the UC Health patient financial services department five times asking for clarification. First, I wanted to know which services I was being charged for. Second, I wanted to discuss how getting an emergency room bill could be a privacy violation. I wasn’t expecting one to be sent to my home. If the bill was sent to my parents, it would have forced me to disclose the assault to them before I was ready. Third, I wanted to know more about the state funding that supposedly covers sexual assault exams through a program called “SAFE” (Sexual Assault Forensic Examination). Since these exams take place in emergency units, why aren’t the bills covered? And what will it cost for a survivor to have an exam? None of my conversations with all UC Health representatives were helpful. One told me they would draft an email to me and their supervisor. It’s been roughly two weeks and I have yet to receive that email. Most of the representatives I spoke to informed me my bill was flagged for review because of my initial inquiry and that they would get back to me once the review was through. Another rep told me that the state of Ohio only covers the SANE cost and facility fee during the survivor’s emergency room visit; other essential parts of medical care like antibiotics to prevent STIs and physician's fees aren’t covered. That isn’t true. I met with my Women Helping Women advocate to discuss the funding issue. I saw this an opportunity to press for more state funding to cover emergency room costs and alleviate the financial burden for survivors to seek care and preserve crucial evidence. The advocate was surprised to learn that I was billed for my emergency room visit since I only accessed the forensic exam, antibiotics, and blood tests to test for Hepatitis-C and HIV. She reached out to her colleagues inquiring about the situation, and I finally got the answers I needed. The sexual assault exams that are funded through the Ohio Attorney General’s office include emergency room bills. SAFE’s website states that the program “pays for the cost of a forensic examination and the antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent sexually transmitted infections. The program reimburses medical facilities directly in the hopes of reducing the burden of dealing with billing issues for survivors of sexual assault.” I called the SAFE office to ensure that I understood the language correctly. The person I talked to asked which services I received in the emergency room. Then she told me to disregard the bill and that she would contact UC Health about the issue. I researched why UCMC would send the bill to my insurance company despite the fact that they could get reimbursed from the SAFE program. UCMC has been a tax-exempt nonprofit since 1996, meaning that it pays no income taxes and no property taxes. In exchange for the tax break, UCMC is legally mandated to provide a benefit for the community as a safety net hospital by serving a proportionately higher number of uninsured, Medicaid, Medicare and low-income individuals than other non-safety net hospitals. The reimbursement rate from public coverage programs like Medicaid and Medicare is less than the amount billed or the amount that a private insurance company would pay. SAFE funding operates much like a public coverage program. By transferring the cost to my insurance company and me to get a dollar-to-dollar reimbursement, UCMC has prioritized their financial needs with little concern for me as a patient and a sexual assault survivor. Surviving my sexual assault has been a difficult. I’m still trying to understand and process the experience. The emergency room visit was the first step for me to seek care, healing, and justice. So much of the process I went through was laden with barriers due to UCMC’s practices. I was fortunate enough to have the personal network, literacy, and time to look into the funding issue and find a resolution. Not every survivor can say the same. The emergency room bill is only a small part of the immediate cost of surviving sexual assault. According to National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, rape is the most costly of all crimes to its victims, with total estimated costs at $127 billion a year (excluding the cost of child sexual abuse). Research has estimated that each rape costs $151,423. UC Medical Center and UC Health need to take concrete steps to support sexual assault survivors. They need to work with survivors and advocates to develop information about options for hospital billing. If survivors access services not covered by criminal justice reimbursement, UC Health needs to create a clear process implemented with informed consent policies that will maintain the patient’s privacy and address any safety concern. In order to build a supportive community and culture for survivors on campus and beyond, we need to acknowledge survivors’ financial needs and enforce better treatment when we navigate the consequences of obtaining medical care. If there’s a remote possibility that the cost of an emergency room visit would make forensic exams inaccessible for financial reasons, we’re failing survivors. I hope to be the last survivor wronged by UCMC. (If you’re a survivor and you receive an emergency room bill for your forensic exam, please contact SAFE program at 614-466-4797 or email at SAFE@OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov.) The Unhuman Condition Kristina McKinley Contributing Writer A man has never asked me what it is like to go through a menstrual cycle, out of concern or even morbid curiosity. No man has ever asked what happens to me during the week that my body and my brain get hijacked. Hormones make me think the world is out to get me and everything makes me cry. I can put a smile on my face but no one talks to me because I might crack and break into pieces. What I have heard from men is, “It’s just cramps…” like they have ever experienced anything similar. It makes me want to plant a swift kick to their nuts so to explain, “That pain in your belly might come close to what I deal with every month.” I have been conditioned my entire life to think that I should just be able to push through this and function normally while I’m experiencing immense pain that - in an article I read recently - was equated to the pain of a heart attack. A HEART ATTACK. My condition has a name. It starts with a “D” and is long and difficult to pronounce. Kind of like the pain I feel when I’m experiencing cramps – long and difficult to articulate. No one would ever ask this of men. They’ve skipped class and called off work for much less and, “it’s okay, because they’re men.” The functioning world is like one big boys’ club. Medically, I have done everything I can do. Countless conversations with my reproductive health physician, birth control to manage the pain, and Aleve in the biggest doses the bottle says I can have… just to try to go to work and stay upright for 8 hours. Sometimes I can muscle through. Other times, I have to leave early and I have no good excuse except that my body is revolting against me. A male staff member asked me if I was feeling better after having to leave early the day before. “Is it the weather or allergies or…?” His inquiry was lengthy. How do I explain to a man that my period nearly kills me every month when even the word “period” makes men’s eyes peel back in horror THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED and disgust? It’s how they’ve been conditioned, since they were teens. How women and men have been conditioned prevents women from having honest conversations with their partners, co-workers, and friends about things that affect them on a regular basis. If my bosses were men, I would never dream of asking to leave early. A woman is expected to power on through her day; even though, secretly, she has a headache, pain that feels like a heart attack in her uterus, total body tiredness, and her brain can’t focus because all of the emotions are about to boil over and create an all-out sob fest for no reason other than someone smiled in her general direction. �6 LOCAL THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED N o v 214 - N v 19,15, 2 0 2018 18 | N| oNo. . 393 Dec. - oDec. 396 �No. 39 3 |- N ov 2 -15, N o2018 v 19, |2No. 0 18396 Dec. 14 Dec. 7 LOCAL IHN: Living Your Spirituality to Help Others MICHEAL PATTON I Contributing Writer HN, the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Cincinnati and one of the members of the Homeless Coalition, had their Faith in Action Breakfast at Crossroads Oakley this past December 5. About two hundred supporters attended. I was there, both as a long-time supporter of IHN and also because I wanted to hear keynote speaker Jim Wallis. He is a best-selling author and the founder of Sojourners, a Christian magazine that reports on social justice issues. It was time well spent. IHN provides homeless families – dogs and cats included! -- with emergency shelter through its interfaith partners or host congregations who provide hot meals and shelter for the night. Its 2017 Annual Report lists dozens of host, support, and funding congregations, from Catholic parishes to the Tri-State Free Thinkers. During the day the families meet with the IHN staff at the day center to plan what the families need to do to get back into long-term housing. And, of course, those who are employed continue to work at those jobs. IHN follows a “housing first” strategy – first take care of the family’s housing needs and then work on the other issues. This strategy has been endorsed by HUD, the Department of Housing and Urban Development. IHN’s annual report puts some numbers to this: 366 families for a total of 1,290 individuals, 66% of them were children and 28% of the individuals had some kind of disabling condition. And success: after two years 85% of the families served in the IHN shelter stayed in their housing and did not return to homelessness. Keynote speaker Jim Wallis talked about the need for the people of faith to change the world because what is needed to be done will not happen without them. As he put it, people of faith are the ones who stop trains that have to be stopped. Service to others opens our eyes, and not just to people whom we know. As he put it, meeting people whom he was “never supposed to meet” changed his life. And, if we do not learn from people whom we help, we are not really helping. At times Jim Wallis spoke of how seriously wrong some things are with our country. He called racism “America’s Original Sin.” It was not slavery, although that is often given as the answer. One problem with that answer is that since we have gotten rid of slavery, the implication is that we have also cleansed ourselves of original sin even as we ignore racism. American slavery was based on the social construct that one people were inferior to another. Greeks and Romans had slaves but did not base it on this lie. Some of their slaves even taught the children of their owners – which would have been unthinkable in American slavery. He talked about the GI Bill paying for a college education and FHA loans to white soldiers who had served in World War II. With an education and a house you reached middle class. Racism ensured that no black soldiers got those benefits. I asked him about that after his talk because I was pretty certain that the legislation itself was not racially biased. I also felt keenly about this issue since I know my own father benefited from the GI Bill, having served in the Korean War. I became an engineer in large part because my father was one, and that was because of the education he received through the GI Bill. Jim Wallis explained that the problem was the banks and the universities who excluded blacks, not the laws. It is possible that there were exceptions but he did not know of any. He spoke of the different perceptions between blacks and whites while looking at the same events. Most whites, 72%, think that incidents of police brutality and killings of blacks are isolated incidents while 82% of blacks think they are systemic. Because of this there is “The Talk,” which is when black parents instruct their kids how to behave in the presence of a white police officer. Jim Wallis is hopeful. Hope is not optimism since optimism is a mood or feeling. He said this is the winning side but we cannot see the party yet. We are not needed at the party but are needed now. He closed his talk with his definition of hope: Hope is believing in spite of the evidence and watching the evidence change. The closing benedictions were by ministers from congregations of diverse faith that support IHN. Rabbi Ben Chaidell of the Adath Israel Congregation went first and pointed out that at Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism, there is a reading from the prophet Isaiah which states fasting is not enough. We must also practice social justice and help the poor and the oppressed [Isaiah 57:14 – 58:14]. Imam Ihab Mohamed of the Ihsan Community Center pointed out that differences in faith were far less important than the similarities. Other benedictions were by Pastor Chuck Mingo of Crossroads Oakley and Reverend Connie Simon of the First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati. More information about the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Cincinnati is found at their website, www.ihncincinnati.org. -Speaker Jim Wallis (left) and Imam Ihab Mohamed All-in-Cincinnati – A New Policy Agenda and Coalition to Address Poverty in Cincinnati BILL WOODS Contributing Writer C incinnati recently received some bad news from the U.S. Census Bureau. The city experienced a 4.2 percent increase in poverty from 2007 to 2017. This revelation of ten thousand more residents falling below the poverty line comes at time when a major project to reduce child poverty by ten percent, the Child Poverty Collaborative, is now in its third year. Attendees at the November 29th Forum at Christ Church Cathedral heard about a new initiative to address inequity and poverty in this city. "All-In Cincinnati " represents both a diverse coalition and an agenda to tackle these critical issues. Two members of the All-In Cincinnati Core Team, Michael Coffey of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation and Eileen Cooper Reed, former Director of the Children's Defense Fund's Cincinnati office, described AIC's evolution and progress to date. They also spent much of the session fielding questions and listening to the experiences of community activists and social service workers in the audience. What makes All-In Cincinnati unique? Eileen Cooper Reed stressed that this initiative was "all about policy." Unlike many previous undertakings that focus on establishing one or two big programs, All-In Cincinnati emphasizes policy development and implementation as the key elements to bringing about a more equitable community. The local group that started ALL-In Cincinnati was inspired by a conference sponsored by Policy Link several years ago in Los Angles that encouraged cities confronting major inequity issues to take this policy driven, coalition building approach. After returning to Cincinnati, the group decided to work with Policy Link, a national research and action institute that promotes racial and economic equity, to develop a plan and strategy to put such a process in place. Working quietly behind the scenes, a group of community organizations and funders began meeting. It includes the Urban League, LISC, the Child Poverty Collaborative, Project AMOS, the Black United Front, Strive Partnership, the City's Human Relations Commission, Interact For Health, the United Way, and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. The first public action of this informal coalition, explained Michael Coffey,was the release last month of a report, "All-In Cincinnati: Equity Is The Path To inclusive Prosperity." The report synthesizes all recent data concerning inequity and poverty in Cincinnati, and it presents a policy agenda for forging a more equitable city and county. Recognizing that poor families and individuals do not have access to jobs that pay a living wage or to affordable housing, many of AIC's recommendations deal with these two issues. One section of the report focuses on "increasing the economic security and mobility of vulnerable families and workers, especially women of color who face barriers to employment." Another section calls for increasing access to "high quality, healthy, affordable homes," as well as policies that prevent displacement. Race, noted Coffey and Reed, must be acknowledged as a factor if progress is ever to be made in reducing inequity in Cincinnati. Both the report and the AIC coalition accept this fact, and women of color are spotlighted as the group that needs the greatest attention if we are serious about making progress. "Black and Latina women are the most THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED likely to be working full time," says the report, "and still remain economically insecure." Some of the veteran community activists in attendance agreed with AIC's focus on developing effective policies. Their concern was whether All-In Cincinnati has the will and ability to get such policies enacted and implemented. Several attendees talked about the difficulties in taking on the often indifferent or opposed political and economic establishment, and kept asking the speakers whether funders like the United Way would fund the kind of organizing needed to mount a successful grassroots policy campaign? Michael Coffey stressed the openness of the AIC process, and that anyone could attend its monthly meetings. In fact, he said that it was critical that all groups and individuals working on issues related to poverty and inequity join forces in effective collaboration. He also recognizes the major efforts needed to bring about needed but long overlooked change, and he invited anyone interested at the Forum to attend AIC's meeting that afternoon. �FEATURE 8 N o v 214 - -NDec. o v 19, 2 02018 18 | N o . 393 Dec. 15, | No. 396 Push Back or Get Pushed Out Dr. Mark Mussman Contributing Writer A t the last Over-the-Rhine Community Council meeting, representatives from Urban Sites and the Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce came with updates regarding a proposed Service Improvement District (SID) for the southern section of Over-the-Rhine. Downtown currently has a SID that funds Downtown Cincinnati Inc’s Downtown Ambassador program to physically clean up the sidewalks of downtown, and they wish to extend this type of program into Over-the-Rhine now that the property tax base has theoretically increased to an amount that could sustain the burden. This type of program can be characterized as a form of Neoliberalism, which is not a political ideology as much as an economic ideology. Simply put, neoliberalism can be seen in the privatization of public goods, services, funds, and wealth. We have seen unprecedented neoliberalism in Cincinnati in recent years. From the privatization of the City’s Planning Department in 2005 (now returned to the city), to the privatization of The Banks, Fountain Square, Washington Park, and Ziegler Park, there has been a concerted effort to funnel public money into private hands, such as the private non-profit organization 3CDC. 3CDC currently has “preferred developer” status from the City, which basically puts them in front of any line for public land and services. The designation as “preferred developer” is unclear at best, as there is no formal publicly controlled mechanism for the designation. It may have been the result of a backroom deal, lacking needed transparency. The prefered developer designation makes 3CDC a quasi-governmental organization, and as such, the President and CEO makes more than half a million in compensation each year, dwarfing even the City Manager or Mayor’s salaries. 3CDC has been funding sidewalk sweeping for some years in Over-theRhine, south of Liberty. According to the representatives, 3CDC has been providing about $250,000 each year to provide this service. They claim that there are 13 workers, who are paid a living wage with benefits. There are several questions to what is considered a living wage, and what benefits are received. 3CDC has stated that this program is no longer sustainable, and the proposed SID would generate $500,000 a year to establish and maintain a new non-profit to run the program. The proposed SID would be a shift of the economic burden from 3CDC to property owners in the neighborhood. Property owners would vote on the SID, not residents. The votes are also weighted, in that they need 60% of the linear footage to vote for the SID for it to pass. Once, passed, all property owners would be assessed an additional property tax to pay for the SID. The representative claimed that 3CDC and Urban Sites together own about 30% of the linear footage in the neighborhood, which means their two votes gives them 50% of the votes needed. Adding Over-the-Rhine Community Housing, Model Group, and POAH into the mix, it is unclear how many actual property owners would be needed to pass the SID. Questions as to whether the SID would increase rent in the neighborhood were downplayed at the meeting by the representatives. They said that it would not increase rents, although they did not provide any research to back up this claim. For those of us who live in “organic” affordable housing, we worry that increased taxes will force our rents to increase. Our landlords don’t receive subsidies from the government or promises from 3CDC regarding our tax burden. It is implausible that rents would remain affordable with additional taxes levied on our properties. Taken alone, the SID seems to be eroding naturally occurring Pool fees rose from 4 dollars a year to 4 dollars a day for youth through privatization affordable housing. But it needs to be seen in a much larger context. At the same meeting, there was a discussion of the privatization of the alley behind the Transept, on 12th and Elm Streets. At the meeting in October, it was stated that Model Group has purchased the alley behind Findlay Playground so that they can park their personal vehicles on it. Alleyways that have been granted a private lease for 4-5 years by the City have been found to be illegal closed off after their leases, or closed off without a lease by the organization Spring in Our Steps which strives to preserve public alleys and stairways. We are seeing a loss of alleyways in the West End to privatization, including the FC Cincinnati Stadium, which will also permanently close Central Avenue. The Stadium is displacing Taft High School’s stadium, many small businesses, a church, and many historic buildings, including the State Theater. This is just the beginning of displacement in the West End, where we are already seeing the loss of affordable housing at the Arts Apartment, and threats to Stanley Rowe Tower. Currently, there is a fight for Findlay Playground, which is located near McMicken on Vine Street. Past privatized parks include Washington Park and Ziegler Park. Washington Park is plastered with advertising from Bud Light, Southwest Airlines, Taft’s Ale House, Rhinegeist, 50 West, Christian Moerlein, PNC Bank, UC Health, and CommonBond. The cost to use the park is off the charts, as compared to other Cincinnati Parks. It has private security, with cameras, hostile design throughout, and a liquor license. Results of privatization of Ziegler Park include a swimming pool that went from $4/year to $4/day for the youth. The basketball courts can now be reserved for a fee, and the basketball court is simultaneously a Futsol Court, boasting sponsorship from FC Cincinnati. A representative from the CRC (Cincinnati Recreation Commission) said their goal it to make Findlay Playground “income generating” which may mean a parking garage, a stage area, or something else. Cincinnati Police have made recommendations to remove all seating, whether official or unintended, and put in a fitness course and dog park. The removal of the play area, grills, and basketball court, according to the police, would help remove people from the park. Other public initiatives, like the Liberty Street Pedestrian Safety Plan have been put on hold for private interests (FC Cincinnati), which erodes public control of our resources. Millions of public TIF monies that were earmarked for the Liberty Street improvements were transferred to the FC Cincinnati Stadium project. So in addition to the loss of the pedestrian safety improvements, the money was funneled into a private project. On Liberty and Elm sits a vacant field, which for many years was used to grow produce for Findlay Market. Now, as developers fight with residents as to what they can develop there, the field remains empty, and no produce is being grown for the community. There are parallels between these developments and the Main and Schiller development which is threatening a community garden and basketball courts. Fortunately, community organizations and youth are studying how to do development differently, with a focus on preventing displacement. Unless there is a concerted effort to fight Neoliberalism, we will lose all public spaces, facilities, and services to privatization. Just as there is an effort to privatize the federal Postal Service, there is clearly a increase cost privatization represents. Whether it be a publically funded SID, or the use of a park or swimming pool, the cost to use a private facility increases for the user. These costs will ultimately result in higher rents, as we saw when Ziegler Park was updated and nearby residents had their rents raised significantly. The landlord cited the updated park as the reason why the rents were increased. Ultimately, those residents were priced out of the neighborhood and they were forced to move. Who will be next? Spring in Our Steps fights to retain public spaces. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �9 FEATURE No. 39 Nov 2 15, - No v 19,| 2 0 18396 Dec. 143 -| Dec. 2018 No. Rent the Courts Notice for Ziegler Park. Alley behind Findlay Playground, being used for private parking. Facing pressure, Peaslee put This Building Not for Sale on their new mural. Central Avenue faces permanent closure for FC Cincinnati stadium, other alleys lost. Alleyway reportedly purchased by Model Group, bordering Findlay Playground. A fenced off Findlay Playground and Park area. Findlay Playground fenced off, displacing park attendees Central Avenue closed for FC Cincinnati Stadium. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �10 LOCAL THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED N o v 214 - -NDec. o v 19, 2 02018 18 | N o . 393 Dec. 15, | No. 396 �No. 39 Nov 2 15, - No v 19,| 2 0 18396 Dec. 143 -| Dec. 2018 No. 11 LOCAL It’s Time to Heal the Community Robert Brown I Contributing Writer was intrigued by the 2009 health care debate – actually nearly mesmerized. What particularly struck me was the quality of the public discourse or, more precisely, the degradation of the quality of the public dialogue. It was as if fact and truth had left the building and objective reality had become a quaint notion. In a lot of ways it appeared to be the political equivalent of the “dozens”. As quickly as the first “yo mama” was implied or expressed, the conversation veered into the ether where any hope of cobbling a solution to the vexing and challenging issue of providing adequate health care to our population was obliterated. I was prompted to take a closer look. Doubtless, the U.S. has an abundance of health care resources. Our providers are talented, competent and committed. They are among the best trained in the world. Our universities engage in cutting-edge and revolutionary research driving the development and adoption of advanced medical treatment and technology. Our facilities are first-rate and maintain superior capabilities. These institutions strive to establish and promote everhigher levels of quality, patient care and safety. Looking closer though, our abundance of health care resources may in fact be an embarrassment of riches. The quality of any system is measured not only by the inputs but also by the outputs – in this case, our health outcomes. One metric by which health outcomes are assessed is cause-specific mortality rates – for the top causes of death, how many folks perish. Based on this single metric, U.S. health outcomes are mediocre at best. Actually, our outcomes are among the absolute worst compared to those of the balance of developed countries. There are even some third-world countries that have lower mortality rates than ours. While these national results are shockingly dismal, looking further we find that there’s more bad news. Narrowing the focus to metro Cincinnati, the mortality rates for the top ten causes of death are measurably higher than the national results! As we follow this path from merely mediocre to dismal, we find there’s even more. Narrowing the focus again to individual communities, we find particularly higher mortality rates in inner-city urban neighborhoods. There is even one neighborhood in Cincinnati where the mortality rate is nearly twice the rate of metro Cincinnati. Not only are these results abysmal, the disproportionality alone screams for attention and action. And may also reflect a shameful and unacceptable failure of humanity. Why the disparity you ask? The structural inequalities found in the general society are often magnified in inner-city urban communities. We find higher poverty, higher unemployment and higher crime rates. These conditions contribute to the deterioration of the social fabric of the community as well as the erosion of the physical infrastructure. Many in the population have limited capital resources and are denied access to health insurance. With little money and no insurance, it is unlikely that a person would have a regular source of primary medical care. Not only is it an economic burden to go to the doctor, it is an economic burden just to get to the doctor. Once there, the person must pray that the doctor doesn’t prescribe any medication because that too is unaffordable. So the person waits until the condition becomes unbearable and wanders into the emergency room or urgent care center. These institutions are not intended or structured to be primary health care sources. They do what they do in spades – competently and efficiently. But as a source for primary care, they are absolutely inappropriate. What about self-care? If a person eats properly and exercises, the person has the opportunity to maintain a reasonable level of good health. That’s right. Unfortunately, in many innercity communities, access to healthy diet options – fresh produce, low-fat, nutritious selections – are severely limited. The daily walk, jog or bicycle ride is constrained because the sidewalks are a mess. In addition, some residents choose not to be exposed to the risk of catching a stray bullet. Cynical explanations for the health inequities we observe cite free will as the underlying cause for the disparity. Constructed on an “us versus them” framework, “those people” are sicker, poorer than us, are dying more abundantly than us, because of the poor choices they make. They are impulsive, shiftless and lazy. They choose to be where they are – as if suggesting they want to endure misfortune and suffering. I believe this is a dangerous position to take. Not only does it betray a certain contempt for less fortunate people – who knows, maybe even for ourselves – , it ignores the reality that our acceptance of such dystopian conditions has a real effect on all of us and all our communities. Just because “those people” don’t live in your neighborhood doesn’t mean they are not your neighbors. What about points of access for health care? While it appears that many in the inner-city may lack access to “private” docs and caregivers, there are a number of community health centers offering a full range of care options – adult and pediatric clinical, dental, mental health care resources. There are FQHC’s (Federally Qualified Health Centers) specifically established to serve underserved communities, city-funded health centers, faith-based centers and other privately-funded clinics. I know the perception exists that “clinics” are subpar and somehow inferior to “private” medical care. I don’t know how widespread this impression is, but in my experience the quality of these community-based health centers rivals any private source. Not only are the people who staff these institutions as committed, competent, caring and dedicated as any others, in some cases, because of strong partnerships with the major hospitals and teaching institutions, service quality is enhanced. In an attempt to mitigate the economic condition and insurance status of the patients, many of these centers charge on a sliding scale based on income. I come from the day and age where the doc who birthed you was the doc who took you out. Not only did this same doc treat your parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncle and cousins, the doc would actually show up at your house to treat you. We are well beyond this idealized past. But the idea raises a fundamental question – a question rarely discussed. It centers on the relationship between the patient and the caregiver. I believe this is one of the most important and significant relationships a person can have. Patients need to find a caregiver they trust. They deserve and must demand someone who is accessible and present, sensitive to the nuances and subtleties of the individual patient. Patients must be encouraged and feel free to be completely open and candid and timely. The caregiver carries the additional burden of educating the patient about the parameters of his condition. The caregiver must make the patient understand the relationship between behavior and his condition and teach him to understand what symptoms to expect and how to respond. What we’re talking about here is health literacy and self care. This is a function of the partnership between patient and caregiver. The patient needs to be self aware – must learn to “listen” to his body – and must be able to communicate to a caregiver who is capable of listening and hearing what is going on. This degree of sensitivity is not limited to the primary caregiver, it must infuse the entire health care delivery organization. Why is it important that you know this information? Researching this information, I was thunderstruck by the seriousness of this issue. As I mentioned, my interest was ignited by the 2009 health care debate – and so was my frustration. Whenever this issue is discussed, dissemblance rears its ugly head. It’s kind of like watching a really, really bad magic trick, clumsy misdirection and all. We need to make this a central issue of open, vigorous, honest public discourse. When the PTB’s – Powers That Be – decide on allocation of resources to craft effective solutions to these challenges, we need the information to keep them honest. We need to know that we are waging the battle for ALL of us and we are being effective, efficient and successful. As such, I invite your input and feedback. Boeing’s VW Moment Robert Park Contributing Writer W ell, they didn’t do it on purpose, putting the travelling public at potentially fatal risk the way VW did when they scammed the diesel exhaust emissions regulations. The Boeing aircraft company joined the IT mafia and said let’s program the airplane and dumb-down the pilots so that we don’t have to worry about them putting their plane into a fixed stall (going too slow to stay flying). But we don’t want to make it look like a significant operating change that would require a lot of re-training for airlines buying the new Boeing 737 Max. So the marketing people had their way, the new manuals looked like an easy transition, no biggie. It just so happened that if you needed to switch off the automatic stall preventer in a hurry because it got confused and insisted on flying the plane into the ground, it wasn’t so easy to figure out how to do it. Some of the manuals may have even been defective, not to mention inadequate training requirements. It didn’t help that Lion Airlines, in Indonesia, had some bad habits of its own. The people telling us that selfdriving cars are going to be better than sliced bread ought to be having a few sober moments here, themselves. It’s those darn sensors; why aren’t they as smart as people. All those simulations with perfect streets, weather, signage, painted lines, no construction, predictable drivers, etc. looked really good. But even a million lines of code can’t stand up to the real world. And it would THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED be nice for a lot of us if our car could last 10 years without having multiple brain and nervous system transplants. So here are two morality plays for the corporate decision-makers planning our future. In the VW case, the splash back was a multi-billion dollar hit on Germany’s proudest players and richest thug-families (think Porshe). At Boeing, the liability is still unfolding on the 189 deaths and loss of the 100 million dollar plane. Maybe their lawyers can stick a lot of it on Lion Airlines… but then maybe Lion Air can stick it back on Boeing. �12 STREET VOICE The White House Christmas List Mother Goose The Donald has a Christmas list. At the top of his list is "The Wall." N o v 14 2 --N o v 19, 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Dec. Dec. 15,22018 396 Winter Haiku Night falls early now, Cutting short the bounds of day It hardly sends out a message As Winter beckons Of glad tidings to us all. BILL WOODS BRIAN TAYLOR Contributing Writer Contributing Writer About a Good Boy Perked ears, widened eyes Scratched doors, excited whimpers. "Time to go outside." M.T. Contributing Writer Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher and Chris Wilkey for a group writing session! S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 215, - N2018 o v 19, 2 0 18 Dec. 143- |Dec. | No. 396 The Struggle STREET VOICE This Xmas Today while watching the news I heard that Santa Claus arrived in a helicopter They also talked about tax cuts and how the politicians were eating out at Red Lobsters What happened to the days when the bells rang for Santa Claus, his reindeer and sled What happened to the belief in miracles and all the little children went to bed Waiting for that glorious morning to open all the presents that Santa left under the tree Asking questions about how he brought all the gifts down the smoke filled chimney Waiting day and night, trying to be good all for Christmas so we'd be granted the ultimate blessing Looking back and understanding that as a child I was tricked, Santa in a helicopter that's a new lesson Without the holiday's Thanksgiving and Christmas Day what else is there to really look forward too Without giving thanks for so many blessings and being thankful for Jesus birth just to name a few So for me Christmas has somehow lost the true spirit and has been misunderstood by all We must always remember God's blessings, don't forget to give thanks and bring back Rudolph the red nose reindeer driving Santa Claus!!!! WILLA D. JONES Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer This Xmas Has lots of hope And cheer for the New Year Family, and friends, Have lots of smiles And are near Presents, are here And dinner Will be served Lots of hope And love The promise of hope Seems to be Here on earth So give love And lots of thanks To God above To all families Big and small Merry Xmas to you all KIM GREEN Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 13 �PUZZLES 14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 168 Across Down 1. Postage token 1. Celestial body 6. Hit with something flat 2. Melody 10. Line made from twisted 3. At the peak fibers 4. Method 14. Private instructor 5. Deliver a sermon 15. Expect and wish 6. Diffident 16. Finished 7. Rich soil 17. Positively charged 8. Month electrode 9. Writing implement 18. Tall story 10. Adult male swan 19. Flock 11. Open 20. Revoke 12. Variety show 22. Kind of mineral 13. Appliance for 24. Regret removing moisture 25. Sprocket 21. Closed circuits 27. Not as heavy 23. Matured 29. Extreme excess 26. Monetary aid 34. Pasture 28. Annoy continually 35. Former currency of Italy 29. Scale drawing 36. Animal feet 30. Animation 38. Adult male duck 31. Divisions of geological 42. From a great distance time 43. Informal photographs 32. Plaid 45. Desiccated 33. Mindful 46. Bird shelters 37. Mettle 48. Genuine 39. Song for solo voice 49. Make vocal music 40. Chess piece 50. Assistance 41. Boundary 52. Form a mental image 44. Cut 54. Sore 47. Sieve 58. Small cask or barrel 51. Compulsory force or 59. Type of tree threat 60. Clean-cut 53. Tropical lizard 62. Debris 54. Part of a corolla 67. Hints 55. Form of legal defense 69. Give off 56. Urge or force 71. Pointer 57. Restrict or confine 72. Assist in wrongdoing 61. Unit of length 73. Storage tower 63. Food from the husks 74. Inexperienced of cereal grains 75. Plant with pendulous 64. Two-masted sailing vessel flowers 65. Score of zero in squash 76. Cook slowly in liquid 66. Pitcher 77. Ire 68. Pig pen Nov 2 o v 19, 2 02018 18 | N o . 393 Dec. 14- -NDec. 15, | No. 396 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 389 - MEDIUM 70. Drag behind PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD #40 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 383- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 215, - N 2018 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18396 Dec. 143-| Dec. Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children Bethany House 557-2873 RESOURCES St. George Food Pantry 751-8771 2554 Dennis St. 45219 Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 131 E. 12th Street 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 1125 Bank Street 45214 Shelter: Men Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelterhouse 721-0643 Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 411 Gest St. 45203 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 2121 Vine Street 45202 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Prospect House 921-1613 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Starting Over 961-2256 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 Parkway Center 661-4620 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women Shelter: Youth Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network First Step Home 961-4663 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 471-1100 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) Housing: 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Food/Clothing Health 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Soup Kitchen 535-2719 15 Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your 961-0600 business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, Center for Respite Care 621-1868 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 N o v 216 - N o v 19, 2 02018 18 | N . 393 Nov. - Nov. 30, | oNo. 394 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2018 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource December 14-December 28, 2018 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: From the Director Pg 3: The Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition is Awarded Findlay Playground Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: The Hidden Costs of Being a Sexual Assault Survivor The Unhuman Condition Pg 6: Hoe to Respond to Panhandling Pg 7: IHN: Living Your Spirituality of Help Others All-In-Cincinnati Pg 8: Push Back or Get Pushed Out Pg 9: Feature Pg 10: GCHC Pg 11: It’s time to Heal the Community Boeing’s VW Moment Pg 12: Street Voice Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource December 14-December 28, 2018 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Josh Spring Brian Taylor Micheal Earl Patton Bill Woods Willa Jones Dr. Mark Mussman Kim Green Robert Park Siqi Cheng Leah Rutz Yuliya Milkitin Kristina McKinley M.T. Homeless Coalition Wikipedia (Fair Use) Morgan Mitchell Gabriela Godinez Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF 3CDC Bill Woods Brian Taylor Cincinnati Dr. Mark Mussman Findlay Playground Gabriela Godinez GCHC Homeless Coalition IHN Josh Spring Kim Green Kristina McKinley Leah Rutz M.T. Micheal Earl Patton Morgan Mitchell Over-the-Rhine poverty Robert Park Sexual Assault Siqi Cheng Wikipedia (Fair Use) Willa Jones Yuliya Milkitin https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/fc5e5ea7c0d27b46906f8d21f4c3b44c.pdf d359a19c8cd4b412421724083bfb14fe PDF Text Text The Fools of April Pages 4 and 5 Artists as Activists Page 16 Affordable Housing Pages 10 and 13 STREETVIBES $1 A p r. 1 - 1 4 , 2 0 1 0 • A d v o c a t i n g J u s t i c e , B u i l d i n g C o m m u n i t y • I s s u e 1 7 4 Too Many Prisoners, Little Justice Widespread incarceration isn’t keeping us safe By marGo Pierce Contributing Writer C riminals: They all deserve to go to prison and be pun­ ished in perpetuity. That isn’t exactly an accurate summary of the criminal justice system in Ohio, but taking into ac­ count the budget crisis and the annual $1.7 billion line item for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilita­ tion, criminal policies and procedures won’t escape scrutiny. With 31 prisons and 13,000 employees, bricks and mortar are only one consideration – sentencing requirements, programming, post-release supervision and recidivism reduction, among other things, are also getting atten­ tion. It naturally follows that we ask, “Who are we putting in prison and why?” That was the focus of the March 25 panel discussion, “Prisons and Prisoners: Impact Ohio,” at Isaac M. Wise Temple. Rabbi Ilana G. Baden opened the discussion by explaining that the topic of prisons and prisoners has deep roots in Judaism. She referenced one of the most famous lines from the Torah – “Justice, justice shall you pur­ sue” – and went on to explain why this passage has “fasci­ nated” sages over the years. “The use of the verb … ‘pur­ sue,’ or ‘chase after,’ for how does one chase after justice or righteousness? Isn’t justice or righteousness something that we should just simply do?” Baden said. “Our tradi­ tion teaches us that justice and righteousness are more ongoing endeavors. It’s not so clear-cut, and we must always be heedful to follow through, to not just to do justly, but to also make sure that we con­ tinue, that we go back, that we ensure that we’ve done justly, that we continue to do justly.” She pointed out that the Terry Collins, former director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Corrections (L), David Yost, Delaware County Prosecuting Attorney (C), David Singleton, executive director, Ohio Justice & Policy Center (R), at the Prisons & Prisoners: Impact Ohio panel discussion, March 25, at the Issac M. Wise Temple, 8329 Ridge Road, sponsored by the Critical Topics Committee of Wise Temple and The Woman’s City Club. Jon Hughes/photopresse. sages also note the repetition of the word “justice,” which serves to underscore the point that justice is multifaceted. It is a call to practice justice for “all parties, not just for those who are wronged but also for those who are al­ leged to be wrongdoers and those who are found to be guilty. They deserve justice and righteousness as well.” This broad view made it clear that the panel, spon­ sored by 13 communityminded organizations, was See Justice, p. 6 ‘We Just Want to Work’ Immigrants and supporters rally in Washington By Samantha Groark Contributing Writer M Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera, addresses a send-off rally for the proimmigration demonstration. Jon Hughes/photopresse. ore than 200,000 immigrants and ac­ tivists gathered March 21 in Washing­ ton, D.C., chanting, “Si se puede!” and “Yes we can!” Waving American flags and carrying signs saying, “Justice and Dignity for All U.S. Im­ migrants” and “We Just Want to Work,” the dem­ onstration filled five blocks of the National Mall. The rally was part of a nationally organized campaign supporting an immigration-reform bill in Congress. Supporters traveled from around the country in hopes that the rally will re-energize Congress to address the broken immigration sys­ tem, which affects the lives of nearly 12 million undocumented U.S. residents. With the help of the Cincinnati Interfaith Work­ ers Center, four buses full of local activists and im­ migrants traveled 10 hours to Washington to take part in the rally. One of the Cincinnati activists who attended the rally is Alma Díaz, a 28-year-old bartender and an immigrant from Mexico, who arrived in this country seven years ago. Shortly before the rally, Díaz said she felt over­ whelmed with anticipation and enthusiasm. “I feel like my heart’s on fire,” she said. Now she recruits other immigrant activists for the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center, which helps immigrants know their rights as laborers. In January the center helped organize a local im­ migration reform rally that attracted over 2,000 demonstrators (see “Demanding Justice for Im­ migrants,” issue of Feb. 1-14). U.S. Rep. Luis Gutiérrez, (D-Ill.), the leader of the immigration-reform movement in Congress, took the stage at the rally and applauded the ef­ forts of the thousands who gathered. He prom­ ised that he would work his hardest to continue to support them, but also added that activists would have to be steadfast in their efforts. “If we see this protest as a culmination of our struggle, we’re going to lose,” Gutiérrez said in an interview. “We have to take the struggle to the street.” President Barack Obama did not attend the demonstration because of the health-care vote taking place in the House of Representatives, but in a videotaped message on giant screens, he warned of the cost of inaction. “In the end, our broken immigration system affects more than a single community; it affects our entire country,” Obama said. “And as we con­ tinue to strengthen our economy and jumpstart job creation, we need to do so with an immigra­ tion system that works, not the broken system we See Work, p. 12 �2 The Vibe By The Numbers StreetWise 1 the percentage of construction contracts awarded to African-American firms by Cincinnati Public Schools (see page 2). 31 the number of state prisons in Ohio (see page 3). 91:1 the ratio of benefits to costs, measured in dollars, for advocacy programs in Los Angeles (see page 10). 13 the age at which Carmen Bowen Bush’s artistic talent was recognized (see page 16). 1 the number of atheists ever elected to Congress (see page 9). 89 the number of housing units to be built with a new federal grant (see page 13). 9 Holly Parker’s age when her parents raped her (see page 12). 200,000 the number of people rallying for immigration reform March 21 (see page 1). 62 the percentage of felons who stay out of Ohio prisons after their release (see page 1). 1971 the year Alex Chilton formed the band Big Stare (see page 11). By GreGory Flannery editor Public Administration Award for ‘Streetvibes’ designer Lynne Ausman isn’t only the Streetvibes art director; she’s also the person who makes the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless run day to day. As administrative coordinator, she manages the coalition’s finances, oversees fundraising, designs Streetvibes, maintains the computers, orders supplies and takes care of the mailings. Now a professional organization has taken note of her considerable talents and accomplish­ ments. The Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the American Society for Public Administra­ tion has named Ausman winner of a Public Administrator of the Year Award. Ausman received the award in the student division. She is finishing work on her master’s de­ gree in public administration at Northern Kentucky University. Ausman started at the Homeless Coalition in 2006 on a placement with Volunteers in Service to America. Her passion for social justice isn’t only local. In July she’ll serve a month-long internship in Bangladesh, working with a program founded by Muhammad Yunus. The winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, Yunus started Grameen bank, which gives micro loans to help poor people start businesses. ‘Off the Streets’ Gets Global Attention As Ausman prepares to study abroad, international visitors recently came to learn about Off the Streets, a program at Cincinnati Union Bethel that helps women escape prostitution. Five women with the U.S. State Department’s International Visitors Lead­ ership Program visited March 12 from India, Nigeria, the People’s Republic of China, Cape Verde and Turkey. Off the Streets, staffed by women who once were on the streets, provides emergency shelter, referrals to community resources and support and educa­ tion groups. “So much of the conversation about prostitution has been whether it should be le­ galized or not,” said Sumathi Kasturi, an advocate from India. “It was refreshing to see that instead your focus is on rebuilding the women’s lives and including them as hu­ man members of society.” In four years of operation, Off the Streets claims a phenomenal success rate for wom­ en who use its services for 30 days or more: Six months later, approximately 85 percent had no new prostitution convictions. NAACP Demands Work for African Americans Onto the streets is where Christopher Smitherman has taken his demand that Cin­ cinnati Public Schools hire more African-American contractors on construction jobs. Smitherman, president of the Cincinnati Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the Rev. Dock Foster, president of the Baptist Ministers Conference, were arrested March 18 when they blocked a construc­ tion entrance at North Avondale Montessori School. The NAACP has criticized Cincin­ nati Public Schools’ contracting practices for years, recently filing a public-records law­ suit and winning Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland’s support for an audit. The school district has said it is proud of its minority-contracting record and is working to improve it. But after his arraignment on a charge of criminal trespassing, Smitherman said the media has helped the school district blur the issue by its use of language. “We’re not here standing for minorities,” he said. “We’re here standing for African Americans. We’re here because African Americans get 1 percent of $701 million (in contracts). They’ve been lying about the minority number. They’re saying it’s 12 per­ cent. But it’s actually 9 percent. Out of that, African American is 1 percent.” Smitherman and Foster, who pled not guilty, are free pending trial. Foster said the ar­ rests gave them a view of another racial disparity – this one inside the Hamilton County Justice Center. “It was 95 percent of African Americans in jail,” he said “Go over there and it looks like a slave ship. I was so shocked. They’ve lost everything. Their spirits are broken.” Health Bill Passes, Republicans Pout U.S. Rep. Steve Driehaus (D-Cincinnati) voted in fa­ vor of President Obama’s health-care reform. Obama signed the bill into law mere seconds before Republicans started threatening to sue to stop the reform. Driehaus had wavered but ultimately voted for the watered-down bill. Supporters of the mea­ sure rallied in front of the Weston Hotel as Driehaus hosted a campaign fundraiser attended by Vice Pres­ ident Joseph Biden. STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by people who are or once were homeless, in exchange for a $1 donation, Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Address: 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: 513.421.7803 x 12 Fax: 513.421.7813 Email: streetvibes2@yahoo. com Website: www. cincihomeless.org Blog: streetvibes.wordpress. com Streetvibes Staff Editor Gregory Flannery Art Director Lynne Ausman Graphics/Layout Intern Veronica Glass Vendor Coordinator Jeni Jenkins Contributing Writers Michelle Dillingham, Samantha Groark, Margo Pierce, Paul Kopp, Jeremy Flannery, Michael Henson, David Heitfield, Valerie Fessler, Alecia A. Lott, Jeni Jenkins, Saad Ghosn, Lew Moores, Larry Gross, Eli Braun, Jesse Call Photography/Artwork Aimie Willhoite, Lynne Ausman, Anthony Williams, Vinit Murthy, Jon Hughes Proofreaders Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati through coordination of services, public education, grassroots advocacy and Streetvibes. We are proud members of: Jon Hughes/photopresse. �STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 8 Column 3 M I N U T E S Behind Prison Bars Being dumb on crime makes it worse and more expensive By marGo Pierce Contributing Writer T he average length of stay in prison for an Ohio in­ mate is about two years. Of the more than 52,000 people currently behind bars in Ohio, 98 percent will return to the community whence they came. Having done their time, the theory goes, they get a second chance. Not so, according to David Singleton, executive director of the Ohio Justice and Policy Center. This is because we, as a society, have labeled all of them “criminals” or “felons” and have created an extensive list of restrictions designed to keep “them” away from “us,” he says. “We have to fight hard against these labels that we put on people,” Singleton says. “When you think of some­ one as a felon or a criminal or a sex offender (it’s) a way of pushing someone to the margins. It’s a way of keeping them at arm’s length – and then when you do that, you don’t really care what happens to that person.” That alienation has consequences for everyone, includ­ ing a high recidivism rate. Up to 62 percent of all people convicted and sent to prison will reoffend. However, until they return to prison, they will be the woman next door and the man in the line at the gro­ cery. “The goal should be, “People in the criminal justice system are people who are going of the criminal justice to be our neighbors, who are going system, to make sure we keep the community to live amongst us, and we have to safe. … We don’t do that make an effort to see them as the when we make it impos- people they are,” Singleton says. sible for people returning “Because if we don’t, we’re almost going to guarantee that they’re go­ from prison to get on their feet and get a job. ing to go back to prison, because David Singleton. John Hughes/photopresse. … And all too often folks we’re going to tolerate the dumbon-crime approach that we’ve been give up and return to a life of crime because of doing here in Ohio for a long time the problems they face that says, ‘You never get a second by Collins allows those who fail to pay child support to remain in when they come home.” chance. You never can be trusted again.’ And when you say that message to the community and work. If they miss a scheduled payment, they - David Singleton people, eventually they go and commit more spend the weekend confined. By losing their freedom temporarily as crimes again.” an incentive to not miss the next payment, the individuals released Singleton was one of three panelists March 25 at “Prisons and on Monday to go back to work are more likely to pay support. If im­ Prisoners: Impact Ohio” at Isaac M. Wise Temple in Amberley Vil­ plemented statewide, this program alone would reduce the prison lage. The discussion addressed questions such as, “How does our population by 750 and cost less per person. community’s prison system really work?” and “How does sentencing “We need to also focus on making sure we have the right people policy affect society’s choice about prisons?” (See “Too Many Pris­ locked up behind bars,” Singleton says. “All too often we have loweroners,” page 1.) He explained that people with a conviction on their level offenders who could be managed and supervised in the com­ record are routinely denied employment, housing and essential ser­ munity at a much-reduced cost to the taxpayer. vices because fear rules legislation and public policies. “We have them behind bars in the state system, and it’s expensive. “The Ohio Justice and Policy Center represents individuals who They learn how to be better criminals when they’re locked up; and are in the criminal justice system … and we also advocate for what when they come home, they haven’t gotten the rehabilitation they we call smart-on-crime criminal justice reform,” Singleton says. need because prisons are overflowing and services are hard to pro­ “Smart on crime means having policies and criminal justice laws vide in an environment where everybody’s stretched thin.“ that are grounded in research and evidence and best practices that The state budget for maintaining the existing prison system is are shown to keep the community safe rather than a fear-based, re­ $1.7 billion annually for 31 institutions employing 13,000 individu­ actionary approach that says, ‘Lock up as many people as we can als. This doesn’t include the 352 county jails that are funded by 88 lock up.’ counties. Singleton believes we’re investing our tax dollars in a way “The goal should be, of the criminal justice system, to make sure that doesn’t accomplish the goal of community safety, and it’s time we keep the community safe. … We don’t do that when we make it for a dramatic paradigm shift. impossible for people returning from prison to get on their feet and “We have to double, triple, quadruple our commitment to making get a job. … And all too often folks give up and return to a life of sure that, when people return home from prison, they have an op­ crime because of the problems they face when they come home.” portunity to succeed – to get a job, pay their taxes, be good members Given the overcrowding in Ohio’s prisons – they are 130 percent of this community,” he says. “We all win when that happens, and we over capacity, according to Terry Collins, the recently retired director all lose when it does not happen. So, I think that’s really critical that of the Ohio Department Rehabilitation and Correction – inmates are we embrace meaningful reentry programs for people coming out. only being punished. Drug rehabilitation, GED and other services “We also have to be smart in terms of who we’re locking up. We’re that will help people find an alternative path on the outside can’t locking up people that we’re mad at, not necessarily the people who meet the current demand. With this in mind, support in the commu­ are the most dangerous. And we can’t continue that, because for ev­ nity for former inmates is essential for enhancing public safety. ery dollar that we spend on education, we’re spending 69 cents on One alternative to jail for a non-violent offender is community keeping people confined in the state prison system – and that’s just supervision. An example of a successful pilot program spearheaded absurd.” Many people work hard to make a difference for the less privileged in the Queen City. “Eight Minutes” is an opportunity to learn who those people are and what motivates them to be a positive influence. �4 STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 The Fools of April People Power: Rickshaws on Vine Street C incinnati City Council last week approved a plan to establish a six-mile rickshaw route from downtown to University Heights. The rickshaws will replace a $200 million streetcar plan previously approved by council. The city failed to win federal funding for the streetcars, derided in a congressional debate as “typical Cincinnati – reaching back 50 years for a path to the future.” The Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) proposed the rickshaw line, saying it will promote multi-culturalism and attract upper-income residents to Over-the-Rhine. “People will enjoy being transported on rickshaws, and they’ll enjoy watching them go by,” says 3CDC President Stephen Leeper. “They have a certain charm that cars don’t have – not to mention reduced emissions, so this is a green project, too.” Council approved an ordinance requiring homeless people to pull rickshaws in order to qualify to stay at emergency shelters, eat at soup kitchens or receive treatment at city clin­ ics. The city will pay $100 million to 3CDC to provide and maintain a fleet of 30 rickshaws and to train and supervise the pullers. City Councilwoman Leslie Ghiz said the contract will save taxpayers money by keeping homeless people trim, thereby reducing long-term health-care costs. “This is the first fiscally responsible decision we’ve made as a council,” Ghiz said. Rickshaws are 3CDC's plan for employing homeless people and expanding public transportation. REUTERS/STR New. (Ima Tryin) Enquirer Nominated for 17 AP Awards Dunkin’ Isn’t Just for Donuts T he Associated Press Society and hardly ever get arrested. You of Ohio announced today could possibly step in it when they that the Cincinnati Enquirer, don’t use a can, and it really messes the leading newspaper on cincinnati. up the sweet smell emanating from com, is a finalist for the Ohio River 17 AP awards in 14 when the wind categories for 2009. “It’s an amazing testament blows north. “It’s an amaz• Best Explan­ to our commitment to ing testament to journalistic excellence. Sixty- atory Reporting: our commitment “We’re Pretty five newspapers in Ohio to journalistic exSure Laketa Cole sent in 2,794 submissions. cellence,” says EdiPees Standing Of course, we only compete tor Tom Callinan. against five other newspapers Up,” one of an “Sixty-five newspaindefinite series in our circulation group.” pers in Ohio sent in of articles explor­ - Editor Tom Callinan 2,794 submissions. ing why we find Of course, we only a strong black compete against five other newspawoman with political connections pers in our circulation group, and to be really, really scary. Hitler peed there are 35 categories if you count standing up, too. That’s just a fact. General Excellence, and usually about • Best Breaking News: “5 Million Atfour or five finalists for each category. tend Tea Party Rally; None of Them But we’ll leave that last stuff out of Have to Poop or Pee,” documentour press release, and it’ll look pretty ing the hoards of Great Americans good, and we’ll be keeping with our who attend every Tea Party event, general editorial policy of avoiding dreaming of their desire to end all too much information that hurts our gubmint and live in a Somalian readers’ heads.” paradise where all the women are Some of the nominations include: strong, all the men are good-look­ • Best Community Reporting: “Who ing and all the pirates are aboveKnew? The Homeless Poop, Too,” a average. shocking warning to the commu­ nity that selfish homeless people (Mo Cash) continue to have bowel movements C. Johnson Ocho Cinco Acht Fünf “Cincinnati is a German city, so I’m going with that. I love that chicken dance they do at Oktoberfest every year.” - Chad Acht Fünf H amilton County Sheriff Simon Leis Jr. says he will continue the use of waterboarding at the Justice Center. Waterboarding has decreased disciplinary infractions in the jail and saved the court system money, he says. In its first three months, waterboarding at the jail has prompted 63 confessions leading to felony convictions, saving taxpayers millions of dollars in court costs, according to Leis. The American Civil Liberties Union has filed suit in U.S. District Court in an effort to stop Leis from waterboarding prisoners, saying the practice is unconstitutional. Leis sneered at the lawsuit. “It was filed by the ACLU,” he said. “That should tell you something right there.” First used by the Inquisition during the Dark Ages and later by the Japanese Army during World War II, waterboarding is considered torture throughout the civilized world. The Bush administration was widely condemned for using waterboarding in the U.S. terror war. President Obama banned waterboarding of prisoners captured by the U.S. military but Leis says that ruling doesn’t apply in domestic criminal cases. “Obama might have taken over the auto industry and the hospitals, but he doesn’t run the Hamilton County Justice Center,” Leis said. “Obama can use his health-care reform to help the little darlings after we’re done with them.” The procedure isn’t as bad as critics make it out, according to the sheriff. “These criminals know what they did,” he said. “It’s just water – it isn’t poison. If a good dousing helps them talk, what’s wrong with that? When did discipline become a bad word?” The only negative impact so far has been a slight increase in the jail’s wa­ ter bill, Leis says. At a Tea Party rally in Western Hills last week, Leis won loud applause when he announced that he has a committee looking into other cost-ef­ fective ways to maintain discipline in the jail and encourage confessions. “You ever heard of the thumbscrew?” Leis said. “Nobody ever died from having their thumbs pinched, but I’ll tell you what: I bet the ACLU would object to that, too. We’re going to do whatever we can to fight crime, and the socialists can go straight to hell.” (Siegfried Heil) Eight Five Will be Eight Five C incinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco, nee Chad Johnson, will soon be known as Chad Acht Fünf. Ocho Cinco recently filed papers in Hamilton County Probate Court to legally change his name again. The move came after he was arrested in Middletown on suspicion of being an illegal immigrant. Ocho Cinco, who was born in Miami, Fla., is African-American. Butler County Sheriff Rich­ ard O. Jones, whose harsh anti-immigrant policies have attracted national attention, defended the arrest of the football star. “A lot of the Mexicans in Cuba are black,” he said. “In Brazil, too. A lot of their Mexicans are black. So that shows we’re not discriminating. It doesn’t matter to me what country they come from. They’re still Mexicans, not Americans. If he just had a regular American name, this wouldn’t have happened in the first place.” Butler County turned Ocho Cinco over to U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.), which released him after 24 hours. An I.C.E. spokesmen said the agency found that Ocho Cinco has some foreign ancestry but is a U.S. citizen. Ocho Cinco means “eight five” in Spanish, a botched translation of his jersey number, 85. Following his arrest, Ocho Cinco released a statement saying he now wants to be known as Chad Acht Fünf. “Cincinnati is a German city, so I’m going with that,” he said. “I love that chicken dance they do at Oktoberfest every year.” Acht Fünf means “eight five” in German, a botched translation of his jersey number, 85. (Bill Cunningman) �STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 5 The Fools of April Council Solves Metropole Controversy C incinnati City Council voted 8-1 to ap­ am. Paradox, is not.” prove $50 gajillion in grants and loans C3PO and its development partner, R2D2 to developers who plan to turn the Metropole Hotels of the out-of-town Louisville Empire, Apartments into a boutique hotel after they hope to use the vast surplus in city coffers to presented Council with “round out” the back­ a plan that would not stage entertainment dis­ “Homeless people, one of you, I trict by catering to drunk only please the current Metropole tenants, but am. State of mind, homelessness white people who think would cure all homeless­ paying obscene prices is. Force, you must use. Give ness in Cincinnati. money, I do; fiscal conservative, I for a 10-year-old Broad­ “It’s simple, really: way touring spectacle am. Paradox, is not.” We’ll just tell them to counts as a night of “go­ - Charlie “Yoda” Winburn Use the Force,” said Ste­ ing to the theater.” phen Leeper, president “I don’t care whatcha of Cincinnati City Center Planned Obsoles­ all do, you can kiss my ass because I’m outta cence (C3PO). here,” Princess Laketa added. Mayor Han Solo “Homeless people, one of you, I am,” said Mallory was doing reconnaissance work in Councilman Charlie “Yoda” Winburn. “State another galaxy. of mind, homelessness is. Force, you must use. Give money, I do; fiscal conservative, I (Leslie G. Whiz) Photo by Bill Haigh. Poetry Corner Berding Proctors Asshole Tax C We Won’t Give Up By chriS Bortz Over there, over there Kill the poor, cut them off, strip them bare Charity proliferation, hurts commercial masturbation So beware, God hates poor prayer. Kill the poor, cut them off, Nobamacare Problems will be over, the Rhine will be Over, And we won't give up until Over-the-Rhine is bare incinnati City Councilman Jeff Berding has revised an idea he proposed last year that would require panhandlers to pay a registration fee and car­ ry a sign when panhandling. “I thought, like many of my constituents, that all the problems of the city were caused by homeless people and others without power,” Berding said last night. “Now I realize the problems of the city are caused by assholes. “Assholes detract from our vibrant city and, some would argue, is one of the major impediments to attracting shoppers, diners and other visitors downtown,” Berding continued, reading from an op-ed he submitted to the Enquirer. “It is an uncomfortable truth, but one we need to face head-on. Enabling assholes is not the answer.” Berding wore a sandwich board saying, “Help me – I am an asshole” that all as­ sholes would be required to wear after registering with the city. In addition to the city asshole tax, Berding said there would be an aggressive billboard campaign to raise awareness of the negative impact assholes have on attracting new business to the region. “Look, I have consistently supported city funding for programs to help the as­ sholes,” Berding said. “Yet we continue to have this problem with assholes in the city, on council, broadcasting on the airwaves and generally telling the world that Cincinnati is a great place for assholes. Compassionate treatment means helping those in need – not enabling further destructive behavior. “It’s time to wipe out the assholes,” Berding concluded, smiling as he pointed to his sign. (Sarah Palor) Want more Streetvibes? Check out the StreetvibeS blog http://streetvibes.wordpress.com Streetvibes vendors keep 75% of sales. Consider helping Streetvibes with our publication costs by making a tax-deductible donation or by purchasing a subscription. Streetvibes is the activist newspaper, advocating justice, building community. Your gift is tax-deductible and will go to producing the paper every two weeks. Started in 1997, Streetvibes is distributed by homeless and formerly homeless vendors who purchase the paper for 25 cents and sell it for $1, keeping the 75 cent profit. Make checks payable to “Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless” I want to support Streetvibes and the vendors. $25 Please return your contribution to: GCCH 117 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Name: Address: E-mail: $50 $100 $150 Other $ _______ �6 Local News STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 Too Many Prisoners, Little Justice continued from page 1 going to challenge the popular focus of only giving weight to crime and victims, exclud­ ing the perpetrators. Such a radical departure from the “The politicization of crime current punishment meant is really disturbing to me, mentality and I think we all owe it to sparks were bound ourselves, to our children, to fly, and they did. to our grandchildren to put Posing the challenge to think differently the brakes on that.” were Terry Collins, - David Singleton recently retired head of the Ohio Depart­ ment of Rehabilitation and Correction, and David Singleton, executive director of the Ohio Justice and Policy Center, with much disagreement from Delaware County Pros­ ecutor David Yost. Marianna Brown Bettman, a professor of clinical law at the University of Cincinnati and former Ohio appeals judge, moder­ ated the discussion. It began with the most pressing bottom line – money. Politicizing crime “Currently we spend close to $2 billion on Ohio’s prison system – money that the Co­ lumbus Dispatch recently editorialized isn’t going to schools, hospitals, libraries, parks, highways or health care,” Bettman said. “Ac­ cording to … the Dayton Daily News, prison populations are at 130 percent capacity in Ohio. If existing policies remain unchanged … the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction predicts the prison popula­ tion will rise 11 percent in the next decade. The cost to accommodate that increase will be $925 million annually … which is on top of the already existing costs.” Bettman said that State Rep. Bill Seitz (RGreen Township) has proposed a prisonreform bill, Senate Bill 22, to address this record-breaking increase in the number of people behind bars. Seitz says he is mov­ ing forward because, in his mother’s words, “You can’t put 10 pounds into a five-pound bag.” The Council of State’s Justice Center has been commissioned to collect data on Ohio’s criminal-justice system and develop solutions. If they talk with Collins, they’ll save a lot of time and cash, because he can tell lawmakers, based on firsthand experience, what he and a vast body of research already show. “The fact of the matter is when some­ one comes to the state prison system, they’ve got 90 days to do, they look at the staff … and say, ‘I don’t care about you. I don’t care about your programs because, guess what? I’m going home in 90 days, and there’s nothing you can do about it unless I commit a new felony.’ Coming to the prison system for just a few days does not work. “We have a lot of people in the state pris­ on system that should never get out. I will never argue that, but there’s a whole lot of other people who could be served in different, alternative options that would probably be far less expensive and much more productive and create a better rate of return for normal society.” Singleton used S.B. 22 as an example to illustrate how the exploding prison popula­ tion and unsuccessful policies have failed to achieve safer communities. He said the bill, proposed by a Republican, “narrowly passed” the Senate and is now being held up in the house by Democratic politicians who fear being “painted as soft on crime,” in part for showing support for the early re­ lease of some prisoners. He described those people who would qualify for this release as low-level, non- violent offenders whose release would help alleviate overcrowding and change the makeup of the prison population. “These issues ought not to be as political as they are,” Singleton said. “If I ever hear another politician say, ‘I’m tough on crime,’ I don’t know what I’m going to do. None of us like crime in our community. I’ve got a daughter, I’ve got a wife – I want them to be safe. I want to be safe. I want all of you to be safe. We have that in common. When we talk about ‘tough on crime,’ that’s just the rheto­ ric that pushes people’s buttons and allows us to … fall asleep at the switch where we go along with policies and laws that wound up exploding the prison population. “The politicization of crime is really dis­ turbing to me, and I think we all owe it to ourselves, to our children, to our grandchil­ dren to put the brakes on that.” (See “8 Min­ utes Behind Bars,” Page 3.) Batting .620 Yost stepped in to challenge Singleton’s assertion that the growing number of peo­ ple in prison is a bad thing. “The criminal-justice system is supposed to be about punishing the people that ac­ tually commit crimes and deterring other people who are similarly situation from do­ ing that,” he said. “What we ought to do is decide what people we need to lock up. … But at the end of the day this notion that sheer numbers should dictate our penal policy is absurd. We should figure out who needs to be locked up, who needs to be off the streets and then we should figure out a way to have them off the street. “What we’re talking about here tonight is rationing prison beds. The first function of government is public safety. Before we educate, before we medicate, we need to have safe streets and make sure there’s an ordered framework for liberty where we can all be safe and raise our families.” Yost offered no proof of his statement that punishment serves as a deterrent or that the growing number of people being incarcerated promotes public safety. “I don’t think our current approach is get­ ting us public safety,” Singleton said. “What we wind up having is a revolving door where we’re not really rehabilitating people Queen City. It’s all about perspective, and that’s what Collins wanted to add to the dis­ cussion about numbers. “To get people’s attention, you got to talk about numbers – 130 percent capacity, $1.7 billion budget,” he said. “When you talk re­ habilitation, 62 percent of the people who leave the state prison system don’t return. If I’m playing baseball and I hit .620, guess where I’m going to be? I’m going to be in the Hall of Fame. “But I don’t have anybody standing on the street corner saying, ‘I’m an ex-convict and I’m doing well.’ But let somebody do bad and it’s all over every paper across the country. I believe we can punish people without putting everybody in prison. I think we have to start thinking differently about what we do with individuals who break the law and what type of punishment do they get.” Collins wants the beds behind bars re­ served for “the worst of the worst” and al­ ways have space available for the people who should never leave prison. Closing debtors prison People who fail to pay child support oc­ cupy 750 beds in Ohio prisons. The illogic of throwing someone in jail for not making payments, which eliminates the possibility of keeping a job and fulfilling his commit­ ment, wasn’t lost on the panel. All agreed that alternatives are needed. In an effort to experiment with an alter­ native to prison for child-support violators, Collins helped implement a pilot program. Seven Ohio counties served as test sites. The success rate was astounding – an in­ crease of payment collection of more than 70 percent. “We went into seven different counties and said, ‘Don’t send those people to pris­ on,’ knowing that there’s some of them that need to come to prison but there’s more of them who don’t,” Collins said. “If you keep them in a job and make them pay their sup­ port and give intensive supervision … it’s a win-win situation to me because the chil­ dren were getting what they needed, the state prison system didn’t get somebody they didn’t need.” Yost agreed with this alternative ap­ proach. “How about instead of sentencing “I don’t get an incentive to take a shower. them to felony, we sentence them in­ stead to a first-degree misdemeanor I just like myself better and the way I smell and give them a 180-day sentence if I do take a shower. We shouldn’t have to to be served two days at a time?” he incentivize people to behave well.” said. “When you get paid, you show --Delaware County Prosecutor David Yost up to child-support enforcement agency, you make your payment and in prison. Some people may be beyond re- you go home and have your weekend. But habilitation, but there are some who should if you don’t make your payment, we’re not be rehabilitated, and we’re not focusing on going to put you in prison – we’re going to that. take you to jail on Friday night and you’re “They come home, they’re worse off, they going to stay there. … On Monday morning commit more crime. And I also agree that at 6 a.m. we’re going to roust you out of the we ought to decide who needs to be locked bunk. We’re going to throw you out the front up as a community and, yeah, the numbers door and say, ‘Go to work. Next paycheck, alone don’t dictate that. I wasn’t saying that. please pay your child support or we’re go­ My point is that our vision of who should ing to have another weekend.’ No fishing, be locked up is skewed by fear. … If we, as no hunting, no drinking beers, no football, a community, we let fear drive our policy, no hanging out with your buddies on the then we’re not going to lock up the right weekend. I’ll bet if you lost three or four or people. We’re going to over-incarcerate, and five of those weekends running, you’d start at the end of the day, that’s not helpful to to get the idea that you’d have to pay your community safety.” child support.” Singleton pointed to sensational crimes such as shootings highlighted in television ‘A better way’ news as a case in point of how a narrow sampling of crime “distorts our picture of Yost assumed that most people not paywhat’s actually going on.” He said, after liv­ ing child support have the kind of jobs and ing in New York and Washington, D.C., Cin­ disposable income to engage in sports cinnati has “got nothing” compared to poor and drink responsibly. He acknowledged areas in those cities, yet many people tell contributing factors him they don’t feel safe downtown in the such as addiction that See Justice, p. 10 �STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 Column Poverty and Grief 7 All suffer, but especially the poor 1 A few years ago a friend helped make was not just a place of fond memories of hot a video that documented the clos­ chocolate or old jokes about the intestinal ing of a White Castle restaurant in consequences of too many sliders. It was a Louisville. The restaurant stood at a corner place of genuine refuge. To these folks, poor where the bus lines crossed, and it had been and working-class people, mostly Africana popular place. It had been an institution for American, the White Castle at the crossroads years and served all sorts of people. I don’t re­ was a place of warmth in the winter, shelter call why it was closing, but I think it had to from the summer sun, the source of a hasty do with knocking the building down to make meal between jobs, a community hearth way for condos or corporate offices. where friends could meet. While those inside (What makes me say that? Do we ever go took part in a countdown to a midnight clos­ the other way? Do ing, a woman stood outwe ever knock down side and lamented, “What corporate offices are we gonna do now?” to make way for afHer image and her quesfordable housing for tion have remained fresh working families? in my mind for over 20 By Michael henson Does eminent do­ years. I’m not sure where main ever take over the line is between nostal­ a condominium at gia and grief, but I know half its value in order to build a school? Do I that what this woman felt was grief. Her loss even need to ask?) was real. The tone of the film was mostly upbeat. Interlaced with a countdown to a midnight * * * * * closing, the film’s producers interviewed a range of people for whom the White Castle Gwendolyn Brooks, in her poem, “Beverly restaurant had been a part of their lives. They Hills, Chicago,” tells of a carload of people interviewed businessmen and bus drivers, from the inner city who drive through an ex­ neighborhood characters, waitresses and a pensive suburb. The trip causes the poet to crew of Catholic high school students, one of ponder life and death and the difference be­ whom had prepared a rap for the occasion. tween life and death for the poor and life and It was a humorous rap. There was a lot of death for the wealthy. humor and a lot of light-hearted nostalgia. . . . . Not that anybody is saying that these Perhaps as a parody of the Ingmar Bergman people have no trouble. film, The Seventh Seal, a marathon chess Merely that it is trouble with a gold-flecked game ran in the parking lot. There was a lot of beautiful banner. laughter, a lot of celebration. Nobody is saying that these people do not But I remember also that there was a coun­ ultimately cease to be. And ter-current, visible on one side of the class Sometimes their passings are even more line but not on the other, a current of anger painful than ours. and grief. It is just that so often they live till their hair To some, the White Castle at the crossroads is white. ammered H They make excellent corpses, among the expensive flowers. I believe that the further we look down the economic scale, the more often and the more intensely we see grief. I do not mean to say that the rich don’t ex­ perience pain and loss. As Brooks points out in her poem, grief is built into life, no matter what your economic status. What I do mean, and what I think Brooks means, is that, for the poor, loss is more fre­ quent, more sudden and unpredictable, more likely to be violent, more often preventable and all the more painful for that. If you are poor, you’re more likely to see those around you die young, go to prison, disappear, dis­ locate, isolate. Connections across time and distance cost money. So even if the loss is not due to an early and preventable death, even if it is only that the loved one has had to mi­ grate to look for work, the loss is more likely to be permanent. The poor are more likely to lose children – to death, imprisonment, foster care and other official and non-official displacement – than their more wealthy counterparts. The work­ ing poor are more likely to suffer a careerending injury, so that the job that gave them a respite from the worst of poverty returns them to poverty with a vengeance. Those who go to prison suffer intense grief. They lose years from their lives. Children take their first steps, parents die, lovers discard them. … All sorts of losses can and do hap­ pen during the years of a sentence. No one disputes that everyone experiences grief and loss. The poor simply lose more, lose earlier, lose more painfully and lose more of­ ten. Intensified grief is one more example of how poverty is not simply a financial incon­ venience. It is a wound to the spirit. Michael Henson is author of Ransack, A Small Room with Trouble on My Mind, The Tao of Longing and Crow Call. Vendor Voice Street Life You’ve got to keep moving By riccardo taylor StreetvibeS vendor T he last time we were walking, we went on a stroll. Well, it’s good that we get to spend a little time together. Let’s walk and talk. Or better yet, let’s stroll and let me do the talking. Street life, not to get it twisted, is not the only life I know or understand. However, for the sake of explanation, you just listen and again I will do the talking. Just after midday we are on our way. Watch­ ing, listening to the sounds of the street. Voices raised in the heat of the beat that makes the street life move. Listening with your eyes and seeing with your ears, not much will get past you. It’s about being attentive to everything going on around you. Waiting for your opportunity to get in on some action. OK, enough schooling. Let’s get in the mix. Most days start out the same, though we don’t know how they will end. Nonetheless, starting out with little or no money, you have to come up with a bustle. For some of us, that can mean an honest day’s work, but for others it can be some deceitful move, playing some con game or engaging in some petty theft. Still, we all have the same objective in mind, getting those few dollars to see us through the day. Whichever option you use to get paid, one thing is for sure: You have to make something sleepers. In the life of the streets, everything is happen. We can cut to the chase. For me, trick­ a job. No vacations, no layoffs and most impor­ ery, theft or panhandling is not an option, tant, no giving up. The consistency of struggle so I revert to my norm, which is selling a few soon becomes routine. Sometimes it becomes Streetvibes, checking a few businesses to see if so much so that we are lost in its reality, miss­ they have something for me to do to earn a few ing an opportunity to get out of it. The feelings dollars or perhaps doing a little scrapping of of helplessness and hopelessness far outweigh meals. The least of my desires, but the misery that is part of the I know that there are always a few reality – in such a fashion that cans to gather or some discarded One thing is for this becomes the norm, and it meal to be found. becomes easy, almost essential sure: there is no Usually when you have your idleness in the life of for a person to just accept it. thoughts and ideas in the proper the street. Relaxing If you watch the faces, you see frame, things will come to you. Yeah, that abandonment. The actions is standing on the it takes a lot of effort at times, but tell you that this one or that one corner. Luxury is patience pays off. Well, we are sure hanging in the park. is lost in the ways of the street, to come up if we put in the time. often without the possibility of Every wakening One thing is for sure: there is no return to the mainstream. moment is being idleness in the life of the street. Re­ Yeah, well, we’ll stroll on. Up on the move. Body laxing is standing on the corner. the block, we cannot be fazed tired, mind racing, Luxury is hanging in the park. Every too much. The reality is that it’s one foot after the wakening moment is being on the better them than me. other beating the move. Body tired, mind racing, one Though I walk with some concrete. foot after the other beating the con­ compassion I fully understand crete. that the subjectivity is in stride During the summer we sweat without relief, with me, so I keep that glimmer, that belief that and in winter we freeze. Hands and feet cold, just a block or two away there is that possibility there’s nothing happening here, so we step to of help to lift me from the grips of the street, the next block. The consistency of movement is that hope that things will get better, so we’ll our guarantee that we will come up with some­ stroll another day. thing. Perhaps we can see what’s happening after Everybody knows that only dreams come to dark on our next stroll. Talk with you then. �8 STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 Artwork By Anne Skove By Anthony Williams ! ? t ha W y Sa ___________________ “Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities, has the power to make you commit injustices.” - Voltaire �STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 9 Book Review The Insufferably Atheist Buddhist Self-absorption by any other name By david heitField Contributing Writer L. Ron Hubbard was the most highly regarded in­ tellectual of his day, proven by his award-winning fiction and legions of celebrity followers, who with am glad I belong to a religion that wor­ their fame and wealth only followed the most ad­ ships a tree,” Stephen Batchelor writes in mired? his new book, Confession of a Buddhist Parts of the book are brilliant and engrossing – Atheist. his reconstruction of the actual person of Gotama Maybe that explains the Pew Research Study ear­ versus the myth of the king’s son who was sheltered lier this year that suggests while President Obama's from life until he escaped and saw people suffering election has possibly led to more acceptance of in­ is well worth reading. But by the end of the book, terracial marriages – 64 percent of African-Amer­ the whole thing seems as aimless as the middleicans and 71 percent of Hispanics would accept aged author regards much of his life. a child's marriage to a white, and 80 percent of Maybe it’s me, or maybe I’m just burned out on whites would accept a marriage to either – fully 7 of this New Atheist literature, which is more interest­ 10 Americans would not at all be happy about little ed in bashing religion as the root of all evil than in Michelle marrying an atheist. making cogent arguments about the existence of And considering that U.S. Rep. Pete Stark (D- God. The logic seems to be this: 1) 9/11 was an evil Calif.) is the only professed atheist in the history act caused by crazy fundamentalists; 2) We can’t of Congress, it's a pretty safe bet we'll see a female just blame Muslim fundamentalists, because that president, an Hispanic president and perhaps even would be politically incorrect; 3) Therefore, all reli­ a canine president before we ever see an atheist gions are responsible for all evil acts. president. Hitchens writes a blurb Of course, this might say praising Batchelor’s new book, While Batchelor seems very more about the institution of which is a little odd, consider­ marriage and that lack of rep­ ing that Hitchens had nothing sincere in his story-telling, it resentation in our representa­ does give one pause as to how nice to say about Buddhism in tional democracy than it does his book, calling it the sleep of far he was willing to sell out about the number of practic­ reason and Buddhists them­ to become one of the “cool” ing atheists. Church atten­ selves as mindless (and not in intellectuals of the moment. dance continues its downward a good way). While Batchelor trend in America, as the corol­ seems very sincere in his sto­ lary number of people who do not identify with any ry-telling, it does give one pause as to how far he religion rises. was willing to sell out to become one of the “cool” One could define theism as the old-school top- intellectuals of the moment. He does, in fact, do the down structure, in line with patriarchy – rules, mor­ deed that seems to be required for initiation to the als, life and meaning come from the top, the core club: He positively bashes his Tibetan lama teach­ of conservative authoritarian belief. The anti-the­ ers as fundamentalist idiots who were too rigid and ists believe the opposite, that the bottom-up order stupid to let go of little things such as reincarnation defines our existence, with meaning found at the or karma, when any thinking European Caucasian sub-atomic level, if anywhere. Naturalism is the can clearly see such ideas are silly. dominant liberal orthodoxy that many conserva­ Batchelor’s story is one of a man who abandons tives rail against in the academic community, but what he sees as sophistic inauthenticity, only to naturalism is no longer limited to liberals. Liber­ find what he sees as dogmatism, to arrive at the tarians and neoconservatives have been identified dogmatic sophistry practiced by the New Atheists. with the Brights movement, created to promote a It is part autobiography, part travelogue, part West­ naturalistic world view, including Penn & Teller, ern philosophy, part reading of the Pali Canon, part James Randi and Steven Pinker. revisionist history and part revisionist history of The atheism thing has gotten confusing, to say someone else’s revisionist history. the least. The ideas are not only jumbled, but he seems to miss his best opportunities for expanded stories. L. Ron Buddha Two examples: One, he talks about a version of the Pali Canon written by a man who was not only not a And so, spurred by the 9/11 attacks, we’ve had a Buddhist, but worked for a Nazi think tank explor­ coming-out party for atheists, who’ve written best­ ing the idea that the Buddha was of “good Aryan selling books that have inspired many to loudly stock.” While the Nazis were measuring Tibetan spout off about how anyone who believes in any skulls to see if they fit the mold, they were also de­ religion is functionally illiterate. They’re ironically ciding that the Pali Canon preserved the true Aryan known as the four horsemen of atheism: God Is Not spirit: Aristocratic, anti-spiritual, anti-evolutionist Great: How Religion Poisons Everything by neocon­ and (my favorite) “manly.” Not only does Batche­ servative journalist Christopher Hitchens, The End lor tell you nothing more about that, but he sorta of Faith: Religion, Terror and the Future of Reason leaves you thinking … What? This is the Pali Canon by Buddhist/Hindu sympathizer Sam Harris, The you’re placing all your prayer beads in as the one God Delusion by evolutionary biologist Richard and true Buddha? And you call the Tibetans nuts? Dawkins and Breaking the Spell: Religion as a NatuThe other story he doesn't flesh out has to do ral Phenomenon by philosopher Daniel Dennett. with his four years in a Zen monastery in Korea, Karmically flying into that self-congratulatory where he went after he started getting disillusioned pile is Batchelor, a former Tibetan and Zen monk, with Tibetan ideology. The story of his time in Ko­ a self-described Boomer hippie who traveled to rea is rather short – Zen was considered inferior in India to escape his horrible suburban existence in ideology by the Tibetans (Zen was outlawed in Tibet England in search of enlightenment. I greatly ad­ in the eighth century), so he accepted that at face mired his earlier book, Buddhism Without Beliefs, value, even though he couldn’t swallow the reincar­ a meditation of sorts on an agnostic Buddhism. nation stuff. But he liked the meditation better, and Now, however, he argues for what he calls “secular he was falling in love with his translator, who would Buddhism” and uses the Pali Canon, written sev­ soon become his wife, and he would have to dis­ eral hundred years after the death of Siddhattha robe in order to marry, so that was about all he had Gotama, stripped of what he deems to be biased to say about Zen. commentaries and things Gotama probably didn’t But he teases about some of the monks who had or shouldn’t have said, to show that the Buddha to go through mandatory military training and himself agrees with him. how they had no problem killing or dying for their If you are thinking Jeffersonian Bible and His­ country and thought Batchelor to be something of torical Jesus, I think you’re onto something. The a coward for being a pacifist. And then he explained problem I have with that reconstruction process is, how the first brutal South Korean dictators after in our lifetime, when have we ever seen a religious the war were Buddhists, while the first democratic movement built around the sane and rational? Will reformed-minded president was a Catholic – and scholars 500 years from now uncover evidence that again, a great story begging to be explored that goes “I nowhere. Dr. Phil, but enlightened Much of the book is just hard to read; and un­ like his earlier book, I don’t think it was because it required reflection. “What really matters is inner spiritual experi­ ence, which, by definition, consists of irreducibly private states of mind,” he insufferably writes in his chapter on embracing suffering. “Rather than dis­ miss the self as a fiction, Gotama presented it as a project to be realized. By ‘self’ he referred not to the transcendent Self of the brahmins, which, by defi­ nition, cannot be anything other than what it eter­ nally Is, but the functional, mortal self that breathes and acts in the world.” I’ll admit my knowledge of Buddhism is limited, but I believe that Is bullshit. If I understand correct­ ly – and I'm not at all sure that I do – atheist Gota­ ma wants you to practice self-development (even though you have no reason to). Atheist Gotama is a 2,500-year-old Dr. Phil. And it goes on like that. His long descriptions of the suffering in life made me scream out, “Dude, just read Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament. It’s much briefer but more poetic and makes the same point that life is vain and meaningless, doo-dah, doo-dah.” Nothing new under the sun there. In fact, what Batchelor says we are left of the Buddha’s teaching, after stripping out the evil Hin­ du and other religious influences, are something like the 4 Ps of self-actualization: 1) The principle of “this-conditionality, conditioned arising”; 2) The process of the Four Noble Truths; 3) The practice of mindful awareness; 4) The power of self-reliance. Which I translate as: The only principle is sub­ jective relativism, and Truth is a process by which, through meditation, we learn to be completely selfabsorbed. How does one write a meditation on existential­ ism, religion and faith with barely a nod to Soren Kierkegaard? (Kierkegaard was a Danish 19th Cen­ tury Christian apologist regarded as the “father” of existentialism. He of the infamous “leap of faith,” which postulates that “faith” and “doubt” are insep­ arable; indeed, “faith” without “doubt” isn’t faith at all, but the mark of a Sarah Palin supporter.) Instead, he seems to wholly adopt Sartre’s view that any form of faith is an act of intellectual dishon­ esty. That’s French existentialist Jean Paul Sartre, he of the “Man is condemned to be free” school, a po­ sition I daresay modern behavioralists and neuro­ scientists would take umbrage at, if we’re gonna be scientific about it. Sartre also famously said, “Hell is other people,” inspiring generations of nihilistic alcoholics and addicts and, yes, ex-hippies who ran to India and found nothing of lasting import, out­ side of maybe worshiping a tree. �10 STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 Housing Issues Advocacy Pays Dividends Research shows the value of supporting advocacy organizations By Michelle Dillingham Contributing Writer E arlier this year I wrote about what advocacy is, and how an organized advocacy group like Affordable Housing Advo­ cates (AHA) can help your own advocacy. In this issue, I cover a research report that demonstrates that supporting advocacy actu­ ally results in increased community reinvestment. The Los Angeles Times article, “Getting More Back from Giving,” reports how researchers in Los Angeles County from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy collected data from 2004­ 2008 from 15 groups engaged in fighting poverty, improvThe 15 advocacy groups spent $75.5 ing health and education, de­ million over four years and generated fending minorities and other nearly $6.89 billion in benefits to resi- causes. A couple examples of dents. From this data, the Los Angeles these groups were: • InnerCity Struggle camTimes deduced that “for every dollar invested in the work of a selection of paigned for the construction of two new schools in East Los advocacy groups, there was $91 in benefits to local residents.” Clearly, a Angeles at a cost of $299 million. The first is set to open in good return on investment. fall 2010. • The Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights and other groups helped persuade state leg­ islators not to abolish programs that provide food, cash and medical aid to legal immigrants. The 15 advocacy groups spent $75.5 million over four years and generated nearly $6.89 billion in benefits to residents. From this data, the Los Angeles Times deduced that “for every dollar invested in the work of a selection of advocacy groups, there was $91 in benefits to local residents.” Clearly, a good return on investment. As I write, my husband yells at March Madness basketball upstairs while I yell at the Senate vote on health-care reform downstairs. Soon thereafter, health-care reform has passed and President Obama ad­ dresses the nation. He assures us this historic change would not have been possible without community organizing “from the ground up,” that it would never have happened from the “top-down”. The “ground up” is what advocacy is about, and this remarkable change in health­ care policy again reinforces the argument of why organized advocacy efforts should be funded. Affordable Housing Advocates (AHA) had a membership drive ear­ lier this year, and some cited their inability to pay membership fees were due to the economic recession. Advocacy, like training and mar­ keting, is one of those costs that organizations tend to cut first in hard times. Another advocacy group that relies on membership dues is the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, an organization sup­ ported exclusively by contributions – and look at the immeasurable impact their advocacy has had. One example of an effort they led was the fight to retain human-services funding in the city budget. This funding was saved in the city budget in part because of the legislative monitoring, testimonies made before city council and the coordinat­ ed advocacy of the coalition and other non-profit agencies. AHA’s policy agenda for this year has highlighted legislative moni­ toring and public education on affordable housing issues as important initiatives for this year. We recognize that an essential part of advocacy is first educating. It is education about affordable-housing issues for those who oppose it. Also, it is educating supporters who might not be sophisticated enough to advocate in a compelling way. Simply put, I cannot make the case for affordable housing unless I have accurate information about the positive effects of affordable housing. I need to be armed with “myth-busting” information to counter those same old arguments – “not in my backyard.” When AHA receives funding, we can continue to invest in publiceducation initiatives that will ultimately support our mission: to fur­ ther the creation, retention and accessibility of affordable housing in our community. The research report cited above tells us that advoca­ cy has a positive impact on dollars being reinvested in communities. Take-home lesson? Support your local advocacy organization! Too Many Prisoners, Little Justice continued from page 6 plague much of the prison population, but he never acknowledged that the ability to address these issues and move toward noncriminal activity was part of the process of keeping communities safe. At one point he employed the dismis­ sive rhetoric used by many who see prison reform as a waste of time because some people are simply unworthy of attention, and anything beyond punishment is a priv­ ilege. “There is free will and “We in this state have a thing autonomy and many, that your debt to society has never been paid – that when you many, many go to prison and you get out of people will prison, your second chance ain’t not success­ fully be re­ your second chance.” habilitated,” --Terry Collins Yost said. “Re­ habilitation and drug treatment need to be an opportu­ nity and not the primary focus because you can’t fix people that don’t want to be fixed.” He disagreed that it is necessary to give inmates incentives to make changes in their lives to avoid returning to prison. “I don’t get an incentive to take a shower,” he said. “I just like myself better and the way I smell if I do take a shower. We shouldn’t have to incentivize people to behave well, to get treatment for your addiction. If you recognize that you’ve got an addiction, you ought to get out of it. If you recognize that you don’t have an education, you ought to take advantage of the opportunity that’s available. … “I do agree that we do have a sub-popu­ lation of people that require mental-health treatment, and of course they should be treated. I think the constitution does re­ quire that, just the same as if a prisoner has a heart attack, we’re going to take them to the hospital even if they’re a heinous mur­ derer. We also have things that are in place, for example, in my county, we have a mental-health docket. For lower level felonies, we are bringing these folks into court on a regular basis, they are being supervised and linked up to services in the community, and there’s been some success with that. “But let’s not make any mistake about it. We have mentally ill people among us inside and outside the prisons. And that is not a reason to relieve them of responsibility of their actions or to ignore the threat that they may pose to society. We need to recog­ nize that there are limits to our treatment and limits to our compassion.” Toward the end of the panel discussion, the moderator took questions from the au­ dience. Collins provided the best summary of the entire discussion. “There has to be a better way than what we’re currently working in this state,” he said. “People have chastised me, saying, ‘You’re saying let everyone out of prison.’ I’ve never said that in my life. … I never said, ‘Open the doors and let anybody out.’ I did say we should have earned credit. I did say we should give people incentives for peo­ ple to get education, to get drug treatment and do the things that will keep them out of prison because it reduces recidivism. “The reality of the matter is the bigger problem is not who comes to prison. It’s what happens when they leave prison, be­ cause we in this state have a thing that your debt to society has never been paid – that when you go to prison and you get out of prison, your second chance ain’t your second chance.” Call 513-421-7803 x11 to learn about Streetvibes subscriptions �STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 Music Review Remembering Alex Chilton 11 A legend known to few, a master of his own song 1 By Paul koPP Contributing Writer R Through various line-up changes, with Chilton and Stephens as the only constant members, they recorded three albums between 1971 and 1974. Though at the time of their formation Big Star was virtu­ ally unknown, there was a re­ surgence of interest in their music in the 1980s, which led to an almost cult-like follow­ ing for Chilton. Rolling Stone eventually put all three of Big Star’s albums in its top 500 greatest albums of all time. The story of Chilton and Big Star was a case of bad tim­ ing and complex and conflict­ ing personalities. The group’s name – taken from a chain of local convenience stores – and titles of their first two albums (#1 Record and Radio City) are sadly ironic considering the history surrounding them. Naming their first album #1 Record was clearly a joke by the band, maybe a half-heart­ ed attempt to coax the myste­ rious ways of pop culture in Alex Chilton. their favor. It also could have been Chilton letting the world know that he really didn’t care about mainstream success. If the band were going to become a hit, it was go­ ing to be on their own terms. #1 Record was recorded by producer John Fry at Memphis’s Ardent Studios and was released on the famed Stax Records. Though it might not have mattered to Chilton, all the elements were in place to break the band. Instead the album suffered from poor distribution and promo­ tion, despite positive critical reviews. Tension between band members and disappointment with the failure of the album led Bell to leave in 1972. Bell died in a car crash in 1978, and his ock musician Alex Chilton died March 17 of a heart attack. Chilton was best known as the front man of The Box Tops and Big Star, two groups he formed in his hometown of Memphis in the 1960s and 1970s. He later went on to a solo career, releasing nu­ merous albums over the past three decades. You might not know who Chilton is, but he should have been a bona fide rock star, in ranks with John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger. Instead he became an underground in­ die-rock icon, a mystical figure to a generation of record store rats who discovered his music long after it was made. Countless musicians and bands that went on to achieve much greater fame and recog­ nition than he ever did praised his work. The list of his followers includes REM, Ryan Adams, Elliott Smith, Wilco and many more. The Re­ placements even had a song titled “Alex Chil­ ton” with a chorus that says, “Children by the millions scream for Alex Chilton.” This lyric might have been a somewhat lov­ ingly ironic jab at the fact that Chilton, despite his incredible gift as a songwriter, never quite broke into mainstream American pop culture. As a tribute, it is fitting. What one realizes after studying Chilton and his career is that he prob­ ably never really wanted to be a star. He just wanted to be a musician and to have the free­ a time. The solo albums he released sounded dom to explore his own creativity. In today’s nothing like Big Star and were filled with ob­ world of pop culture excess, he was a true origi­ scure R & B covers and original songs with titles nal in that respect, especially as it would have like “Bangkok” and “No Sex.” They sounded lo­ been so easy for him to cash in on his talents. fi and edgy. Some songs sounded unfinished Discussing Chilton’s life is somewhat diffi­ and sparse but that added to their beauty. It cult, because little is known about his personal seemed he cut them in one take to capture life beyond his history as a songwriter and mu­ the energy of the moment, which worked. It sician. This is partly due to the innovative songs was like he was trapping pure rock ’n’ roll in its he will forever be associated with, as well as his most natural state. individual spirit that made his music possible. When revived interest in Big Star became ap­ The closest Chilton got to fame was with The parent, Chilton initially shied away from the at­ Box Tops in 1967, when they topped the charts tention. He was always interested in following with a song called “The Letter.” He was 16 at his own artistic direction, and because of that the time. Chilton’s instant success with he kept his integrity and legendary sta­ the group at such a young age might have tus. He could have sold out and jumped opened his eyes to the loss of freedom It seems that through all Chilton went through on the bandwagon of his old band’s new­ and integrity a musician sometimes faces found success, but he did the exact op­ in his life and career, he almost took on the when thrust into the limelight so quickly. mentality of a Buddhist monk, shunning attention posite. For him, it was a thing of the past. Based on the direction his career took, he It seems that through all Chilton went and accolades, keeping to himself and living obviously did not enjoy this, nor was he spontaneously and simply. He was at peace with in his life and career, he almost took on willing to play the game. the mentality of a Buddhist monk, shun­ his creative vision, and that’s all that mattered. After The Box Tops disbanded, he ning attention and accolades, keeping formed Big Star in 1971. The group in­ to himself and living spontaneously and cluded local Memphis Boys’ guitarist simply. He was at peace with his creative Chris Bell, bassist Andy Hummel and drummer own solo work wasn’t released until 1992’s I Am vision, and that’s all that mattered. In a New Jody Stephens. The band’s musical persuasion the Cosmos. York Times piece following his death, Paul was keenly grounded in their appreciation for The fate of Big Star’s second release, Radio Westerberg, Replacements leader and Chilton’s the classic British pop acts of the 1960s. What City, was similar. By the time they began re­ friend, remarked that the last time he saw Chil­ made them so interesting was the unique en­ cording their third album, Hummel had also ton, Chilton said that he had been living in a ergy and seeming innocence they crafted into left the group. That album, Third/Sister Lovers, tent in Tennessee. timeless pop anthems. Initially each member was considered too un-commercial for release In 1993 he reformed Big Star with Stephens contributed their own songs as well as collabo­ by Columbia, which held distribution rights to and two members of The Posies, bassist Ken rating and sharing vocal duties, including some Stax Records. It did not see release until 1978, Stringfellow and guitarist Jon Auer. They have amazing harmonies, but Chilton was their un­ when the group had already been disbanded released several live albums and studio album official leader – a title he probably wouldn’t for four years. In Space in 2005 as well as sporadically playing agree with. No doubt because of Big Star’s relative ob­ live shows. They were scheduled to play at this In Big Star’s early work, Chilton wrote lyrics scurity, they developed such a dedicated fan year’s SXSW. Instead Chilton’s remaining band about adolescent romance, teenage rebellion base over the years. Those who discover their members, and others, including Mike Mills of and angst but he did it in such a form, with music feel as if they are being let into a part of a REM, performed a tribute concert of all Big Star grace and attitude, that had never been done secret society, thinking, “How could music this songs. before or since. If anyone else would have sung good not be huge?” Fortunately, we still have his music, and fans his lyrics, it might have sounded trite and su­ That element of enigmatic energy carried will continue to be initiated into the secret so­ perficial. But his delivery struck a balance be­ over into knowledge of Chilton’s personal life ciety of Alex Chilton and Big Star for years to tween perfect harmony and the brash sincer­ as well. In the 1980s he moved to New Orleans come. ity of someone with a sensitive but hardened and kept a low profile working manual labor soul. to get by and often quitting music for years at If you like what you read, but don’t live in the Cincinnati area, you can subscribe to Streetvibes. Call us at 513-421-7803 x 12 to learn more about subscribing to Streetvibes. �12 Local News STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 The Poetry of Survival Holly Parker’s victory over abuse By valerie FeSSler Contributing Writer S ix children, 10 grandchildren, a book, abstract paintings and published poems. These are the many accomplishments of a woman beaten, bruised and raped before she had even reached dou­ ble digits in age. Holly Parker, a.k.a. Huniie, uses poetry and art to express her experiences as a young girl in an abusive household, a young woman in abusive relationships and a mother who has learned about self-worth. She has published some of her work in Streetvibes. Parker, 47, was born in Burlington, N.C. When she was 9 years old, her father and her mother raped her. Her mother used her as the reward to keep her father from cheating. This cycle continued for four more years. As the oldest of five children, Parker feels as though she was the “sacrifice” to her parents. Holly Parker. Photo by Vinit Murthy. At 13 years old, Parker courageously approached a counselor at school to explain the situation at home. She had always been afraid to tell someone because her parents threatened her. Parker was taken to the hospital and mentally and emotionally abused her. He is now deceased. found to be pregnant. The pregnancy was aborted by the hospital “Going through abuse growing up, you think that’s love,” Parker because her father was the baby’s father. says. Soon after, Parker was placed in the foster care system and a trial She had one child during her next relationship, but the man of­ against her parents for child abuse, molestation and rape ensued. ten cheated on her and was verbally abusive. Her sixth child was “The court prosecutor told me I was a slut and a whore, and it born to a man who left her while she was pregnant. was my fault because my clothes were too tight and too short,” Parker moved to Cincinnati in 2008 and “learned what love was.” Parker says. “Of course they were too small; they were hand-me­ She began to love herself, she says. downs.” In her book, Help with Your Inner Garden, Parker takes readers Her father was sentenced to 25 years in prison, but was paroled through a journey of exploration into the soul of a woman and after serving only 15 years. Her mother was never convicted. teaches them that growth is a lifelong process. Between the ages of 13 and 17, Parker was moved to numerous In April, Parker’s poem, “God, No, I Screamed” will be featured foster homes and orphanages in North Carolina and Virginia. Dur­ in an online magazine, The Village Griot, at www.thevilliagegriot. ing these years she again experienced the horrors of rape. One of com. her foster fathers raped her. Parker uses poetry, abstract art and spoken word to share her When Parker was 17, she left all the foster homes and orphanages message of hurt, hope and healing. In the future, she wants to be­ behind. She got a job and moved into her own place, but something come a motivational speaker and start a non-profit organization to was not left behind: abuse. Parker met a man, was in a relationship help those in similar situations. with him for 13 years and gave birth to four children. He physically, To find more information and learn more about Parker, visit www.huniiezxpressions.zzl.org. ‘We Just Want to Work’ continued from page 1 have now.” Obama said he would do everything in his power to forge a bipartisan consensus on immigration reform this year. Activists promise to hold Obama to that commitment. One local college student attended the rally because she wanted to represent other undocumented students who can’t achieve their dreams because of the broken immigration system. “I have a lot to offer,” said the woman, who declined to be identified in print. “I can do so much. My math professor wanted me to be an assistant and tutor students, but I had to decline; and I want to be a teacher after I graduate, but I can’t because I don’t have that nine-digit number or documents to show that I’m an American.” Despite academic achievements, she cannot move forward in a career in mathematics or seek out internships like normal college students. But she remains hopeful. “The rally has given me hope that something is go- ing to happen; and even if it doesn’t happen in May like we are hoping, I know we will continue to fight,” the stu­ dent said. “My original plan was that I was going to return to Mexico after I graduate, a country where I was born but did not grow up in, because there is nothing that I can do here. I refuse to work in a Mexican restaurant with a math degree. But this semes­ ter everything changed.” She has committed to remaining active in the immi­ gration reform movement and asks that others contact Congress and demand ac­ tion. “We have made a lot of noise,” she said. “Now we need to use the Easter recess to target (U.S. Sen. George) Voinovich for his support. We want to let Voinovich and (U.S. Sen. Sherrod) Brown know that we want immigra­ tion reform, and we want as many people as possible to call them or send faxes or drop in to their offices to tell them that we need their support.” Alma Diaz, a member of the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center (CIWC), rallies the marchers while Don Sherman (right), CIWC executive director; and Gary Gardner (second from right) of the AFL-CIO listen. A translator (left) from Voces de la Frontera takes notes. Jon Hughes/photopresse. For more information about immigration reform, text the word “Justice” or “Justicia” to 69866 or visit www.ri4a.org. �STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 Local News 13 Making a Bigger Pie in Cincinnati Community development corporations rebuild Cincinnati By JeSSe call Contributing Writer A major boost is coming to Cincinnati com­ munities to increase affordable housing and decrease blight. Eighty-nine housing units will be created in 2010 through the disburse­ ment of $400,000 in federal funds awarded to the city of Cincinnati, and another 140 will receive pre­ liminary work for scheduled completion in coming years. “This I am excited about because we haven't re­ ally had steady city funding on this order for quite a while,” says Patricia Garry, executive director of the Community Development Corporations Associa­ tion of Greater Cincinnati. “A lot of the (new hous­ ing units) will be coming on line this year.” Several non-profit groups have been established throughout Cincinnati to help rehabilitate neigh­ borhoods by using abandoned or dilapidated prop­ erties to develop housing or neighborhood-focused businesses. These organizations, community devel­ opment corporations (CDCs), bring together com­ munity members with banks, other businesses and the local government to collaborate for change. One of those programs is Over-the-Rhine Com­ munity Housing. It is developing the Jimmy Heath House in Over-the-Rhine, using the “housing first” model, which makes sure people have a safe place to stay so they can face their demons – not the other way around. In all, the project will create 30 hous­ ing units in 2010 and set up 72 more. Another is Cincinnati Housing Partners, which is rehabbing the Carthage neighborhood. It is a program “definitely growing in their production capacity,” Garry says. Cincinnati Housing Partners will have completed or started development on 10 units by the end of 2010, a huge growth for the program. The growth is a trend that Garry wants to see continue. A small pace of one house per year is all that some CDCs have been able to manage in years past. That rate will never catch on to the needs of the communi­ ties, particularly given the current national and local economic de­ cline, she says. “In Spring Grove, we were doing one house a year, and now they are doing three or four; and in a few years they will A CDC project house in Carthage. Photo by Vinit Murthy. be doing six or seven a year,” Garry says. “At that level, they can keep up with their need.” for the several CDCs throughout Hamilton County That need can only be met, however, if funding and parts of Northern Kentucky. continues to grow. The organization provides support in helping “Of course, I’d always like to see the money dou­ CDCs keep track of their financial accounting, pro­ ble or tripled,” Garry says. “We could get a lot more viding information technology and Web site devel­ things going with more money.” opment support, providing staff support to develop Garry says she is excited to be able to show how proposals and generally facilitating a spirit of coop­ much CDCs can do with so little money so that it eration instead of competiveness throughout the will help promote further funding. community building organizations. “As we demonstrate more bang for your buck “A neighborhood can make the plan, but they with this little bit of money, we'll build the case and don’t always have the staff,” Garry says. “We are this city will respond,” she says. going to start making that happen. That will mean The funding was administered through the Com­ a small CDC wouldn’t need a huge staff but could munity Development have one of our consultants to help make things Corporations Associa- happen. We don’t want to fight over the pieces of tion of Greater Cincin­ the pie. We want to work together to make the pie nati, whose role it is to bigger.” serve as a “back office” CDC Projects on the Way The following communities are developing housing units through a new federal grant: • • • • • • • • • Camp Washington Community Board: Three homes this year, three expected next year Cincinnati Housing Partners in Carthage & Hartwell: Six units this year, four more under development Northside: Six units this year Community Revitalization Agency on the West End: at least five and up to 12 units this year Cornerstone Corporation for Shared Equity: 17 units this year Over-the-Rhine Community Housing: 30 units this year, 72 more set up Westwood’s Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation: Three units this year Village Development Corporation: Four homes this year and set up 15-20 more to be completed within five years Working in Neighborhoods in College Hill, Northside and South Cumminsville: Eight units this year Are you interested in helping with Streetvibes? Are you a proofreader, writer, poet, artist or photographer? If so, contact Greg Flannery 513.421.7803 x 12 or email streetvibes2@yahoo.com �14 STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 Poetry Page Ghost On Ludlow The Epistle of Saint Michael to the Marginal by MiChael o'brian Clifton is a ghost town. I saw a ghost today, walking dead. I’d seen him before in his same old Salvation Army clothes walking up and down Ludlow. Where’s he going? What’s he doing? He’s living to a death that won’t come soon enough. I’ve seen him ask for change for the bus. I’ve watched the suits turn in disgust. They’re educated. They know what the deal is. He doesn’t want change for the bus. He’s saving up his nickels and dimes to score a quick forty. Suits belt out their frustrations on him. Working men work hard. “Get a job,” they scoff. “Support your own habit.” He has a bad habit, homelessness. Suits drive west into Harrison sunsets. Suits aren’t fools. They play by the rules written by their white fathers. Black man, homeless man cheats the system. He doesn’t play by the rules because he’s lazy. He’s so lazy that he wakes up at the crack of dawn from his mission cot hoofs across the street to score a quick casserole breakfast. Then he’s out going curb to curb checking out the library at 10 a.m. so he can sit with a book that he can barely read. If he’s lucky and he’s quick, maybe he’ll score a forty by six. Then he could relax and remember living in his own house with a clean set of clothes each day. Maybe he could dream of the death that one day will save him from the street. by MiChael henSon You are not forgotten. You are not alone. The center is the fringe The fringe is at the center. There is no center. There is no fringe You cannot fall off the edge. There is no edge. You cannot fall out of the eye of God. You and I by Willa d. JoneS You and I must make a pact To be mindful of how we act Towards each other no matter what And not hold hatred down in our gut We need to understand that each one is unique And know that a change in the world is what we all seek With time, patience and the help from up above We can conquer hate and replace it with God’s love For only with God’s grace and his so many blessings Can we learn to live together without ever guessing We’ll know what it is to live on Earth as one together To love each other for who we are and not what we are For now and forever Suits sleep in brass beds with cuddling wives. Suits aren’t fools they play by the rules written by their white fathers. Black man, homeless man ought to learn to play by the rules. Maybe someone should teach him how to play. I saw a ghost today. If I come here tomorrow, I’ll probably see him again. Maybe I’ll give him change for the bus. No Words by Morgan W. broWn become a Fan of Streetvibes on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/streetvibescincinnati there is nothing one could manage to put into words with which to describe all about oneself and one's life. anything spoken or written would be either too brief or lengthy as well as overly boring or otherwise unbelievable at times, with differently sized fragments of a huge puzzle missing many pieces, gaps that often get distorted, even worse when done by others who think they know better about what happened or why, concerning deep dark holes that were long ago torn through one’s shattered soul, never truly mended or healed, attempts having been tried several times over and in several ways, including uttering thousands upon thousand of prayers, usually going unanswered, or so it seems. yet life is still passionately held onto as the precious gift it is, far beyond words could ever fully relate or express. Do you remember the magic of your First Book? Please consider giving the gift of reading to a low-income child in Cincinnati this year. Established in 2001, First Book - Greater Cincinnati has already granted more than 45,000 books and over $60,000 to local nonprofit literacy programs serving thousands of low-income children in Greater Cincinnati. Make checks payable to “First Book - Greater Cincinnati” I Want to Bring the Magic of Books to Children Who Need Them! $20 (10 books) Please return your contribution to: First Book Greater Cincinnati 572 Northland Blvd. Cincinnati, Ohio 45240 Name: Address: E-mail: $40 (20 books) $80 (40 books) $100 (50 books) Other $ _______ �STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 15 Resources Need Help or Want to Help? Shelter: Women and Children Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 4230 Hamilton Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45223 Central Access Point Cincinnati Union Bethel 381-SAFE 768-6907 557-2873 1841 Fairmount Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 6037 Cary Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45224 Salvation Army 4600 Erie Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 1125 Bank Street, Cinti, Ohio 45214 241-5525 1419 Elm Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 DIC Live In Program Prospect House Starting Over Other Resources 721-0643 921-1613 Center Independent Living Options Emmanuel Community Center 961-2256 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 1308 Race St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Treatment: Women 1821 Summit Road, Cinti, Ohio 45237 721-0643 961-4663 Treatment: Both 471-1100 221-3350 3330 Jefferson, Cinti, Ohio 45220 Housing: CMHA Excel Development OTR Community Housing 721-4580 632-7149 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Tom Geiger House Dana Transitional Bridge Services Volunteers of America 621-5300 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Our Daily Bread 351-7921 631-1114 211 977-5541 Hamilton/Middletown 946-4888 281-7422 681-0324 641-4300 St. Raephaels Salvation Army Serenity House Day Center Open Door Pantry 863-3184 863-1445 422-8555 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Catholic Social Action Community Action Agency Contact Center 421-3131 569-1840 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 859-491-8303 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 579-8547 241-9400 421-1108 363-3300 421-2437 621-1868 Women’s Crisis Center VA Domiciliary VA Homeless 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. Legal Aid Society Ohio Justice & Policy Center Faces Without Places Stop AIDS Brighton Center ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 721-4700 421-7803 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Health 859-491-3335 859-559-5011 859-572-6226 3550 Washington Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45229 Letters to the Editor The World’s Biggest Terrorist To the Editor: Does the War in Afghanistan mean ensuring the reign of U.S. imperialism? Calling the recent increase of U.S. troops in Afghanistan “Enduring Freedom,” the U.S. military is sending bombs and cruise missiles raining down on targets inside Afghanistan. After President Obama increased troops in that country, we are now supposed to cheer, wave the flag and fall in line over this high-tech version of Wild West justice. The U.S. willingly sent money, arms and training to the Taliban to encourage and support them waging war against the former Soviet Union. The intent was to turn Afghanistan into another Vietnam for Russia. However, as often the case, even the best laid plans of imperialism go awry, and like many of the U.S.’s earlier creations, the Taliban turned on their master – something that happens often enough that the CIA has a name for it, “blowback.” President Obama and the rulers of this country would have you believe that the British shoe bomber arrested headed for the U.S. was more significant than the 400 people gathered for religious services perished as a result of U.S. bombing of the Amariyah bomb shelter during the Gulf War. But we learned during our time as terrorists for U.S. imperialism that the lives of the people of this country are not worth more nor the rest of the world worth less. However, we need to show as much concern, if not more, for the lives taken in our names. We need to look behind the words and lies of our rulers and put a stop to the invasions and interventions, to the death and destruction being carried out by this country. By putting an end to this country’s reign as the world’s biggest terrorist, we will take a real step towards ending terrorism once and for all. Sonny Williams, Vietnam veteran Clifton People Working Cooperatively The Caring Place United Way Women Helping Women Advocacy Center for Respite Care 535-2719 771-4800 751-0600 721-4811 241-2965 1522 Republic Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 621-6364 1730 Race Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 St. Francis Soup Kitchen 351-0422 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. Cinti, Ohio 45214 Hamilton County ADAS Board Recovery Health Access Center Sober Living Talbert House Goodwill industries Healing Connections Mary Magdalen House 1223 Main St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 1227 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 961-4555 751-0643 381-1954 Food/Clothing Lord’s Pantry OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry AA Hotline CCAT Joseph House (Veterans) 217 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 381-0111 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 2728 Glendora Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45209 761-1480 621-5514 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 961-4080 241-2600 241-2563 214 E. 14th St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 First Step Home Interfaith Hospitality Network Lighthouse Youth Center (Youth) 458-6670 977-4489 784-1853 661-4620 Shelter: Both Drop Inn Center 558-8888 981-5800 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 682 Hawthorne Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45205 1437 Walnut Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Mental Health Access Point Mercy Franciscan at St. John 2121 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Justice Watch 241-0490 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 Anthony House (Youth) 357-4602 352-2902 352-6363 872-9259 Charlie’s 3/4 House Mt. Airy Shelter Health Resource Center Homeless Mobile Health Van McMicken Dental Clinic NAMI of Hamilton County PATH Outreach Treatment: Men Shelter: Men City Gospel Mission 562-8841 762-5660 131 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 241-1064 112 E. Liberty Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 St. Vincent de Paul 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 300 Lytle Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Bethany House FreeStore/FoodBank Crossroad Health Center Have something on your mind? Do you agree or disagree with an article? Let us know: 117 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvibes2@yahoo.com �16 Artists as Activists STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 Respect and Nurturance Carmen Bowen Bush paints to promote life “A rt is my lover, my friend, my companion,” says Car­ men Bowen Bush. “It is my everyday life. I cannot give individuals the time I devote to it. My artworks are my people and my communication.” Bowen Bush, a Cincinnati artist, grew up in Walnut Hills and Evanston, raised primarily by her loving grandmother. Her child­ hood was full and colorful, surrounded by many talented individ­ uals: Her father was a successful boxer; her aunt, Sadie Birch, an influential jazz singer; her grandfather, Samuel Birch, a muralist and a virtuoso piano player; her godfather, Wallace “Bud” Smith, the famous world lightweight boxing champion. Bowen Bush did not receive a formal art education; she is a selftaught artist. Art, however, has been part of her life since her early years. Already at age 13, in fourth grade at Hoffman Elementary School, her art teacher, Mr. Orr, recognized her talent and entered her work in an exhibit. This acknowledgement stayed with her all her life, gave her self-confidence and still encourages her to al­ ways strive for the best. After high school she entered the University of Cincinnati and graduated in social work, but only many years later, her studies Carmen Bowen Bush standing in front of some of her Cityscapes paintings. having been interrupted by marriage, childbearing, parenting Photo by Bill Howes and living in Germany, for a while. When she returned to the United States due to death in her fam­ ily, Bowen Bush decided to settle for good in Cincinnati. Art deepseated inside her and dormant until then reemerged. She started and being attacked by two guns aiming at its head but it is also at­ painting again, initially landscapes from images stored in her mem­ tacking, two pistols brandished from its sides. It serves as an allegory ories during her Euro­ for kids’ violent and destructive behavior, killing and being killed, and pean trips, then socially- for society’s indirect negligent role in favoring such a situation. By themed paintings mostly not providing the required education, the parental, secure and sup­ dealing with cityscapes, portive needed structure, the caring and all that it takes to shape a youth violence, the ero­ solid and responsible individual, society is contributing to the youth’s sion of society. death; and the youth, not knowing better, are furthering the damage as “All my art comes from by killing each other, thus favoring societal demise. my heart, from experi­ In addition, Bowen Bush purposefully placed a gun pointing from ences I’ve had, from what between the doll’s legs, where its genitalia would be, alluding to the By Saad GhoSn I know,” she says, “also prevailing lack of respect and also to the wide-spread permissive and Contributing Writer from what’s going on right unprotected sexual activity of teens – in her mind, another killer. She now in society.” also added on the child’s face red, yellow, white and green colors stat­ A recurrent theme in ing that the problem is not only limited to blacks, but affecting all her work has been the young society, its violence, its lack of respect of ethnic groups; and around his head, a halo of bullets, an ironic glori­ the elderly, but also its need for stronger foundations, stable families, fication of death. love, nourishment – all that builds one’s character. In Solution, a companion mixed media piece, Bowen Bush wanted Problem, a mixed-media construction painting, is her statement to provide an answer, addressing what should be done as a remedy. about what is wrong. A dark-skinned baby doll representing child­ She represented a growing tree with a baby doll at its root. The tree, hood and also teenage, is in the center of the piece. It is threatened shaped as a person, has a face outline and rings composed of black- eyed peas looking at the viewer; they seem to invite all of us to join in and participate collectively in fixing the problem. The child at the roots of the tree is being nurtured by society and at its turn fulfills its role contributing to society’s life and growth. Bowen Bush dispersed in the branches small birds, symbols of rebirth, and various bean seeds implying diversity and potential for change. Bowen Bush is now planning a painting that will depict a baby’s coffin surrounded by older individuals in wheelchairs, pointing to the ironic reality of youth dying first, leaving behind, uncared for, a dis­ abled society. “My heart goes out to the youth,” she says. “I have a young grand­ daughter, 11 years old. We need to provide them with stability and support. We need also to impart onto them the love, nourishment and moral principles essential for their healthy development. We need to plant good seeds. That’s what I got from my grandmother. That’s what I want to give back.” This is precisely what Bowen Bush did when she taught art to chil­ dren at Peaslee Neighborhood Community Center, giving them love and appreciation, but demanding at the same time respect and re­ sponsible behavior. Another subject that appears often in her work is that of Cityscapes. Bowen Bush associates the tall buildings sprouting everywhere in her paintings to chaos, to the rigid, tight and somewhat inhumane bureaucracy that governs our world, a bureaucracy she experienced firsthand working for the city for over 20 years and which, like these big structures, is difficult to move or change. In her recent solo show, Peace and Chaos, held in Covington, Ky., she contrasted on one side her paintings of tall, dense, oppressive and labyrinthine buildings to those, on the opposite side, of abstracted landscapes – references to freedom, harmony and peaceful escape. Bowen Bush will continue to use her art to speak loudly, express her feelings and values and contribute to the shaping of a healthier society. “I am passionate about what I feel,” she says. “My art always comes from my heart; it conveys and communicates my emotions and be­ liefs. I do not want it to stop there, however. I want it to provoke a Problem, mixed media construction painting by Carmen Bowen Bush. response in the viewer, to lead the viewer to think and ask: What I can Photo by Bill Howes do to help, to make things better?” A rtists ctivists Artists as Activists is a regular column highlighting Greater Cincinnati artists who use art as a vehicle for change. Saad Ghosn is the founder of SOS Art. Ghosn can be contacted at saad.ghosn@uc.edu. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2010 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource April 1-14, 2010 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Too Many Prisoners, Little Justice ‘We Just Want to Work’ Pg 2: Street Wise Pg 3: Eight Minutes Behind Prison Bars Pg 4: Enquirer Nominated for 17 AP Awards Pg 5: Council Solves Metropole Controversy Pg 6: Too Many Prisoners, Little Justice Pg 7: Poverty and Grief Pg 8: Arts & Poetry Pg 9: The Insufferably Atheist Buddhist Pg 10: Advocacy Pays Dividends Pg 11: Remembering Alex Chilton Pg 12: The Poetry of Survival Pg 13: Making a Bigger Pie in Cincinnati Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Continued Pg 15: Resources Pg 16: Respect and Nurturance 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 1-14, 2010 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gregory Flannery Lynne Ausman Veronica Glass Jeni Jenkins Michelle Dillingham Samantha Groark Margo Pierce Paul Kopp Jeremy Flannery Michael Henson David Heitfield Valerie Fessler Alecia A. Lott Jeni Jenkins Saad Ghosn Lew Moores Larry Gross Eli Braun Jesse Call Aimie Willhoite Vinit Murthy Jon Hughes Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Advocacy Aimie Willhoite Alecia A. Lott Alex Chilton Arts & Poetry Atheist Buddhist Carmen Bowen Bush Cincinnati city council David Heitfield Eli Braun Enquirer Gregory Flannery Holly Parker Immigrants Jeni Jenkins Jennifer Blalock Jeremy Flannery Jesse Call Jon Hughes Larry Gross Lew Moores Lynn Baker Lynne Ausman Margo Pierce Michael Henson Michelle Dillingham Paul Kopp Prison Saad Ghosn Samantha Groark Valerie Fessler Veronica Glass Vine Street Vinit Murthy Washington Work https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/7ac2eca7cc13f14b648d1d9daf7ddc67.pdf 21ce8745d6524464ce16e11c61e2855a PDF Text Text Human Trafficking Page 3 Artists as Activists Page 16 STREETVIBES $1 A p r. 1 5 - 3 0 , 2 0 1 0 • A d v o c a t i n g J u s t i c e , B u i l d i n g C o m m u n i t y • I s s u e 1 7 5 Development for and of the People Bank bail out or abolition? By Jesse Call Contributing Writer I s self-worth tied to work? For advocates participating in a recent community forum at Xavier University, the common thread among their perspectives was how the government can better the livelihoods of those experiencing poverty and homelessness by diverting funds to activities that will create jobs. That way, people will find value in making a contribution to their community. On April 5 Xavier University Students for Economic Justice, an organization promoting education and fair trade, hosted “Urbanomics Panel: Controversial Topics in Cincinnati Urban Development.” The panel consisted of Dan La Botz, a Socialist candidate running to represent Ohio in the U.S. Senate; Rob Goeller, human-rights outreach coordinator for the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless; and Vlasta Molak, executive director of the Gaia Foundation. The panelists answered a range of questions from a student moderator before the audience was allowed to ask questions. The panelists agreed that local government is wasting re- See Development, p. 4 Dan La Botz, Socialist Party Candidate for U.S. Senate, makes a point at an April 5 panel discussion. The other panelists are Rob Goeller and Vlasta Molak. Photo by Jon Hughes/photopresse. The Stories of the Man in the Van Making art of recession’s woes By Dwayne Pride Street News Service D enver VOICE – Artprize is a national contest for fine artists and emerging artists from all around the world. It is said to be one of the largest prizes that an artist can hope to win to get recognized for his or her craft. All of the winners are chosen by the public. The top prize is $250,000. For most, when they think of somebody who would be part of a contest like this, they would not think of a poor man, a homeless man, as one of its participants. Artist/driver Aaron Heideman aka “The Man in the Van” proves this theory wrong. “I don’t want to panhandle,” he says. After losing jobs during the recession his life was more than just a struggle. He hit rock bottom. But he took a creative angle on his situation and found some freedom from a 9-to-5 with a road trip that eventually took him through at least 30 states. His mission: to make an enormous tapestry of people’s experience of the recession. State by state, city by city, he collected words. His project started in Medford, which he calls home. Driving through places like Portland, Fresno, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Denver, he met all types of people and had them share their experiences of a sagging economy and what it has done to their lives. People wrote their individual stories on rolls of 50-foot waterproof, tear-proof white Tyvek paper. All he asked was, “How has the recession affected you?” ‘There is no recession’ As people pass by Heideman hands them cards that say, “Help A Homeless Guy Make Art. History.” The card is how he starts every meeting with people before they write their stories on the van. “Tell Me Your Story” is written boldly on the side of the van to entice the public to participate in what he is offering them, a way to vent their feelings. People stop with a variety of comments. “There is no recession,” one man says as he refuses to take a card. “That’s a myth. The only reason people think Dwayne Pride literally took his show on the road. Photo by Aaron Heideman. there is a recession is because they say there is one.” Heideman says he is amazed by how many people blame Obama for all of the country’s problems. Despite his views, though, he has tried to keep his project open to everyone. “I’m not a Republican,” he says. “I am not trying to be political. It is not about what I have to say, it’s about what Americans have to say. I would like to have as many perspectives as possible. The object is to stay neutral.” About 5 percent of the people who walk by the van take a card and disagree and keep moving. By the end of his stay in Denver, Heideman came up with 137 stories from people who wrote what they felt as he stopped them or they stopped to see what the commotion around the van was about. Someone named VonHellFire ’09 on MySpace writes, “ ‘Thug Life’ hoping all of his criminal endeavors will pay off.” One man writes, “I sold my body!” Another person, responding to an onlooker’s comment – “Get a job” – writes, “Give me one.” See Work, p. 10 �2 The Vibe By The Numbers 7 The number of days between the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and passage of the U.S. Civil Rights Act (see page 10). 26.6 The salary, in millions of dollars, of the CEO of Procter and Gamble (see page 14). 6 The number of years artist Kevin T. Kelly worked in New York City (see page 16). 16 The date in March when Linda Zachary died (see page 14). 137 The number of stories elicited by the question, “How has the recession affected you?” (see page 1). 3-in-27 The number of field goals missed by Texas kicker Hunter Lawrence (see page 13). StreetWise By Gregory Flannery Editor Painter Completes First U.N. Cases Judge Mark Painter of Cincinnati, the only American on the new United Nations Appeals Tribunal (UNAT), returned April 2 from Geneva after the court’s first session ever. Sitting for three weeks in Geneva, the court decided 33 appeals. After translation, the cases will be released and posted on the UN website later this month. The UNAT is the highest court of the new internal-justice system, instituted in 2009 to provide access to independent and professional courts for U.N. employees and management. The judges were elected by the General Assembly. Cases included disputes over employee promotions, discipline, pensions, sexual harassment, contract matters and other issues. Because the court is new, the first cases begin the development of the U.N.’s internal law. “We had originally scheduled 27 cases, but we added more,” said Inés Weinberg de Roca, the court’s president. “One goal of the new system is timely justice, so we want cases to move as fast as is reasonable,” Painter is a former judge with the Ohio First District Court of Appeals. In addition to him and Weinberg de Roca of Argentina, the other judges are Jean Courtial of France, Sophia Adinyira of Ghana, Kamaljit Singh Garewal of India, Rose Boyko of Canada and Luis Maria Simón of Uruguay. We Were Only Kidding The truth can now be told. So far as we know, the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) isn’t really planning to start a rickshaw line powered by homeless people, Hamilton County Sheriff Simon Leis Jr. doesn’t really use waterboarding on prisoners, Bengals player Chad Ocho Cinco isn’t really contemplating changing his name to Chad Acht Fünf and Cincinnati City Councilman Jeff Berding hasn’t really been seen wearing a sign saying, “Help me, I’m an asshole.” These were among stories published in our April 1-14 issue. Satire is a dangerous business, because some people fail to see the humor. Others get taken in and believe what they read – and education isn’t always a barrier to credulity. Thus, we are sorry to report, an attorney, a former congressional candidate and a person with a master’s degree are among the people who fell for the gag, even though we tried to warn readers, posting “Fools of April” at the top of the two pages containing these stories. We won’t tell you the names of the people who got pulled in. They know who they are. Got to Keep Moving 1,740 This is no joke. So eager is the city of Denver, Colo., to keep homeless people from littering the landscape that it is illegal to sit or lie down in public, downtown areas between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. We learned this while researching a story on the criminalization of homelessness in the United States and Canada (see “Being Homeless is Against the Law,” issue of March 1-14). Tim Covi, editor of the Denver VOICE – a street paper – explains the anti-sitting law. 12 “The amazing thing is that it was passed in the spirit of the 10-year plan to end homelessness,” he says. “This is going on all over the state right now. Communities are defaulting to 10-year plans, saying they're being proactive by trying to implement housing programs and such, but pass punitive laws or maintain them in the same breath as they adopt 10-year plans. It's like the carrot and the stick. They say they won’t make arrests, they'll direct people to services, but that they're not going to tolerate people sitting around. The problem is that it sounds so rational and reasonable, it seems to impress people." The number of citations for public drinking issued by the Portland Police Department (see page 5). The age at which a Toledo girl was made a sex slave (see page 3). 3,000 The number of empty buildings in Cincinnati (see page 1). 4 The number of cloves of garlic in Veggie Spaghetti (see page 8). Correction An article in the April 1 edition (“Eight Minutes Behind Prison Bars”) misstated Ohio prison overcrowding. The article should have said that state prisons are at 130 percent of capacity. Kids Aren’t Inanimate Objects Maybe Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters was trying to sound rational and reasonable – or maybe he just wanted to impress people – when he denounced two suspects for allegedly giving sleep aids to children at Covenant Apostolic Church Day Care in Springfield Township. Both Pamela Hartley of Cleves and Donna Scott of Cincinnati were charged with three counts of child endangering. Deters’s outrage was well placed. But we wish he’d choose his words more carefully. He issued a statement denouncing the alleged drugging of children. STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by people who are or once were homeless, in exchange for a $1 donation, Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Address: 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: 513.421.7803 x 12 Fax: 513.421.7813 Email: streetvibes2@yahoo. com Website: www. cincihomeless.org Blog: streetvibes.wordpress. com Streetvibes Staff Editor Gregory Flannery Art Director Lynne Ausman Graphics/Layout Intern Veronica Glass Vendor Coordinator Jeni Jenkins Contributing Writers Michelle Dillingham, Samantha Groark, Margo Pierce, Paul Kopp, Jeremy Flannery, Michael Henson, David Heitfield, Valerie Fessler, Alecia A. Lott, Jeni Jenkins, Saad Ghosn, Lew Moores, Larry Gross, Eli Braun, Jesse Call Photography/Artwork Aimie Willhoite, Lynne Ausman, Anthony Williams, Vinit Murthy, Jon Hughes Proofreaders Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati through coordination of services, public education, grassroots advocacy and Streetvibes. We are proud members of: “I understand how upset the parents of these children must be," the statement said. “Daycare workers are responsible for a very valuable commodity and must be held to a high standard.” Children are not commodities. People are not commodities. Language has consequences, and one possible result of viewing people as items to be bought and sold is that sometimes they are (see “Ohio is a Slave Market,” page 3). �STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 Local News 3 Ohio Has a Thriving Slave Market State begins studying human trafficking By Gregory Flannery Editor O hio is one of only eight U.S. states that have not enacted laws against human trafficking. Yet Ohio is a thriving market for human beings, according to a new state study. “Report on the Prevalence of Human Trafficking in Ohio,” issued by a subcommittee of the Ohio Trafficking in Persons Study Commission, is a first step in quantifying and addressing the problem of human trafficking in the state. Some of its findings are startling: • As a proportion of population, Toledo is the busiest slave market in the United States. • Children who have been involved with the juvenile-justice or foster-care systems are at high risk for being trafficked. • Police, hospitals, social workers and others largely do not understand and therefore do not properly respond to evidence of human trafficking. • The report includes first-person accounts by former slaves in Ohio and concludes that the state has failed to respond to the tragedy of slavery within its borders. Recommendations include legislation banning human trafficking, treating child prostitutes as victims rather than criminals and the establishment of safe houses across the state where slaves can seek refuge. Media and law enforcement can miss human trafficking when they see prostitution. Photo by Kay Chernush. are involved in the underground economy practices of sex trafficking. Those are the criminal justice system, the social-service system and the health-care system. Each system’s response, it could be argued, has been either ineffective or insufficient.” The study recommends several steps to improve Ohio’s response to the growing problem of human trafficking: ‘Most vulnerable’ • Stop arresting and incarcerating child victims of sex trafficking. Trafficking in humans is the second • Pass a state anti-human trafficking largest criminal enterprise in the world, law that includes provisions for protecexceeded only by illegal drug sales, the “Given that the city of Toledo’s population is 298,446 and tion, prevention and prosecution and report says. Quantifying the number of Lucas County’s is 440,456, this area can be considered to that attends to the overall issue including victims is difficult because the trade in lead the nation for the number of traffickers produced and the supply (victims), demand (customers) people is conducted underground, so and distribution (traffickers). number of victims recruited into the sex trade per capita.” the study used a series of models to de• Improve the oversight of massage - Report on the Prevalence of Human Trafficking in Ohio velop estimates. parlors, agriculture and other “traditionThe numbers show the problem is ally exploitative” markets not rare, with 783 foreign-born persons estimated and Las Vegas, Nevada. • Train health departments on human traffickto be trafficked into the labor or sex trade in Ohio ing. “Given that the city of Toledo’s population is and 1,078 youth who have been trafficked into the 298,446 and Lucas County’s is 440,456, this area can • Ask the Coalition on Homeless and Housing sex trade over the course of a year. in Ohio, when interviewing homeless youth, be considered to lead the nation for the number of A variety of factors make Ohio fertile ground for traffickers produced and the number of victims to ask whether they have traded sex for housthe slave trade. One is geography. ing or if pimps or boyfriends take their monrecruited into the sex trade per capita,” the report “Ohio’s proximity to the Canadian border makes says. ey. it possible for victims to be moved through MichiIn just the past four years, 60 U.S. citizens in To• Appoint an ongoing committee to coordigan and be trafficked in various venues throughout ledo have been identified as child victims of sex nate anti-trafficking activities of ImmigraOhio,” the report says. “Toronto’s international air- trafficking. tion Customs Enforcement, the FBI, state port has been identified as one of the arrival destiBut the crime goes on throughout the state, with and local law enforcement, child welfare, nations for some victims who are trafficked in Can- prosecutions for labor trafficking in Cincinnati, Coand the juvenile justice system. ada, while others are moved through to the United lumbus and Cleveland. • Have Ohio included in the national Human States.” Trafficking Reporting System’s database to A growing population of immigrants also means Rescue is only step one obtain better understanding of the problem a higher incidence of human trafficking. in Ohio. “Most of the migrant labor in Ohio and the UnitThe study details the horrors to which slaves are If Ohio is to stop human trafficking, a systemic ed States is concentrated in poorly regulated in- subjected – not just lack of wages or freedom of overhaul is in order, according to the study. Rescudustries that demand cheap labor,” the report says. movement but also beatings, broing slaves is only a first step. Take “Such industries include textiles (sweatshops), ag- ken bones, malnutrition, rape and the case of “Julie,” a 12-year-old Toriculture, restaurants, construction and domestic torture. After being freed, victims The lack of support for ledo girl pressed into sexual bondwork.” often suffer long-term psychologivictims isn’t merely age, servicing men at a PennsylvaBut not all slavery in the United States involves cal problems, sometimes leading to nia truck stop. a matter of tender immigrants. Ohio’s growing poverty rate makes suicide. “With the help of a truck driver feelings. Slaves are often “In 2007, one trafficked girl in ToU.S. citizens vulnerable, too. and an adult friend, also recruited treated as criminals “Those domestic populations who are most vul- ledo who testified in a case outside from Toledo into the sex trade, they – prosecuted for nerable to human trafficking are the poor,” the re- of the state of Ohio returned home were able to escape and call the poimmigration violations port says. “In 2008, 1.5 million Ohioans lived below to find little support, no safe halice,” the report says. or for engaging in the poverty level. This is the highest rate since 1994. ven and no escape from the interThe traffickers were prosecuted, prostitution. Since 2002, the population in Ohio grew a total nal depression and external stigma but Julie’s troubles didn’t end with of 1.2 percent while the number of those who are she found,” the report says. “With a her apparent liberation. poor grew to over 40 percent. … According to the baby left to care for, she ended her life at 17 years “Rescue out of the sex trafficking is not the end of National Center on Family Homelessness State Re- old.” the story, but the beginning The lack of support for victims isn’t merely a port Card (2009), Ohio is ranked 20th among the 50 of a longer, more difficult road to recovery,” the states for child homelessness, but is ranked 42 out matter of tender feelings. Slaves are often treated as study says. “After returning to school, Julie was ridiof 50 states for children’s vulnerability to homeless- criminals – prosecuted for immigration violations culed by her classmates for being a ‘prostitute.’ As ness, which in turn contributes to a higher vulner- or for engaging in prostitution, for example. a result, she refused to attend school, quickly fell “Ohio’s response to child sex trafficking is weak,” behind and quit.” ability to child sex trafficking.” Perhaps the most disturbing marker for children the study says. “There are three conventional instiSix years later she was struggling to overcome anat risk of becoming trafficking victims is having tutions that will intersect with trafficked youth who other kind of slavery – addiction to crack cocaine. been involved in the very systems that are meant to help troubled kids, namely foster-care, children’s services and juvenile court. “In Toledo, 77 percent of the trafficked youth had been involved with child welfare at some point in their lives and 52 percent had been involved in the foster care program,” the report says. Toledo has received the most attention in Ohio for human trafficking, with more arrests than any U.S. cities other than Miami, Fla.; Portland, Ore.; �4 STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 Local News Development for and of the People continued from page 1 to go to outsiders. “These are jobs that don’t sources on community devel- do anything for the communiopment projects that could ty,” Molak said. “There should be used for jobs creation to be a link between work in a community help the unand jobs. employed That link is and under“There are all these employed. beautiful empty buildings not clear in “ C h a r - in Over-the-Rhine. There is this society. ity is bad for no reason there should be … There is not much atpeople,” La 3,000 empty buildings in Botz said. Cincinnati and no reason tempt made “We don’t why we should have at any to help people learn want handone time 900 homeless.” trades and outs. They - Vlasta Molak then crewant a job. ate jobs that They want to contribute to society and would actually do something useful in this city.” have an identity.” Instead, the money should Jobs created under existing community-development be used to rehabilitate homes projects are often temporary in places such as Reading and don’t make a lasting im- Road, as that would better pact on Cincinnati neighbor- benefit the citizens of Cincinhoods, the panelists said. In nati, Molak suggested. “There are all these beautiaddition, developers don’t give preference to residents ful empty buildings in Overfor these jobs, allowing them the-Rhine,” she said. The Land of the Po “There is no reason there should be 3,000 empty buildings in Cincinnati and no reason why we should have at any one time 900 homeless.” Molak criticized the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) and other downtown interests. “The city council members have delegated their brains to 3CDC because they think these people know better. …They build stadiums and they don’t fix things in the community that needs to be fixed,” she said. The answer is for the community to take a stand and demand jobs, La Botz said. “What has to happen – there has to be a social upheaval from below in this country,” he said. “It would be the best thing to build a movement of the working class people of this city and help to set them in motion.” But not everyone in the au- dience was buying in to the idea that jobs creation was a solution. “Americans generally need to recalibrate their expectations,” said one audience member who identified himself as experiencing homelessness. “You live in a society which your parents created. Their expectations might be unrealistic. You have competition that they never experienced or anticipated. … I don’t know if jobs should be the end-all in this country.” One audience member asked the panelists, “Demand jobs from who?” All the panelists explained that they felt the government should create jobs, even if this means increased taxes. All the panelists also agreed that organizations such as 3CDC try to make it look as if they take the needs and viewpoints of community members into consideration and have made redevelopment a democratic process. But that is where it ends, according to the panelists: Meetings at which input is solicited are simply “smokescreens” at which developers “put up a façade” that they care about input from the neighborhoods they are changing. La Botz accused developers of engaging in “ethnic cleansing and class cleansing” to remove people of color and people experiencing poverty from Cincinnati neighborhoods. “These are not democratic processes anywhere,” he said. “We live in a society where banks rule. I think the banks and corporations which dominate our society are institutions that have outlived their time. We have to become the abolitionists of the corporations to become a democratic nation.” Letters to the Editor Eloquent Memorial To the Editor: To the Editor: Such is life in the Land of the PO and those homeless in Cincinnati, Ohio, the Nasty Natty – Know place like it in the World. We sit around and discuss the ills and proudly display the wounds given in the life of poverty and disappointment of being deserted by our families who have it so much better, almost as if a sort of pride in infirmity is present. There is the use of canes, as if all should lose the so human trait of bi-pedaling lacking them there walking skills. And we parade our injuries as if medals, our illnesses as if they are something to be desired, to accept and be prone to get and bask in the painful glory of being well, all messed up abiding with this sort of do-nothing spirit. My Me noticed that especially in the land of the homeless or the dire strait of being just poor there seems to be a certain amount of Unlikely Glee. Which is most likely found in that anticipation of a monthly check issued for a real or exaggerated, sometimes imagined, usually mental condition. And too many times we just hope for the status of that mental impairment as a Governmental Approved Check. Disability which pays the rent by the payee and buys the dope because you no longer need to work and you have nothing else to do like manage you own little piece of First of the Month Money. It is a strange selection of the meaning of status with just a hint of prejudice within this gargantuan fiction of holding wealth. My I knew for this sort of fantasized certainty that this privilege of being proud held too many aspects of elation, considering being held captive so far below at the Gott Damn Bottom of that there poverty line totem pole. Once in a while, standing in one of the too many Free Food Lines, a statement is made that was the truth but lord knows unfortunately this truth it should never be. The positioning of anyone at this location or station within this so beautiful life is really sad and depressing and just miserable. My own humble opinion is that being Po is nowhere that anyone desires or fondly wishes to become, and the Land of the Po and those in this city who choose to visit down here call us Po people and Homeless folk. “The people who ain't got nothing … those of you on the street.” These co-cohabitants just kinda smirk in that slander, being assured that they at least got more than us, as they put it, more than them if indeed they merely have housing; however, the fact that they are present – not in a voluntary way as in a civic duty capacity like the volunteers at the soup kitchens – is evidence that they, too, ain’t got that much. You see, they stand in the same line with all of us “ain't got nothings” to feel as if what they got is no less but so much more. Well, it ain’t. You ain't got nothin’ either and that, my friends, is a crime against nature. It sucks to be poor in Cincinnati, the Nasty Natty Know place like it in the World. “A voice is a human gift; it should be cherished and used, to utter fully human speech as possible. Powerlessness and silence go together.” Margaret Atwood’s words are a reminder of just how important having a voice in society is. In the world today, this human right has become a rare luxury. Through tyranny and fear, voice has been stripped from millions of human beings, whether it be because of their nationality, their religion or their sexual orientation. But where this loss also has a major effect is in economic status. Those who suffer from being homeless not only live without material positions, but without a voice of their own. In losing that right, these people lose a part of their dignity, of their persona, of themselves. The cover article in the Jan. 1 edition of Streetvibes says it all. “May They Finally Rest in Peace” is the title of Paul Kopp’s article, a heartening piece about those homeless who passed away in 2009. Kopp tells the story of many homeless individuals who died this past year and broaches a salient point about the effect of this condition. Homelessness strips a person of his or her voice in society. Too often homelessness is misconstrued as a result of laziness and poor choices by society. But this perception is often a falsehood. Homelessness can happen to anyone. It is often a matter of luck or health. And even in those situations of bad choices, those choices have root. They have root in family history, in severe addiction. But what brings one to homelessness is hardly the issue compared to the effect of the actual condition. As Kopp eloquently writes, “It seems that those who are homeless have lost their voice in society. Though they suffer from problems similar to those who judge them, they are ridiculed for their mistakes and viewed as a lesser class.” A voice is a human right. It is a personal definition. It is a mark of identity. Those who pass away without having the opportunity to have that voice need to be remembered. They were people. They deserve that much. Walter Madison Washington Jr. Over-the-Rhine Cody Pomeranz Cincinnati Unique Content To the Editor: I want to express my appreciation for your last issue (March 15-31). The two front-page articles (City Ignores Plea for Fair Hiring” and “Council Turns Backs on Metropole Tenants”) were quite interesting, and neither were something that I was likely to see in another place. Keep up the good work! I am a regular customer of the Streetvibes vendor who occasionally sells your paper outside of Saint Monica-Saint George after mass. He has been doing it for some time and is always a gentleman. Lawrence J. Mazlack Clifton �STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 National News 5 Street Drinking and Free Markets The value and the cost of public sobriety By Amanda Waldroupe Street News Service Neighbourhood Involvement, says another are some of the most popular products at the group of concern are teenagers and people stores. Street Roots interviewed nine storeowners in their twenties drinking in public while on ortland, Ore. – City Commissioner their way to shows, house parties and other for this article. Three requested anonymity Amanda Fritz’s office and the Of- social outings. Another population of street because they feared political backlash from fice of Neighbourhood Involvement drinkers, Marchetti says, are youths known the city and the Oregon Liquor Control Com(ONI) is attempting to decrease the amount by the police to favor boxed wine. mission (OLCC). For this article, they will be of public drinking in downtown Portland by Proponents of the alcohol ban say street referred to as Storeowner #1, Storeowner #2 convincing grocery storeowners to voluntari- drinking leads to other livability issues, such and Storeowner #3. ly not carry certain kinds of alcoholic bever- as aggressive panhandling, public urination Owners expressed concern about how the ages. agreement drafted at the first meeting would and defecation and an increase in littering. But all the initiative is resulting in so far is The Downtown Neighbourhood Associa- impact their sales. fury from grocery-store owners and collective tion, Old Town/Chinatown Neighbourhood “In this economy, I can’t believe that they’re agreement that it is not a real solution, with Association, Old Town Chinatown Business trying to do something like this when so many only a fraction of them agreeing to comply. Association, Downtown Retail Council, Travel small businesses are struggling,” Storeowner “VibrantPDX,” as the initiative is called, is a Portland and the social service agency voluntary agreement between grocery stores Central City Concern (founded in 1979 and the Office of Neighbourhood Involve- to specifically provide services for peo- The Portland Police Bureau gave 1,740 citations for ment not to sell alcoholic beverages with ple known as “public inebriates”) sup- public drinking in downtown Portland in 2009. That high-alcohol content. That includes malt li- port the initiative. accounts for 53 percent of all public drinking in the quor and beer with names such as Old Eng“We would like to see a limit on the city. Twenty-five percent of all individuals being lish 800, Steel Reserve, Milwaukie’s Best Ice accessibility of certain types of alcohol held in detox came from the downtown area. and Camo Malt Liquor. that are more amenable to chronic alSixty-seven grocery stores within assigned coholism that people are dying from,” limits of the city’s downtown area have been says Ed Blackburn, executive director of Cen- #3 says. asked to sign an agreement. The purpose of tral City Concern. “I can’t think of a good reaBoyer recognizes that concern and says the program is to decrease what proponents son to keep these high-level alcoholic bever- that economic considerations have stopped some owners from signing the agreement. ages available.” “It’s a tough pitch to make in a rough econ“These high-alcohol volume drinks are pretty mar- omy,” he says. Doug Peterson, owner of Peterson’s Conketed to our types of clients,” venience Stores, says 10 percent of his store’s Mattsson says. In exchange for entering sales are in beer. One storeowner said his sales into the agreement, Mar- could drop by as much as 20 percent. Chris chetti told storeowners that Girard, the owner of Plaid Pantry, is skeptical they would be recognized by that sales would be impacted, based upon his Commissioner Fritz for be- store’s experience in Seattle. Boyer argued during the first meeting that ing socially responsible and would have their store logos the grocery stores would ultimately become prominently displayed on her more profitable because stores would gain customers who in the past had been unwillWeb site. Public meetings with stor- ing to shop at those stores. Storeowners argued that the reason their eowners were held Feb. 4 and 18 and March 4. The meet- sales would be so negatively impacted is that ings, Marchetti says, were very few of their customers are street drinkdesigned to solicit feedback ers. from storeowners about the “I’m not catering to these people,” Peteragreement. son says, referring to the majority of his cusMalt liquor is among the products targeted in downtown Portland. “This is meant to be a col- tomers as “middle America” people. Photo by Amanda Waldroupe. laborative effort,” she says. One owner used the term “smorgasbord” to But from the moment the describe his clientele. During the first public call “street drinking” or drinking in public. It public process got out of the gate, there were meeting, it was expressed loud and clear that is illegal in Portland, and offenders are given problems. condo owners, Portland State University stua citation, which does not come with fines or dents, culinary students, tourists, people on other types of punishment. The economics of microbrews their way home from work, middle-income The Portland Police Bureau gave 1,740 ciand even higher-income people represent The first meeting Feb. 4 was attended by the majority of the people doing business at tations for public drinking in downtown Portland in 2009. That accounts for 53 percent of approximately 20 storeowners. All expressed grocery stores. all public drinking in the city. Twenty-five per- concern with the agreement as it had been “We have a lot of customers that prefer the cent of all individuals being lower cost beer without abusing held in detox came from the it,” Girard says. “We would like to see a limit on the accessibility of certain types downtown area. Girard’s point gets at a probof alcohol that are more amenable to chronic alcoholism that Steve Mattsson, the manlem with the alcohol ban more ager of Hooper Detox’s sobasic and philosophical than people are dying from. I can’t think of a good reason to keep bering station for intoxiimpacted sales. these high-level alcoholic beverages available.” cated individuals, says the Some business owners feel ~Ed Blackburn, executive director of Central City Concern. station has 12,000 admislike they are being told what to and what not to sell as it is. Many sions a year. Fifty percent of would only say off the record that the city is those people will return “on a repeated basis,” drafted by Marchetti and ONI. The agreement would have banned all acting inappropriately when telling busihe says. In his mind, there is no doubt that 16-ounce and 24-ounce containers, sold in- nesses what to do. The program, one owner there is a street drinking problem. “Over the last two years, one of the most dividually or in six-packs, and all beer with an says, negatively impacts free enterprise and frequent complaints we get were problems alcohol content over 5.75 percent per ounce. limits an individual’s ability, one said, to exaround street drinking,” says Mark Friedman, That would have included all beers from Old ercise free will. English 800 to beers made by local, popular “Let the consumer decide,” Peterson says. a Central Precinct officer. Owners, especially Peterson, argued that “It is a compelling problem in a small area,” breweries. Marchetti says the agreement’s original much of the agreement unfairly penalized says Theresa Marchetti, ONI’s liquor license stipulations were based on research that had stores. specialist. “The problem is pretty much identified She emphasizes that it is a location-based been conducted on other municipalities that had created similar programs, such as Seat- with cheap, high-alcohol content,” Peterson – not a store-based – problem. says. “The microbrews are not cheap. The “(And) it’s not a problem we can really ig- tle. “We started with what we thought was go- prices are too high for street drinkers.” nore,” Marchetti says. As a result of the initial meetings, Oregon Sources for this story largely pointed to ing to be the most effective way to deal with microbrews are now listed as an exception to homeless people when describing the pop- the issue,” she says. Storeowners pushed back when it came to the ban. Sixteen-ounce singles and six-packs ulation of street drinkers. But Mike Boyer, a crime prevention specialist in the Office of 16-ounce singles and six-packs, saying they were also listed as exceptions. P �6 National News STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 Street Drinking and Free Markets Continued from p. 5 As a result of the changes, Peterson says he probably will not have a problem signing the agreement. Girard would like a few more exceptions to be made so Plaid Pantry could continue carrying particular types of popular beer. He has been working with ONI to see whether those changes could be approved. If they are, he will sign on. Sketchy data The core data and statistics ONI used when crafting the ban agreement are not the citation reports from the Portland Police Bureau, but from Portland Patrol, Inc., according to Marchetti. Portland Patrol, Inc., a private security firm that contracts with the Portland Business Alliance to patrol downtown Portland, conducted a targeted mission between May 21 and June 17 last year to make contact with people drinking in public to find out what kind of alcohol they were drinking, where they were drinking it and what size container it was in. Portland Patrol officers made 289 contacts during that time. Portland Patrol, Inc. would not make the records available to Street Roots (the records are not public). Nor was the data made available during any of the three meetings. But a spreadsheet of compiled data provided by the Office of Neighbourhood Involvement shows that the common containers were 16and 24-ounce bottles and cans of beer with an alcohol content of 5.9 percent per ounce. (For comparison, Deschutes Brewery’s Mir“I don’t think (the street ror Pond Pale Ale is 4.53 percent alcohol drinking problem) is per ounce.) overwhelming, I do Many storeowners think that the reason said they were suspithey are finding so many street drinkers in cious of the data at downtown Portland is the Feb. 4 meeting. In that we have, through what parts of downthe (Portland Business town were the street drinkers found? What Alliance), we have (Portland Patrol, Inc.),” exactly did the statistics show? How was - Chris Girard ONI making a connection between street drinking and the stores? There are two reasons why the data would cause concern. First, Portland Patrol only patrols downtown. Any street drinking that takes place in inner Southeast Portland, for example, would not have been recorded or noticed by ONI. Second is the timing of Portland Patrol’s mission. The summer months in Portland, though glorious for much-awaited sunlight and farmers’ markets, are also the time when there is a noticeable influx of people and activity on the streets. “I don’t think (the street drinking problem) is overwhelming,” Girard says. “I do think that the reason they are finding so many street drinkers in downtown Portland is that we have, through the (Portland Business Alliance), we have (Portland Patrol, Inc.),” Girard says. Not so voluntary Responses from all stores were expected by March 12. April 1 is the date set for the beginning of the alcohol ban. A review will take place in October, according to Marchetti, to review how well the program is working and if there were any “unintended consequences.” As of March 17, only 12 of 67 stores had signed the agreement. Marchetti says she is not surprised more storeowners have not signed up, because the final draft of the agreement was not available until late in the week of March 8. Marchetti and Boyer were conducting street outreach to each store to make a last-ditch effort to get stores to sign the agreement. What the success of the program depends on, Boyer says, is bigger stores in the downtown area, such as Safeway, Whole Foods and Plaid Pantry, signing the agreement. Small stores will feel compelled to sign on if there is a critical mass. “If they don’t take the lead and step forward, you’re not going to get 100 percent compliance,” Boyer says. Marchetti is willing to up the ante if compliance isn’t voluntary. City council can be petitioned to allow Marchetti to work with OLCC to declare downtown Portland an “alcohol impact” area. Doing so would create mandatory guidelines storeowners would be required to follow regarding types of alcohol they could and could not carry. A similar string of events happened in Seattle. Seattle declared parts of its downtown “alcohol impact” areas in 2003 to respond to problems associated with street drinking. The program was voluntary at first. But businesses were not willing to voluntarily stop carrying particular types of alcohol because they were concerned “it was going to hit their bottom line,” says Kimberly Archie, the deputy director of Seattle’s Department of Neighbourhoods. As a result, “we weren’t seeing any improvement in chronic public inebriation,” Archie says. Seattle petitioned the Washington State Liquor Control Board in 2006 to make the alcohol ban mandatory. Archie says there were no legal repercussions. Since then statistics have shown a 21 percent decrease in admissions to detox centers, a 35 percent decrease in calls to the police and a 61 percent decrease of drinking in parks. Marchetti is hoping for similar results, voluntary or mandatory. An extensive public process is required before the OLCC can make a recommendation that the alcohol ban be mandatory. Marchetti says it would take at least a year, starting late this summer or early fall. than other places. It’s not feasible.” Spreading out the social services and low-income housing, self-policing stores, increasing fines and punishment for street drinking and increasing fund“In the long run, what ing for treatment solves the problem is were all ideas offered providing services that by storeowners. help people get off the Many storeowners streets and support already make efforts them in efforts to stop to self-police whom their drinking.” they sell alcohol to, - Ed Blackburn checking a person’s ID or asking for rent receipts given out by hotels to ensure that a customer has a place to take the alcohol to. “We’ll sell them alcohol if they have a street address,” Peterson says. “It’s easy to do,” Storeowner #1 says. This storeowner also thought it would be beneficial to require all store clerks to take the same class the OLCC requires of servers at bars and restaurants. Part of what that class teaches is how to recognize people who are visibly intoxicated. Clerks who sell alcohol to such people, or to people whom they know are chronic drinkers, should not have jobs at grocery stores, the storeowner says. Boyer and Marchetti said that, when the VibrantPDX initiative was being crafted, there was no effort to include a component that would increase the amount of alcohol treatment available or create some sort of outreach or education program for individuals engaged in street drinking. “This is the start of the efforts,” Boyer says. But is there an effort to partner with Multnomah County, which is the principal funder for alcohol treatment in the county, to increase spending or outreach for alcohol treatment? “There is not a well-thought out plan at this point,” Boyer says. Marchetti says treatment was not considered along with the alcohol ban because “our expertise and understanding of the problem is more on the supply line.” Marchetti says she is also not sure if alcohol treatment is relevant. “I don’t think we could say that all of the street drinkers are alcoholics,” she says. As Seattle crafted its alcoholic impact areas, investing further in alcohol treatment was not considered, Archie says. Yet she recognizes that Seattle’s policy is not “a total solution to the problem.” ‘Help people get off the streets’ Storeowner #2, along with a few other storeowners, said he would be willing to donate Almost everyone interviewed for this article the amount of money lost in sales as a result thinks downtown Portland has a street drink- of the alcohol ban – or at least a fraction – to ing problem. But no one will stand behind the social-service agencies that provide alcohol street drinking initiative as a solution to street treatment. There is a precedent for business drinking. At best, it will mitigate the problem. associations such as the Portland Business Al“It makes it harder for them to get a lot of al- liance putting their financial resources toward cohol,” Blackburn says. “I would never suggest creating programs and policies that address sothat it’s a cure to this type of alcoholism.” cial problems. “We don’t expect this to eliminate the prob“In the long run, what solves the problem is lem,” Marchetti says. providing services that help people get off the She does expect it to decrease. streets and support them in efforts to stop their Some think it will simply decrease because drinking,” Blackburn says. street drinking will move to other areas of the “I would say that every single one of our clicity. ents want treatment,” Mattsson says. “There are at least four stores just on the But the likelihood that they will actually enother side of the Interstate 405,” Storeowner #3 ter a treatment program is slim. Ten people says. “They can walk over there. What’s the dif- are discharged from Hooper each day. Only ference? It doesn’t make any sense to me.” 10 treatment slots open up per month. That It is not possible, Marchetti says, to make the means that people who have the potential to program citywide because “there are definite successfully complete a treatment program pockets of places that exhibit greater problems are only cycling through detox, over and over again. “It’s not the best way to treat these clients,” Mattsson says. Follow Streetvibes “We have to expect we’re going to see them over again.” www.facebook.com/streetvibescincinnati Reprinted from Street Roots © Street News Service: www. twitter.com/streetvibesnews street-papers.org streetvibes.wordpress.com �STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 Column Poverty, Choice and Serenity Deprivation and what we do with it 7 poverty lead to spiritual renewal like that of these others? Actually, most people in poverty do make the best of a bad situae had a pretty rugged winter this year, but I know at tion. And many achieve great spiritual levels. I have had great spirileast two people who slept out-of-doors through the tual teachers from among the poor. whole of it. I believe it has nothing to do with he weakness or failure of the One is a client. Driven by alcohol and poverty, he spent his nights individuals, and everything to do with the difference between volsleeping behind a downtown restaurant. On the reuntary and imposed poverty. Choice, in certain matally bad nights, he snuck into a parking garage. He ters, makes all the difference. For example, going back laughs about the experience, but there is an edge to to my friend the monk, there are only two sorts of peoThere is a sort of his laughter. He’s in his forties now. How many more ple who sleep in a cell: monastics and prisoners. The back-to-the-land, winters like this can he take? off-the-grid, out-of- monk chooses to take to his or her cell and can revoke I also have a friend the-rat-race poverty that choice at any moment. The prisoner is stuck in who lives a pretty celebrated by these his or her cell until the state decides. There is a world rugged life. He sleeps of difference between going on a fast and having your poems, stories outside year-round, food stamps stolen. If I’m on a fast, I can choose when and songs that is even in the harshest to start eating again. If I have been thrust into poverty, characterized by By Michael Henson weather. He owns I don’t necessarily have the choice. simplicity, dignity, nothing, or next to Choice is everything when it comes to the conseorderliness, calm nothing. If he wants and serenity. It is a quences of deprivation. But there is more than one to get somewhere, he usually walks. He will walk for poverty of freedom kind of choice. miles. He’s often alone for long stretches of time and and unfettered-ness. There is the choice some people make to go into really expects to stay that way. It improves the mind voluntary poverty. They are the most likely to gain But he suffers little, if at all, from the rigors of his something on a spiritual or personal level from the and spirit. It is the life. Although he lives in poverty, he is not poor. And poverty of the saints. experience of poverty. They go into it with a specific he has a serenity and peace of mind, something we all agenda; and there is a vast body of teaching, both resay we value, even if we don’t do much to get it. ligious and secular, that will take them through the My friend is a Trappist monk, one of many men and women who, experience. The other great advantage of voluntary poverty is that in joining a contemplative order, take a vow of poverty. (They also you can always leave. I’ve known several people enter monasterusually take a vow of chastity and obedience as well, but those are ies, then return to their lives, both spiritually and monetarily better way out of my topic.) off. There is a tradition in literature and song that associates poverty Then there are those who “choose” poverty by their actions. They and serenity. “The world is too much with us,” the poet tells us. gamble away their savings, either at the slots or in the stock mar“Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers.” The poetry of ket. They drink it up and piss it out. They snort it up their nose or William Blake is haunted by the horrors of urban poverty, which burn it up in a pipe. They might “choose” to be born into the wrong he contrasts to the simple life of the rural poor. Yeats’s “Lake Isle family and they might continue to make choices that compound of Innisfree,” Thoreau’s Walden, and Willie Nelson’s “Luckenback their poverty: They have too many children, or have them too early. Texas” are all of the same mythic material. Blow up your TV, sings The wrong marriage or the wrong divorce can have John Prine: disastrous consequences on a person’s finances. I believe it has . . . Throw away your papers, But none of these choices involves an intention Go to the country, to become poor. People enter poverty for a vari- nothing to do with he Build you a home. ety of reasons, many of which have nothing at all weakness or failure Plant a little garden, to do with choices they make (corporate layoffs, of the individuals, Eat a lot of peaches, outsourcing, an injury, an illness – any one of these and everything to do Try and find Jesus will do the job nicely). with the difference On your own. People who enter voluntary poverty generally between voluntary It works for my friend. A photographer and poet, he is one of the benefit from it. People who have poverty thrust on and imposed poverty. happiest and most creative men I know. There is something about them generally suffer from it. Why? Choice, in certain giving up the race for more money and more status that clarifies the I read recently of Saint Juan of the Cross, a Spanmatters, makes all mind, lifts the spirit and soothes the soul. There is a sort of back- ish monk who was thrown into prison and tortured the difference. to-the-land, off-the-grid, out-of-the-rat-race poverty celebrated by for beliefs his tormentors could not understand. these poems, stories and songs that is characterized by simplicity, The result included the long poem we know of as dignity, orderliness, calm and serenity. It is a poverty of freedom “The Long Dark Night of the Soul. “ and unfettered-ness. It improves the mind and spirit. It is the povBut we are not all saints. erty of the saints. Is it real? My friend lives it. Poverty, involuntary poverty, is not just an economic problem. So if poverty is so damn good for us, why don’t more of us choose Poverty is a wound to the psyche. Some people have more wounds poverty? And why aren’t more poor people as happy as my friend? and deeper wounds than others, and it makes no sense to judge or The poverty most of us see is characterized instead by dirt, dis- to compare. ease, uncertainty, violence, stress, trauma, indignity, scorn, disorThat I have decided to make something positive out of degradaderliness, blocked goals, contempt and self-contempt. tion does not mean it stopped being degradation. Perhaps, instead of judging or comparing, we should consider Why should it be this way? Why can’t poor people get themselves together and make the best of a bad situation? Why doesn’t their eliminating the degradations of involuntary poverty. W ammered H Michael Henson is author of Ransack, A Small Room with Trouble on My Mind, The Tao of Longing and Crow Call. Streetvibes vendors keep 75% of sales. Consider helping Streetvibes with our publication costs by making a tax-deductible donation or by purchasing a subscription. Streetvibes is the activist newspaper, advocating justice, building community. Your gift is tax-deductible and will go to producing the paper every two weeks. Started in 1997, Streetvibes is distributed by homeless and formerly homeless vendors who purchase the paper for 25 cents and sell it for $1, keeping the 75 cent profit. Make checks payable to “Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless” I want to support Streetvibes and the vendors. $25 Please return your contribution to: GCCH 117 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Name: Address: E-mail: $50 $100 $150 Other $ _______ �8 STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 Recipe “Feed Me, Seymour, Feed Me All Night Long…” Veggie Spaghetti Serving Size: 3-4 bellies. 16-oz. package spaghetti or angel hair noodles 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 white onion chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 zucchini squash, diced 2 14.5-oz. cans stewed tomatoes, undrained 6-oz. can tomato paste 1/8 cup sugar 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 3 teaspoons dried basil or ¼ cup chopped fresh basil 1 teaspoon dried oregano or 3 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano 2.25-oz can black olives, undrained Photo by Jeni Jenkins. By Jeni Jenkins Staff Writer T his dish is one that I have enjoyed weekly most of my life. My mother says that, when I was a child, I would have eaten spaghetti for breakfast, lunch and dinner, if she would have allowed it. Apparently when I was too young to even pronounce my words correctly, I would beg her for “basgetti.” Even as an adult, when I return home for visits, she teases me playfully, indicating her sarcastic surprise when I voice my desire to make spaghetti. This dish is one of the many spaghetti recipe variations I have explored over the years. This has become my favorite way to make spaghetti, combining my love for veggies, red sauce and stringy noodles. 1. Begin preparing the noodles as directed. 2. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium low heat and sauté the onion and garlic 3-4 minutes until the onions turn translucent. 3. Add zucchini to the onions and garlic and sauté an additional 2 minutes. 4. Turn the heat up slightly to medium high and add the stewed tomatoes. Cook approximately 2 minutes, stirring continuously. 5. In a bowl, combine the tomato paste, oregano, basil and sugar. Stir with a spoon until smooth. Carefully add the mix to the skillet. 6. Add the undrained olives and stir, simmer an additional 4 minutes. 7. Spoon generous helpings of the prepared sauce over the finished noodles. 8. For added yum factor, sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the hot sauce and serve with garlic bread and fresh salad. 9. Voila, FEED! Artwork By Anthony Williams ! ? t a h W The fundamental rights of humanity are, first: the right of habitation; second, the right to move freely; third, the right to the soil and subsoil, and to the use of it; fourth, the right of freedom of labor and of exchange; fifth, the right to justice; sixth, the right to live within a natural national organization; and seventh, the right to education. – Albert Schweitzer Say___________________ �STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 9 Poetry Page Poetry is the Language of the People, and All is Poesy, and All is Holy By Carolyn R. Hanks I go among the people of the earth Listening and hearing all languages and manners of speech; I wander Among the fathers and sons of the earth and I hear the cries of their children And their children’s children, and to my ears all is Poesy. I go also Among the mothers and daughters and sons; I hear the holy sounds of their voices, All poetry, and all holy. I was told that the Word is a manifestation of thought: So in the beginning, the Great mother-Father God/Goddess was the Word, and the Word became Light, and there was Light. So also there was darkness, as well as All seasons and all days and nights, and also all holy. My lips were opened and I sang a song, it became my song for the people, And I, too, became holy, in the presence of the Great Spirit, whose many names Are Mother Walking Bear, Sister Moon and Brother Wolf and Goddess Kali and Mother of the sons and daughters of men and women and of God, And all is Poesy, all is Holy. Better than Rust By Spencer Ledyard “My god,” Laura said. As she felt the red, Thick weight of welling tears. “My dear, it’s been years.” “Oh, I know. Like ten, right? That is a while, a good while. So, what are you doing? Kids and a family, like everyone else?” “I work here, downtown, But no children, I’m not wed. I’m engaged to Harry Brown From high school,” Laura said. “Really! My old Harry! I haven’t thought of him in so long. We went to the Spring Formal! In 10th grade … 10th grade.” Laura said, “Oh yes, You wore that blue dress And I was there with … Umm … Joseph Smith?” “Joey was there but I think he was with Cheryl then ’Cause you started dating him After I broke up with Harry.” “You could be right,” Laura said, “I don’t recall. Anyway, later tonight We’ve got the Mayor’s ball.” “So you got to be going. Okay, sure, see ya later. Tell Harry I said hi. And, Laura, you have a good night.” Art by Steven Paul Lansky Poem of Inaction By Steven Paul Lansky yes i like doctrine of inaction it is the same as action only without movement presence of stillness lake is calm glass mirror very reflective The Ghost Bird By Chelsea Ostrow Through searing heat, In a sand coated tent hospital, A whip of pain, Fighting for life, The wheeze of a respirator greets Artistic Expression You’ve Been Dreaming Of. Welcome to the depths of the Beautiful Stranger. Words create Worlds Cementing the future. New life begins. A vast trove of buried treasure Recycling Instrument of Remembrance Introducing a Revolutionary New Dimension In The Happiness Effect. Nadav Kander recommends using a Permanent Birth Control. Something to put about. It lives! Real ingredients are ingredients you understand. Welcome back. “Well, now, hold on … how … Is there something I can, Can do for you, like, now?” Laura said, wringing her hands. “You got a couple bucks, That would be good. And Don’t ask me how it happened. This is just how things are.” Story World By Chelsea Ostrow Little Bo Peep fucked her sheep Maiden Mary was appalled This caused such a ruckus, The Lady in the Shoe stopped fucking Douglas And all her kids were mauled. The Three Blind Mice heard this thrice they couldn’t imagine the sight! Jack and Jill got a divorce and Jack ran off with Snow White The Seven Dwarfs shot Jack in the head after he took the Little Mermaid to bed. The entire time Alice thought she was just a little brain dead but truth be told she took a hold of what the White Rabbit was dealing. She followed the Rabbit down his hole hoping he’d put it in hers, she got on her knees, simply said please and the Rabbit gave it to Alice while kneeling. Alice died and lost her pride. and that was the end of that. Now you know that what you’re told can’t be all but true. Take into consideration the different aspects of information and everything you thought you once knew. �10 STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 Housing Issues King’s Death Led to Fair Housing Ending housing discrimination: The urgency marches on By Michelle Dillingham Contributing Writer O ne of my favorite quotations is credited to Otto von Bismarck: “Laws are like sausages. It’s better not to see them being made.” Yet one of my hobbies is to read about legislative history, sort of like how some people like to watch horror movies. Go figure. To research this article, I reviewed the legislative history of the federal Fair Housing Act. The Fair Housing Act was adopted in 1968 and made it illegal to discriminate in housing transactions based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, disability or familial status. I discovered an article written by Jean Eberhart Dubofsky contemporaneous to the law’s passage. It tells the story of how fair-housing legislation was added into the Civil Rights Act as an amendment by U.S. Sen. Walter Mondale in 1967. It is really fascinating but too lengthy to cover here. Near the end of the story, after much political maneuvering and debate, we find the bill referred to the House Rules Committee, where action was deferred and hearings were dragging on. On the morning of April 4, 1968, many feared the Senate’s civil rights bill might perish in committee. That evening, Martin Luther King was assassinated. “Martin Luther King’s death accomplished one thing; it dislodged the Civil Rights Bill of 1968 from the Rules Committee,” Dubofsky writes. “On April 8, shaken by the disorders in Washington, the committee concluded its hearings. …On April 10, with National Guard troops called up to meet riot conditions in Washington still in the basement of the Capitol, the House debated fair housing. … On April 11 the Civil Rights Act of 1968 became law. The new law begins with the following words: ‘It is the policy of the United States to provide, within constitutional limits, for fair housing throughout the United States.’ ” How bittersweet that King’s tragic death catapulted fair housing into the civil rights bill, and his passing provided the urgency needed to help that bill became law. Fast-forward 42 years. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) declares 2010 a “Time to Act” – a slogan to reflect the urgency of ensuring fair housing. As time passes, new varieties of housing discrimination continue to rear their ugly heads. HUD reports that it “for the first time ever is examining the prevalence of housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and discrimination based on a tenant’s use of government assistance to pay rent.” Forty-two years later we are still urgently fighting housing discrimination. And then there are fair-housing issues related to land use and zoning. Two years ago the Cincinnati Planning Department proposed zoning text amendments that set limits on where certain organizations may serve certain people. Many citizens came out in opposition, including Elizabeth Brown, executive director of Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME), who testified that the proposed changes violate the Fair Housing Act. The planning department did not pursue the text amendments, although they will undoubtedly resurface in another form. I was recently asked to serve on behalf of Affordable Housing Advocates on the City/County Fair Housing Advisory Committee. Fair housing is not the same as affordable housing. Affordability refers to one’s ability to meet his or her housing needs. Fair housing refers to one’s right to engage in housing transactions that are not influenced by race, color, national origin, religion, gender, disability or familial status. However, often the affordability and discrimination are connected, because many people who live in subsidized housing happen to be families, minorities and people with disabilities, which are protected groups under the Fair Housing Act. The Fair Housing Committee’s charge is to help identify strategies to implement the recommendations made in the document, “Impediments to Fair Housing in Hamilton County” written by HOME last year. This committee is also in place because HUD requires municipalities that receive federal funding not only to refrain from discriminating, but also to exceed the basic requirements and affirmatively further fair housing. We gather for a noble cause, to make sure the recommendations made in HOME’s report are not shelved but rather implemented. This month, let us reflect on the untimely death of Martin Luther King Jr. and how it enabled us to have the Fair Housing Act. Learn about what your housing rights are. Help educate your friends, family and neighbors about housing discrimination. The Fair Housing Act protects all of us – black and white, male and female. We were all children once; and if we are lucky enough to live long, we will all have disabilities in old age. For more information about your fair-housing rights, please contact Housing Opportunities Made Equal at 513-21-4663. HOME exists to eliminate illegal discrimination in housing, especially racial discrimination, and to promote balanced living patterns. The Stories of the Man in the Van continued from page 1 A New Stage The project is putting Heideman in a new stage in his life. A better understanding. He has never made a living at art before, but has been making it since he was 18. Most of his work has been two-dimensional oil paintings. Some galleries in Seattle have displayed the paintings. He was supposedly the youngest artist to ever display his work in the Woodside Braseth Gallery. Before starting “The Man in The Van” project, Heideman was working on a screenplay. He eventually scrapped it, deciding that “The Man in the Van” project was a better way to express himself. He wants to try to build relationships again, so why not just start with the general public? “I wanted to be less selfish … have empathy,” he says. By letting others write, he thought he could reach out more to people. “This is much more rewarding,” Heideman says. “I don’t want to become a preacher. I don’t want to be political. The real goal is to get people out of their rut.” Since his visit to Denver, he has travelled the country and has experienced setbacks along the way. Sometimes he thought that he would not make it. But he never gave up. Heideman reached his destination, Grand Rapids, Mich., for the Artprize competition, though things did not end up as he had planned. “The Man in The Van” did not even place in the top 100. “That’s OK,” he says. “It wasn’t about winning a big prize. … I’ve been able to inspire a lot of people and spread a message of empathy and compassion.” Now, after a long road, Heideman is trying to get on with other parts of his life. He is moving to Seattle with a newfound sense of adventure. He has had a few offers from movie producers to discuss “possibilities.” “I’m also hoping to write a book about the whole experience (including transcribed stories), but that’s tough right now because things are a little stressful,” he says. “I’ve been living in a van for over one year now, and I’m ready to move on with my life.” But winning isn’t everything. “It’s amazing what kind of rewards come when you have the courage to serve others,” Heideman says. Reprinted from Denver VOICE © Street News Service: www.street-papers.org If you like what you read, but don’t live in the Cincinnati area, you can subscribe to Streetvibes. Call us at 513-421-7803 x 12 to learn more about subscribing to Streetvibes. �STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 11 Column A Night Walk Reveals the Action F or the average street person, the on- in and out all night, only being caught by set of the night is the crown of the the first light of day. Then it’s time to wind day. It often brings about fear – or down, to sleep most of the day. Amazingperhaps relief from the constant shuffling ly, you might give it some kin to the old of the day. Making one’s way to that place of Temptations song, “Psychedelic Shack.” refuge, which we call our spot, one can end For those who frequent this place, it is the day with a bit of sleep. However, for some where it’s at. of us, it’s just the beginning of a part of our Of course a visit to the Bat Cave is not routine. the only action of the night life. There is The night person is a small percentage of always the waiting game: waiting for the the overall, but is still a feature of the life of right person to come along or the right the street. They wear a telltale sign of the life- situation to occur. Vying to get what you style. Often known seek, you have to spend time by their movetrudging back and forth, from ments, they are a block to block, seeking those breed of a different who live like you do, doing species. Living off the things that you do. Living of their wits, they on the edge, the street people maintain by whatare oblivious to danger in the ever means necesnormal sense. The only fear sary. Most are honone has is of being stopped est by nature, but or detained by the police. The By Riccardo Taylor the life of the street worst-case scenario is to end Streetvibes Vendor can change that. up in jail. The violence, comWe are out on the petition, or other distractions block. OK, let’s see what’s happening. Let’s of the street pale in comparison to havgo over to the “Bat Cave” (usually an aban- ing to spend a night in the holding tank. doned building). Batman doesn’t live here, There is no getting back that time you and the only Robin you’ll see is the one try- lose sitting in the Justice Center. Time, the ing to turn a “trick,” or trick you out of some- most important element of the street life, thing. The Bat Cave is a squatters’ paradise, cannot be wasted sitting in the can. Every Riccardo Taylor. Phpto by Aimie Willhoite. usually set with electricity from a nearby moment of every day has to be utilized building. Without running water, buckets or for the betterment of one’s condition, the canteens are used for the water supply. The hustle for survival. The later – or, if you will, the earlier – the Bat Cave is furnished with discarded furniSomehow you become invisible in the hour, the slower things get. Feet starting to ture that the occupants have found. Keeping night as you duck and dodge through the hurt from all the walking, eyes feeling heavy, with its name, the Bat Cave is only alive with streets. Taking in every step, you don’t miss you know it’s time to find that spot to sleep. A few hours is all you expect. action during the late night. The fluttering a beat. Knowing where the Hate to miss any action, but of arms and legs in swift movement in and action is, you start that way. out of the cave gives the impression of those Anticipating the scene, your There is no getting back I’m done! In places where most who frequent the place, back and forth with- mind picks the route. On this that time you lose sitting people would be appalled, out direction. walk we see a huddle on this in the Justice Center. There he is the houseman directing where or that corner or cars passing. Time, the most important the street person is right at to sit, who gets in and who leaves. His main An occasional shout, an alert element of the street life, home. A lot of us are cast into job is to collect the entrance fee, usually a to which way to go, a nod cannot be wasted sitting the role we play. You learn to go with the flow, so to speak. hit of dope or a few dollars. Everybody tend- signals that it’s right here. in the can. Every moing his own habit: 40-ounces being passed, Often the walk is where the ment of every day has to Still, that reality that things a crack pipe being pushed or perhaps a action is. Much more move- be utilized for the better- are different and that we can joint being shared, each in their own world. ment than if we are stuck in ment of one’s condition, have a part of that eludes our senses. Chase the action, usThough it seems chaotic, there is order in the Cave or held up in some the hustle for survival. ing up all of your facilities the cave. The stays are generally short. When house. It’s the darting in and to come to the same conyou have nothing left to share, it’s time for out that attracts you, so you you to go; or when you have had your plea- walk the way that you know something is clusion. This becomes the mindset of those sure, you realize that it’s time for you to get happening. Number-one rule: Avoid conflict who live this way, and life goes on. The walk back to the block to come up. or dispute. There is enough mistrust and po- continues. The residents of this humble abode are tential violence waiting. Street Life Affordable Rates etvibes? tre nS rested in Advert Inte isin gi Many sizes (full page, 1/2 page, 1/4 page, 1/8 page) Black & White and Color available Discounts for Nonprofits Contact Lynne at 513-421-7803 ext. 11 or lynneausman@cincihomeless.org for more information. Go Ahead: Ask a Vendor Invitation to a dialogue with our readers Streetvibes vendors see a lot that you might not. For example, some can describe what goes on in an abandoned building at night when they sleep there. Have you ever wondered what it’s like to stand on a street corner selling newspapers? That’s hardly a common occupation anymore. How much money do Streetvibes vendors make – and what do they do with it? Do they have other jobs? If you have questions, some of our vendors would like to answer them. “Go Ahead: Ask a Vendor” will be an occasional feature, with questions submitted by readers and answered by Streetvibes vendors. You may direct your question to a specific vendor or we’ll invite one to respond. Only include your name if you want to. Send questions to streetvibes2@yahoo.com Or to Streetvibes, 117 E. 12th St. Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Go ahead. Ask. Missed an Issue? Check out the Streetvibes archive at www.cincihomeless.org/content/streetvibes �12 Guest Column STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 Russian Women, American Men A cultural experience between young adults By Jeremy Flannery Contributing Writer F ive women from Russia visited Cincinnati in April 2003 to taste the sweet existence that is American. My roommates and I met them through their enrollment with the American Work Experience, a program that offers European college students a fourmonth summer adventure in the United States as low-wage workers. What was their American work experience? They became cashiers for McDonald’s in Corryville and Chipotle in University Heights. One of the women worked with one of my roommates. While at work she told him that they realized their landlord was “scary,” and they needed a new We pointed out such place for the summer. That landlord must sights as Fountain Square have been scary indeed if he compelled women from another nation to flee into the and the concrete river home of three unknown men. And so they that resembles the Rhine moved into the vacant third-floor bedroom River in Deutschland. of the Corryville house we rented. We told them the Taste The women were very shy at first. The of Cincinnati was third floor had a kitchen and bathroom with approaching, one of the a shower, but there was no way to bypass few times per year when the second-floor living room, where my hordes of suburbanites male roommates and I hung out, to access feel safe enough to visit the rest of the house. Even so, I never saw downtown and trash it. our new roommates after leaving work from downtown and the rest of the evening. As a gesture to show they seemed reclusive, I placed a cup of water next to their bedroom door every day. Maybe they thought it was some bizarre local custom – or simply considered it annoying. After two weeks of this routine, the Russian women filed down the stairs one night to join us in the living room. My roommates and I were the most American Americans in America at that time, so the ladies were fortunate to have us to guide them through Cincinnati. We pointed out such sights as Fountain Square and the concrete river that resembles the Rhine River in Deutschland. We told them the Taste of Cincinnati was approaching, one of the few times per year when hordes of suburbanites feel safe enough to visit downtown and trash it. We explained how University Heights becomes a lively locale thanks to the University of Cincinnati students, and we made sure the women knew how to reach University Hospital or call 911 for emergencies. We even said our local government is proficient with assisting people in need. And then we admitted we lied. At the time Cincinnati had a law requiring panhandlers to have licenses. “Why would you need a permit to ask people for money on the streets if the U.S. has freedom of speech?” they asked. Good question. One of the ladies fluently spoke Russian and German and learned some English words during her flight to the U.S. Whenever she couldn’t complete a sentence in English, she would add her native language. “I go to the university in Berlin and, um … (insert many Russian words).” The ladies laughed at our bewildered facial expressions. One was fluent with English and was dubbed the household translator. The other three understood varying degrees of English, but two often requested translations. When my roommates and I told jokes, their laughter became a chorus line, with the Berlin student excluded Interested in volunteering with Streetvibes? Contact Greg Flannery at 513-421-7803 x 12 or by e-mail at streetvibes2@yahoo.com from the crescendo as she awaited a full translation. College tuition didn’t exist at their universities in Russia, and they were required to study a second language by age 8. Cincinnati has more skyscrapers, while their Russian hometown provides more public transportation. These were the only significant differences they noted. The women enjoyed reading the local newspapers and collected bundles of copies to take home. I was surprised. Who actually reads newsAbove all, they reaffirmed my papers? They would huddle and read together as the household translator belief that humans everywhere clarified the writing. are equals simply divided by One of my male roommates prelanguages and national borpared to smoke marijuana. He asked ders. And they proved that it’s the women if they preferred that he possible to survive in the Unitdidn’t. ed States if you’re a Russian “It’s OK,” one of the ladies said. “We female visiting where American understand it is a part of your cul- fast-food chains proliferate, are ture.” accompanied by four friends My roommates and I laughed, and and have three American men the women seemed puzzled by our re- willing to disregard rent when action. faced with a scary landlord. “It’s actually illegal in this country,” God bless Siberia. I said. That is a cultural component of the “Land of the Free.” You might think it’s inappropriate for unmarried women and men to live together. How would we situate cycles to clean our clothes? One of my roommates and I thought we were alone in the house one weekend afternoon. The Russian ladies left to visit the Newport Aquarium. Apparently the Berlin student thought she was alone because she came down the third-floor steps wearing a T-shirt and no pants. She tried to explain she needed to get her clothes from the dryer. We couldn’t understand her, so she pendulously waved her hand, returned from the basement with her clothes and took them to her room – where she remained for the day. I hope she laughs at the memory now. Living with these women for three months was an educational experience. They showed us the Russian alphabet and some words to construct basic sentences. We’d hear them say “knee,” which is short for “nyet” or “no.” If you don’t speak Russian, it would sound like “knee, knee, knee,” and you might think they were about to kickbox. They cooked what they claimed to be Lebanese breakfast for us at 3 a.m. before we strolled through UC’s campus. The meal was pancakes and fruit jam. Then they added an unknown topping and said, “Now it’s Lebanese.” Above all, they reaffirmed my belief that humans everywhere are equals simply divided by languages and national borders. And they proved that it’s possible to survive in the United States if you’re a Russian female visiting where American fast-food chains proliferate, are accompanied by four friends and have three American men willing to disregard rent when faced with a scary landlord. God bless Siberia. My roommate and I drove the women in our cars to the Dayton Airport the night they left in early August. We thanked them for an interesting time and warned that not everyone in the United States is safe to live with. Then they were off to San Francisco. �STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 Sports Kickers Are People, Too 13 Time for the Bengals to draft one By B. Clifton Burke Contributing Writer W ith all the attention surrounding tall receivers and big guys named Tank and Bobbie, the small problem of the kicking situation remains in question. Shayne Graham is an unprotected free agent this year, and there has been no word about the Bengals showing any interest in resigning him. Cincinnati did bring back Dave Raynor – the kicker the Bengals signed after Graham injured himself in the pre-season – but can we trust Raynor more than Graham to make kicks in the playoffs? The Bengals could look to draft a kicker to develop; they selected Cincinnati native Kevin Huber in the fifth round last draft and turned him into an immediate upgrade at the punter position. Special-teams Coach Darren Simmons has attended various college pro days around the country, but that is a pretty standard off-season occurrence and probably shouldn't be analyzed too deeply. Still, there are a few good prospects in this draft. One is Kentucky native Aaron Pettry, an Ohio State alumnus, who is ranked atop many draft charts for kickers this year. Pettry showed a strong leg by making field goals from 50 and 52 yards last season, but his accuracy might be a concern as he missed four times with 40 yards. Texas kicker Hunter Lawrence only missed three times in 27 attempts but didn’t convert anything over 50 yards. There is always an emergency kicker in the free agent market – Billy Cundiff comes to mind – and the Bengals will have to address a long-term answer for that dainty yet crucial spot on the team someday anyway. To take a decent kicker in the middle rounds of the upcoming draft (April 22-24) makes a lot of sense and would be a welcome pick to most fans. But if the team finds itself at its next training camp with Raynor as the only kicker in sight, I think Chad Ochocinco should get a legitimate shot to compete for the starting kicker. We all saw that point-after split the uprights with grace, altitude and distance. Then we watched his ensuing kickoff driven deep to the 10-yard line. The man has a motor mouth, but he also apparently has a kicker’s leg, and it seems worth testing its range. Why not? It would save a roster spot and generate more interest in the team. Eighty-Five is a freak athlete who could probably play professional soccer and who once outraced a horse on television. He has the sleek elegance of a jungle cat on routes and can become boneless around the sidelines to get his feet in. He is a terrific football player, and that could very well include kicking. It is unlikely that Chad ends up the kicker next year, same as Graham. That still just leaves Raynor, and I don't think that’s good enough. The Bengals should either draft a kicker this year or allow Ocho to expand his carnival to special teams. To leave it unaddressed would be foolish; kickers might be small, but they matter too, damn it – they matter, too. Are you interested in helping with Streetvibes? Are you a proofreader, writer, poet, artist or photographer? If so, contact Greg Flannery 513.421.7803 x 12 or email streetvibes2@yahoo.com �14 Vendor Voice STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 Take Power From Corporations There are more of us than them By George Herrell Streetvibes Vendor W hen it comes to deciding the future of any populated neighborhoods, one would think that the residents would have a say. However, unfortunately for some citizens in one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city of Cincinnati, this is not the case. In fact, according to a 2008 study by Dan La Botz – “Who Rules Cincinnati?” – there are seven corporations that, by virtue of their enormous wealth and power, dominate not only the economic but also the social life on Cincinnati. They are Procter & Gamble, Kroger Co., Macy’s Federated Department Stores, Fifth Third Bancorp, Western & Southern Financial, American Financial Corp. and E.W. Scripps. These corporations, combined with some other influential companies, guide all of the important civic, cultural and social organizations of the city. To achieve their goals, large Cincinnati corporations have created a series of private organizations: the Cincinnati Business Committee, Downtown Cincinnati Inc. and Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. Together, these organizations have managed to seize democratic control from the city council, from city agencies and from the public. They’ve managed this by a number of methods – by creating the “strong mayor” system, by abolishing the city planning department and by handing over public planning functions to private organizations, all but destroying public discussion, debate, and democratic control. As any corporate executive will tell you, corporations exist solely to produce profits for their stockholders. Corporate control of the city’s economic and political life for the profits and the accumulation of corporate wealth and property has made Cincinnati the third-poorest midsized city in the United States. Furthermore, it has also served to preserve and sometimes deepen patterns of racial segregation and discrimination. Meanwhile, the corporate CEOs and leaders continue to rake in enormous salaries: *A.G. Lafley of Procter & Gamble, $26.6 million *Terry Lundgren of Macy’s, $16. 3 million *Ken Lowe of E.W. Scripps, $9.8 million *David Dillon of Kroger Co., $7.5 million *Carl Lindner III of American Financial Group, $7.1 million *S. Craig Lindner of American Financial Group, $6.8 million *Fernando Aguirre of Chiquita Brands, $1.9 million *Mike Contreras of E.W. Scripps, $1.3 million The sheer wealth of corporate directors and executives makes it possible for them to have a tremendous influence on the economic, social, and political life of Cincinnati and the region. The millions of dollars they earn in salaries – not to mention other sources of wealth – makes it possible for them to fund political parties, to donate to charities and to give to the arts. Through all of these activities they exert their influence on every aspect of life in our city. Yes, the power of corporations is enormous and yet the situation is not hopeless. The hope for the future of Cincinnati lies not with those at the top who now rule it, but with the majority of the city’s middle-class and workingclass people who, in a democracy, have (if they organize) the numbers, the power and the votes to decide the city’s fate. When Cincinnati citizens voted against David Pepper, the son of a Proctor & Gamble CEO, and for Mark Mallory, many were voting against corporate control and for a larger voice for the people, though others (keeping it real) cast their vote against the long history of white domination over what is now a half-black city. We need to unify our African-American organizations; our progressive churches, temples and mosques; our community-based organizations, our unions and our city’s immigrants. We can accomplish this if we create opportunities for African-American, white and immigrant community activists to meet to talk about organizing unified movement for social change. We need to unite around common struggles and common issues of concern, and we need to find opportunities to put forward candidates of the local social movements. If we are to challenge corporate power, then we must create platforms that speak to working people and to poor people in our city. There must be no more chances for corporate-backed organizations to attempt to herd human beings around the city like they hope to the tenants of the Metropole Apartments for no other purpose than to fuel their all-consuming corporate engines. Stand up, stand out, stand strong! One mile from corporate headquarters. Photo by Rob Goeller Personifying Recovery Remembering Linda Zachary By Larry Gross Contributing Writer A fter battling cancer and surrounded by family and friends, Linda Zachary passed away March 16. Zachary wore many hats as an employee at the Recovery Center – a openly about her own mental illness, schizophrenia. “The more I learn about my illness, the more I let them (her family) know, because my illness runs in our family,” she said. Regarding her involvement with the Recovery Center, she said, “It’s like missed by many. Linda had amazing talent as an artist and dreamed of becoming an art therapist. In the near future, the Recovery Center will be setting up a fund to establish a scholarship fund in honor of Linda to help “Linda has touched many of our lives and truly personified what Recovery was all about. She will be greatly missed my many. Linda had amazing talent as an artist and dreamed of becoming an art therapist.” ~ Linda Ostholthoff non-profit, consumer-driven agency located in Walnut Hills. The agency offers peer support, self-help, and education and community involvement activities for those recovering from mental illness. Zachary taught classes, answered the phone and even swept the floors if needed. She was featured in “All Right to be Different” (see issue of July 1-14, 2010), a story about the Recovery Center. In the story, Zachary talked home. You don’t have to put on airs. There’s peace.” Zachary made a mark at the center, according to Linda Ostholthoff, training coordinator. “Linda has touched many of our lives and truly personified what Recovery was all about,” Ostholthoff says. “She will be greatly Linda Zachary. Photo by Andrew Anderson. a student wanting to become an art therapist.” For more information on The Recovery Center, visit recoverycenterhc. org or call 513-241-1411. �STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 15 Resources Need Help or Want to Help? Shelter: Women and Children Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 4230 Hamilton Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45223 Central Access Point Cincinnati Union Bethel 381-SAFE 768-6907 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 112 E. Liberty Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 300 Lytle Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Bethany House 557-2873 1841 Fairmount Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 6037 Cary Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45224 4600 Erie Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 357-4602 352-2902 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Mental Health Access Point Mercy Franciscan at St. John 558-8888 981-5800 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 NAMI of Hamilton County PATH Outreach 1125 Bank Street, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Salvation Army 5 E. Liberty St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Health Resource Center Homeless Mobile Health Van McMicken Dental Clinic 762-5660 458-6670 977-4489 Treatment: Men 131 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter Other Resources 872-9259 Charlie’s 3/4 House Shelter: Men 784-1853 2121 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 1419 Elm Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 DIC Live In Program Prospect House 721-0643 921-1613 961-2256 381-0111 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 661-4620 First Step Home Shelter: Both 621-5514 214 E. 14th St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart Treatment: Women 1437 Walnut Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Mt. Airy Shelter Starting Over 241-2600 241-2563 1308 Race St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 682 Hawthorne Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45205 Justice Watch 241-0490 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 Center Independent Living Options Emmanuel Community Center 961-4663 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Goodwill industries Healing Connections Mary Magdalen House 771-4800 751-0600 721-4811 1223 Main St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Anthony House (Youth) 961-4080 Treatment: Both 761-1480 AA Hotline CCAT 2728 Glendora Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45209 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 1821 Summit Road, Cinti, Ohio 45237 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Interfaith Hospitality Network Lighthouse Youth Center (Youth) 471-1100 221-3350 3330 Jefferson, Cinti, Ohio 45220 Housing: CMHA Excel Development OTR Community Housing 721-4580 632-7149 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 961-4555 751-0643 381-1954 421-5211 Food/Clothing Lord’s Pantry OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 621-5300 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert, Cinti, Ohio 45206 621-6364 Hamilton/Middletown 946-4888 281-7422 681-0324 641-4300 St. Raephaels Salvation Army Serenity House Day Center Open Door Pantry 863-3184 863-1445 422-8555 868-3276 Advocacy Northern Kentucky Catholic Social Action Community Action Agency Contact Center 421-3131 569-1840 381-4242 579-8547 241-9400 421-1108 363-3300 421-2437 621-1868 Women’s Crisis Center VA Domiciliary VA Homeless 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 859-491-8303 799 Ann St. Newport, KY ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. Legal Aid Society Ohio Justice & Policy Center Faces Without Places Stop AIDS Brighton Center 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Health Center for Respite Care 859-491-3335 859-559-5011 859-572-6226 3550 Washington Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45229 1730 Race Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 St. Francis Soup Kitchen Hamilton County ADAS Board Recovery Health Access Center Sober Living Talbert House 351-7921 631-1114 211 977-5541 421-5211 241-2965 1522 Republic Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 1227 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Tom Geiger House Dana Transitional Bridge Services Volunteers of America Anna Louise Inn Our Daily Bread 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. Cinti, Ohio 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 217 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 351-0422 381-6672 People Working Cooperatively The Caring Place United Way Women Helping Women Off The Streets 535-2719 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 Do you remember the magic of your First Book? Please consider giving the gift of reading to a low-income child in Cincinnati this year. Established in 2001, First Book - Greater Cincinnati has already granted more than 45,000 books and over $60,000 to local nonprofit literacy programs serving thousands of low-income children in Greater Cincinnati. Make checks payable to “First Book - Greater Cincinnati” I Want to Bring the Magic of Books to Children Who Need Them! $20 (10 books) Please return your contribution to: First Book Greater Cincinnati 572 Northland Blvd. Cincinnati, Ohio 45240 $40 (20 books) $80 (40 books) $100 (50 books) Other $ _______ Name: Address: E-mail: Call 513-421-7803 x11 to learn about Streetvibes subscriptions �16 Artists as Activists STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 Dark Humor and Harmony Kevin T. Kelly’s spiritual trek “A rt is the tangible manifestation of an eternal spirit that flows through all things,” says Kevin T. Kelly. “When I get immersed in creating art, I lose track of time and space; I am only in the ‘now’ moment, communing with the sacred and spiritual, with a universal energy, a force bigger than me that manifests itself through me. I feel deeply satisfied and connected, as if touched by the hand of God.” Kelly is an artist and educator who grew up in Ludlow, Ky. After high school he attended the Art Academy of Cincinnati and earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in sculpture. He moved to New York City for six years, working as a studio assistant to Pop artist Tom Wesselmann. As a child Kelly drew non-stop, inspired and coached by his father, who nurtured his talent, teaching him perspective, creating images for him to copy. Although his degree is in sculpture, Kelly shifted entirely to painting after college. “My sculptures were more akin to assemblages, comparable to drawings in 3D,” he says. “I always Kevin T. Kelly stands in front of his new landscape paintings. Photo by Bill Howes. liked the Pop genre and decided to explore it in painting to reflect my perceptions on personal experiences, the huWith humor, Kelly’s work examined various facets of the human man condition, as well as on society in general. “ drama. Family issues, relationships, communication and mispercepFrom the beginning, tions all found their way into his paintings, often with a dose of cyniKelly felt that art needed cism and sarcasm. content and that it needParadigm Lost is based on a car advertisement from the 1950s. A ed to convey a message. man is driving; his wife is blindfolded. The message of the ad is that He is not an abstraction- the car runs so smoothly the wife is not even aware of the ride. Kelist, but rather a figurative ly re-contextualized the image to reflect upon the issue of the everas painter whose work tells changing roles of gender and identity in society. a story, is socially aware, In Club Lust, an apparently wealthy married couple is shown in and taps into the emo- the intimacy of their bedroom. While the wife is waiting, sitting on By Saad Ghosn tions of the time. As an the bed, her husband is instead admiring and enamored with a golf Contributing Writer undergraduate he cre- driver. The bedroom window opens on a golf course and an image of ated works on apartheid the same hangs on the wall. Kelly used the painting as a metaphor for and Nazism, in particular the hidden aspects of relationships, for what is expected, what actuthe “Monster of Vienna,” a Nazi with no remorse for his atrocities – ally happens or does not happen; he depicted in it the openly unspotopics prominent in the news. While working at Wesselmann’s studio ken truth, reality versus perception, the dissonance of the moment Kelly continued his own art. He created a series of black cutout still encountered in personal exchanges. The painting also alluded to the lifes that did not satisfy him; they prompted him, however, to move in role sports play in people’s lives, particularly at retirement – a curse a different direction – Pop art. and a blessing at the same time. “Pop art allowed me, through visual metaphors, to establish allegoMany of Kelly’s topics come from his personal experiences and reries and narratives which looked at personal dilemmas and percep- flections. The more he delves into them, the more he connects with tions, and apply them to a general societal context,” he says, “It let me himself, his emotions, his beliefs and values. It is an uncovering proopen a visual dialogue with the viewer while trying to get to universal cess, like peeling off the skins of an onion, exposing layer after laytruth.” er. Often and sometimes after the fact , he says, he realizes that his paintings subconsciously relate to his own history – his divorce, for instance – yet have a universality due to their basic human subject. Kelly always tries to convey his thoughts and messages with subtlety and humor. He does not want his paintings to impose his views; he strives to understand and represent the other side, engaging viewers in the debate, expanding their awareness, indirectly leading them to the spirituality of life. All along Kelly has been interested in his own spiritual quest. A year ago he became dissatisfied and wanted to part with the cynical dark humor of his work, striving instead for more beauty, joy, serenity. He began reevaluating his belief system, meditating daily, embracing Taoist philosophy and learning the disciplines of Qi Quong and Tai Chi. This led his work into a new direction. He is now focusing on painting calm and harmonious landscapes, conveying the awe and grandeur of nature, its perpetual change, its peace and spirituality. They are small, intimate, meditative paintings. “I began looking at places I’ve passed hundreds of times, really noticing their beauty and abundance for the first time,” Kelly says. “Nature is in a continual state of becoming, and I equate it metaphorically in these new landscape paintings to one’s journey from ego to spirit. “It’s my attempt at conveying to the viewer a transpersonal experience which transcends the mundane veneer of just focusing on personal and societal ills. I want to offer in these works the gift of serenity, a haven of solace and tranquility for anyone willing to take the time to look.” Kelly’s art always comes from his heart. Whether through Pop art or new landscape paintings, it affirms who he is, conveys his beliefs and worldly views, shares his spiritual journey. Using symbols and metaphors, it aims at a higher level of understanding Club Lust, acrylic painting by Kevin T. Kelly. Photo by Kevin T. Kelly. and consciousness, at the fullness of life, at the universality of truth. A rtists ctivists Artists as Activists is a regular column highlighting Greater Cincinnati artists who use art as a vehicle for change. Saad Ghosn is the founder of SOS Art. Ghosn can be contacted at saad.ghosn@uc.edu. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2010 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource April 15-30, 2010 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Development for and of the People The Stories of the Man in the Van Pg 2: Street Wise Pg 3: Ohio Has a Thriving Slave Market Pg 4: Development for and of the People Pg 5: Street Drinking and Free Markets Pg 6: Street Drinking and Free Markets Continued Pg 7: Poverty, Choice and Security Pg 8: “Feed Me, Seymour, Feed Me All Night Long...” Pg 9: Arts and Poetry Pg 10: King’s Death Led to Fair Housing Pg 11: A Night Walk Reveals the Action Pg 12: Russian Women, American Men Pg 13: Kickers Are People, Too Pg 14: Take Power from Corporations Pg 15: Resources Pg 16: Dark Humor and Harmony 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 15-30, 2010 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gregory Flannery Lynne Ausman Veronica Glass Jeni Jenkins Michelle Dillingham Samantha Groark Margo Pierce Paul Kopp Jeremy Flannery Michael Henson David Heitfield Valerie Fessler Alecia A. Lott Jeni Jenkins Saad Ghosn Lew Moores Larry Gross Eli Braun Jesse Call Aimie Willhoite Anthony Williams Vinit Murthy Jon Hughes Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Aimie Willhoite Alecia A. Lott Anthony Williams Arts & Poetry Bengals civil rights David Heitfield Eli Braun Gregory Flannery Human Trafficking Jeni Jenkins Jennifer Blalock Jeremy Flannery Jesse Call Jon Hughes Kevin T. Kelly Larry Gross Lew Moores Linda Zachary Lynn Baker Lynne Ausman Margo Pierce Martin Luther King Jr. Michael Henson Michelle Dillingham Ohio Paul Kopp poverty Saad Ghosn Samantha Groark Slavery Valerie Fessler Veronica Glass Vinit Murthy https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/b427575ca76493140f2e89f29b69844d.pdf fe68fdc2b9e080318e6b92a7887591e0 PDF Text Text One Ohio Now Street vibeS a p r i l 15, 20 1 1 PG 7 april 15, 2011 Prostitution: Crime or controversial career? 1 PG 11 iSSUe 197 ADVOCATING JUSTICE • BUILDING COMMUNIT Y $1 Health Care For the Homeless program is a Mobile Marvel The Cincinnati Health Network is in charge of the Health Care for the Homeless Program, and the medical van and the Elm Street Clinic are parts of the Health Care for the Homeless Program. The Cincinnati Health Department provides the medical staff, support team, laboratory and pharmaceutical services and other important aspects of the programs. The clinic opened on November 15, 2010. CArLY TAMBOrSkI Contributing Writer O n a cold, brisk afternoon, light snow falls from the sky onto downtown Cincinnati, prompting a steady flow of people to make the walk to the Drop Inn Center on 12th Street. Not only do these people hope to seek shelter from the weather, they know that it’s Wednesday: the medical van will be there today. Every Monday and Wednesday, the McMicken Health Collaborative’s medical van visits the Drop Inn Center at 2 p.m. to offer medical care to residents who can’t afford it themselves, and it doesn’t cost them a dime. When it’s not at the Drop Inn Center, the van also visits shelters, transitional housing and other area locations where the homeless congregate, as sometimes the homeless are reluctant to come to the Elm Street Clinic. On this particular afternoon, Stephanie Blackwell, a medical assistant, walks into the Drop Inn Center and across the open cafeteria to a small room, where she unlocks Med Van. Vinit Murthy, Streetvibes Photographer ­ a door. About 15 homeless people are sitting at tables surrounding the room, waiting patiently to sign up to see the doctor. Some rest their heads in their folded arms on the tables, looking too tired for words, while others energetically look around the room. Sometimes, people may wait for 2-3 hours to see the doctor on the medical van, who sees about 25-30 patients during one visit. Blackwell has worked with the collaborative for about six months, so she’s familiar with the procedures of the care system. “We basically provide medical care to the homeless, today for people that are in the Drop Inn Center.,” Blackwell said. “We can give injections, EKGs -- anything that we do in a doctor’s office we do in here on the van. We can do minor things like IUDs, incision and drainage, staple removals; we can do pap smears here. It’s like primary care for the homeless.” The van also provides pregnancy tests, blood draws, strep screens, urine analyses, blood sugar tests and HBA1c and INR tests. Patients needing radiology, referrals and Med Van. The Mobile Marvel, providing care to those in need Vinit Murthy, Streetvibes Photographer other special tests are referred to University Hospital and given an order signed by a Health Care for the Homeless physician. While Blackwell’s coworker gets the van ready, she uses the small room to triage the patients. She passes around a sign in sheet and light paperwork for the patients, who are required to provide their name, social security number and contact information, if they have any. They are also required to sign a declaration of their homelessness. Blackwell takes their vital signs and asks what prompted the patient to seek help. She assesses the type of care they may need and then individually sends the patients outside to see the doctor on the van. There’s usually one doctor and two medical assistants -- like Blackwell -- present during the van’s operating hours. The vehicle has two exam rooms on either side of it, and in the middle, has a sink, file cabinets, supplies and patient files, truly making it a doctor’s office on wheels. To summarize the nuts and bolts of the operation, the Cincinnati Health Network is in charge of the Health Care for the Homeless Program, and the medical van and the Elm Street Clinic are parts of the Health Care for the Homeless Program. The Cincinnati Health Department provides the medical staff, support team, laboratory and pharmaceutical services and other important aspects of the programs. The clinic opened on November 15, 2010. According to the network’s 2009 data, the Health Care for the Homeless Program helped approximately 7,035 patients, and the van assisted 4,502 of those people. The program sees the types of patients one might expect to see in the underprivileged urban setting: primarily adult males and few children, with 69 percent of patients being males. Children living in poverty in Ohio qualify for other types of coverage that adults do not, which reflects why only about 6 percent of patients were under the age of 19. “The largest group of people we see are African American men, which I think is what you typically see in a shelter as well,” said Jackie Campbell, program manager for the Health Care for the Homeless Program. “Fifty-six percent of patients are African American men and 2 percent are Hispanic/Latino.” Campbell, who has a Master’s in public health, has been the program manager for about a year and a half but has always worked in non-profit healthcare. A van existed in the early 90s, but a revamped one was introduced in 2006. The Cincinnati Health Network purchased the van but leases it to the Cincinnati Health Department. The services offered on the van and in the clinic differ somewhat. The clinic offers dental, behavioral and primary care services, while the van mainly offers primary care. The van works with doctors and medical assistants, but the clinic has doctors, nurses, a nurse manager, a practice manager, a dental team, medical and dental students, volunteers and two mental health counselors, among other staff members. “With the clinic, we’re trying to provide a ‘medical home’ for homeless people instead of going to the ER every time where they’d see a different person,” Campbell said. While the services performed are at no cost to the patient, running the program (the clinic and van) is quite expensive and does require funding from multiple sources. Some support comes from federal funding and the American Recovery Act, as well as donations and grants. Even though the services are no cost to patients if a patient is homeless but has some sort of income, they may be asked to pay a small amount. “The cost of operating the van is fairly expensive,” Campbell said. “We have to pay doctors, pay for equipment, pay for medication. Less than 10 percent of our patients have any form of insurance to pay with.” See Health Care for the Homeless Pg. 4 �Editorial 2 150 The percentage homelessness has increased in Cincinnati in the past 15 years. ‘Health care for the homeless program is a mobile marvel’ Page 1 Every 2 …minutes in the United States that someone is sexually assaulted. ‘Editorial’ Page 2 25 The number of years now local, published author of the book ‘Sworn Not To Betray’battled with the legal system before completely turning his life around with his paroled release in 2005. ‘Sworn Not to Betray’ Page 3 120 The number of members performing with SCPA’s Primary Strings. ‘Building Bridges with Neighbors’ Page 4 1,300 The number of people who attended the 50th Anniversary General Meeting for Amnesty International in San Francisco on March 18th. ‘Shine A Light on Human Rights!’ Page 5 25 The percentage of African Americans nationwide that do not have a government-issued photo ID. ‘An Article from the Free Press: Ohio Republicans pass new Jim Crow bill disenfranchising 900,000 voters’ Page 6 4-5-2011 The date The People’s Empowerment Coalition, GCCH Staff, and volunteers went to the Columbus Statehouse to fight for health care and Ohio Social Programs that are in danger of being cut. ‘One Ohio Now’ Page 7 5 The number of poetry books that Elisa Hill has written. ‘By the Grace of God, A Story of Survival and Strength’ Page 8 1972 The year New York Times columnist Gail Collins founded The Connecticut State News Bureau. ‘Q&A with New York Times columnist Gail Collins’ Page 10 Street vibeS april 15, 2011 A quick production note to the readers: After careful consideration, we have decided to change the production and distribution schedule for Streetvibes to every other Friday instead of the twice-monthly printing on the first and fifteenth. There are many reasons behind this but the one I find most important is that this gives our distributors a solid, standing date and time that they can receive their papers. This is to let you know and of course, this will allow for two extra issues of Streetvibes per year! You will also notice a change in the way Streetvibes looks. This is due to our incredible lay out artist Liz. Elizabeth Schulenberg put together the amazing new changes to the look and feel of the paper. She works tirelessly as a volunteer, in her spare time, for free to literally map out the entire paper. For that, I cannot thank her enough. It is because of her that our paper is taking its next steps to being the best looking street paper in print. Now about this issue: I am really proud of one particular feature we have in this issue, an inspiring story by a local woman named Elisa. I met Elisa Hill a few months ago. She came into my office to ask if I had received her work. “Nope.” I said. “Never saw it.” I had just come in as Editor, and the transition especially right at Christmas was difficult. She explained to me that she wrote poetry and had even put together an autobiographical piece about her life. She went further into detail and asked for my advice and if I would be interested in the story. I expressed my attention and encouraged her to be honest in her writing, as honest as she could despite how hard it may be. Looking at her, I could see a strong woman, a fighter. I saw me. She is beautiful but you can see she has had to kick, climb, and struggle to survive. When we did the March Women’s Herstory Issues, I asked Elisa to write a piece for it. After I got all the stories from our writers and the other features as much as I did not like it, there was just no room for Elisa’s story. I am so pleased to share her story in this issue of Streetvibes. I cried when I read it through the first time. Elisa suffered like so many others silently at the hands of another who assaulted her. Every 2 minutes someone in our country is sexually assaulted.* Here is the math. According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Crime Victimization Survey -- the country’s largest and most reliable crime study -- there were 248,300 sexual assaults in 2007 (the most recent data available). Moreover, 15 out 16 rapists will never spend a day in jail for their crime. I am honored to share a story of hope and bravery with the other women in Elisa’s own words. You can read her story on page 8. Bravery and hope are nothing new to this community of Over the Rhine. This is a community that fights day after day to just live, to survive. The day I write this is April 7th. This afternoon I attended the remembrance of Timothy Thomas at the corner of 13th and Race. The strength this community has to overcome is beyond anything I have ever seen. The people here in this core are stronger than most. 10 years after the Civil Unrest and this community still stands tall despite people and groups that come in trying to take it apart. I wanted to share with you something so beautiful and profound written by our Education Coordinator Jeni Jenkins. These are her thoughts on the Ten Year Remembrance of the Unrest. “When a community is replete with the belief that certain individuals are inherently superior to other individuals and when a belief becomes institutionalized and drives discrimination, hatred and violence, eventually it becomes necessary for the victims to come together, rise up and speak out. Those who have been taught to hate difference must decide to analyze where that hate comes from. They must decide to listen. They must decide to walk in the shoes of difference. If those who speak out are not heard they will rise.” *Statistics courtesy of www.rainn.org Everyone Poops (and pees)! From the Director JoSH Spring Executive Director So it seems to finally be getting warm. For a while it seemed like winter might just continue forever. But after so long to see and even feel a ray of sun is a welcomed gift. Thoughts of spring and summer conjure visions of people. It is in these months that folks emerge from wherever they have been taking winter-refuge and begin to once again interact with one another. As a result, these are months to cherish. As more people come out to enjoy the warmth, parks will begin to become active. It seems that most folks enjoy a nice rest in a neighborhood park or a conversation with a friend on the edge of a park. Perhaps the conversation is about the latest proposals coming from congress or the attempts to stop the proposals. Perhaps the conversation is about the most recent sports game, or a mutual friend down the block. Some people may be talking about things they see eye to eye on or subjects they completely disagree on. However after some time out in the community, everyone is brought together by one common denominator. Eventually, if one spends enough time out, she or he will have to go to the bathroomto take care of the necessities. That’s right, I’m talking about it. Eventually, after enough time out everyone is going to have to pee and/or poop. Relieving oneself is a simple fact of life. If we can agree on nothing else, we can agree on this. The other thing we can agree on is that most people prefer to take care of the necessities with a certain level of privacy. And finally, with these two commonalities behind us, we can probably also agree that most people do not want to step in another person’s necessities or watch another person complete her or his necessities. Over-the-Rhine and the Central Business District are about to become stinky places. This is because our common denominator in Over-the-Rhine has been torn down. 3CDC has torn down the public restroom in Washington Park and despite promises to establish temporary port-o-lets, has now said they will do no such thing. Normally these restrooms would re-open in mid-April after a winter hiatus. What happens when a highly relied upon public restroom is removed with no temporary replacement? Do people stop having the need to evacuate waste from their bodies? Certainly not. Again, everybody poops (and pees). So when a highly used public restroom is removed with no temporary replacement, many people use the bathroom outside. And if you are in an urban setting like Over-the-Rhine and the Central Business District, using the bathroom outside probably does not mean behind a tree or in a grassy field. At best using the bathroom outside means using an See Everyone Poops Pg. 3 Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by people who are or once were homeless, in exchange for a $1 donation, Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Address: 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: 513.421.7803 x 12 Fax 513.421.7813 Email: jenmatrin@cincihomeless.org Website: www.cincihomeless.org Blog: streetvibes.wordpress.com Streetvibes Staff Editor Jen Martin, jenmartin@cincihomeless.org Art Director Elizabeth Schulenberg Contributing Writers Jim Luken, Saad Ghosn, Jeni Jenkins, Willa Denise Jones, Jennifer Martin, Josh Spring, Sheli DeLaney, Lee McCoy, Corey Gibson, B. Clifton Burke, Cleo Wombles, Mayuko Hida, Yushin Toda, Dan Moore, Kelissa Hieber, Sandra Knollman, Brenda Zechmeister, Judge Leslie Isaiah Gaines Photography/Artwork Chris Kromer, Sheli DeLaney, Amiee Willhoite, Rico Green, Saad Ghosn, Corey Gibson, Dan Moore, Brenda Zechmeister, Jimmy Heath The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati through coordination of services, public education, grassroots advocacy and Streetvibes. �Local ­ Street vibeS 3 a p r i l 15, 20 1 1 Sworn Not to Betray ­ Local Cincinnati man Darryl Owens made it through incarceration and addiction to pursue his passion for writing. DArrYL OwENS/TESS SUEThOLz Streetvibes Contributors Darryl Owens. Darryl proudly shows his finished product tess Suetholz I, Darryl Owens, born and raised in the West end Community of Cincinnati, Ohio, am the youngest of eight boys. I’ve lived in almost every neighborhood of the City. At forty nine years of age, I am the proud father of a very beautiful daughter and the grandfather of an equally beautiful grandson. Abandoned by my mother at an early age and raised by a father, whom the State determined to be incapable of supporting our family, I was placed in the home of a family friend. At the age of thirteen, I returned home to live with my family in the Laurel Homes housing project. With a tumultuous life-beginning and an unstable foundation, I was soon forced into a life of petty crime by friends of one of my seven brothers. Over a period of years, I couldn’t seem to escape the life of crime that had become my way of life. It soon became my gateway to a life of drug and alcohol abuse. Eventually, a Thirteenmonth parole became a twenty-five year battle with the judicial system. I was finally a free man and released from parole in 2005. During the 23 years of recidivism, the desire to write became a passion, which soon grew into an obsession. My addictive personality manifested itself in many ways. The irony of it all is that my obsession, help me to overcome another obsession, my crack-cocaine drug addiction. On days when I felt like ending my life, the yearning to commit my thoughts to writing would overrule my thoughts of hopelessness. Despair was counterbalanced by my imbedded thought of not wanting to leave this earth without having done something meaningful with my life and face my God on the Day of Judgment. During my many periods of incarceration, support from family and friends waned. I supported myself by writing letters for my fellow inmates. I was self-inspired by the realization of how creative my mind could be. I became very fascinated and intrigued by how great authors, like Sidney Sheldon, Jackie Collins, Harold Robbins and John Gresham, all of whom were great inspirations, could take a totally fictitious story and make it appear real. This became my quest and how I came to write my first novel, “Sworn Not To Betray”. As the years went by, Cincinnati began to feel less like home. To escape the city that imprisoned me both behind bars and on the streets, I moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in search of a new life and a home with an address. Homelessness is my new prison. Today I live in a Minneapolis shelter. I long for the day when God will bless me with a place of my own. God has surrounded me “During the 23 years of recidivism, the desire to write became a passion, which soon grew into an obsession. My addictive personality manifested itself in many ways. The irony of it all is that my obsession, help me to overcome another obsession, my crack-cocaine drug addiction.” with beautiful people. I can’t thank or praise him enough for the letting my supportive angels come into my life and aid me in fulfilling my life-long endeavor -to share with everyone the gift that he has bestowed upon me. I pray that everyone who takes the time to read “Sworn Not To Betray” will be completely content at the book’s conclusion. Everyone Poops (and pees)! Continued from Pg. 2 alley-way. But because the alley’s are also being gated off by 3CDC, using the bathroom outside more likely means using the sides of buildings, doorways and the privacy behind parked cars as a restroom. Again, this is not because anyone necessarily wants to use the restroom in these places, but because the accepted option has been torn down without replacement. What will this change mean for our community? Of course it will mean that things will be stinky and less healthy. More importantly what will this change mean on a very basic human level? People will be forced to use the bathroom in degrading ways and will therefore feel disrespected. People will have to watch others using the bathroom in this manner or step through the waste from another person and feel disrespected. In the end everyone will walk away feeling disrespected. Even still the greater problem is that not everyone will simply walk away. This unnecessary change will create tension, arguments and potentially violence in our neighborhoods. Can you imagine people on the sidewalk corner arguing because person one peed on person two’s front stoop and person two saw it happen. Person two says hurtful things because she or he feels disrespected because her or his property has been urinated on and person one feels disrespected at being told they are not accepted anywhere; they don’t even have somewhere to carry out the most necessary task. Now these two folks are fighting and growing to dislike one another and making assumptions about one another despite the fact that neither of them created the actual problemneither of them tore down the public restroom. Now imagine that after this scenario plays out a couple of times, person two calls the police and now the police spend time citing the first person with public indecency. Not only are tax-dollars being wasted on a run of this manner, but there is conflict between the first person and the police. Person one is charged with a crime that she or he must go to court to take care of. Here again at court we have more contention. If the person comes out with a final charge it could be as bad a sex-offense, because yes, one can get a sex-offense charge for going to the bathroom outside. I know to some this scenario may sound extreme. However, when you consider the number of people that use a public restroom like the one in Washington Park and the number of months it needs to be open and the already existing contentions over issues like these, the situations painted above are not extreme. Without temporary public port-o-lets we will without doubt see increased contention, arguing, and less peace, not to mention the expenditure of more tax-dollars to squelch the fighting. The frustrating factor in this situation is that all of this is preventable. 3CDC has been planning the work in Washington Park for years. 3CDC has been told for more than a year that temporary bathrooms will be a necessity. They have even at times said they will follow through in providing temporary bathrooms. Despite all of this, 3CDC currently refuses to simply make up for the necessity that they have removed. Here at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless we hope that the City of Cincinnati, the Park Board and 3CDC hear from Citizens demanding that they provide temporary bathrooms before we hear arguments between neighbors and see media reports of more police runs to site people for public urination. Why would we create an ill that we have plenty of time to prevent? “Based on two major crimes which take place within six months of each other, on the same exact date, after the first crime is committed. Cincinnati police commissioner Jake Thorn and F.B.I. head Ryan Schaffer have reason to believe a beautiful blond orchestrated the first crime, but that’s all they have is their suspicions until six months later, when the second crime is committed on Tuesday morning February 8th, and a particular individual becomes the victim of the second crime, this event corroborates both Thorn’s and Schaffer’s suspicions, but still they have no actual proof this beautiful blond is the mastermind of both crimes, so to gather the actual physical evidence they need to prove she is the mastermind, Thorn assigns his three lead detectives, to lead the investigation of the second crime, which is just an extension from the ongoing investigation of the first crime, in the middle of the investigation, Thorn learns one of the three detectives, is possibly working with the woman an her small group of friends, trying to keep them informed of what steps state and federal authorities are planning next, to capture those who committed both crimes. This investigation eventually culminates into one of the biggest crime investigations, to ever take place in the state of Ohio. The police are turning up the heat with everything at their disposal, while an anonymous caller is trying to help the suspects stay one step ahead of the law.” Sworn not to be­ tray By Darryl Owens available now: ­ hotbooksale.com, Barnes&Nobel.com, Borders.com, and �Local 4 Street vibeS april 15, 2011 Building Bridges with Neighbors ­ JENI JENkINS Staff Writer O n Thursday March 17, 2011, 5 elementary students from the School of Creative and Performing Arts performed for an active audience at the Drop Inn Center shelter. Music teacher Steve Mason led the students on piano as a group of residents leaned back and listened to the beautiful violins. The students are part of a 120-member group of K-3 violin students in SCPA’s Select Primary Strings. In addition to performing at the Drop Inn Center, students from the same group performed “This particular project is the product of efforts to build a relationship between the Drop Inn Center and SCPA.” for residents of Tender Mercies, another neighboring shelter, earlier in the month. The concerts are part of a larger effort of a local committee determined to build bridges and a solid relationship between SCPA and the Over the Rhine Community as a whole. Since SCPA opened at the new location in August, many people were concerned with its proximity to the Drop Inn Center, Cincinnati’s largest homeless shelter, as well as other social service agencies in the community. Since September, the committee has worked actively with SCPA’s Principal Stanley Flower to initiate educational opportunities as well as service learning and community engagement projects. The members of the committee include invested parents, SCPA alumni, artists and Over the Rhine community members. This particular project is the product of efforts to build a relationship between the Drop Inn Center and SCPA. Joe Wilmers, SCPA social worker and advisor to the committee helped to set up the concerts. Wilmers and the committee also helped to set up educational tours of the Drop Inn Center for staff and faculty of SCPA, an effort that has already changed perceptions. In addition to the concerts and the tours, the committee has helped educate the SCPA community by providing an opportunity for the entire high school to hear from Lauren Lovette, a formerly homeless 20 year old in the Voice of the Homeless Speaker’s Bureau program at the Coaltion for the Homeless. The Speaker’s Bureau is designed to educate students about the realities Health Care For the Homeless program is a Mobile Marvel Continued from Pg. 1 Campbell estimates that the whole program costs about $1.5 million a year just for the medical aspect, for the clinic and van. As Blackwell triages patients, Gregory McIntosh quietly fills out his paperwork. McIntosh has been a resident for three days (WILL CHANGE DEPENDING ON PRINT DATE) and heard about the medical van services from the staff at the Drop Inn Center’s front desk. His hands shake as he holds the pen, spelling out his name, but that’s why he’s here. “I had surgery on my right arm and I wanted to talk to the doctor about my hands swellin’ up and shakin’,” McIntosh said. “When I sleep my arms go numb and stuff, and when I carry stuff or pick up stuff my hands cramp up. My left arm goes numb, too. I had the surgery a long time ago because I had a bone infection. I don’t know what caused it, but for the last 20 or 30 years I’ve been going through this.” The services provided in both the van and the clinic may play a major role in the lives of the homeless who receive their services. Having a good health care center impacts the ability of the homeless to keep jobs and housing. “People who are homeless tend to have a lot of health issues,” Campbell said. “They have no control over their diet. They may over or under eat at times. A lot of them have diabetes. They have injuries and get hypothermia. A fair amount have mental illness or substance abuse problems. We see a lot of cold and flu patients. We also see a lot of people with HIV and hepatitis, and sometimes people with serious cardiac problems.” One of those cold and flu patients is La’Shae Parker, who’s been a resident at the Drop Inn Center since February 8th. Parker walks out of the triage room with a bag of cough drops in hand. Receiving them doesn’t require an examination in the van, but she has been on it before. SCPA Concert. Students take stage leslie Hurst of homelessness and combat harmful stereotypes. Committee member David Rosenthal, director of Prairie Inc., a non-profit arts education organization, is also working with high school students of SCPA creative writing teacher Dr. Joy Fowler, in a photography and writing project called “I usually use the services every time they come, you know, just to get cough drops,” Parker said. “I get cough drops a lot. You get sick in here a lot. I mean I’ve been to the van. I was having back pains and they gave me a script for some muscle relaxers, and then I took it down to the clinic.” The issues of McIntosh and Parker are mainly physical, but not all of the residents hoping to see the doctor suffer from physical pain or the symptoms of cold weather. “Mental health issues are very common among the homeless, and providing behavioral health services is a very important part of our program,” said Campbell. Behavioral health counselors are not present on the van, but it does have a list of phone numbers and other resources available, and guidance is given to patients who express a concern with their mental health. Behavioral health counselors do work at the clinic, which has two mental health counselors. They provide counseling and treatment to those with anxiety and mild to moderate depression. One person who knows just how important that service is Joe Valencik. Valencik was on his way from Arizona to see his brother in Pennsylvania when he stopped at the Drop Inn Center. He’s been a resident there for a few weeks. “I’m here to get my medication. I got a little issue with depression and anxiety, and around here this place can build up so much depression and anxiety, you know what I mean?” Valencik said with a light laugh, as he motioned to the room around him. “It sounds like they provide an awesome service. From what I’ve been told, they will give me an analysis and they will prescribe me what’s needed, and then I can take it down to the clinic. I was told that with the issues I have, I need to see [the mental health counselor], and talk to him, so, especially being this far away from home and having nowhere to go, that’s a lot of anxiety. Today I’m gonna give him my ex-doctor’s number.” The medical van provides common prescription and over-the-counter drugs, but does not prescribe controlled substances. If a patient at the medical van needs a certain prescription filled, the van will provide a script but does not fill it there. Patients need to take the prescription to the Elm Street Clinic, along with a special Cincinnati Health Department form that must be signed by a Health Care for the Homeless medical van physician. According to the Cincinnati Health Network, the homeless population in Cincinnati has increased 150 percent in the past 15 years. New Voices. New Voices gives SCPA students an opportunity to learn and voice their opinions about the community of Over-the-Rhine. Through out the project the students are teaming up with residents of Over the Rhine Community Housing, another SCPA neighbor. Great Books! visit www.cincybooks.com �Autism Awareness Month Street vibeS 5 a p r i l 15, 20 1 1 Shine a Light on human rights! Amnesty International kicked off its 50th Anniversary year with a record breaking crowd at its annual meeting. Held in San Francisco on March 18th through the 20th 2011, a record-breaking crowd of over 1,300 people attended this Annual General Meeting. Over the course of our historic weekend, Amnesty International members, friends and visitors enjoyed the variety of workshops and speakers, which was held at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, CA – the same hotel where the delegates gathered for the International Conference which led to the birth of the United Nations, in the late 1940’s. LAUrA OSBOrN-COffEY Contributing Writer Amnesty International USA Group #86 Coordinator T he program was packed with many activities. Friday was a day for the membership teams to meet – which included everything from ‘Human rights educators for social justice,’ to a town hall meeting with Amnesty’s Board of Directors. That evening the opening ceremonies included an inspirational speech from Larry Cox, current Executive Director of Amnesty International. He exhorted conference goers to not only participate during the weekend – but also to commit to continued participation in human rights events over the next year, as Amnesty begins its 50th anniversary year. Special entertainers that evening included music from Saul Hernandez of the Jaguares, who spends much time working on behalf of the women of Atenco, Mexico. Steve Earle – activist, author and musician – was the next guest, and he wowed the crowd with his usual appropriate music. Finally Joan Baez came on stage to share some of her own stories of her activism and of joining forces with Amnesty’s work back in the 1960’s – long before half of the conference goers were born! She told one particularly funny story about herself and another woman, who were trying to smuggle money into a ‘un-named’ prisoner in an ‘un-named’ country. Her friend packed the money into her hosiery, while Joan hid it in a more discreet area. As they were on a bus and trying to get through what passed for custom’s back then, her friend’s hose broke and the money was all over the floor of the bus. The crowd thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Baez’ story and her singing song’s she’s made famous, plus joining with Steve Earle to sing his tunes. Saturday started with a large presentation by many people – including a video message from former President Jimmy Carter, and an introduction to the Conference Goers Pose with Larry Cox Laura Osborne-Coffey is an annual award given to the Amnesty Local or community group who did terrific human rights work in 2010. Workshops which were presented during the weekend included topics such as: A Mother lost every 90 seconds – Maternal Health around the World, Unimpeachable Voices Against the Death Penalty, Hi-Tech Activism, Human Rights Defenders at Risk, Holding Oil Companies Accountable, Caught in the Dragnet: Migrants in America, and Security with Human Rights. I attended a workshop titled: Muzzling the Watchdogs – Journalists and Freedom of “The energy and passion that was brought to the conference was awe-inspiring. The members and friends of Amnesty who attended the 2011 Annual General Meeting walked away with a renewed confidence, and the commitment to carry it forward for the rest of the year with passion and energy for the human rights movement.” day by Larry Cox. The keynote speech was given by Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Salil Shetty, who highlighted the importance of building the movement and recruiting new members to become an even louder voice for human dignity. The leadership awards for Amnesty USA were also presented to local groups and student activists – including our own Cincinnati Group 86! Our group was one of the runner’s up for the Sister Laola Hironaka Award, which Expression under Fire. The speakers in this workshop were Lydia Cacho, Roxana Saberi, and J.S. Tissasanayagam (‘Tissa’). They each made very poignant speeches on their arrest and release, mainly due to Amnesty’s efforts. I was touched, as our Cincinnati group had worked on the case of Tissa, and he has been a feature of a previous article in Street Vibes. Roxana was also a case featured in the March edition of Street Vibes. The height of the weekend occurred at the Saturday afternoon Plenary session. Michael O’Reilly of the Atlanta Amnesty office promised us a ‘very special guest’. This guest was Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, released Prisoner of Conscience from Burma! A call was arranged for her to address the Annual General meeting, and Daw Suu Kyi thanked the conferencegoers for their unceasing efforts on her behalf over the last fifteen years of her house arrest, in Myanmar (Burma). She made a point to ask that we not forget the other 2000 people still in jail in Myanmar today. When O’Reilly asked her “What gave you strength?” her answer was clear, over the thousand mile call: “Because of people like you. Little Actions all add up to a lot.” She also told the gathered activists that “Your biggest challenge is to let people around the world know that they have human rights. I would like to urge everybody to make a change, to get where we want to with security and freedom.” When the room stood to applaud her call, O’Reilly told Daw Suu Kyi – “That’s what a standing ovation sounds like.” The energy and passion that was brought to the conference was aweinspiring. The members and friends of Amnesty who attended the 2011 Annual General Meeting walked away with a renewed confidence, and the commitment to carry it forward for the rest of the year with passion and energy for the human rights movement. An Article from the free Press Ohio republicans pass new Jim Crow bill disenfranchising 900,000 voters ­ The only IDs that will be accepted to vote in Ohio if this bill passes the overwhelming Republican State Senate are a U.S. passport, a U.S. military ID, an Ohio driver’s license, or an Ohio state ID. This is the most restrictive standard in the nation. Dr. BOB fITrAkIS Editor & Publisher of The free Press (freepress.org), which first published this article. March 23, 2011 W hile Ohio public employees’ rights to bargain collectively are under siege, the Ohio Republican Party executed a perfect sleight of hand by disenfranchising nearly 900,000 Ohio voters. In the most vicious and direct attack on voting rights since Bull Connor ran amok in the deep South, Ohio House Republicans passed HB 159 that requires Ohio voters to produce one of four state photo IDs at the polls. The only IDs that will be accepted in Ohio if this bill passes the overwhelming Republican State Senate are a U.S. passport, a U.S. military ID, an Ohio driver’s license, or an Ohio state ID. This is the most restrictive standard in the nation. The Republican Party’s target is obvious. Studies indicate that 25% of African Americans nationwide do not have a government-issued photo ID, 18% of voters over age 65 do not have a photo ID, and 15% of voters with incomes under $35,000 lack the ID as well. Besides going after blacks, the elderly and the poor, the bill also sets its sights on college students. What do these people have in common? They tend to vote Democratic. The Republicans refuse to discuss an amendment that would have accepted a college student ID with a photo from their own state-funded university, including The Ohio State University, one of the nation’s largest institutions of higher education. Usually cautious critics like Dan Tokaji, Professor of Law at Ohio State’s Moritz College of Law, offered dire assessments: “’Disenfranchisement’ isn’t a word to be used lightly. But it is necessary to capture this bill’s purpose and impact. Passage of this bill would restore our state’s unfortunate reputation as our nation’s capital of vote suppression.” See Free Press Pg. 6 �6 interest Street vibeS april 15, 2011 Mark Twain was right: Stories from the 2001 Cincinnati riots and Unrest ­ DAN MOOrE Author and Illustrator M ark Twain Was Right: Stories from the 2001 Cincinnati Riots and Unrest is a soon to be released graphic novel about United States’ first urban uprising in the 21st century. The following excerpts depict events that occurred during the day on Tuesday and Wednesday April 10th and 11th, 2001, just days after the killing of Timothy Thomas. Of all of the 10-year reflections of the civil unrest, one piece that few people have mentioned was the broad involvement from community members in Over-The-Rhine. While the majority of the media focused on property destruction perpetrated by very small groups or community leaders, hundreds and hundreds of people of all ages and races were consistently involved in marching through the community, shoulder-to­ shoulder, demanding justice. It was not uncommon to see people abandon their car on the sidewalk to join a march that they saw marching by, nor uncommon to see eager community members pouring out of the side streets as a march passed. I believe the broad base of the movement made City Hall realize that this was not a movement that could just be stamped out without any political change. This was not a movement that could just be marginalized as a few trouble-makers. This was a movement that represented the very fabric of the community, where some of the poorest members of Cincinnati’s voices were propelled to the forefront. An Article from the free Press ­ Continued From Pg. 5 The Republicans are justifying their assault on the most basic and fundamental right by invoking the myth of “voter fraud.” Not only have academics like Lori Minnite documented in detail the absence of voter fraud in U.S. politics, Tokaji addressed the issue in Ohio: “The only documented case of impersonation I could find in recent Ohio elections involved absentee voting by a mother pretending to be her daughter. This isn’t surprising. The few people who attempt voter impersonation aren’t likely to risk criminal prosecution by showing up at the polling place; they are much more likely to vote by mail. The bill won’t do anything about mail voting fraud.” Ohio Republicans have frequently cried “voter fraud” while at the same time they’ve hired their political allies like Triad, ES&S and Premier voting systems (formerly Diebold) to secretly count Ohio’s vote with proprietary computer hardware and software. The only way to understand House Bill 159 is to acknowledge its historical significance as the new Jim Crow, which is an even more insidious form of apartheid. This new apartheid encompasses African Americans, and also fits into a deliberate attempt by Ohio Republicans to wage class war against the Buckeye State’s most vulnerable citizens. What the Republican Party did first with Senate Bill 5 by attacking the pensions, health care and collective bargaining rights of public employees was to establish the shock doctrine, outlined by Naomi Klein. The Ohio Republicans are using the state’s projected $8 billion debt as an excuse to destroy the political base of the Democratic Party. First they destroy the public unions and now they’re going after those constituencies who are likely to support the progressive programs of the New Deal and Great Society. Another way to look at the recent activity in Ohio is to see how closely it parallels what the CIA calls “economic destabilization” in the Third World. This tactic throws economies into crisis in order to achieve regime change. Since Ohio is one of the nation’s most important swing states, and no Republican has ever won the presidency without winning Ohio, both Senate Bill 5 and House Bill 159 are the obvious opening shots in the Republican presidential campaign. The Republicans are astute students of numbers and demographics. They understand that they can’t beat Barack Obama in 2012 unless they cheat by restricting voting rights. Sadly, the history of Ohio’s Democratic Party is to roll over and allow the Republicans to do whatever despicable racist and undemocratic acts they wish. �State issues Street vibeS a p r i l 15, 20 1 1 7 one ohio now On April 5th, 2011 The People’s Empowerment Coalition, GCCH Staff, and volunteers took a road trip to the Columbus Statehouse for a very important reason… to rally for health care and other important social programs in Ohio that are in danger of being cut. rICCArDO TAYLOr Civil rights Outreach Coordinator A trip to the Capital, I had the pleasure of going to Columbus to address some of the concerns of the people of the great state of Ohio, Tuesday April 5th 2011. Our objective was to meet with some of the representatives to voice the concerns of their constituents. The ride in the Charter bus was pleasant, as the excitement of opportunity gripped us all. A more determined group of people likely could not have been found for this particular venture, and although we knew not what to expect we traveled with confidence in our mission. To get to the heart of the occasion, we broke into small groups each with an appointment with representatives to air our concerns. My group leader Ron was up to the task, as he was armed with the letter of introduction and grievances we were presenting. Meandering through a crowd of several hundred people from all points of the state we found our way to the office of Representative Ron Maag the fact that we did not have the chance to address Mr. Maag personally was not lost on me, it was understood that being a Standing United for Ohioans rights Matthew huff ­ facebook.com/streetvibes cincinnati twitter.com/streetvibesnwes streetvibes.wordpress.com the Statehouse Matthew huff person of his standing, that he had many other important things to do in his job description, so we were interviewed by his aide. With a pleasant smile and direct attention Samantha, (the aide) heard our grievances and noted every detail. The young lady left us with the confidence that everything we presented would be forwarded to her employer and we left with a feeling of accomplishment. Of course the budget cuts were the theme of the day and again, I believe we have started the first phase of voicing the peoples concerns. On to our next stop, we entered the office of Representative Shannon Jones, and being prepared from our first stop we met with the aides of his office. Again the pleasantness of their audience was appreciated and it allowed some ease of tension, when the reality came that we were relying our concern by way word. Of course the aides could not give us definitive answers, but we were assured that our concerns would properly be channeled. All in all, I feel that we made a good impression and again, this I believe was only the beginning of our march to unite a voice for all Ohioans and bring about the fairness in distribution of wealth and equality. �8 Local ­ Street vibeS april 15, 2011 By the Grace of God, A Story of Survival and Strength ­ A true and inspiring story of one Cincinnati woman and her struggle to raise her children despite abuse and fear eliSa Hill Contributing Writer My name is Elisa Hill. I was born and raised in Cincinnati Ohio. I am a mother of three handsome sons, who live with me full time. Christopher is 19, Christian is 17 and Jamar is 13. However, I started out as a young mom giving birth to my first son at age 17. I still had the determination in me to make sure that I graduated high school. So after my son was a few months old, I attended The Cincinnati Job Corps, to receive my GED and to try to master a trade while I was in school. I got my GED when my son was six months old and then received my certification as a Receptionist and a Clerical typist. Two years after my first son I gave birth to my second son, this made things difficult. I had signed up to go to school for my degree in Medical Record Management at Cincinnati State, but ended up quitting school. I had my son in a daycare provided by Hamilton County at the time when he came home one day with bruises on his arm I was told were caused by the daycare provider hitting him with a switch. I had no choice; I removed him from the program and called the police. I filed charges against the woman in question and thankfully she was found guilty and her Child Care Provider license taken away. I tried to continue to work and use other babysitters but it seemed like something would always come up and I did not feel comfortable leaving them. Eventually I had no choice but to stop working just to make sure my children would be safe. Eventually I got a job that allowed me to get my CNA certification so that I could work in nursing home facilities all over. This allowed me to provide for my kids the best I could. After having my third son, I applied to Queen City Vocational School of Nursing LPN Program; I was accepted and began the program in 1998. elisa Hill elisa Hill This was a tough task for me and many other mothers in the program to try to maintain a balance between being mothers, providers for our children as well as nursing students. This made things hard, so hard in fact that I had failed my second term in school, but I did not give up. I audited the remainder of the term, then returned in the new term and continued my nursing education. I graduated in 1999. I received my nursing license in 2000. Then began working as a nurse I had done work in facilities on staff in addition to doing other agency work when I was not on staff just to keep working. Throughout pushing myself through hard times and through the trials and tribulations called life, I was living with a secret that was so embarrassing it made it hard to just get up in the morning and take care of myself, I was truly suffering inside. One day had changed the way I saw myself. One boy’s vicious actions permanently switched my mindset. Many times it made it hard to keep a job because of the depression I suffered, the Elisa hill and sons Christopher, 19 Christian, 17 and Jamar, 13 elisa Hill anxiety that plagued my made it difficult to even get out of my car to go into a job. This secret had been inside me since I was little and it is so hard to think or talk about it. It was just a day, just a normal day. I was out in the neighborhood, hanging out with two of my cousins. When one of my older cousin’s had seen a guy she knew, we decided to ride around with him for a while. Well we ended up at one of his friend’s houses somewhere I had been before or I just could not recognize it at that time. Now I know it was in Skyline Acres. We went into this house down into the basement where these two brothers were hanging out. We sat down them my older cousin got up to go outside with her friend and me and my other cousin stayed in the basement with the other two guys. I was young so I was trying to act mature, talking to one of the guys about music. He asked me if I wanted to go to his room with him and just listen to some music and talk. I said yes. Dumb me. I was not in the room with him a minute before he was barricading us in by blocking the entrance to the room with the door from the closet. In my mind I thought, ‘oh my God no.’ I got a sinking feeling in my stomach so I asked him again if we were just going to listen to some music and chill. He replied, “Yeah, it’s cool…were just going to talk.” He turned on a radio next to his bed, called me over to sit on the bed next to him. I went over to sit next to him then he immediately started trying to kiss my neck. I was trying to pull away I told him I wanted to go back down to the basement. He said he was not going to do anything else; he just wanted to kiss me. I was still pushing him off me, I could tell he was starting to tired of it, he seemed to get mad. I said I wanted to go back down to the basement. He told me that even if I screamed cousin and the rest would not hear me because they were in the basement and the music was loud. He stood up in front of me and started taking his clothes off. I was so scared, I started to cry and say no. He told me either I take my clothes off or he was going to do it for me. Damn, I was so scared I did not know if he would beat me or hurt me so I did what he had said. Then he pulled me over to the bed and lay on top of me. I was crying, panicking inside. I had never had never had sex. I was just a young girl. When he first tried, I pushed at him again. I felt numb with fear. My mind kind of lost its way for a moment I think because I felt like I was in a dream. I heard no music…I did not even feel him on top of me. In my head I was sitting in my mother’s arms with a smile on my face happier than I had ever been before. Then just as quickly, I was back in the room trying to push him away and then there was a knock at his door. Damn it was his father he was in the next room sleeping and heard what was going on. He yelled, ‘God damn girl out of my house now!” He jumped off me. I got up and put on my clothes. He opened the door, the father was standing where I could not see his face but again he instructed his son to get me out of there. I hurried down the steps to the basement where my other cousin was still sitting down and the other guy watching TV. I told her we needed to go. She asked me what happened but I could not even speak. Her friend was driving us away. I started crying hysterically, she was asking me what happened but I just kept crying then I told her I feel like I had peed on myself, that my clothes were soaked. We went into another house so I could use the bathroom; the guy there said we had to be quiet because his mom was home. When I got to the privacy of the bathroom I looked at myself, ‘Oh my God’ I thought. My panties, my pants were full of blood. I started to feel extreme pain. I screamed and cried and her friend told to get me that we had to leave before I woke up his mom. I could not stop crying. Shit, by then everybody was scared. I had to tell her that one of the guys tried to rape me. Everyone was scared; I even got blood on the car seat too. Well we were too afraid to go back to my grandmother’s house where we were staying the weekend. We did not want to get in trouble so we waited outside until one for our friends mothers went to work so we could lie and say that we had been there all night. My friend and my cousin’s ran bath water so I could wash myself and they put my clothes in the washer. I remembered it for a minute and suddenly, I was lost, back in that moment of being in the room with him. I could now feel the pain of him trying to get inside of me but he could not, I was a virgin and biologically it just did not work. All it did was hurt and make me bleed. I believe that if his father would not have said something he may have forcefully raped me. Thank God. Nevertheless, he did enough damage that I will never forget his face. I never pressed charges, I was simply too ashamed. Two years ago, I found out his name, Hank. The bastard. I saw him in a bar and he kept staring at me as if he wanted to talk to me. I figured he did remember me and was scared that I would say something. I felt like he was acting as if he was going to come over and talk to me. Again, I paralyzed by fear. I asked the guy I was seeing what his name was. I explained that he was the guy who tied to rape me when I was younger. I was amazed by his response. He just said that Hank never seemed like that type of guy to him. What type of guy is a rapist? How do we know? I guess unless you are the victim it is hard to say for sure. I know it was not my fault, but there is still a part of me that feels like I should have been smarter, stronger. Like I should not have gone to his room or I should have fought harder. I carried this pain with me every day. I could barley take care of myself; I felt I was not worth it. However, my children were a different story. I always managed to make sure my kids were clean, healthy and happy like kids should be. Even though that is all I would have the strength to do. I was raised a proud black woman. My family would not accept mental illness, they thought you just had to work harder and in time, the depression would fade. I believe they thought, ‘if you just stop making yourself depressed you could be alright. You have a weak mind and you need to be harder, do not let things or people hurt you feelings.’ Being the sensitive person I have always been that was impossible for me. I felt so much hurt, pain, rejection, fear, and disgust for myself that I had no clue what love was for me. I allowed people to hurt me, use me, abuse me, and talk about me like I was less than trash; after all that’s the way I also felt inside. I have had many years of calling the suicide hotline, because I was just so down that I could not see any way that I would survive the night sometimes. I felt I deserved to die. I diluted myself into thinking I could not sufficiently care for my kids. I had two baby fathers who were not helping the way I needed them to. I was just so lost. My children and I had been in three homeless shelters and one battered women’s shelter. I went to the battered women’s shelter because I was so lost that I figured marrying a man who would help me care for a home and my children so that we could live better would help me. That turned out to be one of my greatest nightmares. We were not even married a month before he began to verbally abuse me then he physically me. For me, it just took that one time and I did not go back to him. I left town and went to shelter in Louisville KY. While in the shelter and being in a new city, I felt still so lost and alone that I told my husband that I wanted to work things out maybe get some counseling to work through our problems so that we could keep our marriage together. That lasted a few weeks then I had to have him removed from my home by the police. Not only was he verbally abusing me he was jealous See By the Grace of God Pg. 12 �Street vibeS a p r i l 15, 20 1 1 Local ­ 9 �10 national news Street vibeS april 15, 2011 Q&A with New York Times columnist Gail Collins ­ OrIGINALLY PUBLIShED BY SPArE ChANGE ­ NEwS © www.STrEETNEwSSErVICE.OrG ­ a lot of them having to do with just how you balance work and family, which is a huge issue that I run into all the time wherever I go. And also, often at work things will be complicated; they might feel that the whole place is run by men and that the men don’t quite get them, but it’s not like the men are running around like they did back in the day saying, “Oh, we don’t hire women for this job,” or anything like that. It’s all kind of complicated, and to deal with stuff like that is much harder than to deal with the stuff that we dealt with, which was just so completely out in the open. But I know that young women today are incredibly strong. They don’t generally like the word feminist, but nobody’s ever liked the word feminist. It was popular for only about three seconds in the entire history of the world. So, I always say if they just had another name for it, like Fred or something, it would work out better. Sennott: What are some of the things that you think may have stalled the women’s movement, or may have had a negative impact on it? New York Times columnist Gail Collins: “I’d love to see conservative women who really thought things through in a serious way taking the lead.” Photo: courtesy of Spare Change News Adam Sennott: You’ve had an illustrious career; along with writing four books, you founded the Connecticut State News Bureau in 1972 and have written for the New York Daily News and Newsday - and you were even editor of the New York Times Editorial Section. When did you first discover your passion for writing, and did you ever imagine it would take you where it has? Gail Collins: No, I was in school in the 60’s and I remember very clearly having to talk to somebody one day about what we wanted to do with our lives and somebody said, ‘Oh maybe we can work for the New York Times.’ and we all said, ‘Oh no, mainstream media. Sell out, oh no. We would never do such a thing. ‘ That was a long time ago. So no, I never envisioned it working out like this, but it’s been a great ride. Sennott:When did you first discover your passion for writing? Gail Collins: I did that when I was really young. My mother had always wanted to be a writer and she had to drop out of college and get married and stuff. So it was kind of in the air from the time I was really young. Sennott: So you grew up around writing? Collins: Yeah. If you’re a kid you can just tell what really knocks your parents out. Whenever I did something that involved writing, it was really special for my mother. Sennott: In your book Scorpion Tongues you discussed a rumor that Hillary Clinton had thrown a lamp at her husband, President Bill Clinton, shortly after he was elected. You also wrote that “by passing along the rumor that Hillary had physically attacked Bill Clinton, people were expressing their secret fears that she (and maybe by implication all women) would try and push her husband aside and run things herself.” Though 18 years have passed, do you think America has gotten over its fear? Collins: Yeah, that was written a while ago. To some degree, sure. It was much heavier back then, and that was right when they were first coming into the White House and they were doing the whole thing about “you buy one, you get two,” and people were not used to that. It was a new thing. But I do really think that often, if you’ve got these sort of rumors at large that don’t seem to come from anywhere in particular, that it often has to do with some kind of trauma that people have, a worry that people have. Sennott: Two of your books, America’s Women: Four Hundred Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines, and When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present covers nearly 450 years of women’s history in the United States. Where do you think feminism is now, and what direction is it headed? Gail Collins: Older women always say to me, “younger women don’t appreciate what we went through” and yada yada yada. It’s almost like, “we’ve walked many miles and we weren’t allowed to wear slacks, and we were in the snow, and it was so terrible, and we were suffering.” But I always think that we were very lucky, and that young women today face a much more complicated challenge then we did. I mean, it’s the most wonderful thing in the world to be out on a picket line, or protesting, and not only knowing what you’re doing is right but knowing everybody knows it’s right, including the people you’re protesting and that it’s going to be changed. You really did feel, back then, that the wind was at your back and that this was going to work out, mostly because of the success of the civil rights movement. But young women today, it’s all very complicated. They have all kinds of problems, Collins: Well, I don’t know that anything stalled it. I don’t really think it’s stalled. The biggest problem for women, and I think that it sort of leaps off into everything, is that work/ family thing - and that’s something that doesn’t have a simple solution. The most important thing, if you want a really serious career and a family, is to make sure you’ve got a partner who wants to take half the responsibility, or more. Other than that, it’s not clear how you deal with these things. It’s very complicated, particularly for single mothers. The source of most of the poverty in the United States is women who are trying to raise families all by themselves. Sennott: Do you think the public has a better understanding in this day and age of how difficult it is to be a single mother? Collins: Yeah, they do. The interesting problem is that the response is different from different places. At least when we did the end of welfare and entitlement there was a very clear (it seemed to me at the time) agreement that meant that there was going to be quality childcare available to everybody who needed it who was going to go out and work. That promise really hasn’t been kept. So that’s just a huge, huge problem for working women. Also, there are many people who think that the answer is that you should just tell people not to have sex unless they are married. That doesn’t work. Preventing teenage pregnancy is really important, but there’s a lot of states in which they’re teaching abstinence only sex education, which isn’t helping stuff any. So it’s a very complicated issue. Sennott: In When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present, you tell the stories of women such as Lois Rabinowitz, who in 1960 was thrown out of a New York court room for wearing slacks as she tried to pay her bosses speeding ticket. How did you go about finding these stories, and which one impacted you the most? Collins: Well, Lois was not hard. It was such a huge subject, and when I first started doing the book I was just sort of like, ‘Oh my God, where do I go? Where do I start? What do I do?’ So I just went through the Times in 1960 and looked for every reference to women, and there were surprisingly few actually, but one of them was Lois in her great day being tossed out of motor vehicle court. So her story popped right up the first week I was working on this sort of thing. One of the women that I just really loved was Lorena Weeks. She was this very simple woman in Georgia back in the 60s who had grown up very poor, had always worked, and who was married with children and worked for the phone company and just desperately, desperately wanted to send her kids to college - and was prepared to do anything for that. She wound up, because she applied for a promotion for a job that they said only men could do, she wound up at the end as being sort of the critical, Seminal court case that made it possible for women all over America for the next generation of two, to not be discriminated against in this way. What they used to do was always say, “Oh yeah, that’s open to anybody but you’ve got to be able to lift thirty pounds, otherwise you can’t do it.” And these poor women who had been lifting their babies and stuff forever were all sort of blocked off. Lorena had been lifting a thirty-five pound typewriter every day at her job; they said that didn’t count either. She was in semi-rural Georgia, and nobody thought the suit was a good idea. I think even her family was even embarrassed by the fact that she was out there doing this, and her coworkers hated it. She said one of the ministers in her town preached against it. And she just kept on going because she thought it was the right thing to do. I grew up in a time when we were so supportive of women and we do all these meetings and we say “You go girl” and do the whole thing. These women from the past, who just did it even though nobody thought it was a good idea and they got no support, they just went ahead and did it. They just knock me out, and they’re my favorites by far. Sennott: Were there any stories that you had to take out in the editorial process that you wish could have been told? Collins: I had researchers, and they were mostly college students who went out and interviewed many of the average women that I have in the book. I didn’t want to skew what they were doing so I generally just told them to go and find me a woman who worked in the 1960’s and had children at home or something like that. They would often find their relatives which turned out to be great because I think they were a little bit more open than they might have been if some stranger had come in and talked to them. And that was the hardest part of the book: you can’t put them all in. There were just a trillion of them, and weeding them down was the hardest thing to do. There were amazing, wonderful women who never got in the book at all just because I didn’t have room for all of the stories. Sennott: During your recent speech at Bunker Hill Community College, someone suggested that both America’s Women: Four Hundred Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines, When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present could be used as textbooks in colleges. How do you think women are currently portrayed in history books? Collins: Well, actually, my book is used some places. I am thrilled to have people get up and suggest it should be used in more, but it does get around. Right now, it’s a good time for that kind of stuff. Everybody sort of goes out of their way to try and make this telling of America’s story more expansive than it used to be and include more kinds of people, so that’s all great. Sennott: You were the first women to ever be named editor of the New York Times Editorial Section. What was it like to have earned that position and to set a milestone similar many of the other great women you have written about? Collins: The nice thing was that you could just tell when they named me that everybody was happy. They weren’t particularly happy about me as a particular person, but everybody in the building was just really happy that that was going to happen - that there was going to be a woman doing that. You could just kind of feel that. That’s kind of the way the Times is and that’s why I love working here so much. It was really a great adventure. I had never really thought about being an editor on that level, but it was a great time. I was really thrilled to do it. Sennott: Did you expect it at all? Collins: Oh God, no. Sennott: You’ve written columns about both Sarah Palin and Hilary Clinton. Though they are both on opposite ends of the political spectrum, what do you think their success says about how far women have come politically? Do you think you will see a female president in your lifetime? Collins: Yeah, and whenever I say that people say, “Well if it’s not going to be Hillary who else could it be?” Which is not really fair. I mean, name me what guy out there who you think is going to be President in the future. We don’t tend to have long running successions that’s going on here. So yeah, I think probably there will be one in my lifetime. As for Sarah Palin, I wrote once during the campaign that she really is a product of the women’s movement. She’s a person who, whatever else you think of her, is not constrained by her gender. I really doubt that there was ever a moment in her life where she thought, “Well I can’t do that because I am a girl.” That’s just not the way she is. So in that sense she really is a product of the women’s movement herself. I wrote that once and Gloria Steinem called me and said, “Okay, I am shooting myself now.” But I still think it’s true. Sennott: Both Palin and Clinton have been able to climb the ladder in their respective parties. What do you think it says about how far each political party has come that they are willing to accept women in leadership positions? Collins: It’s an interesting thing. I think you have to take very seriously the fact that the Republican Party has managed to produce all of these very high-profile female leaders. I find it worrisome that they all seem to be A-hot. It’s very weird that you seem to have all of these very good looking women, I am kind of wondering what the role is for a normal looking women in the Republican Party right now. We’re not seeing quite as many of them. And as far as Sarah Palin is concerned, it’s very troubling for me as a woman who roots for women of both parties that she’s not better prepared. I’d love to see conservative women who really thought things through in a serious way taking the lead. Sennott: In April 12, 2009 the New York Times published an article about street newspapers across the country. As someone who understands the power of written word, how important do you think it is for the homeless and economically disadvantaged to be able to get their opinions and voices out there? Collins: It’s important for everybody to get their voices out there, particularly people who don’t have many kinds of outlets because they are homeless or disadvantaged.  �Street vibeS international news 11 a p r i l 15, 20 1 1 Prostitution: Crime or controversial career? ­ Last September, Ontarian prostitutes Terri-Jean Bedford, Valerie Scott and Amy Lebovich cried out in victory. The judge at the Supreme Court in Ontario declared the criminal code articles that condemn prostitution as unconstitutional. Far from rallying everyone together, Himel’s trial urges Canadians to voice their opinion in the debate on the decriminalization of the oldest job in the world. L’ITINérAIrE (CANADA) 29/03/2010 Translated into English by Bouchra Mojtahid, editing by Amanda fortier. Originally published by L’Itineraire © streetnewsservice.org For a majority of organizations that work with sex workers, this trial is considered a blessing - real progress for the safety of prostitutes. Judge Susan Himel denounced the articles that prohibit the solicitation of prostitution. Making a living from prostitution is under the jurisdiction of brothels. The trial is currently awaiting a final decision by the conservative government. If the law is passed, it will apply to all of Canada.  According to its supporters, this judgment will allow prostitutes to organize themselves against the aggressions they face. While some have supported the decision of the Supreme Court, the “Concertation des Lutes Contre l’Exploitation Sexuelle” (CLES) has voiced its opposition: “we are in favor of the decriminalization of prostitute women, but we don’t think that it’s in their interest to decriminalize pimps” said Diane Matte, a spokeswoman for the organization. Some groups say they must encourage women to speak out and admit that many get involved in prostitutions by choice. However, opponents of decriminalization remain steadfast. According to Diane Matte, the inequality between sexes forces women into prostitution. “In fact, we can talk about choice; it’s like when talking about those women who, despite being beaten by their husbands, want to stay with them anyway. What is important is that regardless of personal choice, society says that men do not have the right to beat women”. However, according to Emilie Laliberté, general coordinator of Stella, prostitutes support the organization. “It’s like assuming that making a living from prostitution means forcing yourself to do so. It’s not true,” argues Mrs Laliberté. It’s difficult to know the numbers of prostitutes working in Quebec, as an indiscriminate number are in Canada without their legal paperwork in order. This makes it difficult to identify those who are suffering from different addictions, or from psychological distress. “The only numbers we have are those we were given by the police when girls were arrested,” says Maria Nengeh, a professor of social work At the University of Quebec a Montreal (UQAM). The data show only a minute image of those who have had problems, and this is not significant”. The two opposing views rely on facts and figures that support their cause and rely on particular experiences that draw out specific conclusions. Within the framework of her research, Maria Nengeh Mensah frequently met with prostitutes. For her, the majority has made conscious decisions. “For instance, they explained that they are better able to manage their time than I am as a professor at University and who is often up late correcting papers,” she said with a laugh. For the professor who is doing her research on prostitution, once decriminalized, it’s these girls who will be able to help other prostitutes who are caught up in vicious circles of addictions. According to Robert Rousseau, director of Rézo, the only organization that supports male city prostitutes, “it’s criminalization and oppression that may lead to drug addiction.” Prostitutes are forced to stay in illegal networks. At one point, we wonder what causes what…” he wonders. He sees in decriminalization an opportunity for the organizations and health sectors to work hand in hand to install a viable and healthy culture in the prostitution field. However, organizations speak with one voice and claim that the current legislation regarding prostitution causes more harm than good. The CLES suggests instead a Swedish example (read “Elsewhere in the world…”), which criminalized customers and pimps and aims to change mentalities with the ultimate goal of stopping prostitution. “Changes made to the criminal code must be accompanied by an awareness regarding the inequalities between men and women and the result that this may bear in the sex industry”, insists Diane Matte, who wants a thorough investigation and who criticizes those who affirm that the oldest job in the world is here to stay. As for the organization Stella, ignoring reports that criminalize prostitution is fine. However, prostitution should not be bound to any particular regulations. This is how the legalization of prostitution in Switzerland works. “The government creates a permit system, but people who do not comply with this find themselves in the black market”, warns Emilie Laliberté. But, Maria Nengeh rather believes in the necessity of adding some rules in the labor code concerning the sex industry. Some restrictions that include, for instance, safety standards or the right to unionize. According to Lucie Lemonde, professor at the department of juridical sciences at UQAM, it’s impossible to decriminalize without supervising. “There is no job in the world which has no regulations! Supervision must be installed, if we want to acknowledge that it’s indeed a job like any other one,” she affirms and further states if it does happen and the Supreme Court rules in favor, each province will create its own legal measures. Sex workers and their supporters protest in front of City hall in celebration of International Sex workers’ rights Day in San francisco, California March 3, 2008 Photo: rEUTErS/kimberly white For those who support decriminalization, it’s still far from reach. “I have always thought that decriminalization issue is a dream, especially now with our conservative government”, says Maria Nengeh Mensah. Lucie Lemonde also sees that the government has a tendency to make legislations on moral issues. “The Harper government uses the criminal law to promote moral purposes, she said. This is juridical populism.” Elsewhere in the world • Switzerland legalized prostitution in 1992, and though prostitutes must hold permits and pay taxes, there is still a black market and there are sex workers coming from abroad to work in the Swiss brothels. - Sweden prosecutes hundred of clients per year; pimps can also be tried. The country has succeeded to reduce the number of prostitutes without criminalizing them. It has therefore been blamed for transferring the problem to its neighbors who have, on average, three times as many sex workers as Sweden. The Swedish example does not acknowledge the fact that a man or woman has the choice to make a living out of prostitution. • New Zealand decriminalized prostitution in 1991. It is the only country to have done so. Authorities have not seen any increase of the number of prostitutes. �interest 12 Street vibeS april 15, 2011 Meet Up ­ A look at the life of a proud Streetvibes Distributor JIM LUkEN Contributing Writer M eet Ronnie Phillips. Age 37. And proud to be a Streetvibes distributor. Ronnie is also very proud and happy to be living in his own apartment in Westwood, since February. Before that, he lived for a year and a half at the Drop Inn Center, as part of its “Step Up” dorm program, working with staff and social workers to prepare him for being on the “outside” once again. In spite of the difficult turn his life had taken, Ronnie Phillips looked at it positively, “When I realized I was going to homeless,” he says, “I knew it was gonna be good.” He seems very clear on this. “You gotta be strong to work in the Drop Inn Center. I used my experience as a homeless man to make me stronger.” He loves his new apartment, and the independence it provides. “My first memory of being in my own apartment was of not being able to sleep. It was so quiet, compared to the Drop. Now I have my own radio and can listen to my own music.” When he wants to watch TV, he goes to visit his mother. For a time the apartment will be provided for him as a transitional home. For now, he gets by on food stamps and on the money he makes selling everyone’s favorite Cincinnati newspaper. “Last week,” Ronnie says, almost excitedly, “I made thirty dollars.” Phillips grew up in Millville, the only child of single mother. He describes himself as bi-racial. He can see that growing up without brothers and sisters may not have been always been the best thing for him. “I was a spoiled brat,” he says, “but I got over that as soon as I got not respecting me.” The responsible job brought Phillips various benefits. He was able to live in his own apartment, pay his bills, and even keep a bank account. But in 2006, Ronnie got fired for, as he describes, “Something Ronnie didn’t do.” One day, some money was missing from the shift receipts. It took three weeks for the boss to determine who was responsible. But Phillips had already been let go. “Phillips remembers his work history as well as his various living situations with incredible accuracy, recalling to the month, and sometimes to the day, when he moved from one apartment to another, or lost a job only to find another.” my first job. “ That job came while he was a student at Western Hills High School. He worked as a janitor’s assistant, then, in his senior year found work doing maintenance with Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing. He graduated from West High in 1993, with a B average, on the honor role. He also received an American Citizenship Award. Ronnie had a number of entry level jobs until, he says, he began working for Taco Bell. His goal was to become a shift manager. His friends were dubious. At times Ronnie talks of himself in the third person. “There were some doubters. They thought Ronnie be too nice a guy. But he became a certified shift manager.” Then he adds. “I proved them wrong. Sometimes I had to send people home for Instead of looking immediately for work, Ronnie lived for a year on his savings. “I was lucky,” he says. I had one thousand, two hundred, and forty-six dollars in my bank account.” But that was a good thing and a bad thing. “I got lazy,” he says, “I didn’t look for as many jobs as I should have.” Phillips remembers his work history as well as his various living situations with incredible accuracy, recalling to the month, and sometimes to the day, when he moved from one apartment to another, or lost a job only to find another. He especially remembers the three times he lived in the Evanston Neighborhood. In Phillips’s estimation, Evanston seems to come as close to hell as he ever wants to be. “Ronnie was an individual who was known to work hard. He makes some mistakes. He would not be able to make it in Evanston.” The final time he “stayed” in Evanston almost did him in. One day in 2008, he got into an argument with his landlord. “I had a bad day,” he says. “I guess I took it out on her.” She called the police, who wound up tazing him the back. He went to the hospital, but no charges were filed. “The cops said it was best I get out of Evanston.” That’s when he knew he needed help and placed himself in the competent hands at the Drop Inn Center. Life on the streets is tough. He recalls all the fights that happened around him while he stayed at the Drop and at other times in his life. Fir the most part, he stayed away from them. “I always remember, a real man will walk away from a fight. If you don’t, you suffer the consequences.” Phillips immediate plan is to find part time evening work, while he continues to distribute Streetvibes. At some point, he hopes to find a full-time job and put himself back into the workplace. After that? “Eventually I’d like to settle down with the right girl. If she was the marrying type, I’d settle down with her.” In the meantime, he says, “I’m just thankful I got my own apartment. And I appreciate doing Streetvibes.” And there’s one more thing, Ronnie Phillips says, shaking his head, “I got something I call peace.” By the Grace of God ­ Continued from Pg. 8 and did not trust me at all. Even though I never gave him reason not to trust me. After we separated, I came back to Cincinnati, in less than a year and tried to work and care for my children. By 2002, I was in the second shelter because my employer just up closed down and our work checks bounced. Then when I went to pick up my first check of the New Year in “03”, the job had closed its doors and none of the employees were paid for the work we did over Christmas and new years. We had nothing. I could not believe this I had enough troubles on my own trying to make it month to month. The way this economy had been, forced my employer to shut their doors and not pay its employees. I had no money, no way to even buy food. I was beside myself in agony and fear. I was so angry that I put all my effort into a job and they treated me this way. I called Channel Nine Newscaster Brian Patrick and told him what happened with my job. He immediately came to talk to me and helped me with my situation. He got my story out and volunteers called into the news station saying they wanted to help my children and me. I am so grateful to Brian Patrick for that help. He also prayed with me in my house for my children and me to make it through that tough time. I remember saying to him that I needed to get out of Cincinnati. I had no help from family or my children’s fathers. I still had not gotten the help I needed for my severe depression and anxiety. Needless to say I had put my children through a lot in there short lives. Despite the help we received, it just was not enough, back to the homeless shelter I went for the third time. This time in Lexington, because again at that time that was the only way I could keep my kids and me together. There was not a shelter in Cincinnati at that time that would take my older sons, just my baby and me. I had tried to stay with family but it never seemed to work out long enough for me to get on my feet and get going again. My only option was the homeless shelter. I stayed in the shelter in Lexington two times. Then back to Cincinnati, again. I had to come back because while in the shelter I had problems with my blood pressure and I was so tired and sick that I could not see myself even surviving much longer. I was scared that after all those times of feeling I should die and wanting to die. Shit now I though it’s not my choice now I just may die. I was actually calling both of my children’s fathers to see who would keep all my children together if I would pass away. It was crazy…I was preparing to die. Well God sure did show me that I had no clue what he actually had in store for my life. Now I was about to see. I came back to Cincinnati in 2005, I worked until March then I had lost my job and my depression was at and all time high. I needed help. After talking to a suicide hotline worker one night, she told me that I needed to get some help for myself. Finally, I saw no way out and agreed. She referred me to Mental Health Access Point in Cincinnati where they evaluated me and set me up with a case manager and Psychiatrist. This was what I needed to start to understand what happened to me. It was what opened my eyes to see that it was not my fault and I am worthy of life and all its blessings. Since my therapy, counseling, and case management I have been maintaining a better life for my children and me. It has been tough not being able to work but I understand that if I don’t take care of my myself I may not always be there for my children. Now we are stable and I have been writing poetry for a few years. It has been my saving grace, helping me get through these tough years. I thank God that when I first wanted to take my life as a young girl at 14 that He sent me an angel to save my life. While standing in the bathroom I was about to cut my wrist I heard a voice say. “Elisa your story has not yet been written.” I swear this voice showed me my own funeral and said, “They will only cry for you for only one day. Then you will never be spoken of again. If you would just choose to live, God will bless you. You just need to believe in Him.” Therefore, I did choose to live and believe that God had a greater purpose for me. However, I still struggled with my depression and not truly feeling worthy of life. Somehow, I am still here by the grace of God. I have been sexually assaulted, abused, had nine bladder surgeries, a reconstructive surgery to put my bladder back in the correct place, a lump removed from my breast (non cancerous, thank God), I have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and recently lost my sight in my right eye due to a blood clot. I tell you these things not for pity; I share this because I still refuse to give up. I believe that God has a special plan for my life and my story will be a great one. I had an ex once tell me that my many health problems and emotional troubles were too much for him to deal with. Well I say to him, “That’s bullshit!” We as woman are supposed to stand by our men through whatever the struggles and men are only supposed to stand with a woman if it is what he can bare. Ladies we are not valued as the precious people that we are. I may not have found one man who could stand with me, but God sent me three young men who loved me through the struggles, hurt, pain, being poor and never once did they decide it was too much. They could have done what so many other young black men do… they could have just walked away and sought out what they could on the streets. God gave me these children to show me there is a man who will love me, care for me and be with me through whatever and He is my Father God! Now five poetry books later, two certifications for my first two books as an Author of poetry in the Library of Congress, and a stable home my children I am doing well. So are my kids, they are good students and good people. Yes! I could complain that life has dealt me a very rough hand to play. However, I know now that it was to build me up to be what God had planned for me all along. His precious glory right here on earth. So what would I say to the next young girl who maybe going through some of the same challenges in life today? “Never give up!” You are worthy to live through your struggle and be the blessing God has made you to be. I know it may seem that no one else could ever understand your pain, but I do. Just know that like me, God loves you too. I had to take life minute by minute, which turned in to day after day then year after year and I am still here today. Do for your life what you need to, to survive. Do not try to live your life through another person’s eyes. My name is Elisa and I truly love me. I hope you find it your on heart to love yourself too. �Street vibeS Story & Poetry Corner ­ a p r i l 15, 20 1 1 Believe It Intoxication Willa DeniSe JoneS Contributing writer and Streetvibes Distributor Willa DeniSe JoneS Contributing writer and Streetvibes Distributor Believe it when you see someone bundle up sleeping in the street Believe it when you see someone looking in the garbage for food to eat Believe it because all of these things are real and none are made up Believe that there are many men, women and children who are down on their luck Believe that with the economy all twisted and headed straight to hell Believe that there are many who just give up, commit suicide or take leave for a jail cell Believe that to the homeless, jail with three hot meals, cell buddies for friends and a cot Believe to some may mean nothing but to the homeless means one hell of a lot Believe with faith all things are possible for all including you and me Believe in God, have faith, and pray then change will come all you have to do is believe I’m Just a Man! eliSa Hill Contributing Writer Can you hear me moaning with a drunk and cowardly call? Can you see me hunched down vomiting, my demeanor so small? Do you know me by the tears and redness in my eyes? The alcohol controls me, can’t you see the fear and sadness in my eyes. I’m deeply in debt with misery and pain. I am severely unkept with chaos in my brain. I try to sustain myself with a drink in the day. I try to sustain myself with a drink in the noon. I try to sustain myself with a drink in the night. Unsobering for myself, I know that I have no life. Pretty as a picture, some days you could capture my smile. I portray silly like a child, in my drunken stupor, for I live in denial. Thought it may be blurred, I can see that I have no real future. My true and sobering fact is that my life is in ruins. I fill a lonely tomb with mountains of my destructive past and a broken soul brewing. Yes! I keep these memories hostage as a captor of my own damn fear. I do the alcohols bidding without a care in the world. See, I am the one sitting with hell on one hand and mental instability on the other. I am your neighbor, brother, father and on a good day your friend. I am the coward living endlessly, while the real man wants to live. Yes! Yes! I have prostituted your love and care for my life. Hell, if you’re not paying then get out of my site. To many times I have given into compassion and loves will. To be the one left homeless and ash end by hatred and abuses fill. It has left me burnt in my soul and taunted in my ear. My only peace is drowned now in good Ole’ beer. Here now is where I float above the torture and sail above the rains. You may call me a drunken bum. Well I call myself a man. You should not judge me with and outside view. Inside I am tortured and living in a tomb, filled with abuse, hatred, chaos and fear. Of loneliness, hurt and needing my Father’s love, oh how I have cried so many tears. So, though you view me by the horror in my eyes. You still need to have love for me with the faith of the most high. No matter what I am still, just a man, don’t you see the tears in my eyes. Intoxication is being drunk if only for a little while Intoxication can become a bad habit with a crooked smile Being high and drunk all alone really makes no sense Being homeless, a panhandler and a drunk can be a bad defense The fear of not knowing what your next move can possibly be Can be intoxicating without a drink, please believe me The fear of failure constantly day in and day out Can be a eye opener to a drunk to make a change, no doubt Once you realize that there is another way to live everyday To work, maintain your money and eventually find a place to stay Things start to fall in order for you surely but slowly As you start to make a change in your life ever so boldly Intoxicating thoughts will no longer be able to hold you back Understanding that with the help of God you can get your life on track So don’t stay intoxicated by the fears of the world today Go to church, read the bible and get on your knees and pray! Now I Give to Thee! eliSa Hill Contributing Writer Damn, I have a space in my throat that just won’t let me scream. I try to weep to keep myself from going fucking insane. Most times I don’t even know what is going on in everybody else’s life. Yet and still, I am always treated as the outcast, now pass the pipe. I’ve tried to give of myself in and unselfish way. Only to be torn down and treated like less than a damn slave. It makes you lose your self esteem. That anything that you could be in this life, is nothing in there site. I have tried hoping that there is one damn person who feels me worthy to be alive. Only to look the fuck around and see that there is no one sitting by my side. Cry tears, for what? They only make it worse, now I feel that I am forever cursed. I feel like I have no love, no life, no hope and no real plight. God please save me! What am I doing here just filling in for empty space. Even he regrets my presence because; I just seem to get in his way. How can this be when I am especially made? I am a blessing that you my God gave to this life! I am a bright star burning throughout the verses. I flow demolishing misconceptions and misunderstood purposes. Lord, I do have a great will to live and I know what it takes to survive. I won’t let them to continue to do this to me. I will believe in myself and know that soon, you my father, will provide. Then like a surprise snow ball to the side of my face. I hear my God say, “now I give to thee!” You and I Willa DeniSe JoneS Contributing writer and Streetvibes Distributor You and I must make a pact To be mindful of how we act Toward each other no matter what And not hold hatred down in our gut We must understand that everyone is unique And know that a change is what everyone seeks With time and patience, with help from up above We can conquer the hatred we feel and replace it with God’s love For only with God’s guidance and his so many blessings Will we understand living life together without ever guessing? We’ll finally know what it is to live on this planet together To love each other for who we are and not what we are for now and forever!!! 13 �14 the Signing of Senate bill 5 What it really means for You COrEY GIBSON Contributing Writer Signed Into Law While signing the bill into law at the statehouse early this month Gov. John Kasich said “This bill ... does not cut anybody’s salary ... does not take away anybody’s pension ... does not destroy anybody’s health care. And anybody who’s been out there saying that is just factually wrong.” Yet it seems most people disagree with Kasich. Many people know the bill has been signed into law, a law that takes place immediately, yet hardly have any clear indication of what it means for this particular bill to be signed into law. As people already know, Senate Bill 5 has a major impact on unions, specifically taking away their rights to collective bargaining, their right to strike and many other bargaining rights unions had in the past. However, many people do not know about the Street vibeS april 15, 2011 many other implications the bill will have. Although the bill will eliminate the ability of unions to negotiate wages, it will still allow them the right to negotiate health care, sick time and pension benefits. The bill will also eliminate automatic pay increases. Teachers For teachers Senate Bill 5 may take away tenure for many teachers. Instead of taking into account the length of teacher’s service at a school, administrators could point out one flaw in the teachers past and have them fired on the spot. The bill will also affect the way teachers receive a raise. Instead of the old way of giving a teacher a raise based on the degree he or she has, Senate Bill 5 will force teachers to gain raises based on merit and performance, although Senate Bill 5 gives no methodology of how to determine either. In other words, one teacher may get a significant raise because he or she received a reward, while another teacher, in another district, who won the same reward, could receive no raise at all. Possibly the worst repercussion for the teachers is the dismantling of the cap size on classrooms. Senate Bill 5 will do away with the classroom cap of 25 students to every one teacher. Firefighters and Police Officers As for firefighters and police officers, Senate Bill 5 may take away much of the budget they have for training, buying new equipment and other necessities that are paid for partially through unions. Senate Bill 5 will mean fewer police officers, at less pay, with fewer benefits, according to the Marietta Times. Police and firefighters will not be able to bargain with cities over the number of people required to be on duty at one time. Senate Bill 5 will eliminate their ability to negotiate the number of police or firefighters allowed in police cars and fire trucks. Steve Loomis, president of Cleveland’s local police union, told CBS News “one of the biggest worries is one-man patrol cars.” As of now, Cleveland police are required to have more than one officer in the car in certain neighborhoods. However, state lawmakers did make a last-minute change in the bill that allowed police and fire fighters to bargain for vests, shields and other safety gear, according to CBS News. It could be Council’s Decision Senate Bill 5 will also, essentially give city councils in Ohio more power over police and firefighters. The bill will allow city council to make the final decisions on any bargaining that is still allowed by the bill. As of now, if there is a stalemate between police and firefighters and a city, an arbitrator and a fact finder would be hired to investigate the most reasonable way for the issue to be dealt with. If Senate Bill 5 is not repealed, the issue is handed over to city council to decide. Opponents of Senate Bill 5 are trying to get the bill repealed and put on the November ballot for voting. They need to collect over 230,000 signatures in over half the counties in Ohio to have the bill put on the ballot. For a full review of the bill, please go to http://www. legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_SB_5_EN_N Street papers battle against illegal sales Over the bitter cold Christmas and New Year period, all official Hus Forbi vendors have also been equipped with brand new and easily recognizable vendor uniforms with Hus Forbi’s logo in yellow on the jackets as well as trousers. Street papers are a winning formula and many want a share of it. Problems with fake vendor IDs and even organized crime have been reported, but street papers are fighting back. A new, hard line approach is proving successful in Denmark. In conjunction with the vendor ID card system and the introduction of the new uniforms, Hus Forbi has tightened the rules for homeless shelters who distributing the paper across the country. Mass sales are no longer allowed, and a maximum of 50 papers per vendor per day has been imposed. Staff at the shelters have been instructed to carefully check vendor badges and only distribute copies to vendors with an official badge. “We will be very strict on imposing the rules”, says Skou. “If distributors do not follow them at all times, we will stop working with them immediately and shut down the distribution point.” Vendors of the street paper have applauded the hard line approach. Martin Mogensen, vendor representative at Hus Forbi, says: “If we do not clamp down on organized illegal sales now, I fear that it will spiral out of control. I fully welcome the measures taken, like the new IDs, new uniforms and the tougher rules for distributors. It is crucial to eliminate illegal sales for the benefit of the legal vendors, both Danish and foreigners.” hUS fOrBI (DENMArk) ­ Translated into English by Jesper Bach ­ Originally published by hus forbi © www. ­ streetnewsservice.org ­ At the start of this year, Danish street paper Hus Forbi introduced new, more foolproof vendor identification badges. At the same time, the organization has tightened its existing rules for selling and distributing the street paper. It is an effort to crack down on the illegal sales of the street paper. Ole Skou, board chairman of Hus Forbi, says: “We have encountered problems with illegal vendors, who amongst other things use fake vendor ID badges to sell Hus Forbi. We discovered that these vendors get hold of the paper through vendors with legal IDs, who -contrary to the rules- buy the paper for redistribution. Other vendors managed to get magazines from a distribution point without a valid ID.” Organized crime Unfortunately, the Danish street paper has also Strict rules Vendors of Danish street paper Hus Forbi showing off their new uniforms. Source: forbi/Simon Ankjaergaard discovered a more organized form of illegal sales. Skou explains: “We have discovered a network of ‘middle men’, who -on a regular basis- bring people from poorer European countries to Denmark. Upon arrival, they provide them with ready-made fake street paper vendor ID cards. They even give them a list of good areas and pitches to sell the magazine.” Skou is appalled by the way in which the ‘middle men’ take advantage of the vulnerable position of the people involved. “As EU citizens, the targeted individuals can stay in Denmark for three months, after which the middle men organize them transport home. These people arrive home just as poor as they left. They become the victims of organized crime, which we neither can nor will support.” As a result, the board of Hus Forbi has decided to change all vendor IDs to new ones, which are harder to copy. Skou emphasizes that there are also many foreign vendors who legally sell the street paper. “All foreign vendors in the possession of a legal vendor ID card also have had their ID exchanged and can of course perfectly legally continue to sell Hus Forbi”, he states. Vendors of Danish street paper hus forbi showing off their new uniforms. Source: forbi/Simon Ankjaergaard �15 Street vibeS a p r i l 15, 20 1 1 Summer Internship Program The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) is currently accepting applications for 5 part-time unpaid summer interns. Each intern will create an individual work plan and be assigned a specific project or provide general support for a particular program during the specified time period. ABOUT: GCCH located in Over-the-Rhine is a non-profit social action agency established in 1984 with the solitary mission of eradicating homelessness. GCCH works towards this mission by coordinating services, educating the public, grassroots organizing and advocacy and publishing and distributing the Streetvibes newspaper. Homeless and formerly homeless individuals are incorporated into all programs and initiatives at GCCH. PrOGrAM DATES: Summer internships range from a 2-3 month commitment which is negotiated on an individual level and flexible between May and September (dependent on university summer term). TIME COMMITMENT: Flexible hours, approx. 15-20 hours per week; must be able to attend weekly staff meetings. Summer interns typically attend school and/or work part-time jobs as long as they do not interfere with the internship commitment. INTErNShIPS AVAILABLE: Development Intern- reports directly to the Director of Development and Operations Education & Outreach Intern- reports directly to the Director of Education & Outreach Statistics Intern- reports directly to the Director of Education & Outreach Information Technology Intern- reports directly to the Executive Director Journalism, Media & Public Relations Intern- reports directly to the Editor of Streetvibes GENErAL QUALIfICATIONS: Hard working and have the ability to work independently with limited supervision. Creative and willing to bring fresh ideas to the table and a positive attitude. Have a minimum of one year of undergraduate work completed Must be able to use a computer Good written and oral communication skills and diligence about checking work for spelling and grammar mistakes Familiarity with Microsoft Office including Excel and Word Interest in learning about local area nonprofit agencies A commitment to serving those in poverty Comfortable working with and speaking to homeless individuals Good interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate with a wide range of individuals Dependable TO APPLY: If interested please send a cover letter and resume with desired internship title (e.g. Development Intern) in the subject line to hYPErLINk “mailto:gcch. intern@gmail.com” gcch.intern@gmail.com by noon on April 22nd. Interviews will be held in early May. Direct any questions to the email listed above. INTErNShIP DESCrIPTIONS: Development Intern: Intern currently studying or interested in: Non-profit business development, administration, fundraising, marketing, individual giving, grant writing and pursuing donors. Intern will assist and report to the Director of Development and Operations. Key tasks: Maintain and improve development plan Coordinate and acquire In-kind donations Research and apply for grants Lead an individual giving campaign Work on Summer fundraiser as well as prepare for Winter Annual Dinner Communicate with donors via phone and letters Attend development committee meetings Streamline fundraising database Other tasks TBD. Education & Outreach Intern: Intern currently studying or interested in: education (teaching and curriculum development), sociology, social justice, social work, program coordination & development, service learning and working with youth. Intern will assist and report to the Director of Education and Outreach. Key tasks: Main project: develop a plan for the implementation of the 2011 City-Wide Shantytown program during Homeless Awareness Month. Assist with improvements to the educational and service outreach plan Research and update list of schools and social service agencies throughout the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area Assist with the facilitation of educational and service learning activities as needed Assist as a receptionist as needed Other tasks TBD. Statistics Intern: Intern currently studying or interested in: research, statistical analysis, math, social science research, computer science, engineering or related field. Intern will assist and report to the Director of Education and Outreach. Key tasks: Main project: Work independently to assess GCCH’s programs; compile, review and analyze data; develop a plan for tracking data and analyzing outcomes; track and analyze outcomes for a specified time period and create a final report. Gather, collect, record, track and verify data and information. Uses software to compile and generate reports, statistics, timelines, tables, graphs, correspondence and presentations. Assist with the development of a database for tracking and analyzing program data. Assist with compiling updated statistical data related to homelessness and poverty with a focus on Ohio and links to national statistics. Other tasks TBD. Information Technology Intern: Intern currently studying or interested in: information technology, networking, managing software and hardware, computer science or related field. Intern will assist and report to the Executive Director. Key tasks: Main project: Work independently to assess GCCH’s stock of computers, swipe old computers of data and recycle; assess and update computer software on computers in use; determine networking capabilities and develop and implement a plan to put all computer data on a server. Other duties related to computer management including: assessing security risks and updating anti-virus software. Assist with the development of a database for tracking and analyzing program data. Assist with the launch of GCCH’s new website. Other tasks TBD. Journalism, Media & Public Relations Intern: Intern currently studying or interested in: Journalism, public relations, social networking, advertising, marketing or related field. Intern will assist and report to the Editor of Streetvibes. Key tasks: Main project: Work independently to upload articles and pictures from old Streetvibes editions to the Streetvibes online blog as well as GCCH’s website. Develop a viable newspaper recycling plan. Build up readership and support of Streetvibes and GCCH’s via social networking sites. Assist with reporting, photojournalism, production, copy editing and advertising as needed. Other tasks TBD. �16 Street vibeS april 15, 2011 women helping women ­ Barbara Houghton’s photographs are about her as a woman and about women in general. “ I am a person alive who looks at and questions our humanity,” says Barbara Houghton. “I do not see the people in my photographs as other but as people who could be me. In the beginning all my work was about me, who I was and my place in the world. Later, it naturally expanded into addressing womanhood and women’s role in society.” By Saad GhoSn ContriButinG Writer Houghton, an artist photographer and art professor at Northern Kentucky University (NKU), grew up in Chicago, the 2nd child in a family of 12, many with strong artistic talents. Always creative herself, drawing and painting as a kid, and enrolled in all art classes in her high school, she was destined to become a commercial artist. In undergrad at the University of Illinois, she When she 1st got to NKU she did a series of photographs on the unknown, Terra Incognita, examining boundaries and where she fit in the world, using images of navigation instruments as metaphors. It was followed by Journey, a combination of photographs and objects about one’s personal experiences, revelations, interactions, relationships in life. Dancing with Galileo, a multimedia installation including modified photographs, objects, text, music, dance, video, was about her affinity and love for a brilliant scientist, a man who like her was free-spirited, unconventional, and willing to fight for the truth. Galileo, raised Catholic, did not hesitate to battle the ignorance and hypocrisy of the church, supporting on the other hand its principled spiritual teachings. To document and create her works, Houghton traveled throughout Italy, visiting places where Galileo lived, his house, the institutions where he made his discoveries and taught, the convent where resided his beloved daughter. She took many photographs that she later manipulated; adding to them researched elements from books, text and images, composing the all like a montage. When confronted with political upheaval and violence, Houghton witnessed and reflected through her photographs. In her Popular Culture series she used images about the war in Iraq and the Abu Ghraib case, popular images she noticed or reacted to wandering the streets, thus using her camera to speak not only for herself, but also for the common individual, stating what she felt both would condone or condemn. In Learning the Sport/ Unsportsmanlike Conduct, she commented Barbara houghton in her studio holding one of her photographs of an Indian woman. bill Howes networks to connect local and global markets, social security networks for maternity needs, health care and life insurance. Houghton wanted to travel to India to experience first hand their work, meet the women members and document in her photographs their various supportive activities. After seeing the movie Water by director Deepa Mehta, she had also learned about the abused situation of widows in India, often chased from their husband’s house after his death, forced into poverty and left begging on the streets. Researching the matter, she came across the work of Dr V. Mohini Giri, a social activist and leader in the Indian women’s movement; her organization Guild of Service which helps the displaced widows; and the new shelter Ma Dham she had built in Vrindavan to lodge, feed, train the destitute widows, and help them lead a healthy dignified life. Houghton contacted Dr Giri and headed to India, traveling many places, photographing women: mothers, wives, workers, widows… depicting their condition, yet their beauty, their potential power. Her photographs gave birth to her series Changing India, One Woman at a Time, which she exhibited in 2010 at NKU. Widows of Ma Dham, a photo from the series, represents widows rejoicing, singing and swaying at the news that they will be finally receiving their government’s pension, now that they had a home and not considered homeless anymore. “I wanted to photograph women helping women, and empower them in the process,” says Houghton. “India was a good place as women there are often ignored. But this was also true of America where women are frequently valued mostly based on their looks. As a middle age woman, I recognize myself the feeling; when I leave my hair grey, I become almost invisible…” widows of Ma Dham barbara Houghton discovered, however, her love for photography and ended up graduating from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a MFA degree in photo. She taught photography for 18 years at Metro State College in Denver, CO, then came in 1992 to NKU as Chair of the Art department, and more recently as art faculty professor. Houghton’s photos have always been personal, initially self-portraits and pictures of people from her family, allowing her to explore and be who she wanted to be. While in Denver, she did a series of self-portraits in infrared, then a series of large photograms of her clothes, of old and ripped underwear. “I was putting myself out on paper,” she says, “also wanting people to think and laugh.” on the intricate relationship between sports, sex and violence, on how sports had become religion-like in our country. All along Houghton had also been concerned by the unequal condition and neglected role of women in many parts of the world. She became very interested in SEWA, Self-Employed Women’s Association, a trade union of poor, self-employed women in India, started in 1972 by Ela Bhatt. Bhatt, a young female Indian lawyer, had experienced the economic exploitation and lack of power of working Indian women and wanted to organize them so they would become protected by labor laws and self-reliant. SEWA, essentially a women helping women organization, grew quickly to form its own banks, build trade cooperatives, trade facilitation Houghton also brings her concern to liberate and empower women to her classroom. She strongly associates with her young girl students who frequently are lost trying to figure out who they are. They remind her of herself, of how she metamorphosed from a weak woman to a more assertive one; and she does all she can to help them, guide them, teach them how to be strong. “All trajectories of my works are connected,” says Houghton. “They all fall in the broader context of the human; from the questioning about myself, a woman, an artist, what I wear, where and how I fit in the world, my journey; to the free-thinking and rebellious Galileo, the image of a man I fell in love with; to the oppressed and exploited women of India; to women in general… When I make art it empowers me, helps me find my way; it has changed my life. I want to share it with others hoping it might achieve the same. Artists as Activists is a regular column highlighting Greater Cincinnati artists who use art as a vehicle for change. Saad Ghosn is the founder of SOS Art. Ghosn can be reached at saad.ghosn@uc.edu. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2011 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource April 15, 2011 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Health Care for the Homeless Program is a Mobile Marvel Pg 2: In My Shoes Pg 3: Sworn Not to Betray Pg 4: Building Bridges with Neighbors Health Care for the Homeless Program is a Mobile Marvel Continued Pg 5: Shine a Light on human Rights! Pg 6: Mark Twain was Right Pg 7: One Ohio Now Pg 8: By the Grace of God, A Story of Survival and Strength Pg 9: Local Pg 10: Q&A with New York Times Columnist Gail Collins Pg 11: Prostitution: Crime or Controversial Career? Pg 12: Meet Up Pg 13: Poetry Pg 14: The Signing of Senate Bill 5 Pg 15: Summer Internship Program Pg 16: Women Helping Women 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 15, 2011 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jen Martin Elizabeth Schulenberg Jim Luken Saad Ghosn Jeni Jenkins Willa Denise Jones Josh Spring Sheli DeLaney Lee McCoy Corey Gibson B. Clifton Burke Cleo Wombles Mayuko Hida Yushin Toda Dan Moore Kelissa Hieber Sandra Knollman Brenda Zechmeister Judge Leslie Isaiah Gaines Chris Kromer Sheli DeLaney Amiee Willhoite Rico Green Jimmy Heath Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Amiee Willhoite B. Clifton Burke Brenda Zechmeister Chris Kromer Cincinnati Cleo Wombles Corey Gibson Crime Dan Moore Elizabeth Schulenberg GCCH health care Human Rights Internship Isaiah Gaines Jen Martin Jeni Jenkins Jim Luken Jimmy Heath Josh Spring Judge Leslie Kelissa Hieber Lee McCoy Mark Twain Mayuko Hida New York Times Ohio Photography Poetry Prostitution Protests Rico Green Riots Saad Ghosn Sandra Knollman Senate Sheli DeLaney street papers Willa Denise Jones Women Yushin Toda https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/64484cfcc69013082b0635b590d5f555.pdf 33c0f088f15d553ea1643bc21e15032c PDF Text Text April 18th - M ay 2th 2019 | Vo l . 23 Issue 8 (No. 405) advo cating justice | building communit y Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. How To Bury A Story Article on Page 8 This Issue is sponsored by Cecilia and Tom Kloecker Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.com Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION N o v 218 - N v 19,2,22019 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 April - oMay 405 From The Editor: No Autonomy: Eugenics and Abortion GABRIELA GODINEZ Editor-in-chief A bortion law and reproductive rights have always been a hot topic in the United States, but recently there has been a push of multiple different conservative bills around the country. On April 11, one of the most dangerously limiting abortion bills in the U.S. was passed in Ohio by governor Mike DeWine. Once a medical professional can detect a fetal heartbeat, an abortion is no longer legal. That can be around 6 weeks into a pregnancy, about the same average amount of time a person takes to realize they are pregnant. I say person and not woman because within the rhetoric of abortion and reproductive rights many people get ignored. Non-bianary folks and trans men don’t often get a mention in this conversation, which only does the cause a disservice. There is no point in excluding people when these restrictions clearly affect them as well. Anyone who can get pregnant has to be included in the conversation. Not only cisgendered women can get pregnant, and not all cisgendered women have the ability to get pregnant. It is not the job of anyone with a uterus to be an incubator and reproduce on command. For that and many other reasons, though this is largely a women’s rights issue, it also is an over all human rights issue. Reproductive rights in the United States have always been used to attack and control people. Today we need to remember that reproductive issues have white supremacist roots. While there are bills trying to stop abortions, at the same time women of color are more likely to be pushed by doctors to use birth control. This is todays residual affects from Americas racist and sexist past. In 1909, California passed eugenics laws, which would later inspire the German Nazis. According to the L.A. Times, Adolf Hitler once wrote “There is today one state in which at least weak beginnings toward a better conception [of citizenship] are noticeable. Of course, it is not our model German Republic, but the United States.” With a foundation like this, we cannot ignore how race plays a factor in reproductive rights. According to PBS news, “used as a means of controlling “undesirable” populations – immigrants, people of color, poor people, unmarried mothers, the disabled, the mentally ill – federally-funded sterilization programs took place in 32 states throughout the 20th century.”The Huffington Post reminded us that by 1970, toward the “end” of the eugenics movement, over 60,000 U.S. citizens were sterilized. This is right around the time that abortion was made legal in 1973. If today, those who were fighting for “the rights of unborn children” were truly pro-life, they would be fighting for the lives of the 15 million children who are experiencing poverty right now. They would be fighting for the black children who are victims of police brutality. They would be fighting for the lives of the 5,800 undocumented children who were sexually abused in U.S. immigration detention centers and under U.S. custody. The conversation in government has always been about what uteruses are allowed to have children, and which are to be forced to have children. Over a century later after the start of the eugenics movement in the United States, citizens and residents are still fighting for the right for marginalized and oppressed bodies to have control over our own lives. Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org www.cincistreetvibe.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor-in-chief: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Gabriela Godinez, Bill Woods, Josh Spring, Helen Hill, Kieran Gulibert, Michael Taylor, Joey Williams, Dr. Mark Mussman, Seth Weber, Timothy Bay, Willa Denise Jones, Kim Green, , June Alexander ------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: canva.com, Gabriela Godinez, INSP.com, Dr. Mark Mussman, Pngtree.com ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 3 |-N ov 2 2, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 April 18 May | No. 405 COALITION 3 Wade Street and Central Avenue Tenants Release New Statement JOSH SPRING Executive Director A pril 9th, we, FightBack Cincinnati: Wade Street & Central Avenue Tenants United stated publicly our demand that Jeff Berding and FC Cincinnati cease trying to displace us from our homes and instead publicly commit to not putting us out of our homes, re-start regular maintenance of the properties and meet with our group no later than April 16th. This was communicated widely through media outlets and a letter signed by us explaining this was sent directly to Jeff Berding. Mark Mallory, on behalf of FC Cincinnati has stated that FC Cincinnati called together Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME), Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses, Council on Aging, Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority and Iris Roley of Black United Front to meet this Friday morning at 10 AM to assist with making plans to move Ms. Mary Page from her home. This is Jeff Berding and FC Cincinnati’s attempt to make it appear like they care and are doing something good. There are several problems with this disingenuous attempt by Jeff Berding: • Ms. Mary Page has made it abundantly clear that she does not want to leave her home. She likes her home and greatly values her nearby support system of neighbors, friends, family and health caretakers. • This attempt by FC Cincinnati would do nothing positive for the rest of us, from whom, Jeff Berding and FC Cincinnati are also trying to steal our homes. • Our organization, FightBack Cincinnati: Wade Street & Central Avenue Tenants United are a unified body with a singular list of demands, primary of which is to not displace us from our homes. • As of now, Jeff Berding and FC Cincinnati have not responded to our issued demands and have not responded to us to schedule a meeting with our group. Because of our intention to remain in our homes, our group directly reached out to these organizations. We asked them to support our position, and in support of us to work directly with us and not through FC Cincinnati. As a result, our Tenants United group has met directly today with some of these organizations and is planning future meetings with all of these organizations as we work in pursuit of our demands. Jeniece Jones, HOME Executive Director, says, “HOME’s primary responsibility is to people facing problems with fair housing. We have learned that tenants living in properties owned by FC Cincinnati would like for us to meet with them in order to better understand their fair housing rights. This is our most pressing obligation.” Iris Roley of Black United Front expressed that she will not be attending a meeting with FC Cincinnati because she stands with the Tenant group’s position that they not be forced from their homes and she understands that they have called for a meeting with FC Cincinnati to be held on their own timing and terms. As FightBack Cincinnati: Wade Street & Central Avenue Tenants United we remain steadfast in our demands issued yesterday: Jeff Berding and FC Cincinnati, do not steal our homes. We are looking forward to Jeff directly responding to us to schedule a meeting with us. Appalachian Cincinnati: How Is This City's Appalachian Community Faring Today? BILL WOODS Board Member B eginning in the 1940s, Cincinnati became the destination for thousands of individuals and families migrating from rural Appalachia, and over the years a distinct urban Appalachian community developed here. How is this community faring today? At the Community Issues Forum at Christ Church Cathedral on April 4th, Michael E. Maloney, a longtime urban Appalachian leader and scholar, and Maureen Sullivan, former Director of the Urban Appalachian Council, provided some answers to this question. The recent book, "Hillbilly Elegy," noted Maloney, has brought a lot of attention to Appalachians, both rural and urban. J. D. Vance's story of growing up as a child of a drug addicted mother who had migrated from rural Appalachia goes beyond his personal experience by offering some negative stereotypes about Appalachian culture in general. In fact, Maloney is one of the contributors to a newly published book of essays, "Appalachian Reckoning: A Region Responds to Hillbilly Elegy." The message of Maloney and the other authors of this book challenges Vance's generalizations about lazy hillbillies and white welfare queens, and it portrays a much more diverse population and culture. This greater diversity and more complex culture were also portrayed in a poem read by Maureen Sullivan at the beginning of the Forum. The poem represents a compilation of statements by Oyler School students of Appalachian descent. Sullivan and Maloney emphasized that today's urban Appalachians are diverse and can't be labeled with any simple stereotypes. Maloney, who is also an urban demographer, went on to describe how Greater Cincinnati's current Appalachian population is spread throughout the region, with over half the people living in towns and suburbs beyond the inner city. In Cincinnati itself, neighborhoods where Appalachians live have changed over the years. Over-the-Rhine became a major residence for Appalachians in the 1950s and 1960s, but by the 1980s, Lower Price Hill emerged as their primary neighborhood. In terms of numbers, Maloney noted that approximately half a million people of Appalachian background live in the Greater Cincinnati region. Economic hardship remains a problem for a large number of Appalachians. He estimated that 8,000 families in this area are below the poverty line, and this number translates into about 30,000 people. Hit hard by the 2008 recession, many Appalachians have never completely recovered from this severe economic downturn. Neighborhoods like Lower Price Hill, explained Maloney, are in worse shape today than they were twenty years ago. One problem that has always confronted urban Appalachians is the unwillingness of governments and other institutions to recognize them as a distinct group. A current example, cited by Maloney, is the initial failure of leaders of the Child Poverty Collaborative to include Appalachians in their planning. For this reason, leaders like Maloney and Maureen Sullivan strive to make themselves part THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED of major initiatives to improve the lives of Cincinnatians. For instance, Sullivan and Maloney are involved in the Equity Coalition, a recent effort to deal with income inequality and the continued growth of poverty in the city. When asked whether urban Appalachians are losing their identity after one or two generations away from the region, Maloney and Sullivan replied that the answer is both yes and no. For some, they confessed, the identity has become blurred or ceased to have relevance. Others remain staunch upholders of their roots. Maloney pointed to the interest shown by public school students in Lower Price Hill and college student he has worked with in recent years. Ironically, he noted, a new pride of identity has emerged in the rural Appalachian region. Both Sullivan and Maloney are concerned about creating a new generation of leaders who will replace them as Appalachian spokespersons. They recently created a leadership project, and they are working to strengthen the Urban Appalachian Community Coalition. �4 ADVERTISMENT THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED N o v 2 18 - N-o May v 19, 2, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 April | No. 405 �No. 3918 3 | -NMay ov 2 - 2, No v 19,| 2 0 18405 April 2019 No. 5 U.S. NEWS Life on the Streets: Sick with nowhere to go Photo by Brittany Colette on Unsplash HELEN HILL Street Roots F or those who are housed, feeling the first tinges of a winter cold or flu means settling in on the couch with hot tea and soup, a warm comforter and a list of Netflix movies to watch. Rest, fluids and access to a warm shower and a clean toilet let the immune system eventually kick in, and after a week or two, or even a few days, most are healthy again and ready to return to work, the garden and the family. For those who are living on the streets, a common cold can develop into a potentially life threatening illness. This year, serious cases of flu and pneumonia have been rampant among the Street Roots community and have landed several in the hospital. The seasonal cold, rain, wind and snow this February and March have taken a toll. We talked to some of our vendors about what it’s like being sick and on the streets. “I stay healthy as long as I stay out on the streets,” vendor John Smith said. “I get sick whenever I use the emergency shelters in extreme weather because we are all crowded in there, but when the nightly shelters don’t open, that’s hard too.” John agreed that chest colds that progress into pneumonia are the most dangerous illness on the streets. When I asked him what he does when he feels he is coming down with a cold, he said: “I just try to find a spot where I can curl up and rest during the day. If you go to the day shelter, it’s a madhouse and you can’t rest there. You can nod off, but you’re not safe; you have to hold onto your bag. Yeah, it’s tough being sick out there.” A vendor who wished to remain anonymous said his secret weapon is iodized salt. “I flush my nostrils with iodized saltwater,” he said. “If I have a cough or a scratchy throat, that helps me not get pneumonia and flushes out the bacteria. It doesn’t allow the bacteria to enter the lungs.” He also addressed the danger of open wounds: “Cuts take longer to heal outside. If I cut myself recycling or if I have an open wound, it takes a long time to heal. Normally it might take a few days for a wound to heal, but on the streets, it can take weeks or months, and it can get infected. I use iodized salt on wounds. It’s easy to get. I learned it from my grandmother. She put me in a bathtub with iodized salt when I got bit by a cat when I was a kid.” Mark Herinek was blunt. “I am 59 years old,” he said. “I spent three months on the street and got pneumonia.” Mark was in a coma while his body healed. “You’ll die eventually if you don’t get housing or get off the streets,” he said. “Now I’m in the missions.” Brian Lane said he hasn’t been well since he “got caught out in the rain.” “You just have to suck it up,” he said. “There’s nothing you can do if you don’t get enough sleep. Sleep is important. It gives you a mental and physical morale boost. I’m usually so tired I can’t tell if I’m sick or not.” Brian recently went to the hospital after waking up on the streets vomiting violently. He called an ambulance and was treated for flu at a local hospital. When he was released at 2am, he had nowhere to go. “I was dog tired. I went down under the pier out of the wind to sleep. When I woke up, my new boots were gone,” he said. Brian eventually made it back to Street Roots, where another vendor gave him an extra pair of shoes from his storage unit. Mark Rodriguez knows exactly when he got sick. “I had to sleep in the snow. It was freezing. Thankfully they had the Portland Rescue Mission open all the next day, and I could sleep inside in a chair where it was warm,” he said. “You just do what you can do. Sleep is the main thing. I would just like to rest right now, but I have to keep moving, sell papers, make money.” Jason Scheer agreed that the worst part of staying healthy is lack of sleep. “To find somewhere to rest takes skilled planning. You can stay in an unused doorway or inside some churches, but you have to know where it’s safe to go. Some pastors let you sleep inside,” he said. Rex has frequent bouts with diarrhea due to a pancreatic condition. “I will always have problems,” Rex said. “I crap my pants all the time, and my self-esteem is so bad. That’s why I come here to Street Roots, because I can use the bathroom. “People in stores look at you when you need to use the bathroom like you’re going to steal something. Places where they feed you don’t have bathrooms, and we have trouble washing our hands. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Look at my hands; would you eat with these?” Rex asked. “If you go to a mission for a clean pair of pants, they borderline humiliate you. I have had to sit in my shit for 12 hours. I was told they don’t give out pants till 9 a.m.,” he said. “A lot of people like me, we shouldn’t have to be humiliated to take care of our own health. They make you feel like you’re not human if you have health problems. “There’s a five-minute limit on most bathrooms, but a lot of times you have to clean it before you use it, and that takes up practically the whole time,” he said. “Yesterday I was at McDonald’s, and one of the employees was trying to film me through the cracks in the door to see if I was shooting up in there.” Vendor George McCarthy was resting in the office with an obvious fever. “There’s a psychological aspect to being sick,” he said. “You feel vulnerable, nervous and depressed. If you get a horrible flu, you have nowhere to go; you have nowhere to be. You have to keep going around here or there, get on a bus, get off. It brings into focus a lot of things about homelessness. You are depressed already. You’re outside in the cold. It’s noisy. Inside, you’re always in an institutional environment with no ability to have influence over that environment. You are sick, vomiting, and you are well aware you have nowhere to go, no way to get well. It’s wretched. You feel like any social bond you had with society is broken." Courtesy of Street Roots / INSP.ngo �GLOBAL 6 N o v 2 -18 No 19, 2, 2 02019 18 | N . 393 April - vMay | oNo. 405 Ahead of LGBT+ crackdown, fleeing Bruneians fear for friends back home MICHAEL TAYLOR Reuters As a transgender woman growing up in Brunei, Zoe [not pictured] saw the country's slide towards conservatism from an early age, so plans to introduce strict new Islamic laws this week came as no surprise. The 19-year-old, who was born male but identified as female from early childhood, is now awaiting the outcome of her asylum application in Canada after fleeing her country late last year. "Even before Sharia law, LGBT+ people could be prosecuted under civil law," Zoe told the Thomson Reuters Foundation, which is identifying her by only one name for her protection. "I've always been scared of living my life openly in Brunei. I still am. I still think about how I present myself, because I was conditioned to survive." Brunei, a Muslim-majority former British protectorate with a population of about 400,000, is due to implement Sharia laws from 3 April, punishing sodomy, adultery and rape with the death penalty, and theft with amputation. The laws, elements of which were first adopted in 2014, could see LGBT+ people whipped or stoned to death for same-sex activity. Some aspects of the laws will apply to non-Muslims. "I knew it was going to happen," said Zoe, who hopes to one day undergo hormone therapy and formally change her name to the one she sometimes goes by. "Our oil reserves were dwindling and the sultan needed a way to control the economy once he started to enforce taxes and reduce the high subsidies." The Brunei Prime Minister's Department did not respond to an emailed request for comment. Brunei does not hold elections and any discontent is assuaged with generous government polices including zero taxes, subsidized housing, and free healthcare and education. Zoe, who is worried that her LGBT+ friends back in Brunei do not fully appreciate how dangerous the situation will soon become, faces an uncertain future. "If I get sent back to Brunei, I will confess who I am and what I believe in to the Bruneian authorities," she said. "I'd rather die being true to myself than resenting a long life. I wish that Muslims who want Sharia law just keep it with themselves and God. Not enforce it onto other people." Asia’s silence Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 72, is A woman walks in front of a poster of Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, one of the world's richest men, in Bandar Seri Begawan, April 11, 2015. The royal wedding ceremony of Brunei's Prince Abdul Malik and his bride Dayangku Raabi’atul ‘Adawiyyah Pengiran Haji Bolkiah will be held at the Nurul Iman Palace in Brunei's capital on Sunday. REUTERS/Olivia Harris the world's second-longest-reigning monarch and prime minister of oil-rich Brunei. He ranks as one of the world's wealthiest people. Since details of the new laws were announced, actor George Clooney and musician Elton John are among celebrities who have called for a boycott of hotels owned by the governmentowned Brunei Investment Agency. Britain, Australia, New Zealand and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights have all called on Brunei to abandon changes to its penal code. "It is seriously regrettable that Brunei's decision contravenes a number of international norms on human rights," New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement. Matthew Woolfe, founder of human rights group The Brunei Project, said it was now very unlikely that Brunei would backtrack, but diplomatic pressure from Asian countries could help ensure the laws were not enforced fully. "We want to see more Asian governments coming out and speaking out on this. They have been too quiet," said the Australia-based campaigner. Socially conservative attitudes prevail across Asia, with Myanmar, Malaysia and Singapore banning sexual relationships between men, while Indonesia has seen an increase in raids targeting LGBT+ people in recent years. Members of the Association of South East Asian Nations, which did not respond to requests for a comment, have a principle of non-interference in each others' domestic affairs. "I'm not aware of any Asian country having come out and said anything about these laws," said Woolfe. ‘Barbaric laws’ Brunei, which neighbours two Malaysian states on Borneo island, already enforces Islamic teachings more strictly than Malaysia and Indonesia, the other majority Muslim countries in Southeast Asia. Previously homosexuality was illegal in Brunei and punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment, while the sale of alcohol is banned and evangelism by other religions is forbidden. Ging Cristobal, project coordinator at OutRight Action International in Manila, urged other Muslim countries in the region to put pressure on Brunei. "In reality, Brunei will not succumb to pressure from countries that are not Muslim-majority countries," said Cristobal. "Brunei might say that other regions are imposing on Asia, so it would be good to see other Asian nations condemn these barbaric laws." Better to leave Shahiransheriffuddin bin Shahrani Muhammad is a gay man who fled Brunei last year after being charged with sedition for a Facebook post that was critical of the government. Now seeking asylum in Canada, THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED the 40-year-old was surprised at the speed with which the new Sharia laws were being implemented. "I expected it to happen, just not so soon," he said. "I thought there would be more time for people like me in Brunei to realize that it's better to leave." Many people in Brunei back the Sharia laws because of rising unemployment and crime, he said. The death penalty has rarely been used in Brunei and the burden of proof needed to secure a conviction for samesex activities is very high, he added. Nonetheless, for LGBT+ people, the prospect of going to trial is terrifying, carrying the risk of being the first person to be stoned, he added. Even if exonerated, they face being stigmatized for the rest of their lives Cristobal said the new laws gave licence "for other people to see LGBTIQ (people) as criminals and commit violence and abuse towards them". Khairul, 19, is a gay Muslim man living in Brunei who now fears for his future. "With the added laws that affect the LGBTQ+ community, I am scared," said Khairul, who asked not to be identified by his real name for fear of reprisals. "My life here will become more complicated and hard. "The fear of dying has become a reality, while the hope of being accepted by family is now just a dream." Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation / INSP.ngo �N o. 39 18 3 |N 2 - 2, N o2019 v 19,| 2 0 18405 April - ov May No. GLOBAL 7 Without papers, Uighurs fear for their future in Turkey KIERAN GUILBERT Reuters Without work or residency permits in Turkey and unable to renew their Chinese passports, Qurbanjan Nourmuhammed and his family live in uncertainty in Istanbul, cut off from their son who returned to Xinjiang three years ago. Nourmuhammed, his wife and five children came to Turkey in 2015, facing increased pressure from China to abandon Islamic practices such as wearing a headscarf, growing a beard and closing their restaurant for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. China has faced growing international criticism for setting up facilities that United Nations experts describe as detention centres holding more than one million Uighurs and other Muslims. Beijing says it needs the measures to stem the threat of Islamist militancy, and calls them vocational training centres. Ismail Cengiz, founding secretary general of the Istanbul-based East Turkestan National Center, said that some 35,000 Uighurs live in Turkey, which has been a safe haven for them since the 1960s. Turkey is the only Muslim country that has regularly expressed concern about the situation in Xinjiang, due to its close cultural links with the Uighurs who speak a Turkic language. While Uighurs had no problems in Turkey until three or four years ago, Ankara's security concerns and stronger ties with Beijing reversed that trend, said Seyit Tumturk, president of a rights organisation called the National Assembly of East Turkestan, the name A masked Uighur boy takes part in a protest against China, at the courtyard of Fatih Mosque, a common meeting place for pro-Islamist demonstrators in Istanbul, Turkey, November 6, 2018. REUTERS/Murad Sezer that Uighur exiles use for Xinjiang. Perceptions of Uighurs suffered after some went to fight with jihadists against President Bashar alAssad's forces, because of the Syrian government's close ties with Beijing, Tumturk said, adding China has ramped up pressure since then. Nourmuhammed has not heard from his son Pakzat since he went back to Xinjiang in 2016 to visit his grandparents. A friend of Pakzat's told Nourmuhammed that Pakzat was detained upon arrival at the airport in Urumchi. He believes the government Gulgine Mahmut holds a placard with a picture of her son Pakzat at her home in Istanbul, Turkey, December 12, 2018. Pakzat is believed to be at one of the facilities that United Nations experts describe as detention centres and the Chinese government calls vocational training centres. Pakzat went back to Xinjiang in 2016 to visit his grandparents. A friend of Pakzat's told her husband, Qurbanjan Nourmuhammed, that Pakzat was detained upon arrival at the airport in Urumchi. "When my son was arrested, he was only a 16-year-old kid. His younger siblings ask us constantly when they'll be united with their older brother," Mahmut said. REUTERS/Murad Sezer accuses him of having links with extreme Islamists. The Xinjiang government did not respond to a request for comment. The family regularly attends protests around Turkey in the hopes of having their voices heard. "When my son was arrested, he was only a 16-year-old kid. His younger siblings ask us constantly when they'll be united with their older brother," Pakzat's mother Gulgine Mahmut said. "I don't believe he was involved in a crime; I think he was falsely accused." Nourmuhammed is unemployed as he waits for a residency permit he applied for in 2017 to be approved. Gulgine and their four children have been issued with permits, which risks tearing the family apart if Nourmuhammed is deported. Nourmuhammed said his family also lost touch with relatives in Xinjiang, who asked not to be contacted due to fears that the government will associate them with jihadists. Uighurs also cannot renew their Chinese passports at the local embassy when they expire and they are only given a document that will allow them to return to China, said Munevver Ozuygur, President of the East Turkestan Nuzugum Culture and Family Foundation. Some 15 Uighurs said they expect Turkey to pay more attention to their plight and give them the permits to THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED allow them to work and benefit from the healthcare system. After a gunman, believed to be an Uzbek national, killed 39 people in a popular Istanbul nightclub on New Year's Day 2017, Turkey took a more careful approach to people from central Asia, tightening the vetting process for new arrivals, Tumturk said. "Not all of the people whose passports have been labelled as risky... are problematic people," he said. "People who can't retrieve a required document from China can experience the same issue." Cengiz said many Uighurs had begun to fear they may be sent back to China. "Turkey was seen as the only country that could stand up to China. In the past year, they have been fearing for their existence in Turkey," he said. However, some hope has returned after Turkey took a harder stance against China at a U.N. Human Rights Council meeting last month, where Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu criticised Beijing for the alleged mistreatment of Uighurs and called for authorities to protect the freedom of religion. "There is a positive development in the favour of East Turkestan," Ozuygur said. "Turkey started to give China the message that it is aware of the oppressions that Uighurs experience in a proper way with a diplomatic attitude." Courtesy of Reuters / INSP.ngo �FEATURE 8 N o v 2 18 - N-oMay v 19,2, 20 18 | |NNo. o . 393 April 2019 405 How to Bury a Story DR. MARK MUSSMAN Staff Writer T he old adage in news broadcasting, “if it bleeds, it leads,” helps create the belief that the world is more dangerous than it really is. Violent crime is at its lowest point in generations, yet people still believe that the world is more dangerous today than ever before. While mass shootings have become commonplace, the likelihood that a random act of violence will affect you are slim to none. The vast majority of crime occurs between people who are connected in some way. Rape and molestation are more common among family members, acquaintances, friends, and social groups than the random person on the street. Yet, we start early with “stranger danger” which may lull children into the false belief that their family and friend group are safe from harming them. Our limited, and perhaps distorted, worldview can be more harmful when we believe falsehoods touted by media. Currently, community groups, including the Homeless Coalition, are in a media battle surrounding residential displacement in the West End. The soccer company, FC Cincinnati, has bought several buildings in the West End, and they are currently trying to remove the long-term residents, including 99 year-old Ms. Mary Page. The optics on this are pretty astounding, as Ms. Mary is bedridden and seeing her, hearing her story, is compelling. Yet, local news media is attempting to bury the story to protect the wealthy elite who own the soccer business. This is the type of story that should be running nationwide by now, yet, it is barely making rounds on local news sites. While Ms. Mary is just one of many, (FC Cincinnati’s own housing study, to be released the summer, shows that more than half of the residents of the West End, not including public housing, are at risk of losing their homes in the next 3-5 years), the stress of displacement may not just result in homelessness, it could also end her life. One of the ways corporate media tries to bury the story is through oversimplification. Media may try to frame things as only two sides, and that each side has only their own interests at heart. In the case of the soccer stadium, it is presented as the soccer stadium is just trying to be built, you know, for the economic development, or progress. This viewpoint does not take in the months of organizing against the stadium, the residents who almost unanimously tried to stop the stadium from coming to their community, the land-swap deal with Cincinnati Public Schools, the many variances and zoning changes that were brought to City Council, research that shows that stadiums are economic wastes, and the whole history of the Bengals’ stadium deal - which we are still paying for in the county. Trying to simplify the issues also leads to a forgone conclusion, such as we saw in the news this week, which FC Cincinnati CEO and Owner Carl Lindner III FC Cincinnati Owner and Negotiator Jeff Berding claimed that the residents must move for the stadium. Not only does this ignore the promises made by Jeff Berding of FC Cincinnati to “not displace anyone” it also defies logic - they do not need to move, but the business interests don’t value their lives because they are not in the targeted demographic for the stadium or the newspaper. Another typical tactic used to bury a story is discredit the sources, those who are affected, and those who are helping to organize and amplify voices. Discrediting is seen in the titles assigned to people involved: community leader becomes “activist;” community organizer becomes “advocate;” community member becomes “bystander.” We see this time and time again, and it’s written into the history as well. Somehow, without having political aspirations at all, we at the Homeless Coalition are accused of staging the fight against displacement “for political gain.” I have yet to figure out what that gain is. How do we gain politically when we are aligning ourselves with the people who are thought to have the least amount of power? If we wanted political gain, wouldn’t we align ourselves with the most powerful? This kind of logical fallacy is prevalent in the media as it attempts to discredit the hard work that organizing entails. Other ways that sources have been discredited this week, include statements regarding Ms. Mary’s caregiver and family member, who lives in Mt. Auburn, that claim that she’s not worried about losing her own housing. What does that have to do with THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED this issue? Unless we are talking about multi-neighborhood gentrification, it’s irrelevant. We should all be worried about displacement, and it should not be down-played by the media. But the goal here was to say that it doesn’t really affect the caregiver, so why is she even speaking about it? Even more egregious than the previous examples, is when the news media clearly side with the oppressor, or agitator. In the case with FC Cincinnati, media outlets were quick to cite false information provided by FC Cincinnati, including that they were working directly with Ms. Mary (and others) to help them through this transition. FC Cincinnati was attempting to hide their new ownership of the buildings, and they were not at all in contact with the residents being displaced, other than notices to vacate the building. By repeating lies over and over, that FC Cincinnati is being altruistic, trying to help, when they have not even had a phone call or meeting with the residents, is a clear example of bad journalism. But beyond bad journalism, or what might be called fake news, it also shows how eager the media is to take what the powerful and wealthy have to say and run with it. It should have never been in print without verifying the facts. There have been other false statements made by FC Cincinnati over the years, including that no one would be displaced, and without a critical media to analyze these false messages, we are left with a mouthpiece for the soccer business. Distracting the reader/viewer is �FEATURE No. 3918 3 |-NMay ov 2 -2, N2019 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18 April 405 FC Cincinnati Owner Chris Lindner also done to ensure that the whole picture isn’t received. A promotional video for the proposed soccer stadium ran on top of a recent article about the community members who FC Cincinnati is attempting to displace from their homes. The video, with its upbeat and driven music, shows fancy sketches of the possible stadium, comparisons with existing buildings in the area, including the football stadium, and glamorizes the stadium site. The video itself is overpowering, and I even watched the video thinking it was going to be about the victims, but it turned out to be a promotional video provided by FC Cincinnati. I watched the entire video before realizing that it didn’t even relate to the content of the article. The video itself is so hype that I was exhausted after watching it and I didn’t even read the article. Hours later, after realizing that I missed the content, I had to go back to the news site skip the video, and read the article. To distract us from tragic displacement, I also noticed non-story news popping on the front page of corporate media sites. For example, stories about the 7 Hills student who died in his van last year, and failures of the 9-1-1 system somehow became news again. Lists of hole-in-the-wall restaurants started popping up on corporate media’s social media. The story will be buried through distraction and oversaturation of nonnews. Sports plays a specific role in distracting the public from inequalities and inequities that negatively affect our community’s quality of life. Finally, the use of logical fallacies is prevalent in the reporting around the displacement of the low-income, mostly Black, residents in the West End. An Operation Vortex style blitz is being touted by the Cincinnati Police Department as a solution to the crime of the West End. These type of activities only serve to displace crime to another part of the city. The notion that everyone in the community is a criminal is not only harmful, but serves specific interests, including that of FC Cincinnati and land speculators. When Media Cameras Record on Wade Street but Reporters and Media Distort THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 9 social media pointed this out last year, the Cincinnati Police Department fired back by claiming this is what they do every year. So, every year, they label an entire neighborhood as criminal and become aggressive with them. Does anyone else see this as a problem? We cannot simply compare FC Cincinnati, with its unlimited monetary resources, with the low-income community it is attempting to control. These are not equal comparisons, and should not be treated as such. We should be mindful of the tactics used to bury the story: oversimplification, forgone conclusions, discredit and deny, siding with the oppressor, distracting the community, using promotional materials as news, using blanket statements that vilify entire communities, and pretending that the villain the victim have the same amount of power. Like rape and sexual assualt, the attempt by FC Cincinnati and its corporate partners to take the West End for their own use, is about power and control. FC Cincinnati, with the blessing of Cincinnati Public Schools, Cincinnati City Council, and the Hamilton County Commissioners has the power to do many things, but they cannot erase the power of the people who are organized and unified with a single demand: to remain in their safe and affordable housing, ultimately, to not be removed from their own community. �10 LOCAL N o v 2 18 - N-oMay v 19,2, 20 18 | |NNo. o . 393 April 2019 405 3rd of Main JOEY WILLIAMS Contributing Writer B eing on the third floor of the Main library branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County brings back memories. The memories exist here together as if all of time were crammed in one place. I can even sense the memories that haven’t happened yet. It’s difficult to grapple with sitting here in this place that has experienced so many iterations of me and been the backdrop for so many moments. Some were determined, ambitious moments but there have been many aimless ones too. Here I have been depressed, inspired, hopeful, and occasionally incredibly skeeved out. But no matter how you spin it, this place is one of life, community, and connection. At nearly this exact desk probably a good seven years ago, I studied for my undergraduate classes. My focus was on international nuclear security and I was feeling especially motivated that morning. It wasn’t long though before a friendly man, dressed in a dapper but slightly too large suit, from the next desk over made contact. Michael was talkative in the way that always seems a bit strange in such a guarded world but I liked him and I liked his energy. I chattered excitedly about nuclear security in a way that probably seemed too talkative for such a guarded world but he didn’t mind. He pulled out a picture of his daughter for me to see, and with the most exquisite confidence told me he believed in me that I would keep the world safe for her. I’m not sure if I really believed I could make the world a safe place for anyone’s daughter but it mattered to me that someone truly believed I could. I’m not a religious person but when Michael invited me to his church, I knew I would go. At his church that summer I swayed and fanned myself as music played, women cried, and men writhed in the aisles in a transcendent communal experience of pure spirituality. I’m still not religious but to this day I look back with amazement and joy on the experience that sprang to life on the third floor of the public library. “Are you a social worker or something,” a man asked only minutes after my conversation with Michael. I definitely was not (although his guess turned out to be a lot more accurate years down the road than I ever would have imagined). He was bleary-eyed and seemed defeated. I wasn’t a social worker but I have felt as defeated as he looked. I asked him to have a seat at the desk where Michael had just been. He smelled like alcohol, stale and fresh, but I think tears would have welled in his eyes regardless as he spoke about how much he loved his daughter and how much he wanted to be the best he could be for her. I can’t even recall what else we talked about but his distress slowly seeped away. We smiled and laughed and when he asked if it would be okay if he got a hug, I didn’t hesitate. In that third floor library conversation and that hug I’d like to think I passed the encouraging energy from a man who believed I would protect his daughter to a man who just wanted to be better for his own daughter. Years later I would be in that same room on the third floor on a weekend night after the library had closed for the evening. It was an annual Staff Association party, a fantastic gettogether for library employees. I’d worked for the library two years by that point but that particular Staff Association dinner would be my first and last. I had given my notice weeks earlier and the following Monday would be my very last day. It felt cosmic and meaningful to wrap up my tenure at the library with a giant party with free food, alcohol, cupcakes, and music while surrounded by all the amazing friends I’d made while working at the library. I soaked it all in, fully aware of its significance in the moment. I stayed until everyone else had left except my inner circle (comprised of people I’d grown to really love) and one very inspiring unabashedly drunk coworker from another branch. It was the perfect way to close such an important chapter. As I sit here now six months later, I find myself still struggling to navigate life changes set into motion all those months ago. Some of the people I spent that evening with are still in my life; many are not, a reality that has been especially difficult to navigate. But as I sit here now on the third floor of Main, I feel all the moments that have been and all the moments that have yet to come. And while all the variations of “hey girl, where’s your boyfriend” and “I like the colors in your hair” that I have received here today aren’t quite the sense of community I was looking for, they have been exactly the reminder I needed that life is still happening, people are still connecting, and there’s still a world out here waiting for me to reach out and connect. Trans Marxism: The Music of the Future TIMOTHY BAY ContributingWriter T rans Marxism is a term that is being discussed with increasing frequency in socialist spaces. As queer individuals turn to the revolutionary movement, we are seeking ways to make our mark, to adapt the traditional methods and ideas of the left to our particular experiences, and to use the theoretical tools we encounter to theorize our lives. But what does it mean to have a Trans Marxism? Not simply in the descriptive sense that the present author is both a non-binary person and a Marxist, but in the more general sense of how the emerging Trans Marxism can act as a distinct theoretical paradigm within the Marxist project. To a certain degree this theoretical project is tied to identity, to the creation of trans affirming spaces in the socialist movement and the understanding of how the hegemonic transphobia of bourgeois society has impacted revolutionary movements and organizations, and to the development of trans and non-binary cadres to fight against oppression and for human liberation. On another level, Trans Marxism means the application of the theoretical tools developed by Marxism— historical materialism, dialectical philosophy, and Marxist economic theory—to the history of the queer community, the experience of being trans in capitalist society, and the structure of transphobic oppression in the context of class exploitation. One thing we desperately need as a queer revolutionary movement is a thoroughgoing historical materialist examination of trans history —and liberal attempts to theorize transphobic oppression always fall short because of their inability to offer the kind of class analysis that Marxism provides. Furthermore, it is reasonable to suggest that dialectical materialism becomes an extremely intuitive philosophy precisely when the question of trans and nonbinary individuals is brought to the fore (with the slogans "beyond binaries” and “no binaries” that are being raised in regards to gender being excellent summaries of dialectical thinking even to comrades who have never read a word of Marx or Hegel). It’s also worth pointing out that Marxist dialectical philosophy is simply incompatible with the existence of a rigid gender binary; the existence of such would disprove essential Marxist precepts and the very existence of trans, non-binary, and agender people validates the dialectical method of thought. Beyond that however, something that doesn’t get discussed as often is Trans Marxism signifying the understanding that Marxism itself is a project of transition. In his preface to Finance Capital, Rudolf Hilferding suggested a division between Marxism as a scientific method of understanding the world and socialism/communism as a political movement. This view de facto prevailed throughout the 2nd International, where it was largely taken for granted by the ‘orthodox’ leadership that Marxism was simply a question of philosophical ideas set in stone and could be separated from the practical work of building up the THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED party and trade union apparatuses, advocating for social reforms, and conducting electoral campaigns. Understanding Marxism as being in process of transition, as constantly testing its own validity through the revolutionary process and as existing as a product of a certain historical moment (namely of the proletarian class struggle to overthrow capitalism), means a total break that view. A Trans Marxism is a Marxism that cannot be separated from the political movement, that can truly exist only in the course of struggle, and is a realized in terms of concrete socialist organizing more than it terms of a set of abstract beliefs. In that sense, Trans Marxism is the rightful successor of Rosa Luxemburg’s and V.I. Lenin’s efforts to unify socialist theory with socialist practice, of Trotsky’s permanent revolution and transitional program, and of Marx’s famous declaration in the Theses On Feuerbach that “the philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point is to change it.” �No. 3918 3 |-NMay ov 2 -2, N2019 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18 April 405 11 LOCAL Escaping Eviction in Cincinnati SETH WEBER I Contributing Writer magine this: you’re injured, out of work and can’t afford to pay your bills. Your pipes are leaking, leading to high utility costs, and your landlord won’t fix them. You’re scheduled to be in eviction court and without an attorney, you’ll most likely have an eviction filing on your record. This seems like a pretty hopeless situation where no one – not even the justice system – is willing to help you. Agencies such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati out there looking out for the city’s most vulnerable, however. City council passed an ordinance in January that will appropriate $227,000 to eviction prevention. An agency has yet to be chosen as a recipient, as progress on a request for proposal (RFP) has been slow but steady, said Vanessa White, chief of staff for council member Greg Landsman. An RFP will be sent out by July 1. That amount of cash may sound like a lot, but it’s small compared to what social service agencies in Hamilton County spend on eviction prevention alone. St. Vincent spent $700,000 on eviction prevention in 2017. Strategies to End Homelessness (STEH), Cincinnati’s Unified Funding Agency for homelessness, spent more than $920,000 on eviction prevention in 2017, according to their 2017 IRS forms. Even still, Mary Reid, St. Vincent’s social services director, and STEH President and CEO Kevin Finn have expressed this is just a drop in the bucket in the face of the problem. STEH’s eviction prevention fund was just 4 percent of the $22.2 million it spent in 2017. The rest went to keeping people experiencing homelessness off the street and in shelters. Most of the eviction prevention funding comes from state and local governments, while the federal government funds homelessness programs, Finn said. Hundreds of dollars more on average are spent keeping individuals off the street than are spent on aid with rent or utilities, Finn said. Little public spending goes towards eviction prevention, however, because officials don’t want it to be “wasted” on people who aren’t going to end up experiencing homelessness if they are evicted. Low-income residents who aren’t getting help often pay up to half their income on rent, said Nick DiNardo, managing attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati. This is corroborated by a 2017 housing affordability report authored by the Community Building Institute at Xavier University. The report states a third of households in Hamilton County are paying more than 30 percent of their income on housing, which is considered a cost burden. “Throughout Hamilton County this is particularly pronounced among extremely low income households,” the report states. “Three quarters of these households spend more than 30 percent, or more than 50 percent, of their income on housing, making it difficult to pay for other essential expenses.” The housing market is not looking hopeful for these folks, as Hamilton County’s poverty rate has risen from 13 to 18 percent since 2000 and there are 500 fewer subsidized housing units since that time. Forty thousand more subsidized housing units are needed to meet demand, the Xavier University report states. Until the demand is met, those living in unaffordable housing often have to rely on the aid on agencies like St. Vincent. About 100 to 150 applications for assistance come through St. Vincent a week, said Claire Palmer, a client advocate. Out of those, about a dozen or so are chosen by a team of three or four people who look through the applications and debate who should be given aid. With an average of $300 to $400 given to each applicant, Claire says they need to be selective to stay within budget. Palmer and a few others on staff sat around a table, reciting the stories of people seeking help. Those they heard from range from a single mother trying to keep a roof over her children’s heads, to an elderly couple behind on utilities. The group asked each other questions in an attempt to narrow down the applicants. What is this family’s income? Why did that woman lose her job? For many applicants, the only income consists of government benefits. Some are out of work due to an injury. The process is quite subjective, Palmer said, and deciding who needs help the most is left up to their best judgement. “That’s the good thing about St. Vincent de Paul: we have guidelines, but you can go with your heart here,” Palmer said. “We’ve had different people come through here who say this should be more scientific. It never works because the human part always comes through.” After applicants are chosen, they come into the West End office where they talk about what trouble they’re facing. One couple, Kimberly Newman and David Bertke, applied for help because they were out of work. Newman’s contract at Duke Energy had ended and Bertke lost employment after injuring his knee on a forklift. They were seeking help for their water bill, for which they owed $900. The couple and Palmer agreed the skyhigh bill was likely due to a leaking pipe. They were also paying out of pocket to keep cockroaches at bay which had been infesting the house since they’d moved in. Bertke said they don’t want to pay for fixes the landlord should be making, but they don’t want to pay for another security deposit, either. “We’re caught in a Catch-22,” he said. “Do we pay into [the landlord’s] money trap or do I pay to move?” On top of everything, they were behind on rent and struck a deal with the landlord that has them paying $500 a week. The next day they had to be in eviction court. Newman said she already had evictions on her record, which as DiNardo says, can make finding decent housing challenging. “Once you have one eviction filed against you, you enter a different world of rental housing,” DiNardo said. “You have the regular housing, and then you have the sub-world of rental housing.” In this “sub-world” where tenants pay the same rate for worse housing, DiNardo says landlords tend to ignore problems like Newman and Bertke were facing and often retaliate against complaining tenants by seeking eviction. It’s difficult to prove such retaliation, he says, especially when one does not have proper representation. Tianna Henry came to St. Vincent looking for help on a Duke Energy bill of more than $1000. She wasn’t dealing with a vindictive landlord, but did have to deal with poor living conditions. It was the dead of winter and the Section 8 unit’s heating wasn’t working properly. Henry said she may have considered braving the cold if she were alone, but she wasn’t willing to subject her four young children to such conditions. Later, she couldn’t come back if she wanted to because the unit failed an inspection. Palmer seemed frustrated and confused with the apparent lack of care such landlords show. “[Some landlords] don’t really care about fixing things, especially if they don’t live close,” she said. “They’re getting the full amount of rent, so why can’t they run it like a proper business?” Thanks to Duke Energy’s “winter rule,” tenants can pay a steep discount to have their energy reconnected. In this instance, $175 was needed, and Palmer was quick to write the check for Henry. Ever since the children’s father died, Henry said it’s been difficult to make ends meet. “If it wasn’t just me, it might not be so hard,” she said. “I’m just walking on the edge right now.” After writing the checks, Palmer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED took the time to talk with everyone about budgeting, as she finds budgeting skills to be vital to keeping one’s head above water. Try as they may, workers at St. Vincent have a hard time keeping up with those they help. Palmer says she and others will call them to check up, but often don’t hear back once the person walks out the door. If you can’t find help to pay off your rent or utilities, you face an even tougher challenge: Ohio’s justice system. In Ohio, the court is not required to provide tenants with representation, leading to 98 percent of tenants facing court without an attorney, said Rob Wall, director of the Hamilton County Municipal Court Help Center. Often the only legal assistance tenants get is the free advice provided by the team at the help center. Wall said they often see dozens of people a day, though such a resource is rare in Ohio; Franklin and Hamilton Counties are the only places in Ohio which provide such a service. If Wall and his team think a case can be taken on, they pass it along to the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati, who represent tenants free of charge. The team at Legal Aid is small, and can only take a select few eviction cases a month out of the thousands which go through the Hamilton County courthouse. Eviction cases are heard in a small room in the courthouse’s first floor. Blink and you’d miss a case during the proceeding which tend to fly by in seconds. If the tenant comes to defend themselves or are represented by Legal Aid, it could last a little longer – maybe a couple minutes. To those like Nick DiNardo, the managing attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati, the basic human need for a roof over one’s head is of such vital importance that tenants ought to have court-appointed representation. “It seems to me if you have a right to an attorney for spending one night in jail, I think you can make a pretty strong argument that the public should have some sort of right to appointment of council,” he said. New York City began appointing lawyers to tenants in 2017 and according to a 2018 report by New York City’s Human Resources Administration, $77 million was spent on tenant legal services, assisting 33,000 households. “Eighty-four percent of households represented in court by lawyers were able to remain in their homes, not only saving thousands of tenancies, but also promoting the preservation of affordable housing and neighborhood stability,” the report states. �12 STREETVOICE N o v 218 - N o v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 April - May 2,22019 No. 405 Witches T here they were "throned" on my front porch; every summer; shelling peas, snapping beans; All Knowing… They give birth, life, and call down sweet chariot while gently singing the dying into that River.All There they were in bright the while their chairs-big dresses: yellows, reds, their thrones--rocking blues, purples, oranges, sorrow away and giving greens; rhythm to joy. Dresses dancing around With each moment of life overly large, abundant calling up and gathering baby producing hips. up the song comes the shout! Dresses rocking, molding and cradling the curves It starts with a lap or an of breasts made to feed apron full of peas leaping nations into the atmosphere. Bowls overturned, clanging their There they were sitting on symphonic introduction my front porch preparing in existence. for winter, preparing for harvest, preparing for And in unison with the whatever storm was going freedom of the peas, to come.. the women dance their souls out of their bodies Beautiful, radiant, women like rainbow whales on with raisin and coco skins- emerald seas. -reds and purples dancing around their cheeks and Free! Free! from the eyes.. bondage society can hold. They laugh watching the many children dodge the bees, skin their knees, and grin at each other trying so hard to please Overlapping choruses of “How I got over,” “Nobody knows,” and “Amazing Grace drummed out on the wooden plank porch. A symphony of aged bare They sit on the porch... feet; a ballet of earthy Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, round bodies painting and Spirit...keeping the God’s grace. world turning, growing, cleansing. and just being. They think of the times when there were no peas, One day I too will be a no beans, no food to share.. praying witch. They remember when they I too can say to God in could not own their own confidence and strength.. houses, their own lives, their own bodies or even “You promised…” their own dreams. I want my big flowing And the screams, the dress, my rocker, my wailings crescendo into large bag for healing and an opera of “Thank you, concealing the emptiness Jesus,” “Lord, have mercy,” that brings apathy and war. and “Glory! I want to use the fat of my body to draw out and hold Glory! chaos and poisons and Glory! Hallelujah!” gently return them, cleans and whole as flowers and One day, One very Holy trees. day, if I am blessed and awakened; resurrected and I want my body filled taken..I too will sit with with every creature, light the Five wise women...the and dark, I want to sit... witches. to sit on a porch and see my children; my children Slowly, I’m reaching that filled so full of love they porch so high; that porch can’t help but to walk almost level with the sky. justice, eat justice, breath justice, teach justice and Where “Old” is beautiful give peace. and “Fat” means harvest and wolves and pigs are I want to be that witch, that both in Vogue. woman, that elder, that wise crone filled with all One day, if I keep my my colors. Sitting on that broom handy; ready to porch, rocking with the clean my would-a-should- white painted clap boards a-could-haves; making as my halo; shelling peas my hearth a place for all; and snapping beans to feed, comfort, and teach share. many nations; laugh to the storms and cry after the JUNE ALEXANDER sun; nurse the moon with Contributing Writer my own eternal light... Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher and Chris Wilkey for a group writing session! S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �STREETVOICE No. 39 ov 2 2, - N o v 19, 2 0 18 April 183 -| N May 2019 | No. 405 Intoxication Intoxication is being drunk if only for a little while Intoxication can become a bad habit with a crooked smile On Securing His Base Being high and drunk all alone really makes no sense Being homeless, a panhandler and a drunk can be a bad defense The fear of not knowing what your next move can possibly be Can be intoxicating without a drink, please believe me The fear of failure constantly day in and day out Can be a eye opener to a drunk to make a change, no doubt Once you realize that there is another way to live everyday To work, maintain your money and eventually find a place to Trump loves to rant about law and order When he Tweets about the southern border. He's busy creating new Hispanic scapegoats, As the way he keeps his anti-immigrant votes. At all his rallies you can be certain he caters To his adoring base of right-wing haters. stay Things start to fall in order for you surely but slowly As you start to make a change in your life ever so boldly Intoxicating thoughts will no longer be able to hold you back BILL WOODS Contributing Writer Understanding that with the help of God you can get your life on track So don’t stay intoxicated by the fears of the world today Go to church, read the bible and get on your knees and pray! WILLA DENISE JONES Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer The Sorrow of Tomorrow The sorrow of tomorrow Is here today The future looks Dim and gray The Earth has been Polluted Children in the world Are starving and crying Many animals are now extinct But this doesn't affect the way The killers of them think Their motives are furious And notorious Wash your hands Rinse your food These are the basic rules Our waters are polluted Ozone layer's almost gone A whole lot of viruses People are dying and crying Farm land unreliable People are getting killed Mankind is dying The sorrow of tomorrow is here today! THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 13 �PUZZLES 14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 103 Across 1. Set of rules, principles or laws 5. Concentrate 10. Money 14. Overt 15. Entertain 16. Having the capacity to do something 17. Baseball glove 18. First public appearance 19. Juicy fruit 20. Unable to move or resist motion 22. Orderly 23. Receive something given 24. Breakfast food 26. Plant with pea or bean seedpod 28. Smell 31. Sense organ 32. Immense 35. Having a sharp biting taste 37. Fatigued 41. In the past 42. Crane framework 44. Owed and payable immediately 45. Taut 47. Dark shade of blue 48. Bard 49. Flow back 51. Property rental contract 53. Bowl-shaped depression 56. Approximately average 60. Melt 61. Untamed 64. Snapshot 65. Sharpen 66. Separate 68. Affirm 69. Impulse 70. Happen again 71. Coniferous tree 72. Something done 73. Foe 74. Oracle PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD #102 N o v 2 18 - N-oMay v 19,2, 20 18 | |NNo. o . 393 April 2019 405 Down 1. Standup comedian 2. Speak up without fear or hesitation 3. Dissuade 4. Beseech 5. Craze 6. Portent 7. Raise to the third power 8. Common 9. A small sofa 10. Removal of an opponent's piece in chess 11. At right angles to the length of a ship 12. Quench 13. In this place 21. Seafarer 25. Fail to win 27. Look with amazement 29. Between dawn and noon 30. Pertaining to hearing or the ear 32. Large open vessel for storing liquids 33. Historic period 34. Male offspring 36. Rend 38. Fuss 39. Regret 40. Up to the present time 42. Amount owed 43. Bluish shade of green 46. Wrack 48. Maybe 50. Be cautious about 52. Soak through 53. Disagreeable task 54. Scope 55. Mature 57. Motion picture 58. Expiate 59. Depress 60. Heavy dull sound 62. Delicate woven fabric 63. Percussion instrument 67. Attempt SODOKU PUZZLE NO 394 - MEDIUM SODOKU PUZZLE NO 393- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 3918 3 |-NMay ov 2 -2, N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 April | No. 405 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children RESOURCES Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside Bethany House 557-2873 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street 45202 1125 Bank Street 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Shelterhouse 721-0643 2121 Vine Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 Prospect House 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 First Step Home 961-4663 Shelter: Youth 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 471-1100 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Seraph Ministries 549-0542 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 751-8771 St. Anthony Center 1615 Republic St. Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Housing: 15 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, 961-0600 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 N o v 2 18 - N-oMay v 19, 2, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 April | No. 405 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource April 18-May 2, 2019 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: No Autonomy Pg 3: Wade street and Central Avenue Tenants Release New Statement Appalachian Cincinnati Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: Life on the Streets Pg 6: Ahead of LGBT+ Crackdown, Fleeing Brunelans Fear for Friends Back Home Pg 7: Without Papers, Uighurs Fear for their Future in Turkey Pg 8: How to Bury a Story Pg 9: How to Bury a Story Continued Pg 10: 3rd of Main Trans Marxism Pg 11: Escaping eviction in Cincinnati Pg 12: Street Voice Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Pet Horoscopes Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource April 18-May 2, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gabriela Godinez Bill Woods Josh Spring Helen Hill Kieran Gulibert Michael Taylor Joey Williams Dr. Mark Mussman Seth Weber Timothy Bay Willa Denise Jones Kim Green June Alexander Canva.com INSP.com Pngtree.com Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Abortion Appalachian Bill Woods Canva.com Cincinnati Dr. Mark Mussman Evictions Gabriela Godinez Helen Hill INSP.com Joey Williams Josh Spring June Alexander Kieran Gulibert Kim Green LGBTQ+ Michael Taylor Pngtree.com Seth Weber Timothy Bay Trans Marxism Turkey Willa Denise Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/ded14b2511067409e18de0636c0686b0.pdf 2b9157bbec1ef009c0fb68d9f07857c8 PDF Text Text Special Disaster Teams Serve Flooded Communities by Caroline Lucas~ The Flood of 1997 caused many to loose their homes and possessions . This is a shot looking east on Rt. 52 from the Suspension Bridge at the crest of the flood. Photo by James Heath. Salvation Army On behalf of the Special Disaster Tearns from Southwest Ohio and Northeast Kentucky, Northeast Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey Divisions of the Salvation Army, a "Heartfelt Thank You" goes out to the many communities-(in Ohio and Kentucky)-who responded to their displaced neighbors with compassion and generosity in this time of great need. Without support .from the companies who donated food, supplies and tra~sporta­ tion, or the hundreds of volunteers who helped to unload trucks, sort and distribute, The Salvation Army would not have been able to provide more than 24,000 meals to victims and relief workers. Service was provided to thousands of affected families and relief worke rs in eight counties in our area. The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Warehouse in Northside remains in operation ,and continues to meet the needs of the affected communities during the flood recovery phase of the disaster operation. During the height of the flood, Mobile Canteen Units and Emergency Disaster Relief Personnel provided immediate assistance such as hot meals, cleaning supplies and water to hard hit areas. "The Salvation Army is here to help the victims and rescuers in any way we can. We want people to know that there is a shoulder to lean on that cares about them and their families. Our job now is to help clean up and assist in getting peoples' lives back to a normal existence," stated Tim Sheehan, Disaster Servic~s Director for SW Ohio and NE Kentucky. City Hall Goes on a Demolition Spree in OTR by_Lynn Williams and Donald Whitehead In the United States there are 11.2 million low-income renters and 6.5 million low-income housing units, that equals 4.5 million renters without places to rent. With the defending of many housing programs and reductions of others, we face a growing housing shortage. For the first time in 20 years there are no new Section ? certificates, metropolitan housing authorities all across the country are reducing and demolishing units. At a time when we must preserve housing at all cost, some neighborhoods are forced to watch as buildings go down at a feverish pace., Over-the-Rhine is just one of those neighborhoods where demolitions have become ·an everyday event. The telltale signs were obvious on that Wednesday afternoon when we walked past 215 Woodward Street. Yellow ropes around the area and no parking signs for the next two days. The next day on a spring-like, sunny day, the sounds of the wrecking ball demolishing an OTR building, 215 Woodward Street, affirmed the fact. Yet another building of our neighborhood was being torn down, most likely to be made into a parking lot. Our OTR Community Council President, Nannie Hinkston, had received an appeal notice only the day before. No notice was given to tenants in the buildings next door. Although the demolition hearing was lost in favor of tearing the building down, OTR Community Council legally had 15 days to appeal the decision. When staff called the Housing Inspections department, their response was that it was an "emergency" demoli- Demolition in progress at 21 5 Woodward Street in ·Over-the-Rhine. Photo by James Heath. tion and that the decision was made overnight. When the building went down, the neighboring tenants had to deal with possibly · toxic dust, potential lead exposure for their children and inadequate precautions against children in the demolition zone. It is these types of hazards which proper notice is supposed to prevent. This is not the first time this has happened recently. There have been five "emergency" demolitions, without any process or hearings, in the past two months in OTR. The OTR Community Council or neighbors received no notice. We are outraged that the City is not abiding by its own laws on hearings and honoring the appeal process. In addition, this area is called a Housing Retention District, which means that there are special hearings and fees attached to demolitions in the area. Oddly enough, the only way that this district does not apply is for an "emergency" demolition. The recent demolitions show a complete lack of respect for the residents of OTR, and also our OTR Community Council. Landlords w~o speculate and let their buildings deteriorate to the point of tearing down who make a bigger profit from parking lots are being given the green light. We are urging anyone concerned about what is going on to call us. at 381-2956 or 381-4242. This is an article reprinted from the Over-the-Rhine Community Council Newsletter �STREETVIBES Tl1e Tri State's Homeless Grapevine STREETVIBES The Tri State's Homeless Grapevine Streetvibes, the Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine, is a newspaper written by, for and about the homeless. It is compiled by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Vendors buy the paper for 20 cents and then sell it for a dollar donation to get back on their feet. All vendors sign a code of conduct before being given a badge. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the-Homeress Is a group of shelters, -agencies and individuals committed -to ending homelessness in Cincinnati through coordinating services, educating the public and grassroots organizing. The Streetvibes Committee meets monthly to plan our issues and increase circulation. If you are interested in helping or 'have a comment, please call 421-7803. Staff Pat Clifford, Coordinator Donald Whitehead, Outreach Coordinator Frank Corrina, Vendor Support Ron Carter, Vendor Support Photographers James Heath Leslie Horner Berta Lambert Writers Cathy A. Dew Bird Tim Burroughs F.J.C. Denise Crew Brian Davis David Dietz Wanda Eicher Jennifer Kaz Sheree Kelly Estee Lacky Derek Landers Zollie Long Caroline Lucas Myron Bonnie Neumeier Gregory Payton Jennifer Summers Jean Taddie The Traveler Donald Whitehead Lynn Williams Volunteer Editor Kimberly T enai Refer all stories or inquiries to: Streetvibes c/o Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45210 (513) 421-7803 fax (513) 421-7813 e-mail: homecoal@primax.net http://cinci.com/gcch Pagel Eviction -court Looks Down· on Poor by Tim Burroughs The legal process contributes significantly to the process of displacement. Although the court may not buy low income apartment buildings, raise the cost of rent, or force people to move, it is designed to favor those who have resources and power. Observations of court procedures revealed an environment unlikely to result in a fair outcome. The Municipal Hearings Court, where eviction cases are held, creates an intimidating environment for the defendant. I recently sat through a morning of eviction proceedings. For those who haven't . had a chance to do this recently, here is how it went: The process involved a court magistrate who acted as the judge. She was sitting at the traditional seat, elevated significantly above the floor level, with two other court room ~ork­ ers on each side of her. Again, the two were above the floor level, although lower than the women "in charge." In front of the judge's platform were two podiums with microphones. This is where the landlord and possibly a lawyer stood (at the right hand of the judge) and then to the left of them the resident stood. Already subject to eviction under the law, the charged resident had to face a position of inferiority. The environment communicated a sterile, callous, legal manner with which cases were going to be dealt. Feelings of human compassion were not revealed. Unequal representation characterized the procedures of the Municipal Hearings Court. Both the landlord and the residents were expected to show up at the court date. If the resident did not show up cases were dismissed and the eviction process continued. Many of the landlords, especially the large land holders, had with them a lawyer. An attorney was there representing CMHA. Three residents out of the 15 to 20 showed up to defend themselves against CMHA and none of them had a lawyer. In another case a lady showed up to defend herself, but the landlord did not. She was asked to come back another day. The lady waited an hour to be heard and then she was turned away until the next week. If she had not shown, the eviction process would ' have continued. When the landlord missed, she had to arrange to come back later. Court procedures were done systematically. Although there are several cases each morning, the systematic nature of the process disregards the individual and the specific circumstances of their situation. The landlords are called up first and all their tenants are dealt with before the next landlord is called up. From my perspective, it looked as if each landlord had done this many times before. It was very hard to hear, even though I was in the front row. There is a specific set of questions and answers that are gone through for each eviction case. I could not catch them all...several people went through the process in a short time. The systematic style of dealing with peoples' homes leaves little room for an understanding of the consequence the decision will have. The court is not interested in knowing how long you have lived in the neighborhood, how many children you have, or how you lost your job. Rather, if you are behind in rent, the judge says, "The landlord has the right to ask you t;o leave." If a resident is behind in rent, unless the landlord has compassion, one should not look to the court. All in all, there seems to be no need for a !judge in eviction court, a computer could evaluate the data and determine if, by law, the resident may have a home. Low income individuals experience a severe disadvantage because of their socio-economic status. There is no accounting for financial or health conditions. Until changes are made, we have a system where evictees in Cincinnati have little incentive to show up for their own hearing. Somerville Cornrn.News/CPF 1llE uS SOCIAL. .;'1'Sffi,\ t<; J.f FAULT, AND WE "1USJ ALL JvRY IS SD.;E~ED 91Ai<E "™E BLAME. Veterans May be Eligible for a Variety of Programs Some statistics state that one third of the single homeless population are military veterans. It is important to reach out to these veterans with a variety of services. Homeless veterans may be eligible for a residential chemical dependency program and/ or a mental health care program. The VA in Cincinnati offers alcohol or drug abuse treatment, benefits counseling, supportive counseling, case management services, medical and mental health care and vocational' referrals and assessments. "We at the VA do care about the homeless," said Iola Green of the VA. If you are interested in any of these programs, contact Iola Green, MSSW every Thursday from 8 am to 3:30 pm or call the Drop Inn Center at 721-0643 or VAMC Homeless Program at 475-6329. �STREETVIBES The Tri State's Homeless Grapevine Page 3 Where Does It Go From Here?: Homelessness from the People's Perspective by Donald Whitehead There are many theories about where we are headed in this country. According to most forecasters, the future of homeless and lowincome people is considerably bl.eak. In its efforts to balance the budget, the United States government has decided that it will no longer be responsible for the poor, the disabled, the children or the elderly. Recent legislation, which cuts spending, has targeted those with the least resources. Welfare Reform is also called "Welfare Deform" or the "Homeless Creation Bill" by many advocates, and it is feared to have a devastating effect on people without homes in this country. Cuts in Hud appropriations, the downsizing of public housing, losses of project-based Section 8 housing and a widening gap in affordable housing will have a negative effect on those with homes. Although the opinions of advocates, who fight everyday to end this attack on the poor and disenfranchised, are much needed and extremely valuable, it is impossible to feel the true sense of hopelessness unless you h~ar from the homeless themselves. The following is an attempt to let you hear from those directly involved. When I first began this article, I had some preconceived notions about what people's responses would be. I feel that I am truly in touch with people without homes, being formerly without a home myself. In addition, as an outreach worker, I am in constant contact with people without homes. The people I talked to came from many different age groups, races and ethnic backgrounds. In order to keep from scaring people away, I decided to keep this a very simple interview. In fact, I asked only two questions: "Were do you feel you'll be in three years?" and "Where do you feel homelessness will be in three years?" While most people felt that their personal lives would improve (this was especially true for the females I interviewed), most people thought that homeless conditions would worsen. Some people had well-laid-out three-year plans. For example, one woman in her mid-twenties said, "I will have enough money to move back to Louisville in three months. In six months, I will meet a man that doesn't think I'm a punching bag, and three years from now, we'll be married." I then waited for her to say "and we'll live happily ever after," but the fairy-tale ending never came. Instead, she went on to discuss in detail the new welfare cuts, cuts to SSI and cuts in public housing. She also explained her fear about working mothers losing child care subsidizes. "If people don't have baby-sitters, they can't possibly work. That wrong. It seems like they are trying to put people on welfare, not take them off," she said with a tone that had turned suddenly angry. Some people thought welfare reform was good. "If they can't get them checks no more, they gonna have to get busy," said a long-time shelter resident, obviously annoyed by my intrusion as he read a magazine in the public library. My next answer came from a young woman finishing her lunch at the DropInn-Center. "I just hope that people will wake up and stop living off the system," the woman said, seeming puzzled when I asked about her situation. "Oh, me, I'm just gonna be here for a couple of days. I'm not like these other people''. The most common sentiment I encountered was fear. In more than fifty interviews, I heard the fear of death expressed far too many times. The fear I heard was the fear you feel in the pit of your stomach before the big game, a fear so heavy that it's paralyzing in its intensity. "People gonna start doing whatever to survive, man. You might start getting yo groceries snatched at ,~be grocery store" remarked a gentlemen from the Drop-InnCenter treatment program. This is a very frightening statement from someone who should be one of the most optimistic among people without homes. I even heard fear from the fearless. "I ain't never seen it this bad. All kinds of women and kids at soup kitchens. Pretty soon there ain't gonna be enough soup kitchens and then people be dying in the street," said a selfproclaimed hobo, long thought to be the most fearless among people without homes. I found this interview intriguing. I had never met a self-proclaimed hobo before. Actually there were three of them, all telling me that in three years they would all still be "ridin' the rails" as they hurried away. For many, one reason for fear was the untimely and tragic death of buddy gray. "With buddy gone, we don't have nobody talkin' for us," replied a Hispanic male in Washington Park. There was also talk about homeless hate crimes. "They been arresting homeless folk in other cities. It will be happening here pretty soon. Just wait and see," said a panhandler in front of a downtown Walgreens store. Other people spoke of Armageddon, a race war , revolutions and the second coming of Jesus. The common thread, however, in all the interviews was fear- fear of the unknown. When I asked how homeless people feel about the future, their answer was loud and clear: fear, unprecedented fear. Let us hope that the people without homes are as wrong as the so-called experts. And let us hope that things don't turn out the way the real experts think. Our job as advocates is to take the homeless's fear and transform it into anger. The fear can be paralyzing, but if the fear becomes anger, it can be positively used to organize and mobilize people into a force to be heard. In many instances in the United States, it was only after people's fear became anger and that anger spurred organized, non-violent mobilization that there was change. Poor people's voices are sometimes whispers and therefore easily ignored. It is only when the whispers join together and become a roar that change can and will happen. Children Must Cope with Homelessness ·and Flood by Jennifer Kaz In the midst of Cincinnati's latest natural disaster, local and national media efficiently covered the devastating physical damage of the flood and the horrors of financial ruin. However, once again the invisible victims of homelessness-the children-remained unseen. Their young worlds, which depend on structure and the stability of adults, were drowned in the chaos. With many of their homes condemned and their schools closed, the children grew increasingly frightened and confused. This traumatic experience was exemplified in the makeshift Resource Center that was once the New Richmond Boys and Girls Club, where brothers and sisters clung to each other while parents sought assistance in rebuilding their lives. Recognizing the need to help children, Project Connect, a program focusing on education for homeless children and youth, became involved. By distributing essential school supplies, providing information on educational rights and assessing obstacles, Project Connect brought children's issues into focus. In addition, the Project Connect team offered a supportive and stress-free environment for children while parents dealt with the numerous governmental agencies present at the center. Federal Emergency Management Agency coordinators were impressed with Project Connect's services for homeless children and indicated they had never before worked with an organization addressing children's educational issues. As disheartening as that comment may be, it has forced many to think about the invisible victims, the children. Through greater community awareness and involvement, the homeless children and youth will hopefully be seen and heard by all. . If you would like to help, contact Project Connect #3"7_r:..no �STREETVIBES The Tri State's Homeless Grapevine Page 4 Welfare Workforce by Jean Taddie One of the primary goals of the new federal welfare reform law is to get people off of the welfare roles and into jobs. At the same time that cash, food stamp, and child day-care benefits are being reduced, recipients of welfare are being required to work as a condition of their benefits. According to a Congressional Research Service Report for Congress, "Under TANF, the required work hours generally will rise from an average of 20 hours weekly in 1997 to 25 hours in 1999 and ultimately 'increase to 30 in 2000." If no jobs are available for welfare recipients, they will be put to work by the government doing community service work. Since the new federal reform is dependent on jobs, it is very necessary that there be good jobs available. People on welfare often lack the skills that are in high demand. Without these skills, it is more difficult to find a job with benefits that pays enough to raise a family. Learning more marketable skills could help people, unfortunately, federal welfare reform does not protect the education of our nation's low-income workforce. Federal welfare reform repeals the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training OOBS) program. The JOBS program helped welfare recipients to get education and training so they could qualify for a better job. The federal law does not provide for a replacement program. In addition, Federal law provides no exception to the 30-hour work rules for people who are trying to get an education. This means that in addition to classes, studying, and raising their kids, parents will have to work at least 30 hours every week. Welfare reform largely ignores any federal responsibility to educate the welfare recipients who are being sent into the workforce. The federal government may also be ignoring the future of its workforce. Workforce 2000, a landmark employment study commissioned by the Department of Labor, received a lot of attention after it was released in 1987. The study uncovered demographic shifts in the population of workers: women and minorities are entering the workforce at higher rates, the average age of workers is getting older. The study also recognized that jobs requiring higher skills are growing faster than unskilled jobs. Shortly after the study was released, William E. Brock, the Secretary of Labor 198587, expressed his concern for the future. "The workers of the future will have to be better educated and better trained than our current labor force, or we will be unable to maintain a leadership position in the high technology industries and services that offer the greatest promise for America's continued prosperity." There was much discussion and debate in the years after Workforce 2000 was published. But ten years later, as we stand on the brink of the 21st century, little has been done to ensure that the poorest of our nation's workers will receive the education they need. Federal welfare reform penalizes people who are trying to get an education for a better life by imposing rigid work requirements and by eliminating the federal program that provided job training and education. As we approach the new millennium, it Estee Lackey testifies before the Ohio House of Representatives Budget Committee. Photo by Katy Heins. Stereotypes Become Obvious at State Welfare Hearing by Estee Lackey Recently I traveled to our state capitol as a volunteer for the Welfare Rights Coalition. Upon arrival, my group was pushed into a packed room, which was full of Department of Human Service people, the budget committee itself, and others who had issues to bring to the hearing. Because all the seats in the audience were taken, we were ushered into empty committee seats. This seemed beneficial for those of us who had brought children but didn't have adequate child care. We sat patiently as the Department of Human Service spoke for three hours, two speakers per hour. The budget committee was very rude. Upon announcement of free lunch, almost all of the members left. The chair of the committee, Joan Lawrence, stated that she didn't blame them for going. This left only Lawrence and her vice-chair representative, Carey, present. They then shuffled all of us from Cincinnati, one person from Columbus and two people from Cleveland into a line for the few minutes of speaking time that they allowed us. We had our say, and then they requested that we wait so they could ask us some questions. It turns out that they really didn't have any questic;;ns at all for us as a group. They stated that they understood our goal for guaranteed child care and that they agreed with us. The vice chairman then said that he had a question for me, the young lady. I was ready t<» answer any statistical question, but I did not have the opportunity. The vice chairman only asked me why I am 19 and have two children. I stated that the background information I had given before was as far as I was going. I also told him that I was a representative for the low-income working poor of Hamilton County and that I was there to focus only on my concern for guaranteed ·child care subsidies. The vice chairman's question startled the others in the room, and even Joan Lawrence stated that she thought his question was rude and invalid. Later when I was leaving, many others approached me to tell me they thought that I handled the question extremely well. Some of the people even stated that they probably would have been rude to him for asking such a stupid and private question. I will say that overall I felt really good stating my views on an issue that is important in my life. I also feel good that there are people such as the Welfare Rights Coalition to push me to be concerned about issues that effect me and my community. ~ a The card below is also being passed out at food stamp offices and Human Services in Hamilton County!! Cash Assistance ... is more important than ever to have a trained and educated workforce. Federal welfare reform should give more emphasis to the needs of the poorest for education and meaningful job training. Welfare reform should work with existing high school, college, and vocational education programs. Instead, these programs are threatened. According to Brock, "Society must concentrate more employment and training resources, private as well as public, on young ...welfare families because they can benefit most from such help." In the end, the greatest promise for America's continued prosperity is a workforce that is well trained, students who are well educated, and children who are well cared for. t ... is m re·mparary! In Ohio, you can get TANF for only 36 months. 60·month period Usrmo,.,b _ _ __ Firsrmor.lh Cross out a month below each time you get a wi:lfore clicck. 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 H 13 12 11 10 98 7654321 ~is running out..• ~ to find ajob! f f f �------···- STREETVIBES The Tri State's Homeless Grapevine Page 5 Vendor: Create a Holiday for Homeless Helpers . - by Gregory Payton To Whom It May Concern : I would like to dedicate one day out of the year to the homeless and to those citizens who commit themselves to. people they don't even know by choosing to use their hearts for someone other than themselves. They volunteer. They come together in churches and ,agencies. They~re part of communities. They see with the heart and touch with their feelings of compassion. They are very emotional around Thanksgiving and Christmas. They will go out of the way to help put coins or even dollars in the ·cups of the people who have not. When you're doing a iob and it takes three hands, they offer two of theirs. They don't accept money or gratuity. They try to disappear before you have a chance to say or show your thanks. These people are special; they rise to any occasion. The love in their hearts flows to those whom they touch. Their kindness cannot be measured. Their grace can STREETVIBES Back In Time OTR ·Groups Keep Pushing Intersection Action A reprint of an article from VOICES, March - April 1975 Ten months ·ago, an Over-the-Rhine (0T-R) community effort was begun to change the intersection at Findlay, McMicken and Vine. The purpose was to make it safer for pedestrians and t~ffic. Right now, still, it is a death trap, but 0-T-R people and their groups are still pushing hard for maior changes. The community effort was begun in April 1974, with a VOICES newspaper report on the deadly problem. Then, last summer and fall Ouly - Sept. 74), 0-T-R people formed a Safe Streets Committee to push City Hall and their Traffic Dept. for action. First we from the Committee were told by the Dept. Head: "nothing could be done." So we began gathering community support behind our effort and we drew up our own plan for making Vine St. safe. (Our plan includes 5 new crosswalk lights on Vine St. and a complete change at that deadly intersection with an all pedestrian green light there.). be seen from afar._They never use the word why. The deed is to please. So I say to the readers of this column and to the people of Cincinnati, we need to be the first to express our thanks, to show the state and the country. We have citizens in the , Queen City that have yet to see or learn of the changes. -But we have citizens that obligate themselves to the change of helping others, contributing, and giving and sharing from the heart. Regardless of what it may be, they do a part. My task is to ask, for those who oppose, a cheer, a clap, an applaud, that they might not think it necessary . We need a day to give THANKS to these people, who have heart, and to God, who has shared and given these people to us in Cincinnati, with his love. They constantly remind us of unselfishness, thoughtfulness, a' certain strength and a , passionate desire to do God's work. A salute to you, who fit these shoes, and to the many more who would iust try. I thank you from my heart. That helped to get the Traffic Dept. head men moving. Their next position (Nov. - Dec 74) was: "something was going to be done." But we didn't sit back to rest when we heard that. We kept spreading the worked thru our community, getting more support. (The 0-TR plan is now backed by the following people( organizations: Findlay-Madonna Counci I, Joyful-Together Block Club, Wesley Chapel Center, Senior Citizens Center, Contact Center, 0-T-R Task Force, 0-T-R Community Council, and VOICES newspaper). , Our united forces turned In to the city a final plan Oan. 15th) for street safety changes that affect more than iust Vine St. Now, City Hall is supposed to hold a meeting soon to vote on our plan. We want to have many of us from 0-T-R at that meeting. It will soon be one year since the VOICES arti<71e first brought the deadly Vine St. problems to City Hall's attention. In the last year, there have been one death, one permanently-disabling iniury, and two other less serious injuries on this section o.f Vine St. Our community's hard work has put forth a safety plan. We want immediate action by City Hall to approve our plan and start the changes on our streets ..... before there are any more victims. Handwrjtten illustration from the original story. Housing Trust Fund Supporters Must Speak Out Permanent Funding Plan is in Trouble The Governors proposed permanent funding for the Housing Trust Fund through a 50% increase in the recordation fee. This was expected to generate $16.9 million in the first year and $22.5 million ' in year two. The proposal also included $3 million in general revenue funds and $5.5 million a year in interest earnings from the Human Services Rainy Day Fund. The Governor's proposal for the Housing T ru.st Fund is expected to generate a two year total of $56.4 million, a significant increase over the $26 million in the · current budget. While the Governor's proposal is supported by over 700 local government officials, businesses and organizations as well as many in the legislature, many others do not like the recordation fee mechanism, they do not like the state investing in affordable housing at all, or they think the program is growing too fast. We need to combat these arguments. Legisla. tors are not hearing enough from supporters. • Its critical to call or FAX legislators NOW!!! • Push them to adopt the Governors proposal. • Have board members, housing industry and other community leaders speak to legislators in support of the Housing Trust Fund as well. · • Contact should be made with both your State Senators and Ohio House Of Representatives. • If there is not an outpouring of support for the Governors Housing Trust Fund proposal it won't pass • For more information on the Housing Trust Fund contact COHHIO at (61.4) 2801984 �. 'STREETVIBES The Tri State's Homeless Grapevine Page 6 STREETVIBES Editorial Page Homelessness is a Disaster Too 0 0 . 0 , - 80 0 by Donald Whitehead It's amazing how it takes disaster for people to understand what compassion is all . about. Many experts say America is experiencing compassion fatigue. During these last few days, I have seen .that, as usual, the socalled experts are wrong. In greater Cincinnati and· Northern Kentucky, I have witnessed true heroism and unconditional love displayed over and over by thousand of citizens in this · community. People who have been forced into homelessness through no fault of their own have been attended to with food, clothing and love. America does care! The Flood of 1997 brought the true spirit of .care and thoughtfulness out of the woodwork. The flood was so unexpected that several people lost their lives. My heart goes out to all of those who have experienced lost during this time ~of unanticipated disaster. Our hearts and prayers go out to those families that suffer. I personally am truly enthused by the fact that the experts are wrong and Americans do care. At the same . time, I find myself disturbed. When I see heroic acts by strangers, when I see co-workers donating time, money and resources, I feel proud to be an American. But I also feel confused. I feel confused because I don't understand why I don't see this same kind of mass mobilization to benefit the homeless: When I ask this question, many people say that it is not the same, that people in the flood have no control over their circumstances.- That's where they are wrong. It is exactly the same! Most homeless people have no control over their circumstances. The biggest reason for homelessness is the lack of affordable housing. I'm sure if ·those living in shelters made government funding decisions, they would choose to build low-income housing instead of subsMizing millionaire developers. Other people argue that a flood is a tragedy. They also ask how can you relate a tragic flood to homelessness. I say that living in abandoned buildings, under bridges and being burned in storage shelters is as tragic as it gets. Our mind set must change. We must stop blaming people who are often forced into unbelievably horrible living conditions. The mainstream media would have us believe that the homeless are bad people because it makes it much easier to ignore them. The word homeless itself brings up images that are not pleasant. I choose to call them people without homes because many people without homes are very pleasant indeed. The largest growing sector of the population of people without homes is women and children. Children make up 27% of the .people without homes. Just like the 1997 flood victims, these kids didn't see it coming either. -Youth Councils Needed for Pcisitive Change by Zollie Long Thinking back I must have taken one look and had decided that I did not want any part of it. But as I look at how life have been for others. Then I take another look at mine. Then I see that its not as bad as others, that are not near as old as I am. Something that I found is still difficult for me to face, is that we as adults don't have the time to hear what young adults have to say to us today. So I come to you to ask that we show them the true way, when I say the true way, I mean how it works, and that's this life we live, and that's living life on life's terms. There are I00,000 young adults that are homeless in t he United States, because t hey feel that no one cares or that wants to listen to them, and what they have to say. So I say to you, just for today we as adults must give them something to look forward to, that to allow them to become a part of the community. And what takes place within it. and that's to allow them to form their own community council, so that they can have any input into what goes on in their community today. make them feel needed, lets them know that they are a very big part of our community as it is today. By letting them get involved they can learn one of the most important parts of life, and living life on life terms, and that's knowing about economics and how strongly it affects their lives each and everyday. - We must help them to see how underlying conditions, have lagged behind. That with a community council of their own as young adults those lagging conditions can be changed. So I come to, the young adults ·of each and every community, to say to you what's going on with your future and how you can control it~ Get involved in your own lives And be a part of this world. join the young adult community council and have a say so to what ·happens here as you see it happen to you. There will be more on this in the next issue!! In My Humble Opinion Satire You might of heard, as a gesture of kindness, Hamilton County is extending one month of food stamps to victims of the flood. This might seem generous to some, but I'm not sure this is such a good idea. Next thing you know, you will have.all sorts of people moving into flood plains. Not working. Just waiting there for the next opportunity to cash in on those food stamps. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't be surprised at all if all homeless people aren't planning some way to flood their neighborhoods just to get in ori the action. I think we need tough flood reform. What we need is some way to divert some of this flood attention to something really worthwhile. Believe me, I am sympathetic to those who lost everything to the flood. However, t here are more pressing priorities here, In the co nstantly shifting world of stadium site locations there has been one common sense development as a result of the flood. Rumo'r has it that tfle Bengals want to move their new stadium closer to th.e river and build the thing out of water soluable bricks. That way every few years they would have to build a whole new stadium. The City could chalk it up to an act of nature so that we wouldn't have to go through another special election again and again. However, the repeated flooding would have to be guaranteed in writing. And no one will be allowed to put a tax on the tickets they would sell to people watching the stadium dissolve in the flood. In reality, the flood is probably the biggest tourist attraction downtown has had in some . time. All those people taking pictures. Some are considering permanently flooding sections of Downtown and creating a domed flood museum with real live mud and destruction. Phil Heilmich was opposed, however, because the water would short out his surveillance camera network. Personally, I think the flood was easiest on the homeless. You are not worried about a waterlogged home or lots of belongings. And one the water is gone, you can move back under the bridge ·with little cleanup work.They should really count their blessings, you know. �STREETVIBES The Tri State's Homeless Grapevine STREETVIBES Letters Myr o n c /o St ree't vibes 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45210 We · will attempt to answer all letters in a timely manner. Dear Homeless. • • Sharing the ·Vision by Myron Dear Myron, What do you think the homeless, mentally ill or not, need from the medical profession? A. Gelke This is a very good question. First I wou ld like certain professionals to come together fo r the homeless cause. We need a docto r, a dentist, social worker, psychiatrist, and nurse under one roof , 24 hours a day. They shou ld provide medical services and act as a referral system. They shou ld direct the flow of people that are becoming homeless everyday. Tnis would be a volunteer service that every professional could sign up to do as volunteers. Thank you for a very important question . Myron Dear Homeless •.. accept s letters. Please s e nd yo ur q u e s tio n s to : by Wanda Eicher The vision of our community became clear to me in the fall of 1972: All low-income and homeless folks have the right to decent, clean, affordable housing. This vision has not changed: The different agencies within the city must subscribe to t he basic needs of the poor. All . the interagency turmoil must become focused on two basic beliefs. These beliefs are "All are created equal" and "All sho uld be treated with respect and be given dignity." We must cooperate with each other to maximize the help given to our brothers and sisters. Those t,hroughout the tri-state who profess to believe in a God must ask what the Lord would do. Remember to ask this question when making decisions that affect the lowincome and homeless folks of our community. As we face the new millennium, those who are interested only in money and property must begin to understand that the decisions they make regarding the poor will have eternal consequences. I have spent 25 years in the belief that what I do and the decisions I make affect my brothers and sisters in many ways. I choose to share and live the vision! Page 7 . Keep Up the Good Work, -Streetvi bes! To Whom This May Concern: First of all, I would like to tell you what a wonderful newspaper you put out to educate the people of Greater Cincinnati regarding this alarming issue, homelessness. I feel that this is a problem that we need to identify ourselves with and at the same time, do something about. We need to stop for a moment and ask ourselves how and why something like this has happened. These peopie out there are someone's brother, sister, uncle, aunt, mother and father. S~ why are they homeless? Whatever happened to my brother's keeper? Family should always keep family. These people are my family! We have all been put here by one being, an~ we as human beings should look out for one another. No matter what the color of our skin or the clothes we wear, we all come from the same recipe. I purchased my first issue of your magazine at a grocery store in Clifton on March 15, and I took it home and read it. .1 did not put it down until I read it all. I purchased this issue from a young man named Gregory Payton. As I walked away, he asked that I read it and if I had any feedback, I should write or talk to him the next time we saw each other. I read an arti~le that especially caught my attention and really hit home. It was entitled "Another Way of Life.-" I had tears in my eyes by the time I finished the article. You see, I once was homeless. And the funny thing is, I can't even remember how it all happened! I just remember having nothing and wondering how I would survive through it all. I prayed a lot and did a whole lot of soul searching. I just want to let you and anyone who is reading this know that there are people out there who care and will help. But first we must help ourselves. I think a step has been taken by publishing such a wonderful newspaper. I will support this cause by any means necessary and strongly encourage the communities involved, as well. We need to stand together as brothers and sisters and get more involved with this issue. It will not go away, it will only get worse. Stay strong, - Cathy A. Subscribe to Streetvi bes Saturday, April 26, _1997 • 2:00 to 5:00 PM -- Kelly Auditorium, Xavier University • Presentation of the 1997 Mccrackin Awards / for outstanding local efforts for peace and justice • Video Selections by Tim Kraus on Rev. Maurice Mccrackin by Barba ra Wolf on buddy gray •Music by Rev. Todd O'Neal and Singers • Food provided by EarthSave and friends For transportation from Over-the-Rhine to Xavier, call Rev. Hinckley at 721-7339. Sponsored by PeaceWorks Subscriptions to Streetvibes cam be purchased for $12 per year. Please send a check to the below address and the paper will be mailed to you each issue. Your subscription helps keep our paper alive. Streetvibes 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45210 Please make checks payable to the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless--Streetvibes. If you have any questions , call th~ office at 421-7803. J L �STREETVIBES The Tri State's Homeless Grapevine WORD ON THE STREET Why Am I So Without a Home Tired? by Sheree Kelly by F.J.C. Come walk with me, along the way And learn to live from day to day It is so weary to be alone Cold and hungry without a home I know you look with jaundice eye Not caring whether I live or die I know you ~ish I would be somewhere You wouldn't have to s~e or care Turn your head so you will not ~ee The dreaded homeless such as me Walk down any given street A homeless person there you'll meet . Do not avert your seeing eye For someday you may be that guy Music· Review: Bill Mi-lier by Dew Bird For those of you who didn't catch Bill Miller when he came to Northern Kentucky University this past Valentine's Day I can tell you it was a beautiful event. Bill M.iller told stories from the heart and played acoustic guitar and wooden flutes with tremendous ability and soul. I'm sorry if you missed him. Personally my spirit was renewed and the fire of some forgotten dreams was rekindled. I hope more people get a chance to hear Bill Miller's music so I've taken the time to review his new CD "Raven in the Snow". · Bill Miller speaks strongly to the issues homelessness, addiction, and violence. Issues that many people are struggling with and many others are trying to ignore. The music on "Raven in the Snow" ranges from soulful folk/ rock to native American instrumentals and country blues. The lyrics of all the songs push a lot of hot buttons. "Listen to me" is a song where a father asks his son what it will take before those who have been comfortable all their lives will listen to those struggling to find shelter. If I took away your shelter, put you on the street If I took away your table and chairs Threw away your meat Stole away your. wife and child See how lonesome you would be is that what it would take for you to listen to me The whole co·puts the storms of life into the perspective of the strength of hope and the courage and a willingness to hold on until the dawn. For those who are struggling with active addictions or have already begun traveling down the recqv~ry road Bill Miller's powerful personal struggle with alcoholism shines as inspiration throughout his music. "Raven in the Snow" is definitely a challenging CD. My friend who went to the Why am I so tired And I don't seem to sleep? Why do people think I'm strong? In all honesty I'm weak Listen to me when I talk Look deep into my eyes If you listen closely You can hear.my cries I'm crying for a reason So many reasons to choose Would you cry with me If it's me you'll lose show with me respected Bill Miller as a musician but felt he was full of anger. I would agree that anger is one aspect of the music. But the anger is one of the things that Bill Miller's music sets out honestly on the table. I remember seeing a rap group consisting of a piano player Fate and Dx2000 on the microphone. When Dx2000 started rapping about his younger brother facing guns everyday as he walked home from school the hundred or so people in Chicago's Bop Shop froze. The power of a single strong voice over a repeating melancholy hip hop piano riff hit everyone in the heart. After the song, Dx2000 apologized for the anger in the lyrics and said that rap was his way of getting things off his chest so they wouldn't explode on the street. I believe Bill Miller is doing the same thing putting the anger out on the table allows the hope of a peaceful future to return. When Singing about native rights on the song "Eagle Must Fly Free" the lyrics sum up the feeling of hope in the midst of, or after the storm. The verse about Crazy Horse speaks of the dream of peace in the hearts of those who fight on the front lines for justice. Ride on Crazy Horse Take me to the Hills .Beyond the battle. Where the guns are still Where it's so quiet you can hear the children run Far away from the sound of a gun Page B Beware, Vampires I by Gregory Pay/on It's any day of the week, especially on weekends, and the sun is just about down. As I write, the sun disappears. Now that it is gone, dusk is here. Rocks start to move, doors start to open, people start to creep for there's a new breed. On the street, everywhere motions stirs in the dark. People gather, persons alone needing victims to take home. Instead of laughter, there are screams of pain. Vampires lurk at dark corners and on back stree~s, introducing pain to the innocent and weak, not by sucking blood but by robbery, fraud, rape, stealing, and smoking crack: They wait like vultures to fly down and take something that doesn't belong to them. And the victims, the naive, innocent and weak, suffer with scars .that go deep. For a moment, you want to answer evil with evil, but you come back to the light. Vampires are sucking the blood out of our neighborhoods, communities and cities. We have to rid the vampires. When it rains, we breathe fresh air, streets get washed and those alleys and dark corners become vacant be- . cause vampires cannot take the pure light, pure rain, the heart of those who oppose their actions. For justice is the spike an_d society is the hammer. So beware, vampires! by Derek landers She had never learned to swim Her father couldn't swim either however she was the one who would drown Why would he take her there? to a place where she was not safe he was not safe for She had never learned to swim Her father couldn't swim either He wasn't able to save her, to aid her . He could only watch her while she drowned for She had never learned to swim She gagged coughed spat spewed even vomitted the first few ounces of liquid that invaded her She fought the foreign substance with all of her mightin the beginning But it rushed in again she became numb - she became weak she slowly slid under She had never learned to swim Her father couldn't swim either He couldn't teach her No matter what they say it's genetic How deep was it, too deep for her Not as deep as an ocean, a lake, a river, a stream, a creek, a pool, a bathtub, a sink, or a bucket No it wasn't that deep, but it got deep Merely the depth of a shot glass too deep for her She had never learned to swim. �STREETVIBES The Tri State's Homeless Grapevine CLEVELAND HOMELESS GRAPEVINE Reform or Refuse? by Jean Taddie The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act that President Clinton signed into law on August 22, 1996, dramatically changed nearly all aspects of welfare. In their efforts to save money and put poor people to work, the federal government has made sweeping changes to programs that provide cash aid, food stamps, child care, and other social services. The new Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) block grant replaces the old AFDC system that required states to maintain a basic level of human services. Federal reform pushes the responsibility for welfare to the states. "It's an unfunded mandate to the states," explained Brian Davis, Director of NEOCH. "States are going to have to pay for a lot more." In order to apply for federal block grant money, each state will have to create its own welfare policy and submit it to the federal government for approval before July, 1997. Last September, Ohio was one of the first three states to submit a plan. The Ohio Department of Human Services submitted Sub H B 167, aWelfare reform-law-tha-t-was--approved in 1995. Under the newly "reformed" welfare system, states no longer have a responsibility to operate a program of cash assistance for needy families for any period of time. States can choose to eliminate benefits to legal aliens and other non-citizens. States are no longer required to provide access to education, training, job placement assistance, work programs, or child day care assistance, according to the Center for Law and Social policy. In addition, states are prohibited from using federal TANF money to pay benefits to a family when any member of that family has received benefits for more than 60 months from the date the law went into affect. According to estimates by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), welfare reform should save the federal government about $3 billion in fiscal year 1997. Of these savings, 44% will be from restrictions on benefits to non-citizens. Another 43% will be saved through cuts to Food Stamps. Page 9 Voinovich Denies Clevelanders Food Despite Job Shortage by Brian Davis On March 12, 1997, sixty homeless and low income individuals boarded two buses to Columbus. They gathered at the Statehouse to protest the Governor's decision to not implement the waiver of Food Stamps. (The State of Ohio received permission to exclude areas with a labor surplus like Cleveland and Stark County from the cut off of Food stamps in March.) ln Cuya-hoga County 12,800 people are going to lose their food stamps this month if they are not volunteering or working. The group presented the Governor's staff with job applications for those that came down on the bus. Each application represented 2,000 people who were going to be cut off, and who cannot find a job. At this time, the governor has not found a job for any of the people that went down on the bus, and nor has he approved the waiver. One question asked, "Where do you see yourself in five years." Thirty applications were delivered to the Governor, and I0% of them said that in five years they see themselves dead if they do not find a job or shelter. Brian: What are you gonna do when your FOOD STAMPS get cut? Marcelina: I'll be out here like the rest of them. I gotta sur-Vive. My mind tartedthinking, I wasn't raised to take things but if I'm really hungry I might take food! Brian: What do you think of the current FOOD STAMPS program? George: Awful, Real bad. Jobs are really scarce. How can you just cut people off? Brian: What do you think of the current FOOD STAM PS program? Sheila: As the program stands now it's not gonna work! Brian: What are you gonna do when your FOOD STAMPS are cut off? Sheila: Now, I'll just starve. But I take medication. What am I gonna do?? Brian: What will you do when your FOOD STAMPS get cut off? Fred: I'll have to eat at churches and meal sites like I've been doing andstarve the other times. Brian: What do you think of the current FOOD STAMPS program? Carl: People need the FOOD STAMPS to survive. What will they do with out it? Just walk around and look for food I suppose ... Brian: What do you think of the current FOOD STAM PS program? Coco: I need it. Brian: Do you volunteer? Coco: Yes. 20+ hours at Bishop Cosgrove. I've done everything the system wants me to and I'm still getting cut off. Brian: What are you gonna do? Coco: I don't know. Scrimp and scrounge, try something.. ! don't want to go from good to bad I've come to far. Brian: How do you feel about the cutbacks? Gentleman: I go off the I st of next month. I don't know, I just don't know. I work a temp job now I can't find anything steady. Brian: Do you receive FOOD STAMPS? Sheila: Yes. $96.00 monthly. "How do we know that you qitalify for food stamps ifyou won 't even fill out the form? " �STREETVIBES 1 The Tri Stote s Homeless Grapevine Street Papers Expose National Crackdown on Homeless Agency Profile: ReSTOC Views Housing as Development San Francisco Street Sheet In 1978, the Santa Cruz City Council passed legislation that banned sleeping outside or covering up with blankets after 11 p.m. For seven and one half months activists, homeless people and others staged 24 hour a day protests in Santa Cruz City Hall. The protest ended in Octol>er rw6· witfa seven people arrested and slated to go to trial in March. The City Hall Sleepers protester were arrested for chaining themselves to furniture and disrupting Council meetings. There were 370 citations issued in 1996 for sleeping outside. In San Francisco, there are reports that the Matrix program is still in existence. The Matrix program was implemented to "solve the pan handling and homeless problems," which actually criminalized sleeping and camping in parks. The program was terminated when a new mayor was elected. Street*Watch, part of the SF Cca:ition for the Homeless Legal Defense Project, has monitored continued enforcement of the Matrix program. Raymond Dillard reported being ticketed while sleeping at a local park. Food Not Bombs members who have served food to homeless people in violation of Matrix legislation have also still been harrassed and arrested by police. Chicago Streetwise The street newspaper of Chicago has a new editor, Lisa Ely. Former Editor John Ellis IV a long time staff member of StreetVWse and founding member of the National Association of Street Newspapers, has moved on to continue his writing career. More than 200 homeless youth from the Chicago area gathered in Springfield Illinois to advocate for more shelters for youth. They gathered to support a proposed a $20 million legislation to help reduce the homeless youth population throughout Illinois. Boston Spare Change The group Homes not Jails staged a second in a series of "occupations" of vacant housing property in an effort to leverage Boston officials to offer many of abandoned strutures for use by poor. Police entered the building, and threatened the demonstrators with 20 years of prison. Seven members of the group were arrested. The group wants the city to develop rooming houses to confront the growing housing crises. Seattle Real Change: The Real Change newspaper, which recently changed to a magazine style format, is reporting that the Washington state legislature is attempting to overturn all local ordinances regarding rental property that are stronger than the State Landlord Tenant laws. Strong laws that have developed over years regarding "Just Cause Evictions," and "Minimum Security Ordinances" will be abolished if the legislation passes. Majken Keira of the Washington Low Income Housing Congress, said the bill is a "back door way to get rid of Just Cause." Page 10 by Jennifer Summers The Recovery Hotel at I 225 Vine Street is an example ReSTOC points to as positive development. ReSTOC, the Race Street Tenant Organization Cooperative, has fought to preserve affordable housing in Over-the-Rhine for 20 years. We have operated with the conviction that all people have a basic right to safe, decent, affordable housing. As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, this consistent and persistent spirit carries on. Thousands of volunteers from all walks of life have put their energy, hearts and sweat into many ReSTOC apartments. Each day we are pushing forward despite many obstacles. As outside speculators and developers displace low-income residents and create their own master plans, ReSTOC has defended the rights of lowincome people in Over-the-Rhine. We will continue to do so. The following is a 1996 year in review of ReSTOC's accomplishments. Look and see if you would like to be a part of our 1997 effort and beyond. We would love to have you! In 1996, over 3,000 volunteers from 81 groups and nine countries worked on crews to rehabilitate apartments, clean lots and tend gardens and greenspaces. In one year, ReSTOC: • Helped plant and care for over 20 new trees in Over-the-Rhine. • Rehabilitated our Republic Street community playground with a new fence, play equipment and wood chips. • Brought I0 vacant units of housing online into fully rehabbed apartments. • Maintained 120 units of on-line housing and worked with tenants to build community through celebrations and picnics. • Worked to make our streets safe by installing outside lighting on our buildings and encouraging other property owners to do the same. • Opened Recovery Hotel and began accepting tenants and providing services. • Adopted eight apartments through our "Adopt an Apartment" program. • Installed new windows and three new furnaces in our buildings to upgrade units for our tenants. • Won three competitive grants in order to improve three buildings and a children's garden - - - - - - -• Housed 30new tenants. • Secured funding from a variety of sources to rehabilitate 20 more tm!ts of housing for homeless individuals despite an attempt to stop desperately needed lowincome housing development. Who is Homeless? from the National Coalition for the Homeless Medicine, 1988) Two trends are largely responsible for the rise in homelessness over the past f 5-Za years: a growing shortage of affordable rental housing and a simultaneous increase in poverty. Persons living in poverty are most at risk of becoming homeless, and demographic groups who are more likely to experience poverty are also more likely to experience homelessness. Recent demographic statistics are summarized below. Most studies show that single homeless adults are more likely to be male than female. In 1996, the U.S. Conference of Mayors' survey found that single men comprised 45% of the homeless population and single women 14% (Waxman and Hinderliter, 1996) Age In 1996, the U.S. Conference of Mayors' survey of homelessness in 29 cities found that children under the age of 18 accounted for 27% of the urban homeless population (Waxman and Hinderliter, 1996). A 1987. Urban Institute study found the 51 % of the homeless population were between the ages of 31 and 50 (Burt, 1989); other studies found percentages of homeless persons aged 55 to 60 ranging from 2.5% to 19.4~ (Institute of Gender Families The number of homeless families with children has increased significantly over the past decade; families with children are currently the fastest growing group of the homeless population. Families with children constitute approximately 40% of people who become homeless (Shinn and Weitzman, 1996). In its 1996 survey, the Conference of Mayors found that families comprised 38% of the homeless population. These proportions are likely to be higher in rural areas; research indicates that families, single mothers, and children make up the largest group of people who are homeless in rural areas (Vissing, 1996). �STREETVIBES The Tri State's Homeless Grapevine Page 11 Women on Track Empowers Low Income People to Sew Lives Back Together by David Dietz At lot of folks are talking about our newly shredded safety net. Most believe there's a flood of trouble ahead for our nations' low income citizens. In -resp~nse to this escalation of the war on the poor, people of good will and committed organizations are stepping up to meet the challenges. One of those organizations is Women on Track located in the West End Center at 727 Ezzard Charles Drive. The West End Center is a busy place with many training and fellowship opportunities for people looking to enhance their life and job - skills. Power Inspires Progress (PIP) is one of the non-profits located at the West End Center. PIP is an umbrella organization that includes Women On Track (WOT) as one their programs. It seeks to empower inner city people to find satisfaction in their lives and Women on Track participant Cassandra Barham works on her latest project. Photo by Berta Lambert. Women on Track gives them valuable skills work. and employment experience to help them find Many people have been touched by the a satisfying career in sewing. Cassandra work of Women On Track. Teresa Schleich Barham, a proud mother of seven children and has put a lot of extra time and effort into the fourteen grandchildren and also an employee program to make sure that people are treated _ of WOT, describes her feelings about the · with respect and compassion. Since February program, "Women On Track is empowering 1994, Teresa has volunteered her time to to recreate a lost art." women teach a free weekly sewing class which curWomen on Track offers a full line of rently runs from 6:00 to 8:00 on Thursday specializes in making custom alterations and nights. The classes usually have about three to vests. WOT is currently busily completing six women attending. Some folks go every and keeping up with contract work alterations week-moving from cloth bags and gingermaking bed spreads and pillow eases for the bread men to dresses and hats. A handful of Down Quilt Shop in New York City. , WOT men have attended class as well and they have will start taking orders for new work in May. If not been turned away. After a person has you are interested in attending class, making a attended at least three consecutive classes and donation of sewing equipment, or buying . finished ~hree successful sewing projects they quality sewn goods, please call Teresa Schleich are eligible to be employed part time. By at 381-5882 or 333-0288. When asked about setting up the program in this way, folks are what made her work meaningful, Teresa said, able to build up their skill and confidence "To see my dream for Women On Track during class and ease into ·employment. For progress to the point that it is today brings employees who are currently on welfare, great joy to my heart." ----- Coalition Hosts Basketball Fundraiser The Homeless Coalition is having a basket ball fundraiser on April I I, 1997, at 7 pm at Finneytown High School Gymnasium. The Homeless Coalition and Friends team will play two games against WLWT Television team and the WIZF Radio team. Proceec;ls will be split between the Homeless Coalition and the Recovery Program at the Drop Inn Center Shelter. Rumor has it that Eric Johnson, star guard of the University of Louisville Cardinals, will be on hand. Former college stars Johnny Taylor, Mark Dorris, Herman Brunis and others will be in attendance. The cost is only $3 to see both exciting games. For more information, contact Donald Whitehead at 421-7803. The Traveler Visits Freeman House Dear Readers My name is the Traveler; during my adventures of the tri-stat e area, I would like to share some of the things I have encountered. I would like to report to the readers of this paper the findings that may be positive and encouraging to all. I was told about a place called Freeman House. I was told the place was serving the community. So I told myself let's go see what there're serving. When I finally reached my destination, I was surprised. It wasn't a long line in fact none at all. I rung the bell and was let in by a person with a cheerful smile. The place had a wonderful smell. Someone-was cooking spaghetti. I asked could I meet someone to see what the place was offering. I was showed a seat and asked if I wanted something to eat or drink. I then met a man m\med Rasheed Ali. We sat and talked about what was there. First I learned the Freeman House is an Afro-centric Therapeutic Community offering 24 hr services, seven days a week. I asked do you just serve African-Americans. The answer - was no. I foun d out they serve any race or creed. I thought to myself this is a community. A place that lets people live his or her way of life (religion). I asked what do these people have in common. Everyone is suffering from alcohol drugs or substance abuse. They all have signed agreements to want to better themselves through the various treatments offered so that they could return to targeted neighborhoods and work with public housing, resident councils and community organizations to form partnerships, to address providing recovery services to drug and mental abuse offenders living in those ~reas. I wondered while I was gathering this information, who's idea was this. This man's man name is Doctor Reverend William Land. He is pastor at Freeman United Church of Christ. He's the recipient of the Martin Luther King Spirit Award given by the Baptist Ministers Of Cincinnati, Ohio and The Jewish Hospital; �STREETVIBES The Tri State•s Homeless Grapevine Vendor Profile: · Gregory Payton Streetvibes TV_ and Radio· Schedule by Donald Whitehead Gregory Payton is April's vendor profile. Mr. Payton is a -very likable and energetic person. Mr. Payton has an absolute passion for Streetvibes. When asked about Streetvibes, Mr. Payton quickly states, "I like to sell the paper, I like to write for the paper, and with the paper I can help other people and not just think of myself." He says that h~ gets a lot of positive feedback on the street about the paper. Mr. Payton believes that the paper will help him in his goal to be a writer. Mr. Payton is now a volunteer at the Freeman House in Avondale were he works as a security person, helping to keep order in a therapeutic community. Mr. Payton is working hard to become a leader in the homeless comm1._mity.. His long term goal is to work in a supportive role for the disadvantaged in todiy,.s world, "I want to work where I get paid for what I know and not for what I ca" do physically." Mr. Payton has been an asset to Streetvibes and we are happy he has joined our team. Welfare Reform Summit Saturdayl April 121 .1997 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 215 E. 14th Street Topics include: What are TANF benefits? Is there child care for working parents? · Medical benefits? What is left for single adults after the food stamp cuts? What happenedto education and job training? This event is sponsored by the Contact Center's Welfar~ Rights Coalition, 1641 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45210. If you would like to attend or want more information call 513-381-4242. Page 12 _Check us out We're on TV! Slreelvibes TV March Streetvibes Vendor Gregroy Payton .Streetvibes Radio Hour This show deals with Women's Issues and Homelessness in honor of International Women's Month. It will include guests from women's recovery programs, domestic violence shelters and advocates for child care funding. Channel 10 Thursday, April 3, 9 am _ Monday, April 7, 6:30 pm Sunday, April 13, 4 pm On WAIF 88.3 Im Streelvibes TV April The Coalition also has a live radio program which can be heard on WAIF radio on the second Saturday of each month at noon. The show is co-hosted by Mary Burke, Pat Clifford and Donald Whitehead. The show mixes talk focusing on the stories in this paper and eclectic musical selections. Here are the . next show dates. WAIF 88.3 fm Saturday, April 12, noon to I pm Saturday, May I0, noon to I pm hllp://cinci. com/gcch Streetvi bes Onl'ine This month show deals with homeless healthcare issues. It Y!'ill include guest from the mobile healthcare van, homeless dental care providers, and other guest from the healthcare for the homeless programs. Channel 7 Monday, April 14, 7 pm live Channel 10 Sunday, · April 20, 4 pm Thursday, April 24, 9 am Thursday, May I, 9 am Monday, May 5, 6:30 m~ Sunday, May I I, 4 pm · Still Needed This month we will be adding a searchable interface for our Streetvibes articles. Websurfers will be able to Index our stories by date or subject. Please visit our site. 1 Copier Van to Transport Vendors TV and VCR to Show Streetvibes Episodes to Groups Volunteer Copy Editors and Stories Need Help or ~ant to Help? If for some reason you find yourself homeless, contact a Coalition Member Agency for Shelter, Treatment, Housing or Services. ff you have any questions, feel free to call the Homeless Coalition at 421-7803. SHELTERS: Women and Children_ 241-2757 Alice Paul House (a~use) 557-2873 Bethany House 762-5660 Salvation Army" 431-8717 Welcome House SHELTER: Men . City Gospel Mission Garden Street House Joseph House (veterans) St. Francis- St. Joseph H?use Mt. Airy Center Volunteers of America SHELTER: Both Caracole (Al OS) Chabad House Drop Inn Center (singles) Friars· Club Haven House (Hamilton) Lighthouse Youth Center St. John's Temporary Housing 24 l'-5525 241-0490 241-2965 381-4941 661-4620 381-1954 761-1480 821-5100 721-06.U 381-5432 863-8866 961-4080 651-6446 HOUSING CMHA Excel Development Miami Purchase OTR Housing Network ReSTOC Tender Mercies (Mental Ill) Tom Geiger House TREATMENT: O.D.A.A.T First Step Home 721-4580 241-9683 241-0504 369-0004 381-0954 721-8666 961-4555 Women 241-7343 921-7324 ~ Men TREATMENT: Charlie's 3/4 House Prospect House Starting Over- 784-1853 921-1613 751-3260 TREATMENT: N.A. Hopeline 820-2947 A.A. Hotline C.C.A.T. Talbert House Transitions, Inc. VA Domiciliary Both 861-9966 381-6660 684-7956 491-4435 559-5011 OTHER SERVICES AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati . Appalachian Identity Center Churches Active in Northside Cincinnati Health Network Community Action Agency Contact Center Freestore/Foodbank Hamilton Co.Mental Health Bd. Hamilton Co. TB Control Health Resource Center House of Refuge Mission Legal Aid Society Madisonville Ed. & Assistance Ctr. Mary Magdalen House Oral Health Council Our Daily Bread Peaslee Neighborhood Center Travelers Aid United Way VA Homeless Program Women's Crisis Center 421-2437 621-5991 591-2246 961-0600 569-1840 381-4242 241-1064 621-7149 632-7186 357-4602 221-3679 241-9400 271-550 I 721-4811 621-0248 621-6364 621-5514 721-7660 721-7900 559-6656 491-3335 � 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 1997 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 Language A language of the resource English 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. Text Any textual data included in the document - 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 1997 Vol 1, issue 3 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project (curated by Katelyn Lusher) 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 1997 Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/"><img alt="Creative Commons License" src="https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc-sa/4.0/88x31.png" /></a><br />This work is licensed under a<span> </span><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License</a>. Relation A related resource - Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context - Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant - Description An account of the resource Issue covering disaster relief, building demolitions OTR, evictions, children facing homelessness, welfare & welfare reform Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Cathy A. Dew Bird Tim Burroughs F.J.C. Denise Crew Brian Davis David Dietz Wanda Eicher Jennifer Kaz Sheree Kelly Estee Lacky Derek Landers Zollie Long Caroline Lucas Myron Bonnie Neumeier Gregory Payton Jennifer Summers Jean Taddie The Traveler Donald Whitehead Lynn Williams Bonnie Neumeier Brian Davis Caroline Lucas Cathy A. children David Dietz demolition Denise Crew Derek Landers Dew Bird Donald Whitehead Estee Lacky eviction F.J.C. Gregory Payton homeless Jean Taddie Jennifer Kaz Jennifer Summers Lynn Williams Myron OTR Over the Rhine reform ReSTOC Sheree Kelly The Traveler Tim Burroughs Wanda Eicher welfare Zollie Long https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/d998ccae980f1d9749f4d748ce8818cf.pdf d1b1058d16e236224c5992f8c21456b4 PDF Text Text Welfare Policy Changes Are Encnutaged Update from the Hamllton CountyHuman Sen1ces Planning Committee Contact Center Staff update ­ The Human Services Planning Commit­ tee has agr eed to support several policy changes or at least look into policies that the Welfare Rights Coalition urged be adopted. Policies include: The Committee supports eliminating a mandated exit level for being able to get child care subsidies. They support dropping the 150% of poverty level for exit . The Committee supports dropping the sanction on child care subsidies from the state sanction policy. Members were unanimously in sup­ port of this policy being changed. This means that if a household is under sanction, they would not lose their child care subsidy if they are working (and complying). HSPC will be Contluned on page 10 OEC Calls For Emergency Repeal of Sanctions w ith their state legislators in their home districts. We are advocating that sanction policy, in addition to the emergency repeal and moratorium, also include the following: by Lynn WI/I/ams The Ohio Empowerment Coalition calls for an emergency repeal of the harsh sanctions under Ohio Works First. The OEC, at its March 12th meeting in Columbus, also de­ cided to call for a moratorium on all sanctions being issued in Ohio until legislators reconvene to revise sanction policy. We are urging each area coalition of the OEC to set up meetings Walled Community Homeless Dog Shelter Recovery Native-American Struggle HCHSUpdate Word On The Street Nationwide Interview Editorials Crossword and Games MadWomyn Cleveland News Vine Street Debate Classifieds Page2 Page3 Page3 Page4 Pages Page6 Pagel Page Page JO Page11 Page12 Page13 Page14 Page15 a · a minimum (reasonable) cut in cash assistance instead of harshly cutting the full cash benefit. · food stamps should remain the same instead of cutting the adult portion. If food stamps remain the same, this is still an allow­ able sanction under Federal law. (Formerly, food stamps increased with a cut in cash assistance.) · child care subsidy should not be cut; this will allow sanctioned recipients to con­ tinue working. · job searches continue to be allowed so unemployed recipients can still actively look for employment. · a sanction should end as soon as a recipient complies. Federal law does not dictate length of sanction. · sanctioned households should not be counted in caseload reduction numbers, as this encourages caseworkers to apply sanc­ tions instead of trying to work out solutions with recipients. In addition, urge your state legislator to advocate that Federal legislators completely remove sanction policies against recipients from the Federal welfare law. We have recently learned that the "official" OOHS sanction numbers for Ohio are wrong. Sanctions are much higher than the· "offici al" count. For some unknown reason, many sanctions have been counted in the "case closings" category instead of documented as sanctions. Representatives of the Welfare Rights Coalition and O EC plan to meet with OOHS officials to get a clearer picture of what OOHS is doing and to voice our concerns. If you are interested in meeting with your legislators on the OWF sanction policies, call one of the OEC local coalition members in your area. For more information: Cincinnati, Contact Center/Welfare Rights Coalition: (5 13) 381-4242 Columbus, Mark Stansberry of the Community Organizing Center (614) 231 ­ 9654 or Shirley Peoples of the State Organiza­ tion of Client Advocates (614) 252-2160 Cleveland, Marcelle Kidd of the Empow­ erment Center of Greater Cleveland (216) 241-5926 Dayton, Logan Martinez of the Miami Valley Employment Council (937) 274-7703 Warren; Geneva Reed (330) 397-7678 Findlay, Sharon Weis of Hope House (419) 425-4673 �STREETVI BES The Tri State's Homeless Grapevine STREETVIBES TheTriState's Homeless Grapevine Streetvibes, the Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine, is a newspaper written by, for and about the homeless. It is compiled by the Greater C incinnati Coalition for the Home­ less. Vendors buy the paper for 20 cents and then sell it fo r a dollar donatio n to get back on their feet. All vendors sign a code of conduct before being given a badge. T he G reater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a group of shelters, age ncies and individuals committed to ending home ­ lessness in Cincinnati through coordinating services, educating the public and grassroots organizing. T he Streetvibes Committee meets monthly to plan o ur issues and increase circulation. If you are interested in helping or have a comment, please call 421 -7803. Staff Donald Whitehead, Di rector Frank Carri no, Vendor Support Ron Cart er, Vendo r Support James Heath, Administrative Coordinator Photographer James Oimmy) Heath Writers Ro n Carter Brian Davis James Heath Andy Hutzel Lemuel Israel Berta Lambert Paul linden Judith Mendriski Patrick Mosolf Gregory Payton Mark Salter Mataka Sanders The Shadow Donald Stark Penelope W elz Donald Whitehead Lynn Williams Volunteer Editors Pat C lifford Lemuel Israel Paul linden Pat Morris Tam my Nettles Bonnie Neumeier Mataka Sanders Editorial Policy: Streetvibes accepts all letters, poems, com­ ments or editorials. W e will print every­ thing we have room for, giving preference to those who are homeless or vendors. Please se nd all material to t he following address: Streetvibes c/o Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45210 (513) 421-7803 fax (513) 421-7813 . e-mail: homecoal@primax.net http://cinci.com/gcch Page 2 Want a Walled Community? Move to Onel by Eunice Timoney-Ravenna, resident of West McMicken Many residents of West McMicke n Street were quite surprised last year to find a sign posted next to our steps asking for o pinions on their closure. Of course, many of us called in o ppo sition. With the quick thinking of Carrie Jo hnson, residents were able to support the o pposition by a petition. We, the residents, heard little after that because we were excluded from the dialogue. As stated in John Hamner's {Public Works Director) report, the Klotter Homeowners Asso ciation who proposed the closure sought neighborhood support from CUF (Clifton, University, Fairveiw) even though Klotter is within the boundaries of OTR. Both the W . McMicken Improvement Association and the O ver-The-Rhine Commu nity Council o pposed the closure. Resident spoke out at the Public Works Committee meeting on March 16. It seemed obvious that the decision had been made before anyone spok~. (Cissel and Stern were fo attendance, Portune and Yates were absent.) T he report to close the steps was to be approved and filed. Resi­ dents were still determin ed to have their voices heard and planned to attend City Council on Wednesday, March 18. Being misinformed by both Portune's and Yate's office, we arrived too late, and only two of us · were granted two minutes to speak. O ur concerns are clear. W E USE THE STEPS, and no matter how much money you have cannot buy a city t hruway closure. If crime is a problem, seek creative alternatives from the police or other criminology specialist. DON'T ISOLATE NEIGHBO RHOODS. Isolating one neighborhood street from another is not practical in the long term. Isolation will not help community relations, is not wise for city planning, nor will it have any long term effect on crime statistics. Isolation is a reaction that is not well thought out. In fact, this isolation; removing the steps, is a form of classism which is devisive and dangerous to ~ny form of community. At­ tempting to limit access from a low-income street to a mid/high income street is a form of segregation. Economic segregation already exists in Cincinnati between urban and subur­ ban residents fo r many r easons. But if one has chosen to live on Klotter Street or Conroy Alley, one has chosen low-income neighbors. Simply because Klotter Street has been gentrified and Conroy Alley aspires to, doe~ not warrant privilege to those residents. Although City Council has made a decision, the topic is not yet dead. We plan to raise the discussion again at the Council Meeting on March 25. Also, a prayer service on those steps is in the making; and many media sources have helped to keep this topic alive, including: the Post, Channel 5 News, W CIN Radio and Streetvibes. Thanks for your interest and support. The K/otter Street Steps UPDATE-Since the original writing of this article the fight has continued. After repeated attempts to be heard at committee meeti ngs we decided to again to speak to City council at large. ORCC, residents, NAACP, Lincoln Wear, and many other concerned folks are trying to keep this issue alive and call for a re-vote. T he Klotter Street argument of safety issues is true, but whose safety are we talking about? I believe this issue of safety fo r the residents of Klotter Street is about fiscal safety, not physical safety. In the Klotter Street Ho meowners Associatio n Proposal they state that what is at stake for the City of Cincinnati is an investment of more than three quarters of a million dollars of taxpayer money they spent to improve the infrastructure of Conroy Alley which, by the map I was given, has merely ten houses on it. In bold print, the proposal states "Crime prevention is far and away the most important issue needing resolu­ tion, to allow continued prosperity of the Klotter/Conroy neighborhood." For me, prosperity is more than dollars signs. For me a flourishing successful neighborhood is based on neighborhood relations, social activism and civic responsibility. Having the City again pour more tax mo ney to make a walled community meets none of my criterion of a prosperous neighborhood - but rather isolates gentrified areas creating more economic segregation. T his is an insult to taxpayers whose money is spent to guard a few private inves­ tors on Klotter Street. T his is an insult to the police by saying the only way to promote safety is to wall yourself off. We ask City Council to reconsider, and be creative to­ gether so that security measures can benefit the larger community as we ll. We thank everyone for their support on this issue. �STREETVI BES The Tri State's Homeless Grapevine Page 3 Dog Shelter Welcomes Homeless Peopl e? San Francisco-In a twist in dealing with homelessness, an animal shelter is volunteering to provide overnight lodging for homeless adults alongside the dogs. The city's chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which recently opened a $7 million shelter, is seeking to work with an agency to offer adults nightly shelter in "dog apartments." "It would give our dogs a chance to know what it would be like to have an ove rnight roommate," said the pres ident of the San Francisco S. C. P. A , Richard H. Avanzino. "For the homeless people it's an offe r t o get the m off the street and give them shelter with a dog buddy who will be their best friend overnight." The organization has proposed the plan to six agencies in the city. The S.P.C.A. shelter, the privately fi ­ nanced Maddie 's Pet Adoption Ce nter, opened last month and is not t he standard animal shelter. It has "home style" quarters for dogs and cats, with television sets, Persian rugs, skylights, couches and tables. The shelter also provides obedience training and toilet training. "What is missing from the equation," Mr. Avanzino said, "is having an overnight room­ mate. That's where the idea comes in." Any agency that works w ith the shelt er would have to provide cots. Because the shelter was not designed for humans, the accommodations will strictly be for overnight stays. The homeless people will niot bathe, eat or receive clothes there. Homeless people w ith their ow n pets would also not be allowed to stay the night. The homeless coordinator fo r Mayor Will ie L. Brown Jr., Terry E. Hill, said he had not seen the proposal and could not co mment on it. "I don't understand the concept," Mr. Hill Said. "So I have to speak to the Mayor before I can take a position." The Rev. Cecil Williams of the Glide Memorial United Methodist Church, which has 4 1 programs for the homeless, said the idea had merit. "The rooms look very livable, and probably they're bett~r than most rooms for homeless folks ," he said. "Dogs and animals tend to get more love and care than humans, especially those that are on the fringes of society, like the homeless." An estimated 15,000 people live on the streets, in cars or in shelters here. When he took office here in 1996, Mr. Brown said homelessness would be a top· priority. A year later he said the problem "may not be solv­ able." Mr. Brown and other of:lcials have offered proposals that include the mildly odd and the ridiculous. In the fall, Mr. Brown began a crackdown on homeless camps in Golden Gate Park and suggested borrowing a helicop­ ter from Oakland that was equipped with heat­ sensing equipment to detect campsites at night. Next, a member of the Board of Supervi­ sors encouraged chopping limbs off trees where the homeless had taken refuge. In a shift, the supervisor later recommended that supermarkets donate old shopping carts to the homeless. Advocates for the homeless see the S. P. C. A plan as another strange idea. But at least, they said, it is not intended to hurt the home­ less. The director of the San Francisco Coali­ tipn on Homelessness, Paul Boden, said the animal shelter was nicer than a shelter for the homeless that the city recently opened in a building in China Basin. In that shelter, 600 people share space with roving raccoons and o ther nocturnal creatures. Some homeless people, Mr. Boden said, are quite likely to take advantage of the S. P. C. A offer. "It's condescending, it's weird and it's a little creepy," Mr. Bo den said. "But there's nothing punitive about them saying, 'Well, if people want to come here and stay with the animals, they can. The more you think about it, the more bizarre it beco mes, because of the statement it makes that the nicest shelter in tow n is going to be the one for animals." Progression of Recovery by Don Stark Sr. Now that the recovering addict, (such as myself) is a fu nctioning human being again; now that he has connected with life within himself and with life around him, (his proper nature and destiny), the road to growth in recovery is wide open and without limit. This unlimited characteristic of recovery should come as no suprise when one reflects on the experience of the disease itself. One hears with frequency recovering alcoholics and addicts speak of "having hit my bottom." In general, "bottom" refers to the moment in their addiction that was the most painful...in fact, so painful that it motivated them to seek help. The story of myself, when I first entered treatment, best illustrates this wretched experience. Things began, I must admit, at my botto m, at my loss of worth and consistency. Even the drug want working anymore. It ju ~t seemed to give me more pain. If only I could have been certain that life and living wouldn't get an worse. There didn't seem to be any end to it. That's why I wanted to die and would just as soon have been dead. But even the thought of death was less consoling. It just added to the despair. For certain, the pain experienced in addiction is such that one reaches "bottom" only to find that there is no bottom. Rather, the disease leads to a bottomless pit. Hence, the indescribable despair. Similarly, the experience of reclaiming one's life is with out ceiling. It is without end. Recovery from the disease is not a recovery from some physical ailment like smallpox wherein one recovers a smoothness of skin. Nor is it a recovery from a mental incapacity in which one becomes able to distinguish sanity from insanity. Rather, it is a recovery from a spiritual disease in which one is in the process of reclaiming one's very life. Like life, this recov­ ery defies conscription, limitation, and prior dimensions of an kind. Like life, it is eternal and infinite. It is the real hope, finally, of an echo that the addict has heard in the bowels of his soul, however faintly, since birth-an echo that made him know beyond knowledge that His gift was without limit and that He was made to have it all. In a very real sense, the real hope of recovery is found in the real possibility of finally becoming the God that his nature calls him to be. "Called to be the Son's of Go d ...and true heirs of the Kingdom ..." (Romans 8: 14­ 17). At last t he recovering .person sees the reality o f his calling. It is a call to be the recipi­ ent of life, first, and then to be the giver of life. The human being, through the experience of living o ut his humanity which includes life at its worst, becomes, in a word, divine. He be­ co mes the God of his world! To speak of the progression of what I call spiritual sobriety is not easy. As for all things spiritual, there exists no accurate words. Allow me to speak around the concept with the o nly wo rds that I have. When considering spiritual so briety, I reflect on those things that make for the most perfect happiness that man can imagine. They consist of those realties that answer to the secret yearnings of the human heart- those yearnings that never leave us, that are always present however much they seem out of reach most of t he time. From personal experience, I believe that life, to be whole and fully nurturing, must be creative, exciting, loving and humble. Not surprisingly, these four ingredients are ob­ served to be the main arteries around which growth in recovery takes place and thrives. This growth does not o ccur instantaneously. It is gradual and progressive like a journey in which one advances mile after mile toward the final destiny. Subscribe to Streetvlbes Subscriptions to Streetvibe s can be pur­ chase d for $12 per year. Plea.se se nd a che ck to the below addre ss and the pape r will be mailed to you e ach issue . Streetvibe s 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45210 Ple ase make che cks payable to the Gre ater Cincinnati Coalition for the Home less--Stree tvibes. If you have any que stions, call 421- 7803 . �STREETVI BES The Tri State's Homeless Grapevine Page 4 History Repeated - Oppression of Native-Americans Occurlng Today by Andy Hutzel Last month several Over-The-Rhine residents had the opportunity to hear a Native-American named Chris Interpreter speak about the ongoing destruction of his Navajo (also called Dineh) people and their land in Big Mountain, Arizona. Issues of dis­ placement, demolicion, the interests of big business, and ultimately oppression, are operating in an attempt to "relocate" his Navajo people. It is such a desperate fight for survival, not just for Chris and his family, but for the generations of Navajo who have lived there for over 1,000 years. Genocide is a commonly used term to describe the recent situation. Chris gave a history lesson to us, describ­ ing his ancestors, their struggles, and way of life. One significant event occurred in 1864 when the US Government forcibly removed nearly I0,000 Navajo in what became America's first concentration camp - Fort Sumner. As a result of this ethnic cleansing, thousands perished form illnesses brought on by physical and spiritual diseases and malnourishment. It ended after 5 years only when "taxpayers" became angry over learning of the corruption going on among the white soldiers. Would history be repeated? In I 882, Chester Arthur created the reservation, calling it "worthless land." In the I 900's, the government forced children to assimilate into society, thus losing their native languages and culture. The 1934 Reorganiza­ tion Act created the Bureau of Indian Affairs and "Tribal Councils." The Act was actually the brainchild of the mining companies in a long range plan to make the people disappear and get the land. In I 964, the "Bennet Freeze" Act passed by Congress made it illegal for the Navajo people to repair their homes, increase livestock, or build new structures. These would all have a negative impact on the N avajo people. But in I974 the " Relocation Act" passed in Congress as "a group of mining and power companies deceived the US gov­ ernment into thinking there was a range war between the Navajo and Hopi tribes. These mining companies convinced the US govern­ me nt that the solution was to evict everyone who lived in the areas they wished to mine." As in 1864, another I 0,000 Navajo people have been forcibly relocated (displaced) to Sanders Arizona - site of one of the worst nuclear accidents in the country - with radia­ tion and pollution causing further suffering and death. They now have the highest rate of birth defects in the country. Congress spe nt a half billion dollars to section off (displace) the Navajo's with the Relocation Act. Chris says "relocate" means "to make disappear" to business and Congress people. As decades of compromises were reached by the government and the Navajo and the Hopi people, the interests of coal, oil, uranium, and natural gas destroys that history in a heartbeat. The I00+ year-old Navajo Hogans or "permanent homes" have become so-called barriers to progress. Peo ple will lose their land, homes, and their souls - ultimately their lives. "The Odd Cookie 11 Play The Odd Cookie, a children's musical, is taken from the book The Odd Cookie. It is a story that only life itself can inspire. This great musical captures the spirit of an age and tells a contemporary story that touches a generation. The result is a triumphant experience, a musical event that moves the audience with excitement and humor. It fills the heart with joy until it is ready to burst. Chris Interpreter Photo by Jimmy Heath Oginga Khamisi, radio talk show host for Ta/king Drum, on WAIF FM says that the show But despite all of these efforts at reloca­ tion, a few hundred families have stayed and are determined to fight for their ancestral lands. Chris is one of those who chose to stay. Chris and his uncle struggle each day. He witnessed his aunt being dragged from her home by the police when he was 7 years old. Having to attend a boarding school, Chris and other Navajo's were called "prairie niggers." Harassment is common today. They are watched constantly by the police and con­ fronted often. He has witnessed the sacred homes of his family being destroyed. Some have set up cardboard boxes next to their destroyed homes because it is illegal to build/ repair homes which have stood for over I00 years. So how did President Clinton add ress the situation? ln l 996, he signed the Navajo-Hopi Resettlement Act, allowing the forced relocation of the thousands of traditional Navajo remaining on their land ! ., A 79 year-old Navajo woman testified before the United Nations..."from where I stand, I believe the land was stolen. Our livestock are stolen. Even our very being is being stolen as they threaten to throw us off of the land. They put fear in our hearts and this is the way they are killing us. This land that I am sitting on, this earth here, there are many minerals underneath that could bring wealth to people. That is why they crush me with their laws to tell me that I do not belong here. For these reasons, I am resisting. I was born here. Big Mountain is my mother. I cannot just walk away from my mother...The rights which we request are only the minimum granted to all people under the United Nation's Declaration of Human Rights." Having seen much of the Midwest for the first time, Chris can't believe how we ignore so much suffering. Being able to relearn some of his native language and culture brought pride back into his being. But only 2 years into this struggle, feelings of despair often overwhelm him. Witnessing oppression and destruction of people on a daily basis affects a person. And he emphasizes business has bought our rights from under us - we are losing o ur voices. Chris challenged us on "what are our respon­ sibilities? First we just need to wake up! And ultimately it is to recognize and tell the truth!" For more information coll the Big Moun­ .'toin Hotline at (612) 361-5964 is already a legend. Mark Pastor, co-owner of Black World Products International, says that The Odd Cookie is "the best musical that I've ever seen." Mr. Ronnie X '31ack, school teacher at Bond Hill Elementary School, says "The Odd Cookie should be mandatory viewing for all children." Andrea Ross plays the Odd Cookie. Justin Haley plays the Vanilla Cookie. Karama Butler plays the Chocolate Cookie. Each child was superb at performing their character. William Jackson does the choreography for the Ants. Mr. Donnie McFinley does a fantastic job of directing this great production. He also designed all the costumes and the props. Mr. Donnie McFinely has designed wardrobe for the movies Rage in Harlem and The Shawshonk Redemption, as well as several other Hollywood movies. Mr. Donald Whitehead, Director of the Greater Cincinnaci Coalition for T he Home­ less, says ''The homeless in America have become a national crisis. It is an honor and privilege to accept the proceeds from the play, The Odd Cookie, for the homeless". America can become a stronger nation by eliminating this crisis. Support the homeless by support­ ing The Odd Cookie play. The Odd Cookie will be held at The Arts Consortium, April 4th and 5th, I 998, at 5:00 PM each day. The cast also includes Joseph Stevens, Steve Bester, Nathaniel Heffman, Kyle Hughes, Maurice Brooks, Katie Mullalley, Neriah Holley and The New Prospect Baptist Church Youth Choir. Tickets are $8.00 per person through Children's Classics by calling 221-51 I 4. Tickets at the door from The Arts Consor­ tium will be $I 5.00 per person. The Odd Cookie, the play, was written by The Shadow and Mr. Donnie McFinley. Also directed by Donnie McFinley. Support Your Local Vendor ... Tell A Friend About Streetvibes ! �STREETVI BES The Tri State's Homeless Grapevine Page s The Vlslble Homeless... "Sanctions" from Page 13 their lifetime eligibility. Cuyahoga County is currently debating whether to send women to work when a child is six months old. The State has exempted mothers with children under I year old. The County may not accept this exemption, and require women to enter the workforce six­ months after giving birth. In Cuyahoga County, there were 2,334 families sanction during the months of October 1997 through January 1998, accord­ ing to statistics compiled by the Federation for Community Planning. The report stated, "the most common reasons cited for sanctioning OWF participants are for Child Support; noncooperation and for failing to show up for Job Club after having signed the self-sufficiency agreement." Update from the ~H_ amllton Counb Human Services Plannlng Commltee Contact Center StaH update The Human Services Planning Committee has agreedto support several policy changes or at least look into policies that the Welfare Rights Coalition urged be adopted. Policies include: the Committee supports eliminating a mandated exit level for being able to get child care subsidies. They support dropping the 150% of poverty level for exit . · The Committee supports dropping the sanction on child care subsidies from the state sanction policy. Members were unanimously in sup­ port of this policy being changed. This means that if a household is under sanction, they would not lose their child care subsidy if they are working (and c;:omplying). HSPC will be urging the state legislators to make this policy change. This issue will be worked on at the next Sub-Committee on Child Care on April 7th 3 P.M. at 4Cs. WRC member Malaka Sanders com­ ments, "How does taking away childcare on a sanction help a family to "self-sufficiency? If the parent was working, they can't now; if they wern't, they can't start~" The HSPC · has agreed to discuss including domestic violence victims in an alternative work category. This issue will be discussed at the next HSPC meeting on April 23/ Thursday. We have advocated that domestic violence victims be placed in this category so their work requirement can be flexible. The "work" requirement could include getting abuse counseling and finding housing. HSPC is also considering policy that would allow a recipient to quit a job before being fired,"Job quit versus job fire." A firing is bad on a person's employment record and would hurt the prospect of getting another job. The WRC supports policy that would allow a recipient to quit a job if the job is not working out and not be sanctioned. Next meeting of the HSPC will be April 23, a Thursday, at I 0:00 AM. at the Hamilton County Department of Human Services. The meetings are open to the public. Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority Looking for a place to call home? Call the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority ... Affordable rent that never exceeds 30o/o of your income ... Many buildings equipped with security systems ... Units located on buslines and near stores, schools, hospitals, banks Rental units are available in these family and senior communities: Avondale ·Hopple Street/Fairmou~t West End Winton Place For more information, call 421-8190 today. �, STREETVIBES The Tri State's Homeless Grapevine Page 6 Words From Maryann lam I am my daddy's little princess I wonder where he is I hear his voice in my head I see his face in my dreams I want for him to be there when I wake up I am my daddies little princess I pretend that he is with me now I feel his love for me I touch his picture in distress I worry if he is alive I cry because I feel rejected from him I am my daddy's little princess I understand why he couldn't tell me I say that he is on his way home I dream about how it was before I try not to cry in public I hope that he returns soon I am my daddy's little princess Downtown Downtown is full of garbage Downtown is full of crud Downtown isn't fit for a dog Downtown is so depressing It makes me wanna' cry The trees are full of death, not an ounce of life I hate it here, I wanna' go away I wanna' go someplace far T he police barely care about over here Nobody's important enough I don't feel safe in this place Yet I know the people are nice I need a better neighborhood Where everyone's my neighbor And they can call me their's I need a place with sunshine fi elds full of green grass and t rees Where I can roam free of any danger And fee l a happiness t hat I have known before. Spirit Eyes by Penelope Welz We are souls Traveling the universe Separated at birth Into bodies on the earth With earthly eyes We cease to see The e~sence of you The essence of me With spirit eyes I see the real you Not black, nor white But the color of~pure light Hi, my name is Maryann. I was born and raised in New Jersey, and my life wasn't easy growing up. I have been in and out of domes­ tic violence. relationships since I was 17 years old; I have been homeless off and on since 17 because o f the relationships I had. Three years ago I met a wonderful man, his name was Jesse, and he proved good for me. He done a lot for me that no other man did. When he passed away June 22, 1997, I said to myself what am I going to do now I am homeless because of his death? I let everything go, I came to Cincinnati to start a new life. I prayed to God every night, and I met a loving, caring, man, his name is Mark, in Cincinnati. He has a warm and caring heart; besides Jesse, Mark is the best thing that ever happened to me. If I didn't come to Cincinnati, Mark and I would have never met. I came to Cincinnati and started to sell "Streetvibes"- that's how Mark and I met. When Jesse passed last year I thought that I was not going to love again, but I was wrong. Praying to God every night has helped me through Jesse's death. I came to Cincinnati to start a new life. When I came to Cincinnati, I stayed at the Drop Inn Center for a few days. I met Mark at the library, where we occasion­ ally .met by chance because I was selling Streetvibes, where we became friends; and eventually I fell in love with Mark because he is kind and has a good heart and t he way he walks ...he is a caring man. I never met a man like him. It was not easy for me because he lived somewhere else. I left the center and found an apartment. Mark is a angel from God. Mark and I are doing wonderful. I am so glad that I am sharing life with Mark. My life has changed so much in the past year, my life is full again and I am so happy. Man's Glory By: Bernard Waters T he glory I was born to seek Is t he glo ry I shall find. For each man seeks glory on·e and every kind. No r shall t here ever be another such as me. Perhaps you wonder If that glory will be Somewhere I hope to see. But since I came to VISTA that should be the glory I seek In the work that I put forth In the service of my VISTA term Within that time limit Should be that glory That I Seek Presented by: The HarMony T earn at the 1998 VISTA Training Graduation: Bernard Waters, Wanda Houd, Sam Smith, Josh Grey, Regina Gardner, Michael Ballenger. Do• You Know Me? Do you know this guy? Weil I do, and I'm here to tell you he's back. Those who know him may wonder where he has been if not in full-time ministry, and those who don't may wonder just the same. Take a seat and I will tell you a story. The guy I'm going to tell you about went away from the army of God. He laid aside his full armor and attempted to fight the battle of grief over the death of a loved one alone. Then came the battle of marital discord, financial instability, job security, and the battles went on and on. His fellow soldiers attempted to help, but t he enemy was st ronger than they knew. This was a battle for the most high. Prayer warriors from all over began to come together, and the power which was unleashed on the enemy was remarkable. T he result of this unleashing of power was the reawakening of a soldier. The guy this in the picture began to win some battles and with the victories came the remembrance of past battles won in the name of God. When Rodney Sutton returned to active duty there was not the confinement and discharge which occurs in man's army when an a war soldier returns. He was granted a pardon by the most high and greeted with joy by his fellow soldiers. Now that I am back by the grace of God. I would like to develop a program which I would like to call "A Way O f Life Ministries," (AWOL) I would like to help other soldiers of the Lord who have went AWO L. If you can help me with o rganization, donations, sponsorship, office space, etc. please call 2 10-4 18 1. In His SerYlce Evangelist Rodney Sutton, Sr. Help Wanted Now Hiring Floor Staff and Maintenance · Drop by or Call Drop Inn Center Shelterhouse 217 West 12th Street Over-The-Rhine 721-0643 �STREETVI BES The Tri State's Homeless Grapevine Page 7 Ranch, stated that Contreraz had been coop­ erative and fulfilled his role on a work crew. " His performance was positive and without jncident," the report said. Contreraz spoke with his probation officer by phone and was informed that he would have to stay longer than first indicated at the Ranch. At that point he refused to pick up leaves. Because ANOTllRR CLASS PRODUCTION Contreraz refused to walk, a staff member Olsc-Joclley S..W:. carried him. Contreraz refused to do exercises CLIFFORD JONES with other boys and staff put him in isolation. (513) 781-3484 When Contreraz struck his head on the bed, the staff put him in a "control position," or restraining hold. Contreraz threatened to kill the staff members once put in the hold and bit t hem. Contreraz calmed and asked to use the bathroom. Before he could reach it, he def­ ecated on himself. Staff members carried Contreraz back to his barracks, stripped him, and put him in the shower. They then dressed him and took him to the dinning hall. Before Nast-Trinity United Methodist Church letting him eat, they asked him to finish his 1320 Race St Cincinnati 721-7339 exercises. Contreraz reftJsed. According to the report, staff: "continued to help him" with his ,,__ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __, Community Celebration. live Music! ANOTHER DEATH AT ARIZONA BOYS RANCH. by Mike Fontana Sixteen year old Nicholas Contreraz of Sacramento, California, died on March 3, 1998 at the Arizona Boys Ranch. This is the second death at the ranch in less than four years. At least I 3 substantiated cases of abuse have taken place there during the same time period. Approximately 20 Hamilton County boys are currently placed at the Ranch by FCF Manage­ ment, using taxpayer dollars. According to the March 7, 1998, edition of the Arizona Republic newspaper, initial reports from the ranch to authorities indicated that Contreraz had died during "recreational activity." Secondary reports from the Ranch stated that Contreraz had refused all day to walk or participate in activities. A third, written report from the Only $5 for T's, $10 for Sweats. ,,,,,-------::::::: STREETVIBES TheTriState's Homeless Grapevine Every Sunday -6PM Free of Charge exercises. The report did not specify what the "help" entailed. Contreraz asked for water but refused to walk. The two staff members carried him to the water and splashed water in his face. At that point, the staff reportedly realized Contreraz was not breathi_ng. Contreraz had just passed a physical from an RN earlier that day. Arizona law enforcement and child protective services officials were still investigating the death as of 3112/98. An autopsy was also being conducted on Contreraz. State officials reporte d t hat they had received a complaint that Boys Ranch staff was abusing Contrera. Santa Cruz In late January the Citizens Police Review Board and City Council that appointed them upheld the Santa Cruz police slaying of "Happy" John Dine without public hearings or an independent investigation. Dine, a disabled man who had frequently marched in homeless protests, had been targeted by some police officers for his outspoken hippie manner downtown and was shot twice after allegedly brandishing a toy gun [see Street Spirit De­ cember 1997 and January 1998]. The Board's decision was taken without a formal vote after several months delay with no criticism for the police chief and district attorney, who issued a still unrepudiated statement sixteen hours after t he shooting, that the Board found to be false. On March 15th, SCPD shot a second man, Brian Andrus, five times front of his wife at the door of his home. Santa Cruz activists are gathering signatures for the initiative to repeal the Sleeping Ban. Contact Homeless Unite.d for Friendship & Freedom (HUFF) 309 Cedar St. #14B, Santa Cruz 95060 ph: 408-423-4833 fax: 408-429­ 8529, e-mail: wmnofstl@cruzio.com 100% White Cotton Shirts and Lon Sleeve Sweat Shirts XL Purple logo T-shirts and .Sweat Shirts are available at our office at I 506 Elm Street. Please stop by and see us. More Natlonal News On Page 10... In Memory of "Mac" Who Believed In . Human Rights For Everyone & Who Founded Justice Watch ... Because 'Everyone' included Prisoners and Former Prisonors . Ci~cinnati ­ (513)564-9856 E-Mail· jimmy_heath@juno.com Friends and Neighbors of Over-the-Rhine An Organization Seeking Justice for People in Cincinnati's Most Endangered Community Subscribe to STREETVIBESI For only $12 per year you can have STREETVIBES delivered to your home every month. National and local Stories on Issues regarding homelessness and the poor. News, Information, Personal Stories and more, written every month by homeless and formerly homeless persons... Send Check or Money Order for $12 to: Streetvibes C/O Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45210 �• STREETVI BES The Tri State's Homeless Grapevine Page 8 STREETVIBES INTERVIEW Donald Whitehead by: Lemuel Isreal SV: There are a lot of people who have been reading this paper for a while now and still don't know who Donald Whitehead is. They've seen your name in a lot of articles as author of those articles, yet know nothing of the regular columnist who they enjoy reading so much of. So, just for the record can you tell us what you do with the National Coalition for the Homeless? DW: The National Coalition for the Homeless? SV: What I mean is The Greater Cincin­ nati Coalition for the Homeless, which is a member of the National Coalition for the Homeless. DW: Well, basically, I'm just one of two staff people, I guess I have the final responsibil­ ity on all the projects we do here. Our educational projects, the coordination of services, and the advocacy projects that we do. It's my responsibility to make sure that they get done, basically. SV: You've been with the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless now how long? Is it three years? DW: It's about three years. When I first began, I began as a vendor. I sold, at that time, The Homeless Grapevine. . SV: That is the same as the STREETVI BES of today? DW: Yes. SV: I notice that we always put on the paper, under the title, 'The Tri-State's Home­ less Grapevine. Now, who's idea was it to get the newspaper as a Cincinnati based opera­ tion? (Interviewer's Note: ThP STREETVIBES newspaper formerly known as the CINCIN NATI HOMELESS GRAPEVINE originated in Cleveland, Ohio as the HOME- ' LESS GRAPEVINE. With the help of the Cleveland editorial and production staff, Cincinnati now runs its own homespun street newspaper for the homeless. Thank you very much, Northeastern Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, for your tireless effort to bring a blaze of hope to us folks here in the South­ western Ohio Region!) DW: I would have to give the credit to Pat Clifford. SV: Pat Clifford is the person whose position you now hold, correct? DW: Yes, Pat held this position up until January fifth of this year. SY: What was your position with the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless before you became the director of the opera­ tions here? DW: Well, basically my title then was Outreach Coordinator. I was pretty much in charge of all the projects that were outreach projects. The paper, and getting stories, actually putting the paper together was my responsibility. The talks, the TV show, and the radio show were all my responsibility. SV: So, you've actually been able to reach out to the community and inform all of us about the plight of the homeless as the Out­ reach Coordinator. How successful are these outlets you are speaking of? The STREETVIBES TV show, radio show and STREETVIBES street newspaper? DW: It's somewlhat put homelessness back on the radar screen. Other than some of the negative things that have been said on TV about the homeless, the true picture disap­ peared from the radar screen. As a matter of fact, when I got here, the ·office was basically an answering machine. So what we've done, and it's not just been me, it's been a variety of a lot of different people, is we've brought homelessness back to the front page. Aware­ ness of homelessness has increased. There's been a lot of people working hard for a lot of years to do things for the homeless, but there's been that sector of the population who did not get that message. I think what we've don~ is increase the ability for, not limited just portions of Cincinnati, but most of Cincinnati to know about homelessness. SV: That's the "Don" still not willing to toot his own horn but would rather give recognition out to everyone else, but I want to let you know that this man is a tireless worker who will sacrifice a lot of his leisure time working here in the office making sure ;he paper gets out on time, making sure people are contacted that need to be for whatever event that's going on. All in all, we do appreciate your attitude as far as the fact that this is a team effort and not a one man show. I need to let our faithful readers, listeners, viewers and supporters of STREETVIBES know that a lot of these activities that are being sponsored by the Coalition for the Homeless here in Cincinnati ar<.: being spearheaded by Donald. A lot of the r"ort that you see in the STREETVIBES newspaper comes from Donald Whitehead, whom I affectionately call "The Don". He is the ruler here. He's sitting on the throne and yet he's willing to share his seat with everyone who's willing to pitch in and get their hands dirty. This is truly a case in point where ". ..he who will be a servant of all will be the greatest of all." One of the things that I've constantly observed at Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is the sincere desire and effort of the volunteers who come in. Talk to us about your volunteer support group. DW: Well, we've had some wonderful volunteers! Just to name a few if I can: Kim­ berly T enni did a lot of volunteer editing for the first year, Katherine Sevantes who is one of our volunteer editors, Tammy Nettles who just started, Bod Holby, Becky Renaldo. All have come in and done volunteer work as far as editing. Although the ultimate responsibility has lain in my hands and Pat's (Pat Clifford) hands before, a lot of what happens with the paper as far as the editing and some of the typing that is done, a lot of the volunteers are responsible for a lot of the work that is done. And those are just some of the volunteers. There are a lot of volunteers from different agendes that also ar.e a big part of what we do nere. Jimmy Heath is a staff person now, but, during the first year of STREETVIBES he volunteered his photographs which .were a llig part of the paper. Bonnie Neumeier volunteers her time as a story writer and an editor. There's been countless others: Jennifer Summers, Andy Hutzle. We always get a couple of stories from the Welfare Rights Coalition. Some of the people in the live-in treatment program at the Drop-Inn Center. All of t hose people have..., you know, so it's not a one-man-thing. It's a lot of people working together. And nobody except myself gets paid for doing this paper so it is a big volunteer effort. So. Malaka Sanders I didn't .;ay, Ron Carter, Gregory Payton, I could name about seventy-five peo~le and you probably wouldn't have enough space in your article for seventy-five people but, ... SY: Well, that's just like you to continue giving credit .to whom credit is due. I'm sure that all of the people you've ~e-ntioned are appreciative of you recog­ n1z1ng them. Yet I know that this effort is not for gaining recognition for any specific individual. DW: Definitely not! SY: The whole Idea is.... , what do they say the definition of charity is? It is when some- one gives of themselves and doesn't expect anything in return. And that takes me to another point that I wanted to make that even goes beyond just the newspaper itself. You have many jobs here besides the newspaper and outreach programs going on now. The charity organizations in Cincinnati. My experiences with some of them have been genuinely very, very good. The effort that is being made by a lot of the nonprofit social organizations in Cincinnati, who are a part of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, can be categorized as being truly charity organizations because of the peoples efforts which are tirelessly and selflessly being continuously employed in constructive ways. However, I know that there's the downside. What I want to do before we get to the end of this interview is to see if we can come to some· solutions to the downside. First of all I was wonder­ ing if we could talk a little bit about the problems. There are some that I'm aware of and there are some that I know you are aware of more than I. My reason for putting some of these problems out here is that the readers of STREETVIBES need to know and see both the positive and the negative sides, as there may be someone out there who will be willing to pitch in and help bring about some of the solutions to the overwhelming problems we face everyday, concerning homelessness and �STREETVI BES The Tri State's Homeless Grapevine Donald Whitehead, Director of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition fo,. the Homeless poverty in Cincinnati and all around America and yes, even around the world! My reasons for bringing up these problems is not to knock organizations, but that maybe we can put the problems out here where we can all see just what is going on. Then, through dialogue, as well as an active apprpach, we just may be able to solve some of these problems. One of the problems that is very, very evident is a lack of money. OW: Yes! SV: Can you address the state of affairs - concerning the finanCial situation that is going on with the Coalition as a whole and the limitations imposed due to the lack of proper funding? OW: Well, there are a lot of limitations and a lot of them are related to finances. First, you can never do as much as you actually want to do to help the homeless. You work within the realms of the constraints of your budget. There's a lot of programs that we would definitely like to implement however we don't have the funding to do them. Funding for all of our member organizations is drying up. There's welfare reform, there's public housing reform, basically most of the funders have their priorities mixed up. The funders I'm speaking of being the Federal Government's legislators have their priorities mixed up. Because of that, funding is being cut off in a lot of different places. And not only is funding being cut off, we've made some critical mis­ takes in housing. Legislation back in the early eighties with the Reagan administration stopped funding public housing. When you stop funding public housing you increase homelessness. When homelessness increased, when it became a big blip on the radar in the early eighties, we started putting money into shelters. However shelters aren't the answer. The answer is housing and supportive services. The biggest answer is to put money into housing even though we have to have shelters right now because the homeless population is increasing. We would definitely be better served to put money into housing. Until we start funding housing at the levels t hat hap­ pened before the Reagan administration we're going to continue to have a homeless problem. And not only do we need that housing, we also need supportive services. A lot of people, even if you gave them a house, wouldn't be able to get out of homelessness. That's a reality we have to face and sometimes we try to shy away from those realities. Because of some of the other conditions that they have, mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, and lack of education, those people need some other services. Until we start creating a model like some of the models that we have here, like the Recovery Hotel, the perfect model, and some of the exhale devel­ opment mentally challenging facilities which supportive services offer, until we start doing that on a regular basis, we're going to always have a homeless problem. Unfortunately, we're not going to see an increase in funding for that problem until we start seeing some kind of tragic occurrences. Until we start seeing families freezing outside, because that's who's being denied shelter right now, families! Until we start seeing a wholesale increase in crime, those priorities aren't going to change. What I'm basically saying, we won't get a change unless something horrific happens. That's an unfortunate reality. And that's what usually happens with social justice. SV: I 'have a question for you dealing with the employment situation. You look in the newspaper and you see a lot of jobs available. Why is it that we still have so much unem­ ployment? . OW: First of all, there's a misconception with unemployment because the unemploy­ ment statistics are statistics they use only for people that apply for unemployment. That's not actually how many people are unem­ ployed. The jobs we see in the·paper, ...there's a lot of barriers to those jobs. A lot of them are skilled positions, probably ... I don't know, maybe a third of them are skilled positions where you need more than just basic high school education just to do that job. You need some kind of other training or secondary skill. Another barrier is transportation. A lot of Page 9 those jobs are in Mason or Blue Ash or some other area where you can't get to through public transportation. That's why a lot of those jobs go unfilled. The other reason is basically most of those jobs that you see are service related positions that are generally low paying, generally have no benefits attached and generally have high turnover. A person can't survive on those types of jobs. Fair market rent in Cincinnati for a one bedroom apart­ ment is seven dollars an hour. Most service related jobs don't pay seven dollars an hour. While, they have jobs that provide minimum wage, what we need is livable wage jobs. SV: So your saying livable wage comes out to about seven dollars an hour. Is that for a single person you' re saying, or... OW: That's for a single person. SV: Just for a single person?! OW: Right! Fair market value for a three bedroom family is more like nine do llars an hour. So for a family... SV: That would be like a man and his w ife, and a boy and a girl? OW: Right. Or, even a woman and two children, or a man and two children, or a man, woman and one child. A three bedroom apartment, well, a man and two children of different sexes need separate bedrooms and he needs a bedroom or a family with enough children which requir~s three separate bed­ rooms. So, it would be a three bedroom home. That takes at least nine dollars an hour and over nine dollars an hour actually. That's what the fair market rent is. SV: That's the fair market, but they're not being very fair out here in the real world. OW: (Cynically laughing) Ha! SV: What hope do people have? While we're getting knocked off of welfare, without the hope of getting one of these seven dollar or nine dollar an hour jobs?! What hope do we really have?! Is there any shining light for the future? What I'm trying to ask, can you paint us a prettier picture than you're paintin' here? As far as for the numbers of people who are increasingly showing up in the soup kitchens and the homeless shelters? OW: Unfortunately, to paint a prettier picture would be deceiving because there is no pretty picture. This is reality! This is what's about to happen. This is what's happening! While people are being forced into jobs, those jobs aren't able to sustain them for any length of time at all. So those people that are being forced into those jobs are destined at some point in time to end up in a homeless shelter, or homeless and in the street or in a doubled­ up situation because they won't be able to afford the Housing. They can afford the housing for a short period of time, but sooner or later it just doesn't level out. They don't have en_ough money or they just have to sacrifice. They'll either have to pay the rent this month or eat this month. That's what people are being forced into. That's the real picture! That's reality! To be continued... Look for more of the Interview with Donald Whitehead In next month's issue of STREETVIBES. I I "I �STREETVI BES The Tri State's Homeless Grapevine Urban Ministry's morning homeless facility­ now struggling to survive in a truck parked near the Transit center. More info: call Perusha at reports 650-843-0333 X3663. We need .to get Involved to make a difference. We, the people of America, want a better world to live in, but some of us have no interest in making this happen. If you want something you have to also give a little in order to get what you want. You do this by voting in the elections, attending open neighborhood meetings, responding to issues of concern from flyers given to us from street vendors or even through the mail. Our voices can be heard but we first have to speak out when given the opportunity to do so. Don't just sit around and think about what could have been if we had taken action: We can make the difference, so let's get together and take Spike Lee's advice and Do The Right Thing!! Ron Carter Natlonal News from page 7 (Callfornla) San Jose: Food Not Bombs successfully challenged a merchant/police smear campaign against the homeless on March 22nd, when they picketed the home of a resident whose quotes had been used by the San Jose Mercury News in a March 16th story; De Blackman ( St. James Square Neighborhood Association). The "round the bums up" story focused on St. James Park, where Food Not Bombs serves food in spite of police harassment, following complete fencing off of the downtown Cesar Chavez park and a misdemeanor downtown sitting ban {Steer Spirit 5/97). Food Not Bombs can be reached at: 408­ 257-9424 (contact: Lennox). Also fighting for shelters in San Jose is the Community Homeless Alliance Ministry (408­ 345-2353). Palo Alto: There has been only one ticket under the city's I 0-block sit/lie qan, according to Food Not Bombs worker Perusha Obluda-due in significant part to the large protest against the law at City Council and a candlelight civil disobedience on University Avenue last spring. Authorities in the city of 60,000 (with an estimated 150 homeless population) barred Victor Frost, a local homeless man, from setting up a weekend First Amend~ent camp­ out protest at City Hall in search of a city­ sponsored or tolerated campground. Low-key police pressure has apparently reduced the visible homeless population downtown. Rains and official indifference have washed away the San Francisco: Judy Appel, Coalition on Homelessness attorney, notes t hat the Parks and Recre­ ation Department has ste pped up pressure· on the homeless with daily sweeps in Golder\ Gate Park. Mayor Willie Brown's 'bumbasher' squad is giving its victims five minutes to move, or if they aren't on the site, t hey will take people's left-behind survival gear and discard it. Victims are responding with small claims and administra­ tive claims against the City. COH activists turned an anti-homeless attack on "shopping cart theft" in Supervisorial hearings by Supervisor Amos Brown into a partially­ successful proposal to Lucky's Supermarket to set up a donated shopping cart program for the poor. Police have reportedly slowed their seizure of homeless shopping carts, though Civic Center Parks and Recreation squads have stepped up. COH receives about I complaint a day about police tow-aways of vehicular residences, (i.e. vans and cars that folks use to sleep in), has approached the Police Commission to put a moratoriumon on the tows, and has asked the Mayor's qffice to set up a special permit program for folks to be able to stay in vehicles. COH has been in neg~tiations with the city since the fall of 1996 to use a lot where people in vehicles can have a community, secure some basic amenities, pay rent, and be free from police harassment. A Port of San Francisco site has been identified. Fall hysteria generated by Ken Garcia's Chronicle article denouncing the homeless in Golden Gate Park as arsonists, parolees, and drug users, has resulted in a fencing off of a portion of the park. Citations in the park have decreased, but citations of folks in nearby doorways has increased. No real discussion is happening in law-making circles of criminalizing the poor so COH has put forth a Covenant Campaign to neighborhood groups seeking other alternatives to addressing homelessness other than calling in the police. An emergency shelter in an industrial area of 400-600 beds was recently opened after N IMBY pressure closed three successful community shelters. Meanwhile the winter death toll has increased through the winter, in part because of the police policy of confiscating homeless prop­ erty. For info on the Covenant call COH at 4 15-346-3740. Candlelight vigil for police victim Mark Garcia, 7 pm Wednesday April 15 at 7PM at St. Peter's Church at 24th Steet and Alabama to support family and demand justice. • Buena Park (Southern California) Reverend Wiley Drake of the First Southern Baptist Church reports ground­ breaking for a church shelter there which finally secured a conditional use permit after a two-year fight with the city, in which he was jury-tried and found guilty of four misdemean­ Page 1o ors for housing homeless people in his church. Drake has refused to evict the homeless, though he has directed people not to sleep in their vehicles in the parking lot and use his church's indoor facility instead. The city's draconian sleeping ban (even on private property) has driven many homeless into unsafe places. Info: contact Drake at 7 14-552­ 720 1. ·san Diego Since March I5th.homelessness support­ ers have held a Vigil for Year Round Shelters outside City Hall seeking shelter for an esti­ mated 2000 homeless of San Diego's 4500 homeless population. Due to activist pressure, "illegal lodging" arrests under the arcane 1872 state misdemeanor law 647i-have been dropped. A hunger fast by Urban Safari's Larry Milligan shamed the city into opening two 24-­ hour restrooms, which it had refused to do in spite of years of urging. Forrest Curo's Street Light paper has been publishing monthly for over a year and covering local protests in vivid detail. Contact Street Light, 917 E San Diego 92 10 I ph: 619-338-9.081 Sacramento Loaves and Fishes is now feeding without harassment (Street Spirit 4/97), but new security guards hired by the city carry fire­ arms. The local homeless paper, Hom~e.ward 'is in its 5th issue. Eddie Harris of the Sacramento Homeless Organizing Committee may be planning protests at the California's Homelessness and Housing Conference in early May against the City Council's new law barring the holding of "Will Work for Food" type signs on freeway entrance ramps. Call Harris at 1-9 16-442-7376 for more info. [Next month: Eureka, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, San Rafael, and Berkeley/Oakland + more!] Subscribe to Streetvlbes Subscr ipt ions to Streetvibes can be pur­ chased for $ 12 pe r year. Please send a check to t he below addr ess a nd t he pa pe r will be m a ile d t o yo u each issue. St reetvibes 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45210 Please make checks payable t o t he Gre ate r Cincinnat i Coalit ion for t he H o m eless--Streetvibes. If yo u have a ny quest io ns, call 421 - 7803 . �STREETVIBES TheTriState's Homeless Grapevine Streetvlbes Crossword Page 11 by Paul linden 1 "Welfare Polley... " from Page One urging the state legislators to make this policy change. This issue will be worked on at the next Sub-Committee on Child Care on April 7th, at 3 P.M. at 4Cs. WRC member Malaka Sanders com­ ments, "How does taking away childcare on a sanction help a family to "self-sufficiency? If the parent was working, they can't now; if they wern't, they can't start!" The HSPC has agreed to discuss includ­ ing domestic violence victims in an alternative work category. This issue will be discussed at the next HSPC meeting on Thursady April 23. We have advocated that domestic violence victims be placed in this category so their work requirement can be flexible. The "work" requirement could include getting abuse counseling and finding housing. 60 64 Answers to this month's puzzle on back page.. _.Indicates clues from March Issue Across 1. HOUSING PROVIDERS• 2. DOWNTOWN STREET 7. DOWNTOWN STREET 11 . MONTHLY EXPENSE 14. GUIDED 15. TOO 17. SHOCKING WATER SNAKE 19. BRIT STREET RAG • 21. POSITIVE EXPECTATION 22. RELIGIOUS SEASON 25. DOWNTOWN STREET 26. BROADWAY LANDLORD • 29. URBAN VERMIN 32. DOWNTOWN STREET 33. SPANISH GREETING 35. IRISH FATHER AFFECTIONATELY 36. KIND OF POWER BY 5 DOWN * 42. MOUTH PART 43. WESTERN STATE'S CAPITAL 45. DOWNTOWN STREET 46. REALLY WIDE SHOE 47. SIBLING'S DAUGHTER 48. STUBBORN EQUINE 49. FLIGHTLESS BIRD 50. EYE PART 51 . GERMAN RIVER 53. ESKIMO BOAT 55. DOWNTOWN STREET 57. PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRY 59. 2000 LBS. 60. ALIEN'S INITIALS 61. GOV. THOMPSON'S STATE • 64. FORMER W . GERMAN CAPITAL 65. UNIVERSITY'S NEIGHBORHOOD Down 1. PLWA RESIDENCE• 3. CELEBRATED 16YRS AT DIC• 4.... 5. STREETVIBES WRITER'S NICKNAME* 6. COLLECTED ANIMALS HOME 8. LYRICAL POEM 9. PRICE HILL CO-OP • 10. LONG-HAIRED OX 12. WHITEHEAD DREAMS AT THOUSAND FEET* 13. HEART OF IT ALL 16. KITCHEN 18. PERMITIED BY LAW 20. ATLANTA'S TIME ZONE 21. STREETVIBES PHOTOG • 23. HESTON'S GUNNERS 24. DOWNTOWN STREET 27. GLORIOUS GOAL 28. CLEVELAND STREET RAG* 30. BOOT BOTIOM 31. U.C. ANIMAL 34. FALSEHOOD 35. HOUSING LOSS • 37. METAL TELLER w Find these words in the puzzle: M A L p H 0 I T E G E G y E T s L A A s s s 39. MORE PAY 40. BEATS KING 41 . CLASS TALK 44. BEAT U.C. 48. XAVIER TEAM AFFECTIONATELY 52. INERT GAS IN COLORED LIGHTS 54. FLIGHTLESS BIRD 55. SLEAVELESS OVERSHIRT 56. MIDDAY 57. 2NDMO. 58. JUICE'S JUDGE 59. GRATUITY 62. _0NLY 63. BUSINESS GROUP (ABBR.) HSPC is also considering policy that would allow a recipient to quit a job before being fired,"Job quit versus job fire ." A firing is bad on a person's employment record and would hurt the prospect of getting another job. The WRC supports policy that would allow a recipient to quit a job if the job is not working out and not be sanctioned. Next meeting of the HSPC will be April 23, a Thursday, at I 0 AM. at the Hamilton County Department of Human Services. The meetings are open to the public. Scramble Search Word by Gregory Payton A D N u s c H u R c 0 R A B B L H I T 0 E G G s R C .A N D s B B R E G s T E K B I R T H L 0 0 F L 38. COFFEE POT B 0 E s v A E A B R D A y s I R p A Candy Colors Easter Eggs Basket Baseball Palm Sunday Birthdays Good Friday Passover White Rabbit Church April Fools by Ron Carter Try to unscramble these popular Movie related words: OULS ODOF YENOMATLSK MAOBR IWNST OCKYR OYRGL TITANCI OGDHTREFA ANTICTLA ITCY TTONAP Answers on page 15. �STREETVI BES The Tri State's Homeless Grapevine Page 12 Ravings of a Mad Womyn a monthly attempt to chip away at the rule of the Establishment by Ma/aka It seemed to the mad womyn that just the truism expressed in the title was more relevant than any book tide in popular culture (if middle class Black wimmin are, ''Waiting to Exhale" over some man, like Terry suggested, then their low-income sisters are in need of a good boo-hoo over what their families will be subjected to under the snatchin' of the safety net by high-income men...) The book.For Cryin~ Out Loud:Women's Poverty in the United States, edit.ed by Diane Dujon, a former welfare mama and welfare rights activist and Ann Withom, a professor ofsocial policy. is a collection ofessays by activists, economists,and experts from all over the country, with varied socioeconomic backgrounds, givingtheir very "radical" views about the welfare state: that every family has a right to eat,a place to stay.and enough resources to live in stabiftty; that government (especially in a capitalistic system that creates poverty) has a responsibility toaid low-income people; and that the interests of the workers at the bottom ( the parents raising children with governmentaid) are the same interests ofall workers. VVr""1 Most liberalswould agree with those first two points, butwhataboutthatlastone: what interests do the employed share with "WOmen"on" welfare? In fact,don't"they" undermine our interests? Rrst,a bit of history. The animosity between the employed and unemployed has notalways existed, in fact, it was paid workers, as early as the 30's that fought hard for benefits for both groups- to reduce their vulnerabilityto exploitation. As Diane Dujon wrote in her essay"We'reAll V\brlcers","The Great Depression served to edueate the suddenly unemployed working class to the fact that people are impoverished by outside forces that impact their lives. This universal understandingfoStered a change in the debate from blamingand reformingthevictim tothinkingabouthow to change the strucrures ofour society." It can't possibly besaid enough that the reason most peoples' real earnings (that is, how much can acrually be done with how much we make) continue to plummet in this country is because I 0% percentofthe population continues to hold 90% ofthe wealth- not because 5% of the population receives a negligible amount of aid (between 1­ 4% of the national budget- depending on if food stamps, subsidized housing and Medicaid are included and most folks in this population don't getall of these!). And which population does your government and mainstream media ...vorkfor? I'll give ya one guess. Allright, but some ofy'all are outthere sayin',"I have .children and I work. It's hard.but I manage". Sandy Felder, in her essay'Welfare:the basement of the wage scale" responds that while it is important for all to appreciate this sentiment, it is also important for the employed to fight the realfight, "the challenge is_to create a society where people can work and also care for their children...create well-paid jobs and also have health care and day care..." lsn'tthatwhatunionsfightfor? Here's somethin seemingly ironic the same attitudes faced by welfare rights activists,"They're tryin toget over on us","They'reaskingforto much" or"Why should they receive those benefits" are the same ones faced by, you guessed it, union organizers. In fact, in an economic climate where most employees are one or two checks away from needing aid themselves, Dujon asks,"Don't they know that sometimes it's your employer that decides whether or notyou applyfor welfare!' "What about unemployment?" you ask. well it has limits.To receive it you must make a certain amount, work a certa.in number of hours, and a certa.in length of time. So even though a significantamount of the workforce are low­ wage. part-time, or seasonal- too bad. Also, unemployment doesn't provide nearly~ much as what you were making did, regardless as to why you're unemployed. And of course. unemployment runs out- then what? Now ya know why some of us refer to welfare as a safety net: now the question is, who's ever really safe- so safe that you can watch it be dismantled? Welfare rightsactivists and conscientious union leaders around the country are fighting for compassionate reform because they,like Felder,realize that,"a rising tide raises all boats". Or, viewed in lightof the"reform",withou an insured basic livingstandard we 're all more vulnerable to exploitation by those at the top! This is class war plain and simple. and the fact that most low to middle income Americans are in solidarity with those at the top is simply a sad commentary on how pervasive the propaganda system (the media) is -WAKE UP!!! And when all ofus, as voters allow welfare to be cu thereby undermining our own wage base and standard of living. it sort of begs the question, "How low will we digou own basement?" Hope a storm doesn't come through ... (the book is ·available from South End Press at 1­ 800-533-8478. For more info about local welfare rights organizing.give us a call over at the Contact Center, 381­ 4242 or come to our monthly potluck. atnoon, the Ist Thursday of the month at 1641 Vine- see ya there...) Corrections: The book quoted in last month's "Ravings of a Mad Womyn" wasThe Celling ofAmerica Also,Joe Urgo's quote should have appeared as follows,"...when thousands of us vets read about imperial­ ism we knew what it was, because we did the murder, torture. and rape, and imperialism gave us the explanation why. Just like the Gls that went to Panama,the GulfWar, and Somalia...theytoo must figure it out. Many...talkabout imperialism...like it was a policy of the government, like somehow this government could decide not to be imperialist...NOT!Wake up and smash those illusions. In a world where the U.S. is the biggest among powerful nations, squeezing the life blood out ofoppressed peoples, U.S.troops will continue going'round the world and we will be complicit in our silence orour confusion. The local contact (or WAWAI is Sonny Williams at 241-8014.· Malaka can be reached by email at: homecoal@primax.net Jame.s James is a homeless man who is 40 years old. James was interviewed at the Mary Magdeline House on Main street in Over the Rhine. This division of the Franciscan at St. ·john provides a safe place to take showers and to wash clothes for homeless people. James described the current job market as improving after about three months of reduced job referrals from the temporary employment agency where he works. James has been living at the Drop In Center for about three months during this slow period but he said " I never give up because things will get better". " Most homeless people able to talk among themselves to share information about jobs and services. Most people think homeless people do not care about anything but this is not true"he said. Even though James 1-ias not had enough income to find decent housing he has re­ mained current on his child support payments. James also plans to be out of the Drop In Center in a few months. Written by Nathaniel Johnson, Streetvibes Intern I Remember Do you? •• by Gregory Payton Thirty years ago, April the 4, the plans were in the making for the Poor People's Campaign, a plan to help both needy white and black Americans. But that came to a halt because Dr. Martin Luther King was killed. Today I feel I know why and I would like to tell you about it. I am not a scholar or historian so you can relax, it's just my thoughts that I write about. D r. King was just a man but he had a conscious, he expressed what he thought out loud. It started with the bus boycott, after that he then went to jail in an attempt to end "Jim Crow" laws. Dr. King's actions helped to bring about desegregation . Next came the "Civil Rights Act". This was a law that would guaran­ tee equal rights for all citizens. regardless of the color of their skin. This includes the right to vote. Dr. King, with the help of many others- · white and black, was successful in changing the so called American Way . T he thing that strikes me the hardest is the fact that I can look back and see that the churches and schools were involved. Black and white college and high school students were involved. "These H~ro.e·s --w II Be The Students... " Martin Luther King I read a few things that I know Dr. King would want us to remember. Dr. King. you awoke a new spirit of social inquiry throughout the land to the benefit of all Americans. Never before in the United States had such a large body of students joined in a struggle. Dr. King wrote to his fellow clergymen from the Birmingham jail that one day the south will recognize the real heroes of the struggle for freedom. These heroes will be the students, young ministers, church elders and everyday people. These people helped carry our nation back to the great wells of democracy that were dug by the authors of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Today I wonder what the Poor Peoples Campaign was all about. In my heart I know that it must have been one of the greatest movements of all time. People from every race and denomina­ tion were joined together because they all felt that the change was needed. Dr. King prepared students to look at the needs of all people.. Sadly , I know it was inevitable that some people would target Dr. King for death be­ cause of the movement he was leading. I also look at others that had to die through con­ spiracy like Malcolm X, the Kennedy's and buddy gray. All these people stood for the people. It makes me wonder where did all the students go that would be ready to make social change. What are they teaching the children about the poor and homeless. I remember, Do You?. �-----------------------~----~----------------------------------------~--- ­ STREETVI BES The Tri State's Homeless Grapevine Page 13 Cleveland's Homeless Grapevine Cuyohoga County from Brian Davis, of the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless Cuyohoga County will be signing its Partnership Agreement with the Ohio Depart­ ment of Human Services on the last week of March. Cuyohoga's welfare plan includes a mandate that all applicants have a drug test within 90 days of applying for assistance. If they are unwilling to comply. to a drug test, they will not be able to.get Ohio Works First . assistance in Cuyohoga County! Cuyohoga County also plans to count the months that a household is under sanction as part of their time clock ticking on welfare. In one month alone in 1998, Cuyohoga County sanctioned 1500 households! Of those households, 1400 have not returned to Ohio Works First. Mark your calendar now for the OEC Statewide Grassroots Welfare Empowerment Conference: MAY 15th & 16th, Columbus, OH. The Conference will have informative workshops, great speakers, and entertain­ ment! A brochure will be sent to you soon. For more information call the OEC rep. in your area. .Trubull County Welfare Rights Coalltlon by Geneva Reid The Trumbull County Welfare Rights Coalition held "Welfare Reform Round Table II" on March 20th. They had very good attendance. A lot of information on Ohio Works First and the EBT card was given out. Panelists included Jerry Vandegrift of Trumbull County Department of Human Services JOBS Program, Jean Maurice of the Department's Income Maintenance, Dan Subula of the Department's EBT card, and Pat Duricy of Northeast Ohio Legal Services. The next Round Table will be April 7. Trumbull County will be one of the last counties of Ohio to convert over to the EBT card. Trumbull County will also be one of the last counties to complete a Partnership Agree­ ment with the Ohio Department of Human Services. Geneva ~eld a meeting with Trumbull County Commissioner Michael O 'Bryan to discuss when Trumbull County will complete its county welfare plan. She plans to be included on the Trumbull County Human Services Planning Committee when it is formed. Ohio Works -first Levies Sanction Agal~st Fa ml lies by: Jean £ laddi e OWF recipients receive a" Sanctions" notice from the Department of Entailment and Employment Services. It explains that some sanctions are assessed on a three-tier sched­ ule. The first time someone in the family does not comply with a requirement, a family will their OWF check and can lose their cash benefits and possibly foodstamps , for at least three months. If there is a third violation, the family loses it's cash benefits and possibly its foodstamps for at least six months. In addi­ tion, adults may be ineligible for Medicaid. The letters detailing the sanction at this time do not mention the status of Medicaid or other non-cash assistance. Many sanctioned households assume that a sanction means all benefits are cut, which is not usually the case. The three-tier punishment method is .disregarded if a family member quits their job. Under the sanction rules, if any adult who is required to work quits their job " without just cause" the entire family will lose their cash benefits, and possibly foodstamps, for six months. This six-month sanction will occur even if the violation was the family's first. The Department of Human Services is also requiring a drug screen within the first 90 days of applying for cash assistance. If they test positive they will be given treatment. If they refuse treatment they will be sanctioned. At this time, the family is punished - twice when they are sanctioned. A family can only receive assistance 'for 36 months in their lifetime. When a fami ly is sanctioned the clock continues to tick. A fam ily that receives a six month sanction will also lose six months of Ohio Works First (OWF). which replaced Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), is Ohio's latest attempt at reforming welfare. Although rules for welfare have changed repeatedly over the past year, this latest law went into effect October I, 1997. In addition to new rules, Ohio Works First creates stiff penalties for families, called sanctions. A sanctions is punishment for not complying with the new Ohio Works first requirements. Under the new rules, an entir:e family will be sanctioned if any member of that family fails to comply with requirements that are set forth by the department of Employ­ ment and Entitlement services. For example, Julia and her two children were penalized when her husband refused a II n work assignment. The family had no car and, since they lived in Medina county which has no public transportation, getting to work was hard. Julia walked to her job as a janitor, but her husbands job was farther away and he could not find a way to work. Julia's entire family lost their cash OWF benefits. Julia was told that the benefits would not be reinstated until the "total household was in compliance" or one month whichever was longer. In order to be eligible for public assistance benefits, each adult or minor head of household must sign the Ohio Work first Participation Require­ ment contract. The contract requires OWF recipients to work or volunteer at least 30 hours per week in order to keep their public assistance - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - , benefits. The contract stresses that any work or volunteer absences must be for "good cause", must be reported within one hour, and ·the reason for the absence must be documented in writing. Failure to do any of these, will result in a sanction. Sanction also result when OWF recipient miss a meeting with their caseworker, or for not complying com­ pletely with child support require­ ments. One individual's family was sanctioned for quitting a job without just cause. He was burned at the fast food store that he was working at. He claimed that it was unsafe working conditions. The fast food shop refused to comment for fear of a worker's comp~nsation claim, and so the Department of Human Services declared the indi­ vidual had quit w ithout just cause and he was sanctio ned. Sanctions... continued on page 5 Answers to Streetvlbes Crossword From Page 11... i I �STR EETVI BES The Tri State's Homeless Grapevine Page J4 Two-Way Vine Divides Neighborhood Two-Way Vine Street Conversion Raises Concerns Among Residents And The Over-The-Rhine Community Council Slot}' and Photo by Jimmy Heath In March of 1974, Richard Winbush was struck down w hile walking on a green cross­ walk light by a car that also had a green light. This accident occurred at the infamous "Five Points Corner" {Findlay, McMicken and Vine). Richard Winbush spent almost two years at General Hospital .and eventually died from complications due to the accident. That intersection, with mis-timed lights, had taken many victims. A movement to change Vine Street in order .to make it safer for the neigh­ borhood began with that incident 25 years ago: Vine Street was made one-way, Five Points Corner improyed somewhat, new traffic lights were installed, and most crosswalks in Central Over-T he-Rhine were repainted. As it stands, Vine Street today is still dangerous: Many trucks use Vine Street as a thoroughfare to Liberty Street arid eventually 1-71. Many cars pass through Central OTR from Downtown Cincinnati to points north during rush hour. It is a continuing challenge to keep our school-going children, seniors and disabled persons safe while crossing this busy street. Developers and some landlords want to return Vine Street to two-way under the guise of economic development. Some business owners on Vine Street have been convinced by these developers that Vine Street operating 'two-way' will be good for their businesses. On the other hand, some might argue that conges­ tion is not good for business; "If I need to travel from point A to point B, I'm not going to go out of my way to get stuck in traffic. And I'm not going to pullover and go shopping if I'm stuck in traffic," says one commuter. "If I really need to travel by car to Downtown, I'll use 1­ 71, Reading Road or Central Parkway. I'm not going to use a congested Vine Street through . Over-The-Rhine." Because of a myriad of physical restric­ tions on· Vine Street, many on-street parking spaces will have to be given up and used to accomodate traffic flow for a two-way conver­ sion. Police and Fire services have also ex­ pressed some concern over the two-way plan because the movement of emergency vehicles may be difficult. And the City's Traffic Engi­ neering Department feels that given present day traffic flow, congestion is inevitable. Problems include the halting of traffic for left.­ hand turns. Statitics show that busy two-way traffic in a residential/business thouroughfare will also result in more automobile accidents and increased danger to pedestrians. A signifi­ cant number of bus stops along present day Vine Street will have to be eliminated because of parking restrictions during peak hours and the necessity for maintaining loading zones for trucks. Public transportation (buses) for low­ income persons, senior citizens and school children is important and necessary to the neighborhood of Over-The-Rhine. Also, are taxpayers willing to continue to subsidize business interests in OTR? Who will pay for this street conversion other than this City's taxpayers? Is this expensive conversion also good for the taxpayer living, working and shopping in another community? Another aspect is the result of the change on other neighborhood businesses on adjoining streets in OTR, especially the Findlay Market area. If the theoretical Two-Way Vine is good for Vine Street business, wouldn't that diminish busi­ ness opportunities on adjoining streets? A recommendat.ion in a report by the Urban Land Institute, a Washington DC based­ urban development think-tank, started the recent debate over the Two-Way Vine initia­ tive in a report to the City. (The Urban Land lnsitute group flew in for a one week stay at an expensive downtown hotel, gave a cursory glance to the Over-The-Rhine neighborhood, and submitted a report on how to 'improve' the neighborhood of OTR, which included a recomendation to convert Vine Street to two­ way). Another report, developed and written in 1995 and initiated by the City's Public Works Department to look at this issue, was completed by an independent consultant hired by the City, to determine the feasibility of the conversion of Vine Street to two-way. The report determined that a two-way conversion would not be a good idea: the change " ...will also result in more accidents, more congestion, less curb side parking, and an increase in the potential for more pedestrian accidents. At the same time this analyses could not verify the effects of street direct!on on business and economic development opportunities." [Pflum, Klaumeier and Gehrum Consultants, Inc.] This extensive report was rejected by our City Council, and the Public Works Department was ordered to come up with alternatives once again for looking at the issue of convert­ ing Vine Street to two-way. Late in 1997, a Vine Street Task Force was formu lated, composed of Vine Street residents, business owners and concerned citizens. Task Force members were given the job of looking at the issue again and formulating a plan that would find a way to make a two-way conversion. Many Task Force members were led to believe that they would be given a chance to lo~tl the alternatives for Vine Street including keeping it one-way. But the meetings contin­ ued to center around how two-way Vine alternatives could be implemented. Keeping Vine Street one-way as a safety or tax-sav· measure was not considered as e alternative to the ~ s Force members were direct-e-d-roTook only at two-way alterna­ tives. Although the Task Force members were in agreement over making Vine Street safer for neighborhood residents and traffic, while keeping costs of improvments within reason, some of the Task Force business representa­ tives rejected Vine Street as it is today. And the City representative made it clear that looking at alternatives to one-way was the only purpose of the Task Force. One Task Force member resigned because he felt that he was there only to rubber stamp decisions that were going to be made regardless of the Task Force recommendations. He felt that residents on the Task Force were there only to appease neighborhood objections to a two-way con­ version plan, and that he was, along with other residents on the Task ~orce, only tokens. The Over-The-Rhine Commun ity Council has continued to make it clear that it is opposed to the conversion of Vine Street fo r the many reasons given previously. Residents fearing this loss of a voice on the Task Force as to how their neighborhood should be treated in regards to this issue recently began a campaign to make City Council aware of its objections to two~way Vine. Petitions and flyers have been circulating around the OTR neighbor­ hood rallying support for keeping Vine Street as it is today: One-Way. Some business-interest Task Force members have managed to come up with an idea for a two-way alternative despite neigh­ borhood and resident objections.The Public Works Department will submit a proposal to City Council sometime early this summer. �STREETVI BES The Tri State's Homeless Grapevine ANNOUNCING A new Group at AVOC... For Heterosexuals living With Aids M. 0. M. S. Are you looking for a broader knowledge of the challenge of living with HIV/AIDS? Would you /Ike lo meet people who share similar experiences and hear their coping strategies? Are you looking' for peers with who ou can discuss and plan for the future? Page 15 Dear Homeless... by Myron Dear Home less...acce pts letters. Please Mothers Of Murdered Sons need send your questions to: your help. There is 80% starvation Myron in Haiti! Non-perishable food c/o Streetvibes I506 Elm Street items are needed for Haitian COME MEET WITH US STARTING ON C incinnati, OH 45210 Children and families. No dona­ ~/!B We will attempt to answer all letters in tion too large or small. Monetary Where: AVOC "Gray Room " time ly manner. donations are also needed. Call When: 1st and 3rd Thursdays 351-7854 for more information. 6:30 PM lo 8:PM a More Information: Susan or Judy 421­243 Ba n d Looking for Work · Streetvibes (the band). We like to party. R&B. Oldies. Blues/jazz. Reggae. Helping the homeless to help themselves through free enterprize. Call 421-7803. Streetvibes is now accepting Classified Ads for items such as Help Wanted, Items for Sale, Apart­ ments for Renr and other non-personal items. T he rate is only $1 per line, approximately four words per line. Classified ads are due by the 20th of the month. People below the poverty level will be allowed five free lines for six months to advertise their skills or products to our readers. Otherwise, payment must be received before the ad will run. No refunds will be made. Also, if there i:-. an error, notify us after the first printing. You will be given an extra month of ad time. Mail the ad copy to: Streetvibes 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45210 or fax it to 421-7813 Scramble Answers from page 11••. Soul Food Money TalkS Rambo Twins Rocky Glory Titanic God Father Atlantic City Patton for sale N a tive America n cookies; orders being accepted: R. C. Janus. (Fax) 891-8663. position wanted Office worker seeks 20-30 hour sit down job on bus line, within 2 miles of the river in either Kentucky or Ohio; non-medical terminology. non-filing cabinet office work; social services. sales. public Information , crafts, and other background, some computer experience; contact Box 2, Streetvibes, 1506 Elm St., Cincinnati, 45210. Laborer Looking for a laborer! Has worked at Riverfront. Is will ing to do any kind of work. Call Sonia Craig at the Drop In n Center, 721­ 0643. Elderly or C h ildren Looking for a community oriented job dealing with elderly or children. 3 year ourteach worker/ counselor aide at YMCA. 13 years typ ing. Computer and cashier experience including Windows, Lotus. Any Word Processor. Cal l Anjail Madyun at the Drop Inn Center:-n1 -Oo4r. Degreed, s u ccessful grant s administrator/ writer seeks commissioned, free lance position as same; ten percent commission per award. Contact J. Janus, Jr. (Fax) 891-8663. N ative Am erican­ Hispanic female seeks sit down, slow-paced · industrial FACTORY position; physically challenged. (Fax) 891­ 8663 . STRE.E.TVIBE.S provides Classified Ads free to low income job seekers. Others may place ads for only$ I per line. Call 421-7803 for info. Straetvlbes Vendor c·ode of Conduct Each vendor has to sign the following code to be able to sell the paper. l. Streetvibes will be distributed for a $1 voluntary donation. I agree not to ask for donations more than $1. I also understand that l will be able to keep 80 cents of each dollar collected. Future issues of Streetvibes will be purchased from the Homeless Coalition for 20 cents. 2. l agree that l will never distribute Streetvibes while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 3. I agree that l will not ask for donations after 12 midnight. 4. l agree to treat others with respect. l will not use abusive language or force someone to give a donation. I will not give a "hard sell" or make someone feel threatened. 5. I agree that I will not supply copies of Streetvibes to persons who are not registered distributors. 6. I agree not to deceive the public by saying that l am collecting for a not-for-profit charity or that l am collecting for the "homeless" in general. l will be honest in stating that all the profits from the sale of Streetvibes will go to the individual vendor. 7. I agree that I will not contest territories with other distributors. 8. I understand that Streetvibes strives to be a self supporting paper created by people who are homeless or former ly home less. To help in this effort, l will try to spread the word and write stories if possible. 9. l understand that the fai lure to comply with any of the above statements will result in me no long~r being able to distribute Streetvibes. ' Sales Representative Looking for position as sales re presentative or management. Has good bookkeeping. typing and supervisory skills. Has experience in retail management, customer service and sales. Is available to work immediately. Call Dea Harris at 552-9351. &.ttaw:ant W ork Responsible older man able to work any shift.. Has had experience as a cook and as a janitor. Would prefer work as a busser at a restaurant as well as work as a dishwa.s her or cook. Is very dependable and avai lable immediately. Please contact Wiley Powell at 831 -8 404. office hours and name of law school on letterhead paper to I I 11 Elm Street. No. 432, Cincinnati, OH 45210. Streetvlbes Radio Hour On WAIF 88.3 fm The Homeless Coalition has a live radio program which can be heard on WAIF radio on the second Saturday of each month at noon. The show is co-hosted by Mary Burke, Pat Clifford, Gregory Payton and Donald Whitehead. The show mixes talk focusing on the stories in this paper and eclectic musical selections. Here are the next show dates. WAIF 88.3 fm Saturday, April I lth. 1998, noon to l pm Advertise In Streetvlbesl Advertising in Streetvibes is a chance for businesses to help a good cause while promoting themselves to 4,000 concerned people each month. The rates are shown below. Business Card Size 2" x 3 1/2" $1 0 per month Two Business C ard Size 4" x 3 112" $20 p er month A check or money order must accompany the ad copy. We reserve the right to deny any ad, especially those which promote alcohol or tobacco products. You will receive a full refund should your ad be denied. For larger ads, call the number below. Ads are due by the 20th of each month. If you need assistance in preparing your ad or have any other questions, call the Homeless Coali­ tion at 421-7803. Mail ads with payment to: Streetvibes 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 452 10 -- �STREETVI BES The Tri State's Hom eless Grapevine Vendor Proflle: Terrlal Pratcher Streetvlbes TV The Streetvibes TY Show is produced at the facilities of Cincinnati Community Video. Some viewers might not see the show appear at the right channel or time during the next couple months as Warner Cable changes programming and channels. T errial has been a regular vendor for Streetvibes since July of '97. She is the mother of six children and one on the way. T errial graduated from W ithrow High School in 1981. She is a former resident of the Drop Inn Center. T errial says she was formerly chemically dependent and has been clean now for a year. Hang in there Terrial, keep up the good work. We can always count on Terrial to stop by the office at least two or three times a week to pick up more Streetvibes to sell and she is pretty good at it too. She always comes in to the office with a big smile on her face and in a hurry to get more Streetvibes out to her customers. I had to almost tie her down to get this profile on her as she has a lot of energy. Well Terrial, we hope you have a happy and healthy baby. Al~o. we hope all of your goals and dreams come true. Don't give up the ship, Terrial! Page 16 Streetvlbes TV Apr/I Schedule This month's LIVE show address issues of Welfare Reform... Channel I0 (rebroadcast)s Saturday, April 4, 1998, 4 PM Friday, April I0, 1998, 11 am Friday, April 17, 1998, I I AM Monday, April 27, 1998, I0 PM Saturday, April 25, 1998, 4 PM If you have any ideas for future STREETYIBES TY shows please contact our office at 421-7803. We always enjoy hearing from our veiwing audience. Ideas should address subjects related to homeless­ ness and poverty in our city. We are always inter­ ested in viewer ideas, so please give us a call... Streetvlbes Wish List Streetvibes is published monthly on a shoe­ string budget. We depend heavily on the goodwill of many volunteers and donors. If you can help out with some of the items on our wjsh list please give us a call... >Adobe Photoshop Software for IBM to save scanning costs >Computer Monitor Channel 7 LIVE Monday. April 20. 1998 7 PM Broadcast schedules are subject to change ­ consult your local TY directory. >VCR to Show Streetvibes TV Show Episodes to Groups >Volunteer Copy Editors and Stories >Advertisers to help supp~rt the paper > Fax Machine r >Decent Typwriter Vendor: 80 cents >Computers for Streetvibes layout and writing C a ll 42 1-7803 if you can he lp! Printing and Streetvibes has a minimal Production: 20 overhead cost so that the vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. If anyone selling Streetvibes claims to be collecting for a private charity, please call our office at 421-7803. Thanks for your support. 8 If for some reason you find yourself homeless, contact a Coalition Member Agency for Shelter, Treatment., Housing or Services. If you have any questions, feel free to call the Homeless Coalition at 421 -7803. SHELTERS: W omen and Child ren Alice Paul House (abuse) 241-2757 YWCA Transitional Living Program 28 1-5770 Bethany House 557-2873 Salvation Army 762-5660 Welcome House 431-8717 SHELTER: Men City Gospel Mission Garden Street House Joseph House (veterans) St. Francis- St. Joseph House Mt. Airy Center Volunteers of America 241-5525 241-0490 241-2965 381-4941 661-4620 381-1954 SHELTER: Both Caracole (AIDS) Chabad House Drop Inn Center (singles) Friars Club Haven House (Hamilton) 761-1480 821-5100 721-0643 381-5432 863-8866 Interfaith Hospitality Network Lighthouse Youth Center St. John's Temporary Housing HOUSING CMHA Excel Development Miami Purchase OTR Housing Network ReSTOC Tender Mercies (Mental 111) Tom Geiger House TREATMENT: W o m e n O.D.A.A.T First Step Home T REATMENT: Men Charlie's 3/4 House Prospect House Starting Over T REATMENT: Both NA Hopeline A.A. Hotline C.C.A.T. Talbert House Transitions, Inc. VA Domiciliary OTHER SERVICES AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati Appalachian Identity Center 244-7226 961-4080 651-6446 721-4580 632-7149 241-0504 369-0004 381-0954 721-8666 961-4555 241-7343 921-7324 784-1853 921-1613 751-3260 820-2947 861-9966 381-6660 684-7956 491-4435 559-5011 421-2437 621 -5991 Beech Acres 23 1-6630 Center for Independent Living Options 241-2600 591-2246 Churches Active in Northside 961-0600 Cincinnati Health Network 569-1840 Community Action Agency 381-4242 Contact Center 241-25 63 Emanuel Community Center 241- 1064 Freestore/Foodbank 771-4800 Goodwill Industries 621-7149 Hamilton Co.Mental Health Bd. 632-7186 Hamilton Co. TB Control 357-4602 Health Resource Center 352-2902 Homeless Mobile Health Van 221-3679 House of Refuge Mission 241 -9400 Legal Aid Society Madisonville Ed. & Assistance Ctr. 271-550 I 721-4811 Mary Magdalen House 621-0248 Oral Health Council 621-6364 Our Daily Bread 621-5514 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 721-7660 Travelers Aid 721-7900 United Way 559-6656 VA Homeless Program 491-3335 Women's Crisis Center \ � 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 1998 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 1998 Vol 2, Issue 15 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Page 1: Welfare Policy Changes Are Encouraged OEC Calls For Emergency Repeal of Sanctions Page 2 Walled Community Page 3 Homeless Dog Shelter Recovery Page 4 Native-American Struggle Page 5 HCHSUpdate Page 6 Word On The Street Page 7 Nationwide Page 8 Interview Page 10 Editorials Page 12 Mad Womyn Page 13 Cleveland News Page 14 Vine Street Debate Page 15 Classifieds Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project (curated by Katelyn Lusher) 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 1998 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Ron Carter Brian Davis James Heath Andy Hutzel Lemuel Israel Berta Lambert Paul Linden Judith Mendriski Patrick Mosolf Gregory Payton Mark Salter Malaka Sanders The Shadow Donald Stark Penelope Welz Donald Whitehead Lynn Williams Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/"><img alt="Creative Commons License" src="https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc-sa/4.0/88x31.png" /></a><br />This work is licensed under a<span> </span><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License</a>. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF addiction Andy Hutzel Berta Lambert Brian Davis Donald Stark Donald Whitehead Gregory Payton James (Jimmy) Heath Judith Mendriski Lemuel Israel Lynn Williams Mad Womyn Malaka Sanders Mark Salter Native American Patrick Mosolf Paul Linden Penelope Welz Ron Carter The Shadow the visible homeless vendor profile welfare reform https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/006c61bf59952308bc66fd63cfd39736.pdf d54539c390c258bcdd1c266e900194c5 PDF Text Text STRUGGLE TO SAVE DROP INN CENTER INTENSIFIES by Susan Knight, Drop Inn Center Staff The struggle for the right to self-determina­ tion escalates as plans to relocate the Drop Inn Center continue amidst a new push by Councilmember Charles Winburn to "revitalize" Over-the-Rhine. The Arts and Education board who is leading the push to create a new School of the Creative and Performing Arts surrounding Music Hall, met Tuesday, March 2nd at Memo­ rial Hall. The discussion was heated as Pat Clifford, General Coordinator of the Drop Inn Center and Arts and Education board member, demanded to know why he was not informed of the decision to relocate. The plan bypassed the facility committee in which Pat sits and went directly to the media. Bonnie Neumeier also expressed concern, "The community is upset that we have let this happen. I feel as if we are just tokens on this board, when what we were told is that we were here to represent our communi_ty. Well, we have not been treated like that. No one has asked us how to incorporate this huge arts center into the community. No one has listened to our concerns." The discus­ sion moved to anxiety over funding as the City has expressed worry over whether the Nannie Hinkston house and the other transitional housing, which has already been awarded Federal funding, but is located across the street from the Drop Inn Center, will be there in the next couple of years. Although, it is important to note, these buildings are not part of any of the proposals for the new School of Creative and Performing Arts. The board agreed that some of the actions taken, regarding releasing the proposals to the media prior to informing Pat Clifford, were inappropriate. It was agreed and voted on that the next meeting would be held at the Drop Inn Center and that all 5 proposals, one of which does not include the Drop Inn Center, would be seen. The board has since wavered on this decision to hold the May 4th meeting at the Drop Inn Center and it is unclear as to whether such a meeting will take place earlier in April or Music Hall, located in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati. photo by Jimmy Heath whether the board will meet as usual at Memo­ rial Hall on May 4th. The Drop Inn Center expresses the importance of community pres­ ence wherever the meeting is held and should have more information closer to the date. The hearing to discuss what to do with Over-the-Rhine's abandoned buildings is putting added pressure on the Drop Inn Center. Chris Frutkin, a for-profit speculator, testified that the Drop Inn Center and ReSTOC owned 34 of the abandoned buildings in Over-the-Rhine and that we were a major problem to positive community development. Mary Burke, director of the Over­ the-Rhine Housing Network countered, saying that although development might not be as fast as for-profit it was certainly happening and was constant, and that maintenance funds were in dire need to maintain the buildings, once rehabilitated. Moreover, non-profit development was about development for the existing commu­ nity, that community development was not about pushing out the old community and bringing in a new one. Winburn voiced support for the non-profits, saying that low-income housing needs to be protected. However, fast-track development, such as what has occurred in Columbus and historically throughout the country and what was being discussed at the hearing held, has re­ sulted in mass displacement of low-income residents. Winburn's voice of support did little to ease concern community leaders have for the future of their neighborhood and low-income housing. This hearing has subsequently created incentive for for-profit developers to support the forced relocation of the Drop Inn Center now, as the Center has been a long-time anchor and supporter for low-income housing and not-for­ profit development. The Drop Inn Center will continue to claim its right to maintain its facility and exist on its land. In the meantime, if they are any questions or would like further information, please feel free to contact the Drop Inn Center at 721-0643. African American Youth: A Preferred Tobacco Industry Customer "The horrible effects of tobacco use among children in our communities has got to be stopped at its tracks. Our role as parents is to do what we can to make sure our children grow up smoke-free." Quote from African American mo(her. These stories, and many others, are being heard during Minority Health Month, in April as designated by the Ohio Commission on Minority Health to increase understanding among African Americans living in Ohio about · the serious health risks associated with tobacco use. African Americans continue to suffer disproportionately from chronic and preventable disease compared to white ·Americans. This includes the nation's most serious public health problem - the use of and addiction to tobacco. Of the three leading causes of death in African Americans, heart disease, cancer and stroke - tobacco use, particularly smoking is a major contributor to these illnesses. Each year more African Americans die from diseases caused by smoking than from car crashes, AIDS, homicide, cocaine, heroin, and other drugs combined. The most startling trend is the increas­ ing rate of smoking among African American kids. According to the 1998 U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Tobacco Use Among U.S. Racial/Ethnic Minority Groups, the number of African American high school seniors who smoked increased from 1992 to 1997 while declining between 1977 and 1992. In addition, the African American eighth grade students smoking prevalence increased by 106% from 1992 to 1997. 'YOUTH' cont. on page 13... The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Page 2 STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Streetvibes, the Tri-State's Home­ less Grapevine, is a newspaper written by, for and about the homeless, social justice and poverty related issues. It is published once a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Vendors buy the paper for 20 cents and then sell it for a dollar donation. The Streetvibes VendorPtogratn gives ou·r vendors·an oppbrtunitY to get back on their feet. All vendors are given an orientation and sign a code of conduct before being given a badge. 'A file is developed·on each vendor so that we may track and help facillitate thier move from poverty to self­ sufficiency. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless ·is a group of shelters, agencies and indivlduals committed to ending homelessness in Cincinnati through coordinating services, educating the public and grassroots organizing. The Streetvibes Planning Commit­ tee meets monthly to plan our issues and increase circulation. If you are interested in helping or have a comment, story or editorial that you would like published please call 421 -7803. Staff Donald Whitehead, Director Jimmy Heath, Coordinator Ron Carter, Vendor Support Gina Miller, Rapid Exit Program Photographer Jimmy Heath Writers Mary Ann Bravo Ron Carter Denise Crew Sheila Crowley Dorcy Mathew Hagerty Jimmy Heath Mike Henson Cliff Jones Susan Knight Carolyn Meszaros Gina Miller Gregory Payton Eunice limoney Ravenna E>r. Tom Somani A. Tyehimba Donald Whitehead Lynn Williams Sonny Williams Editorial Policy: Streetvibes accepts all letters, poems, comments or editorials. We will print everything we have room for, giving preference to those who are homeless or vendors. Please send all material to the following address: Streetvibes clo Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 4521 O (513) 421-7803 fax (513) 421-7813 e-mail: homecoal @primax.net web page: http://cinci.com/gcch by Donald Whitehead ' - observations and relations I make in my travels. This trip was filled with personal revelations. On the second night of our trip we gathered in a huge circle over a hun­ dred strong. We were given the task of explaining who we were? How we got here? And why we came? For some this was an easy task, because we had asked ourselves this question many times. For others this task was very complicated and took a great deal of introspection. I was thoroughly impressed by the diversity in the room. There were Lawyers, ex-lawyers, future lawyers, ex-legislators, ex-hippies, baby boomers, generation Xers, ex­ panthers, communists, socialists, demo­ crats, republicans, Catholics, Muslims, Jews, Christians, atheists, formerly home­ less, ex-Realtors and ex-bankers all in the same room. There were many different answers to the questions, llJOSt had the same theme. It occurred to me that this was America as it should be. Many differ­ ent people from many different back­ grounds joined together for a common positive goal. So often we get sidetracked by our own personal goals and we forget our fellow man. The more people that explained their reason for doing what they do, the more heartfelt and sincere the responses. I'm sure not all the people in the room were totally true to there re­ sponses but that mattered little because I was mesmerized by the moment. As my turn approached I wanted to think of something profound. I wanted to give them something that would help them feel the inspiration this moment had given to me. In the end I simply shared that I was trying to give back that was so freely given to me. In my travels I've learned that honesty is the most effective means of defining ones true motives. It is moments like these that revitalize a weary traveler and helps him remember exactly why travel is important. This trip once again helps me realize that regardless of your destination every trip is worth taking if you bring your heart along as a travel companion. March is a month that the traveler usually earns his wings. This March was no different from usual. The month of March began with the State Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, (COHHIO), annual statewide conference. This years conference was held March 8, 9, and 10. The conference was very informative. Workshops covered a variety of issues that are of concern to homeless advo­ cates. Workshops on welfare reform, public housing, and how to start a Street newspaper were well attended. Speakers like Sheila Crowley, President of the National Low-Income Housing Coalition informed us about upcoming legislation threatening the scarce resources that are available to the homeless population. The highlight of the conference was the legisla­ tive visits. Three groups of advocates from Cincinnati visit every legislator representing our respective areas . While its very important to visit regularly with state representatives in addition to state and federal representatives there is nothing more powerful than the collec­ tive efforts of advocates from all over Ohio visiting with representatives in force. I com­ mend COHHIO for their efforts along these lines. The only way to effectively sway political opinions in todays environment is a strong show of force or a strong show of currency. The trip for me was made even more interest­ ing by my need to be back in Cincinnati to host this months addition of Streetvibes TV. I beat the snowstorm on the way back to Cincinnati , however the trip back to Columbus was the scariest I've ever taken with between 5 to 12 inches of snow on the expressway all the way to Columbus. My next trip was a bit easier, I flew the friendly skies heading to Portland. Many of you The Traveler probably read about my last trip to Portland Homeless Disease and some of the uneasiness surrounding it. Police Predators This trip to Portland was a supervisor training FICA Rip-off workshop for the Corporation for National The Broken City Service. The Corporation for National Service is the domestic version of the Peace Corps. Arts & Poetry The Americorp Vista Programs are directed by Nationwide News the Corporation. The particular project, one of Point of View hundreds that the corporation offers is orga­ Prison News nized by the National Association of HUD HUD Funding Tenants. The project involves Vista Volunteers organizing tenants in at-risk Section-8 Housing. Welfare News Walking the Streets The program has been very successful nation­ ally, a ·pattern we hope to continue in Cincin­ Streetvibes Etcetera nati. The training was very valuable in identify­ Scramble ing new concerns about the future of affordable Letters & Editorials housing. The PSO or Pre-Service Orientation Cleveland News also helps Supervisors and Vista Volunteers Comedy Corner learn about their mission, responsibilities and CD Corner , benefits. I personally found the training very Classified Ads informative and satisfying. The training con­ sisted of position meetings on NAHT and Streetvibes Radio valuable sessions on Diversity and Equal TV Schedule Opportunity in the workplace. I personally am always more influenced by the personal • Contents Page2 Page3 Page4 Page4 Page5 Page6 Page7 Page7 Pages Page9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 11 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 15 Page 16 �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine WHY AM I HERE? Why in the hell am I here in the Drop Inn Center Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program? Good question. Here's a good short answer. As the old cliche states, "I was sick and tired of being sick and tired." I [George) was physically, mentally and spiritually drained. I must admit that the initial process leading to me signing on the dotted line was one of "Attraction and not promotion." My prior living arrangements and life-style were totally chaotic and unhealthy. In the world of "crack" I was on a downhill path of self-destruction. I believe that my God lead me to "this" program for a reason, for some special purpose that is unknown to me right now. I am in recovery to regain things that I lost and perhaps to gain some things that I never had. I entered Detox on Jan. 7, 1999 with one day clean, realizing that I was totally powerless alone and that my life was definitely unmanage­ able. Since being here, I've been amazed at how far a little "open-mindedness" and "willingness" can go. Through the help of D.l.C. staff, reading, meetings and the other fellow live-in residents, I am learning quite a bit about myself. I am gradually gaining knowledge in the area of "Acceptance." That is to say that I am powerless over people, places, things, situations and even over my thoughts and feelings. But I am not powerless over how I react to these things. Some of my stress and problems are manifested by my own "self-obsession" which I have found to be the core of my addiction. God definitely works through other people. He is working on me. For these things I am truly grateful. HOME­ LESSNESS A DISEASE? by Terrine Homelessness is a mental disease, it is a state of mind. Each individual that is homeless is not able to maintain everyday living because of their mental state and/or their alcoholism. These two things feed off each other. Do you have any idea how overwhelming being home­ less is? You become paralyzed. It doesn't matter how smart you are, how hard working you are. I woke up every day nauseous and waiting for the moment when I would have enough courage to kill myself. And people walk past us. People hate us. People fear us. People tell us to go get a job. Sometimes I feel sorry for those people. They have forgotten what it is to be human. Even if I was a horrible person, lazy and didn't care about anything but myself I don't think it should matter. That is why I came to the Drop Inn Center. Because there, it didn't matter. And now I am certified and working. And I care about people. I care about people because people cared about me. Funny how people that throw money everywhere don't understand this. Plus, if you think about it, a look showing me that I am alive is free, it doesn't cost one penny, but those people in suits do not want to give that up. I know now that treating people like they are all human beings makes me feel more like one too. This is what homelessness has taught me. -- buy a brick forbudd lace b uddy's place is a community effort to h elp alleviate the tragedy of homelessness. We invite you to take p art in this community effort and provide housing to our sisters and brothers who are homeless. Thank you for your on-going support. RESTOC ;( ye5 114. W. 14th Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45210 • 513-381-0954 J we would Hke to buy _ brick(s) to support t he construction of buddy's place nam e ................................ .........phone·················................................ ...........................si:hoai·c;r·or9iiiiiziiiion············· ...................... amount enclosed ($50 per brick) .................. please m ake checks payable to RESTOC. In t he space below, please indicate name you would like painted on brick Page 3 The Father's Eyes This teenager lived alone with his father, and the two of them had a very special relation­ ship. Even though the son was always on the bench, his father was always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game. This young man was still the smallest of the class when he entered high school. But his father continued to encourage him but also made it very clear that he did not have to play football if he didn't want to. But the young man loved football and decided to hang in there. He was determined to try his best at every practice, and perhaps he'd.get to . play when he became a senior. All through high school he never missed a practice nor a game, but remained a bench warmer all four years. His faithful father was always in the stands, always with words of encouragement for him. When the young man went to college, he decided to try out for the football team as a "walk-on." Everyone was sure he could never make the cut, but he did. The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster because he always puts his heart and soul to every practice _ and at the same time, provided the other members with the spirit and hustle they badly needed. The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much that he rushed to the nearest phone and called his father. His father shared his excite­ ment and was sent season tickets for all the college games. This persistent young athlete never missed practice during his four years at college, but he never got to play in the game. It was the end of his senior football season, and as he trotted onto the practice field shortly before the big play-off game, the coach met him with a telegram. The young man read the telegram and he became deathly silent... Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, "My father died this morning. Is it all right if I miss practice today?" The coach put his arm gently around his shoulder and said, "Take the rest of the week off, son. And don't even plan to come back to the game on Saturday." Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well. In the third quarter, when the team was ten points behind, a silent young man quietly slipped into the empty locker room and put on his football gear. As he ran onto the sidelines, the coach and his players were astounded to see their faithful teammate back so soon. "Coach, please let me play. I've just got to play today," said the young man. The coach pretended not to hear him. There was no way he wanted his worst player in this close play-off game. But the young man persisted, and finally feeling sorry for the kid, the coach gave in. "All right," he said. "You can go in." Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in the stands could not believe their eyes. This little unknown, who had never played before was doing everything right. The opposing team could not stop him. He ran, he passed, blocked and tackled like a star. His team began to triumph. The score was soon tied. In the closing seconds of the game, this kid intercepted a pass and ran all the way for the winning touchdown. The fans broke loose. His team­ mates hoisted him onto their shoulders. Such cheering you've never heard! Finally, after the stands had emptied and the team had showered and left the locker room, the coach.noticed that the young man was sitting quietly in the corner all alorie. The coach came to him and said, "Kid, I can't believe it. You were fantastic! Tell me what got into you? How did you do it?" He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Well, you knew my dad died, but did you know that my dad was blind?" The young man swallowed hard and forced a smile, "Dad came to all my games, but today was the first time he could see me play, and I wanted to show him I could do it!" �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine POLICE OR PREDATORS? YOU DECIDE by Somani A. Tyehimba How is it that you find yourself being stopped for an alleged traffic violation and then have a gun pointed at your head? Well, just be a black man in America.. Oh, and just one more thing, make sure you're stopped by two wild­ eyed, adrenaline pumped, blood thirsty, mouth foaming predators, disguised as Cincinnati police officers. When I noticed the flashing lights behind me I pulled into the driveway at my son's school. I stepped out of my van, only to see two angry white men pointing their guns at me and shouting, "get back into the vehicle! get back into the vehicle!" I immediately returned to my van, shut the door, and placed my hands on the steering wheel. One officer advanced forward as I returned to the van and stood five to six feet outside my door with his gun aimed directly at my head. He shouted to his partner, "Go ahead, I've got him covered on this side." The other officer ap­ peared on the passenger side of the van and shined a light into the side window. Why he needed a flashlight in the daytime is beyond my comprehension. This same officer instructed me to roll down the window. I told him the window was broken and did not roll down. He then instructed me to open the door and slowly get out of the van. I slowly exited the van, with my hands in plain view. I stood perfectly still with my hands in front of me, palms up, showing the only things in my hands were the van keys. Yet the officer who held the gun t~rgeted at my head kept shouting in a very hostile voice, as he moved closer to position himself in front of me, "don't move your hands, don't move your hands." Mind you my hands were not moving: Also h·e is continually advancing toward me. I can hear incredibly well. I answered to him each time, in a very calm and nonthreatening voice, "My hands are not moving." As this exchange took place, it became apparent he was looking for a reason to shoot. My best defense was to remain calm. While Rambo still targeted the gun at my head, he leaned forward and snatched the keys from my hands. ;He asked me if I ha~ anything else on me as if the keys he snatched from my bands were some sort of weapon. I calmly replied no. By this time the other officer had come to the drivers side of the van. He ordered me to step away from the vehicle and turn around. I was handcuffed while at the same time being told, "just be calm, you're not under arrest." At no time did I exhibit any behavior other than calm. After being handcuffed, Rambo's partner patted me down while Rambo finally holstered his gun. After feeling the Money in my pocket, the officer said, "that feels like a lot of money. How much money do you have?" I replied I wasn't sure maybe $180. I asked myself what difference does it make how much money I have in my pocket? I then realized these officers must have that stereotypical view of me as a drug selling, gun toting, hostile and danger­ ous black man. And it's open season on me. Rambo asked me why I didn't stop. I replied I did stop. He then snatched my right arm and forced me across the street to the police car. Once in handcuffs to Rambo I was just another criminal. He could treat me and talk to me in any manner he pleased. I asked Rambo why they stopped me. He said I was weaving in and out of traffic and went left of center. That was a lie. When we got on the sidewalk, Rambo spun me around facing the police car. He kicked my feet apart without instructing me to do anything. Again I was searched. This time Rambo pulled money and everything out of my pockets and asking me question after question. "Do you have any weapons?" "No." "Do you have anything sharp in your pockets that would stick me?" "No." "What about a box cutter?" "No." "Do you have a job?" "I work for myself. I own a retail store in Swifton Commons Mall." "What do you do?" "I said, I own a retail store in Swifton Commons Mall, Black World Products Interna­ tional." "Well, what do you sell?" "We sell books, art... " "Get inside the car!" I asked him why he had to cuff me in the first place if I wasn't under arrest. ''This was embarrassing," I told him, "being handcuffed in front of my son's school and searched." Since he didn't have the pleasure in killing me, having an innocent black man caged in the back of his police car feeling embarrassed was his consola­ tion prize. Rambo's partner had moved my van out of the driveway to unblock someone and parked it down the street. Rambo drove me down the street by my van and his partner got into the car. They began asking another series of questions. "What's your name?" "Somani Tyehimba" "Is that your real name or did you change it?" The FICA Ripoff Page 4 "Yes it is my real name, and yes I did legally have it changed." "Where do you live? What's your phone? What's your work number?" After about fifteen minutes of sitting in the car waiting for them to complete their work I was released and cited for Improper Change of Course and Left of Center. It wasn't until later that evening I realized the magnitude of what happened. All during the ordeal I was quite calm. Being calm I know saved my life. The fact that this officer had a gun targeted at my head caused me to shudder. At the same time he was warning me not to do something that I was not doing. Was he really talking to me or setting up his alibi to the surrounding onlookers had he blown out my brains? If I had moved my hands, would my family be planning my funeral? Would my son have to grow up without his father in his life? Would I have become another statistic where an officer "thought he saw something' and had no choice but to shoot? I have to answer yes because that blood thirsty predator seemed eager to bag his kill for the day. I have always instructed my son to respect authority. Whether the authority is a teacher, another adult, his parents, or even police officers. I feel a need to modify this directive now. I will still inform him to respect authority. However, when it comes to police officers here is what I will tell him. Respect the authority that is represented by the badge. However, take the one eye opened, one eye closed approach to the person wearing the badge. He just might be a predator, looking for an excuse to kill an innocent black man. COHHIO rallies hundreds I by Gina Miller by Dr. Tom Everyone in Washington is busy trying to decide what to do with the budget surplus. No one seems anxious to admit that the alleged surplus is actually the result of embezzlem.ent from the Social Security Trust fund ... a crime aimed at the pocketbooks of America's poorest workers. · FICA contributions are figured ·on a workers gross pay up to $72,600. Income taxes are progressive, i.e. they give a break to the lowest income workers. FICA contributions are based on gross income and are the largest deduction from a low-income worker's check. They are regressive. It is criminal to even discuss using sur­ plus~s in the American workers pension funds for tax breaks for upper income taxpayers. Especially considering that by law The Social Security Trust Fund is a pension fund which is supposed to be kept separate from the general fund used to finance the government budget. In private industry and in unions pension managers who divert funds from pensions are put in prison. I was granted an opportunity to attend the annual Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio conference. It was held in Columbus, Ohio. The dates were March 8-10, 1999. The prestigious Hyatt hotel was the "stage". The State House was the "backdrop". Semi-casual to formal was the apparel. "Housing Ohio: Challenges & Opportunities" was the theme. The format appeared to be just as diverse as the people who attended the conference. Panel discussions, speakers, individual appoint­ ments as well as question-and-answer sessions provided avenues for collaboration in efforts toward ending homelessness. People traveled many miles (regardless of the weather) in order to take part in this important event. ­ I gained some valuable insi§hfs, from attending several workshops. Topics ranged from Public Housing Reform to "Organize Ohio!". The agenda included information on Welfare Reform, employment opportunities, the Fair Housing Act, and starting/maintaining a "street" newspaper. I left the conference feeling inspired to continue assisting people with obtaining permanent housing. Here are the facts about the supposed budget surplus. The Make Believe Surplus YEAR 1999 2000 2001 2002 FICA FUND OVERPAYMENTS FEDERAL DEFICIT Th1AGINARY +$113 BIL +$123 BIL +$130BIL +$139BIL -$104 BIL -$114 BIL -$102 BIL -$ 49BIL + $9BIL + $9BIL + $ 28 BIL + $ 90BIL SURPLUS - - =' ­ �STRE IBES ·The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine The Broken City... Page 5 Funeral March for b uddy g ray by Mike Henson A day of bright and bitter cold Silent, we march the stony blocks and hear only the tread of feet on the pavement thousands of feet on the stony pavement, only the banners that billow, snap, and bellow out again. Only these and the snap of the drum. We enter the park Watched by bullet-colored crows silent and alert. We pass the stone gates; the drum stops. Song overlaps the silence. Singing, we fill this small place with our small hundreds. The ground we tread was once a Potters Field. The earth beneath us is riddled with bones. ·From thei r dark porches, the dead observe us through a screen of glass. Memorial procession through the streets of Over-the-Rhine honoring the late buddy gray, neighborhood activist and founder of the Drop Inn Center. November, 1996. LIFE EVERY DAV IS BETTER by Mary Ann Bravo by Dorcy A CHANGED This story is about my stepfather 14 years ago. My stepfather was a drunk. Day and night he would hang in the bar. I just prayed to the Higher Power to help this man change his life. Well before I left town in 1990 he went into a program. I have not seen my stepfather for ten years. When I went home and saw my stepfa· ther I was so proud of him. He had stopped drinking and don't hang in bars any more. Keep up the good work no matter what happens. I will always love you. Today my father is sweet and good hearted. If you need anything he will try to do it. He feels so good about himself. He feels so different. He can see the differences that he made in his life. ROCK BOTTOM I got here because I left Cleveland and came to Cincinnati, to start over. I tried to find a place to stay, first with the Volunteers of America, where I stayed for a month. But, then I found myself living on the streets. It was hard. Lots of empty buildings, lots of drugs and lots of alcohol, everywhere. I heard people talking about the Drop Inn Center and came. The people were nice. I have stayed here for the last three months, every night. I think, however, I am leaving next month. I am moving to a place that rents rooms to disabled people. I feel good about having my own place in the next week. The homeless are people too and they shouldn't be looked down upon just because they are having a hard time. Some people are responsible for being homeless and some are homeless because of their circumstances-­ domestic disputes, loss of jobs, poor self esteem. I am an independent person and these last months have been scary but the situation is improving and all I can do is take it one day at a time. by Anonymous One of the things that has caused my homelessness is my drug addiction and myself. The people that I have chosen to be around are no good for me but as long as my money held out I was cool and life seemed to be a party. I have to, however, put the blame where the blame belongs and that is with me, not being able to hold on to a penny no matter what job came along. My house was my drug and it was all I cared about. I didn't care about myself, I lost my self-respect, my dignity. I was home· less. I was homeless not because I didn't have a home or a bed to sleep in, it was because I didn't care about the things that were good. But you know what, there is always hope at the end of the tunnel. I had to hit rock bottom before I could put this hope to use. I don't know where this hope is going to take me but today I have it and one day I am going to make it out Subscribe·to Streetvibes-:: 11 Subscriptions to Streetvibes can be purchased for $12 per year. Please send a check to the below address and the paper will be mailed to you each issue. Streetvibes 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45210 Please make checks payable to the Great er Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless- Streetvibes. If you have any questions, call 421-7803. From the band shell there are speeches, more song. Around the band shell, handshakes and embraces. My small son and I sit close and listen. I ask him, are you cold? he denies it. But he shivers, so I lend him my coat. His arms are lost within the sleeves; the hem devours his knees. He is a little, shivering thimble, a haystack nipped at the ears. But he does not complain. He has march each cold and stony step. Now, he follows each word of the speeches. He sing each song, chants each chant. We are watched, in our small hundreds under the bright, over-shouldering cloak of the sky, by the cy<?loptic eye of television, by the shivering homeless at the edges of the park, by the cold, curious crows in their balcony seats among the trees, by the investors in carrion, sniffing the air (or a hint of decay, and by the dead, standing at attention in their dark ranks. And so, we are not alone. 1:1 1 1:: •t: I • 11·1111; lI I ' l I I I i·i,·i:. l " '" .11·: ,I ; i'' I I ' More poetry on page 6 ... I IH �STREETVIBES 1 The Tri-State s Homeless Grapevin'e DICI WORD ON THE TOGETHER STREET WE CAN Arts & Poetry SPIRIT OF OVER THE RHINE by Sonny Williams, 1998 Black, Latino, White 12th Street, Drop Inn Center is the peoples right Eric Kunzels' plan tried to shut it down, but the Homeless rebelled in Cincy-town. Letters of support from N. Y. C., Cleveland. Spirit of Soweto is the national call, It's right to Rebel Down With Displacement, Kunzel -Sour note of the Poor! Maria Martinez by Francisco Perez Estrada translation by Patrick Harmon She was a sister of the trees, Child, she slept by the sun in the field she cried out when birds took flight. One day the sap rose and a woman emerged. Hers steps smelled of madrono trees her blossoms filled the boundaries. Of her sex it was heard on all the roads when the Indians spoke: esta buena, esta buena. The dry branches revealed green shoots, the day that spring arrived. . J ' J ' white-faced monkeys threw branches as I brought water from the spring. by Denise Crew Our friendship is a silly one You know we are subject to fall out about anything at any time for no reason Together we can reach out and help the needy all people, man, woman and child. That we can eliminate the line of poverty and the feeling of helplessness, hopelessness, pennylessness and the condition of homelessness. Together we can stand for those who can't, we can speak for those can't say and read for those who do not know how. You say things because you can I do things because I can we lock horns because we can Our friendship is a silly one you know we are subject to fall out about anything at anytime for no reason You don't like my work I don't like your work today we fuss about who worked the hardest of course I did We are here to eliminate the pain of suffering. We are here to do the will which is not ours, but of God's we will continue to do goodwill while going uphill. We will stay focus day or night we will continue to struggle and fight. We have a plan to stand though training, treatment, and education. Our friendship is so silly You know we are subject to fall out about anything at any time for no reason Why do you page me and put H E L L 0 in when I told you I had a meeting it was cute only the first three times sometimes I think you need help We will do this together. We will do this by reaching and holding on to the flower which has not bloomed, to the Condition which has not changed. To the right which has not been given. Our friendship is silly you know we are subject to fall out about anything at any time for no good reason you want the top down I want the top up I want to get out you refuse to stop Service to others is an Action of Need Anyway is not to say but to survive one more day Volunteers, contributions, donation is the way at the Drop Inn Center Our friendship is silly but I'm glad we can fall out about anything at anytime for no good reason Gregory Song of Shelter Caesar and the Meat by ~rnesto Mejia Sanchttz (Nicaragua) , 1 translation by Patrick Harmon Her foliage did not last long ripened in nine moons of earth and wood. Her womb was large. Her children grew strong in Coajtepe, La Fuente, El Guapinol. · Now, ancient, she is only a question of stone, of silence, of shadow. Page 6 Caesar created another tax for the prosperity of his people. The butchers raise the meat to pay: the ranchers raise the cattle to pay: only the people have to kneel down to pay, because all the cattle and the meat, the ranchers and the butch­ ers are of Caesar, not the people. by Mike Henson Evening, on a day of bitter cold The wind stirs great flocks of crows above the hillside. Flecks of ash whirling in a basin. They swim in air like fish in a pond. Curb-bound, I feel the bite of the wind. I flinch. I shiver in my shoes. I fear for any unhoused creature in the teeth of such a wind. The uncountable crows breast the wind with grace and command. They soar upon it masterfully. They settle, one by one, into the black branches of the trees. Black leaves. Ornaments of ash. They call and call · and call. �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine STREETVIBES Nationwide Senator Gramm Attempting to Dismantle Support for CRA Senators who support the Community Reinvestment Act are the current target of Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX) in his battle to deflate and discard the Community Reinvest­ ment Act. During the week of March 8, Senator Gramm met with bank and insurance industry representatives to encourage them to put pressure on Senators to pass his version of the financial modernization bill. According to The Washington Post, one of Senator Gramm's main targets is Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY). Senator Schumer just won his seat after a long, expensive campaign in New York where Wall Street interests gave him much financial sup­ port. The Senate version of the bill, which passed the Senate Banking Committee on March 4, deals several blows to the Community Reinvestment Act. If Senators who support CRA buckle to banking and insurance industry pressure, passing the bill in the Senate will be that much easier for Senator Gramm. President Clinton has repeatedly said he would veto any bill which weakens the Community Reinvest­ ment Act. We are hearing that Senators who usually support the community Reinvestment Act need to hear much more from their constituents on this important legislation in order to shore up their resolve to protect the CRA. Specifically, calls and letters need to be made immediately on the following points: *in the Senate bill, banks that are not in compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act could affiliate with other entities and engage in new powers. *the Senate bill gives a sate harbor for institutions with a "satisfactory" or better CRA rating on its most recent CAA reviews. These institutions would be automatically deemed in compliance with CRA unless "substantial verifiable information" arises. Public comment on CAA performance would be effectively eliminated; 97% of institutions 11~amined in . . . · 1997-98 received "satisfactoryJ or"t~ehJr\~ttngs~ ~ *the Senate bill has a small bani< ~ke<m~-' : tion. Banks with less than $100 million in assets would be exempted from CRA - 63% of all banks! This provision would have a devastating effect on rural communities because small banks are often the only source of credit in rural areas. You can call both of your Senators through the Capitol Switchboard at 202/224-3121. For more information, call Linda Couch, 2021662-1530 ext. 242 or email linda@nlihc.org. Point of View by Sheila Crowley, President, NLIHC . I had the pleasure this week of participat­ ing in the training of the second class of HUD Community Builder Fellows. Some 300 people from across the country are in Washington preparing to become HUDs outreach arm into communities. They represent diverse disci­ plines and are all experienced problem solvers. They bring many years of accumulated practice wisdom to strengthening the role HUD plays in improving the lives of people in poor communi­ ties. There is some criticism of HUDs plan to add new staff recruited from the outside to take on new roles at a time when the department is downsizing and the existing staff has to take on more tasks. I, for one, applaud the move. Probably more than any other federal agency, HUD has direct contact with people working on serious social problems in urban neighborhoods. Deploying HUD staff to be purposely engaged in achieving the HUD goals at the local level is a bold and positive step. I hope that the citizens in poor communities, local housing advocates, and the Community Builder Fellows form close partnerships. My interest in the translation of federal intent into local program implementation led me to engage in research in 1995 about the inter­ pretation of federal housing policy in three entitlement jurisdictions. Using qualitative research methods, I examined the manner in which these jurisdictions responded to the concept of the Consolidated Plan. In interviews with local officials, nol')profit providers, people who receive federal housing assistance, neigh­ borhood activists, and civic leaders, a fascinat­ ing and paradoxical portrait of HUD, and by inference the Federal government, emerged. On one hand, HUD looms as an onerous force to make localities conform or risk the loss of funds. On the other hand, the Federal government is the protector of minority groups and vulnerable people, and HUD, as the hous­ ing arm of the Federal government, is supposed to assure equality and social justice in the housing system. A third view is that, in many ways, HUD is irrelevant at the local level and in the context I was studying, this view was the most accurate one. There was scant local sense of being part of a national strategy to solve serious urban problems, nor was there a local commitment to national housing goals. I would like _t~e 90f!ln;1Unity Builder Fellows to alter that dynahiiblaM:frepre§eM the ~ederal·., government as a powerful force in lmpro"img·ttle \ social and economic well-being of poor people. Secretary Cuomo speaks eloquently about the quest for social, racial, and economic justice. The Community Builders Fellows should be the ambassadors who bring tangible results of that message. There are three very concrete ways that the Fellows can quickly become engaged in addressing serious housing issues in local communities. First, identify good assisted properties in danger of prepayment or opt-outs and work with residents and other local partners to preserve their long term use as affordable p age 7 housing for very low income people. Bill Faith in Ohio reports that one of their Community Builder Fellows has done just that. Two, create effective linkages between the two local plans that are required for receipt of federal housing funds, the ConPlan and the new Public Housing Plan. This is essential to assuring a holistic understanding of the housing needs of the poor and to maximizing the use of federal housing resources on their behalf. This seems like a natural role for Community Builder Fellows to undertake. Finally, I want the Community Builders to use all. the ~ed era~ tools they have, including the analysis to 1mped1ments to fair housing, to assist voucher holders in achieving true housing choice. As the eyes and ears of HUD at the local level, Community Builder Fellows should be identifying, articulating, and calling for actions to assure that all voucher holders are successful in the housing market. I encourage our partners at the state and local level to be actively engaged with your Community Builder Fellows and to share your experiences with them with us at NLIHC. Capitol Hill Budget Resolutions: Spending Caps )l / ..,.~~9J / ~1rmi.inm}11 '·mTrtTY"'fi'T'1 ······ U.U.1.1.1.LU..U.llJ On March 17 and 18, the House and Senate Budget Committees, respectively, passed Y2000 budget resolutions. Both Com­ mittees' budget resolutions keep domestic discretionary spending caps put in place by the 1997 budget agreement. It is not too late to call Senators and Representatives and ask them to oppose keeping the caps on domestic discre­ tionary spending. Partisan and highly charged debate continues as both chambers prepare to bring their budget resolutions to their floors the week of March 22. The Budget Committees budget resolutions include a $15 billion tax cuts for FY2000 and $778 billion in tax cuts over the next 1O years. The pressure on domestic discretionary funds is further tightened by sought-after large increases for military and education spending. Democrats have stated that, with the caps in place along with tax cuts and increases for the military and education, domestic programs could see and across-the-board cut of 12%. Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) is quoted by the Associated Press, saying "If it (the budget resolution) were an over-the-counter drug, it would have to say, 'Warning: Could be h~rmful to elderly, children and working fami­ lies.'" The White House has also spoken out against the resolutions. However, the budget resolution is not something the President signs or vetoes. It is, however, the omnipotent guide­ path for the work of the appropriations commit: tees. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has just issued a series of papers analyzing the Republican budget proposal. In brief, these analyses show that the proposal would require severe cuts in nondefense discretionary pro­ grams. As the Center states, the problem 'goes , ' beyond t~~ y~rr,,1arge:cui~ ~de~titiek:f iff t~e\ EI, i 1; · budget propos'al i\se~.'' By :cdnsuming· mo~r of i ~ '· the projected non-Social Security budget surplus through tax cuts and utilizing a "lockbox" measure that requires a supermajority to incur a deficit in the non-Social Security part of the budget, the Republican budget proposal likely would require further cuts in discretionary spending after 2009, and sooner if the economy 'NATION' cont. on page 14... �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine STREETVIBES Prisoner's News INJURIOUS PRISON CONDITIONS Dear Shirley Pope: I have filed a number of grievances with appeals to Columbus, spanning prior to the year 1997 and now in 1999 as well. My grievances dealing with the injurious prison conditions pertaining to denial of proper and adequate medical treatment by hospital staff. Hospital staff put the blame on Mr. Wilkinson and the funding cuts. But it is not just medical, but over all treatment towards myself, a death row inmate and others on death row. 1. have addressed this issue a number of times on different levels and the Department of Rehabilitation & Correction for which you work along side of Mr. Wilkinson. When asking for the intervention of the Chief Inspector or agen­ cies with the state of Ohio, the most famous quote is: "Your letter concerning conditions of your confinement has been forwarded to the inspec­ tor of institutional services at your institution. I am confident that your concerns will be ad­ dressed." I follow the grievance procedure and when I appeal it to Central Office, instead of them launching their/your investigation, they defeat the purpose of an appeal and send it right back to the prison institution it came from. Thus, creating more "Red Tape" and long delays in obtaining resolution. On 11/20/97 disposition of grievance for which I appealed to this office and the Chief Inspector concerning harsh physical and psy­ chological conditions on death row prisoners, No. 11-97-25, which never got a response. In this particular example, like many others. You ask the prisoner to follow the procedures under 5120-9-31, but what about prison staff's failure to follow them. I always wait in excess of the five working days before filing a Notice Of Grievance with the inspector. Most importantly, the four pages of infor­ mal complaint, I give up my record of ever filing the grievance when I submit the "PINK" copy to the llS. Numerous times I have filed kites to these persons and they don't reply. I file the Notice Of Grievance and after three weeks, a month or longer the person back-dates the grievance as if they responded within the time period and for some reason it got lost until that time. . July 13, 1998, Grievance against the Institutional Inspector Services designated by No. Cl-99-17, by Inmate Post #A183-812, the office of the Chief Inspector asked for additional time to give a fair and proper resolution, a resolution that I have no record of. Dated 8-21­ 98, Grievance No. 05-98-67, the Chief Inspector's Office affirmed the actions and investigations of the llS here at Man. C.I ..... My complaint dealing with again, the conditions of confinement for death row inmates, not provid­ ing medical care, dental care, charging for services that were not performed. Medications and treatments issued by Dr. L. Juan whom also treated me at S.O.C.F. while I was there. On August the 11th or 13th, during a shakedown, guards confiscated typing ribbons, typing paper, r made me send all my legal work out, confis­ cated medical journals, confiscated my tennis shoes that were bought by the Medical Depart­ ment, but the shakedown team stated that the prison did not issue the tennis shoes. Special boots were issued to me back in "1997" through C.M.C., these boots were taken in August and a new pair was to be issued, NOT AS OF THIS DATE. On the same date above, my typewriter was destroyed by prison staff, I have been punished repeatedly, from taking my desk and cabinet away to curb my typing, for which at this time I must sit on the cold floor. I addressed the issue that due to my large size at 453 lb .. and after a number of hunger strikes lost (100) lb.. , but still could not sit at the desk bolted to the wall. Medical staff issued me a chair to sit in (Brian Cain), but that was taken away by the new Hospital Administrator and Death Row Staff, and only certain inmates are allowed chairs. Because of the injuries I have sustained through the Department of Corrections and its agents, I have addressed my concerns to Mr. Reginald Wilkinson and to the Governor, of course they don't respond. I have tried going through the Federal Courts, but of course with taxpayers money and the unlimited access the State of Ohio and the Attorney General's Office have, I am no match for you people. Even through the Governor and agents deny me access to the law library and law books which I have also addressed with no beneficial resolu­ tion to me, with the exception of the continued harassment, continued retaliation, continued destroying of my personal property and legal work, and for the last (10) months the depart­ ment of corrections and their agents have kept me isolated in solitary confinement with no interactions with any pri~oners, only prison staff. I have been without proper clothing, no boots, no tennis shoes as supported by my medical file in over five (5) months. I have been forced to walk around in socks or put plastics bags on my feet to walk some place for medical care and outside in the freezing tem­ peratures. Dr. Juan issued medication for me that he said I would probably have to take the rest of my life. He also gave me warning signs of things to look out for as I am (PARTIALLY DISABLED) due to injuries I have sustained spanning over the past five years. The Depart­ ment of Correction and agencies cover up the injurious negligence of its doctors. I have been on "Sick Call" over two months, I have had a serious cold due to other inhumane conditions imposed on myself and others just because we are stereotyped death row or would 'scum' be more suitable? On December 9th or 10th, I turned in my medication bags for the pills I take to curb the swelling in my left leg and foot. The second shift guard said he gave the bags to the nurse, the nurse said she never got them, but would check my medical file to see if the pills or refill was issued. I have got the runaround all month telling me to see the doctor, telling me I must see the Podiatrist first. Three weeks go by and emergency intervention of a guard, I get over to the hospital. I see !he foot doctor, he sjts in the I chair and asked ''What can I do for you?" I explained about how the increased swelling in my left leg is causing veins to protrude the surface of the skin. The veins continue to rupture and expel blood. The foot doctor would not even examine me, he would not even look at my feet and legs. I asked about a pair of orthopedic boots in size 12 EEEE, or EEEEE, he said there was no money to give death row inmates special boots or shoes. He would not even examine my right foot, swotren and black and blue as it is. As I stated, it has been close to a month since I have had the proper medication. On December 30th, I awoke to a wet feeling and to Page 8 find that my bedding was soaked with blood and clear fluid. I reported it to the nurse at the morning pill call, and I reported it to the guards and stated that I needed to be seen by a doctor. I have been told that there is no doctor to see me, that only in emergencies can a doctor be called in. Profuse bleeding, clear fluid oozing out of my open wounds, stained sheets of blood and fluid; I guess that is not an emergency. Dr. Juan told me to watch out for something like this, that I could bleed to death, form- gangrene or loose my leg. I have to keep reminding myself, this is Mansfield, I am on death row and I am supposed to be treated Q..umanely. The Governor doesn't care, Mr. Wilkinson doesn't care, medical staff doesn't care, who do I turn to now, I guess nobody cares. An interview and intervention would be a welcome sight, if you can spare the time. Respectfully, Ronald R. Post A-183-812 WILFORD BERRY KILLED CRIME-211911999, 9:31PM ACCUSED - THE STATE OF OHIO By: Eunice Timoney Ravenna, lntercommunity Justice and Peace Center On Friday, February 19, mourners gath­ ered at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Evanston to mourn the ex~cution of Wilford Berry. In the words of Sutiith Wickrema, director of Justice Watch, many participated in the vigil, "to show that we are not a part of the collective decision to kill B~rry as punishment." Many people w: 10 are anti-death penalty believe the penalty does not serve: as a deterrent to violent crime. Still others were concerned that this execution is rather a sfate assisted suicide for a mentally ill man and should not be the case to resume the death penalty in Ohio. Some chose to be pr'esent at the execution and went to Lucasville that Friday ·evening. Carpools of Cincinnatians made their way from Peaslee Neighborhood Center to the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility - the location of Ohio's death house. The caravan hoped to be a public witness in opposition to execution and to offer prayers for the deatH of Wilford Berry. People from throughout th'e state began to gather in Lucasville at 4prn and held vigil until the 9pm expected ~xecution. Approximately 200 Ohioans were in attendance. Due to complications in the "death house" Berry was not pronounced dead until 9:31 pm. With strained lines of communication between the prison guards and both media and mourners, those present were unaware of the difficulty officials had finding Berry's veins which delayed the lethal injection for twehty minutes. The mood of the evening was reflective, somber, and defeated for those who stood in opposition to the ex~cution. Others who favored execution (approx. 40 present) were excited about the prospect of Ohio's resuming the use of the death penalty and hoped to find peace and closure to their own loss. Such a stance is > �STREElVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine perpetuated by our criminal justice system. Many families truly feel that the execution of the man convicted in a family members death will bring about an end to their pain. This is a violation of those families imposed by our penal system. After witnessing the execution that was to bring about miraculous healing, many family members remain hurt, empty and searching. The state needs to do something different for these families - but such potential seems distant. In the clemency denial from Governor Taft, he ends with these words, "I pray this decision will allow them (The Mitroff Family) to find peace of mind and closure in the face of their loss." And we wonder how anyone can support the death penalty? And we wonder why people cheered at 9pm? Hearing a few cheers at the announced death of Wilford Berry moved me fram a saddened silent state to one of disbelief. Am I really hearing cheers? Could this get more morbid? And, I mourn all the more - for the men on death row; for the families of prisoners; for the families of victims; for the barbaric penal system; for those who cheer at death; for those who see all of this and feel helpless; and lastly for the life and death of Wilford Berry. Wilford Berry suffered greatly during his childhood years and continued to suffer during his years in the state's custody as a prisoner. Many who mourn realize that all of Ohio are responsible for the tragic life and death of this man. For those interested in getting involved in the opposition of the death penalty, the next committee meeting will be held Wednesday March 24, 7pm at the Peaslee Neighborhood Center. For more information call 579-8547. Plan to do your part. PROPOSAL TO BLOCK GRANT HUD MCKINNEY FUNDS Representative Lazio (A-NY) is planning to once again introduce legislation which would block grant HUD McKinney Homeless Assis­ tance Funds. Representative Lazio intends to skirt the customary legislative authorization process under what is called suspension of the rules. This means the proposed legislation would bypass the Housing subcommittee process, and instead would simply be intro­ duced, a hearing would be held, and it would go straight to the House floor for a vote, allowing no amendments. They want to fast track this bill by introducing it the week of March 15th, and passing it before their March break. This makes the timeliness of your contact with your repre­ sentatives in the House urgent. Under the proposed legislation, McKinney funds would be distributed on a formula basis to states and localities, based not on the merit of what they would do with the money to prevent and end homelessness, but as an entitlement, based simply on the formula adopted, except for a possible housing set aside that would be distributed at the federal level through a competitive process. Currently, there is limited, but critical, federal oversight of how McKinney funds are used, through the Con­ tinuum of Care process implemented by HUD that both insures a collaborative, comprehen­ sive process, and local decision-making in the planning and implementation of homeless housing and service programs. Block granting McKinney funds will mean that many states will lose millions of dollars they now highly effec­ tively use to address homelessness in their communities, because they will only be allowed their formula share. After extensive conversation with homeless advocates, housing and service providers from across the country, NCH believes that block granting McKinney at this time would not be in the best interest of those who are homeless because: * a recent GAO study identified 34 federal programs that serve low-income per­ sons, and could include those that are home­ less. 20% of the funding for these programs comes through block grants that states and localities have the authority to target to those most vulnerable in their communities - home­ less men, women and children. If they don't do it now, why do we think they will do it later? Even if this new block grant has the so called 'protection' of being targeted to those who are homeless, shouldn't the current federal block grants, intended for the most vulnerable, have been used to spare both individuals and families from suffering homelessness, and we as a nation from being shamed by it? Because they have not been, the 'systems' funded by these current block grants too often serve to either stimulate or prolong homelessness. Taking an increasingly effective Continuum of Care approach and adding it to this list of block grants, that may not effectively serve those who are homeless, seems too risky. * Two issues should be addressed by Congress before they consider block granting McKinney funds: (1) the large number of McKinney permanent housing programs that need 'renewal funding has grown to be a signifi­ cant problem. The individuals and families who live in this housing can now be considered permanently housed, and therefore, should not continue to depend on funding from the McKinney program. Instead, mainstream housing programs for low-income persons should be funding this housing; (2) the support­ ive services needs of those who become homeless require effective response as much as their housing needs do. To address the one without addressing the other, makes the im­ pacted homeless persons vulnerable to homelessness again. The Housing subcommit­ tee continues to want to dedicate more McKinney funds to permanent housing, without any plan for where the supportive services funding will come from. * the current Continuum of Care pro­ cess, initiated at the federal level, stimulates integration, collaboration and effective out­ comes. It gives state and local entities (non­ profits, governments, businesses, homeless persons) working collaboratively, full decision­ making authority over how federal funds for the homeless will be spent. These local collabora­ tions successfully plan, implement and evaluate the homeless housing and service programs for their communities, which would be the primary motivation for block granting the funds. If it is already happening, and also insuring limited federal oversight, why change it? * the goal of the federal government should be to bring an end to homelessness in America, not find ways to further institutionalize it, by giving money to states and localities to 'manage' homelessness in their communities. * we fear that some local communities may use homeless block grant funds to further their anti-homeless regulatory and NIMBY intentions. * the principle thrust of the original HR217 legislation was to enhance the amount of HUD McKinney funds that were used to provide Page 9 permanent housing. That stipulation was already included as a requirement in the HUD appropriations bill, it has already been done. * if decisions about how to use McKinney funds are already made locally, if 30% of McKinney. funds already have to be used for permanent housing, then what is the point of this bill? If Congress really wants to end homelessness, they need to be authorizing policies and funding programs that can ad­ equately provide (a) permanent housing for those households with the lowest incomes (instead of removing access to such housing as they did in the public housing reform bill, without any plan for where these households will live), (b) supportive services that are needed, for temporary or long-term periods of time, by some members of our society who are challenged by chronic disabilities or limitations, (c) livable incomes (both fixed and earned) so that families and individuals can afford the basic necessities, including housing, and will therefore not have to be rendered homeless. Let's get on with what we really have to do as a nation, to prevent and end homelessness. Let's fix what is really broken. Too many lives, too many futures are at stake. Please call your members in the House and let them know that block granting McKinney funds is not in the best interest of those who are homeless, and they should not do it. r-'i l IF)1 ~-lJ LFTI I i ~~( I ~$11 !Lii '-·'·-··· ·····' i I! i:i :..•........ i i : u l L.r.~~'.~~~:lJ..--···--·- - ·- -- - - --- - · · · · · · ·l FUNDING ANNOUNCE­ MENT The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced the avail­ ability of approximately $2.4 billion in HUD program funds covering 32 grant categories. The housing component of this SuperNOFA encompasses many of HUD's housing pro­ grams, including targeted housing and homeless assistance. Targeted housing programs include Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOWPA) ($22.2 million), Section 202 Support­ ive Housing for the Elderly ($434.8 million) and Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities ($87.2 million). The SuperNOFA also includes funding announce­ ments for community development technical assistance for the Supportive Housing, HOPWA, and other programs. $750 million is available for Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance through the Support­ ive Housing, Shelter Plus Care and Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Single-Room Occu­ pancy programs. The application deadline for the Continuum of Care programs is June 2, 1999. The closing date for receipt of applica­ tions under other programs in the SuperNOFA varies. For additional information, see the Federal Register of February 26, 1999 (54 FR 9618), call the SuperNOFA Information Center at 1­ 800-HUD-8929 or visit HUD's lntemat Website at http://www.HUD.gov. • t �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Page 10 STREETVIBES Commentary on Wisconsin's Welfare News Welfare Plan, (W-2) (What Ohio should NOT Do) MYTHS by Lynn Williams VERSUS FACTS ("Women and Welfare : Popular Conceptions vs. Facts", from Back to Basics: Women 's Poverty and Welfare Reform by Dorothy K. Seavey, Wellesley College Center for Research on Women, published in Glass Ceilings and Bottomless Pits by Randy Albelda and Chris Tilly, South End Press) Myth: Cash welfare benefits constitute an adequate income for welfare recipients, giving them little incentive to work. Fact: In 1996, the maximum monthly TANF grant for a 3-person family in the median TANF state was $389, or 36% of the 1996 federal poverty level. Myth: Welfare benefits have been increas­ ing. Fac t: Over the period from 1970 to 1994, the median decline in real AFDC (now TANF) benefit levels was 47% . Myt h: Welfare benefits may be declining, but together with in-kind benefits they constitute a generous package. Fact: In 1996, the combined maximum TANF and Food Stamp grant for a family of 3 in the median TANF state was $699 per month, or $8,388 per year, an amount that was 35% below the federal poverty line of $13,267. Fact: Food Stamps and Medicaid aside, other forms of assistance are either consider­ ably smaller or received by only a minority of TANF recipients, or both. For instance, in 1995, less than one-fourth (23%) of all public assis­ tance families received any type of federal housing subsidy. Myth: Welfare recipients freeload on government programs while everyone else works hard to earn a living. Fact: Over half of U.S. families receive government transfer payments of different kinds. Myth: Welfare spending is out of control, and means-tested entitlement programs in general are burdening taxpayers and enlarging the federal deficit. Fact: AFDC (now TANF), as a share of federal spending, declined from 1.5% in 1975 to 1% in 1994. Myth: Families receiving welfare are very large. Fact: In 1995, about tfiree1.tt5ur;tkls>{'i!3%)' ~f / ~ all ,fMJil ~Eii M f\F.~.<t .~~9 1qn~ 1 or 2 children, 11 1 1 1 111 and almost 90% had 3 or fewer (;'t{irdr'e'rf. •' Myth: Most welfare recipients are able­ bodied adults who have fallen into dependency and do not want to work. Fact: Many adult welfare recipients are active in the labor market and are often part of the working poor. Research indicates that during the mid-1980's, 40% of adult recipients worked at paid jobs, either simultaneously combining work and welfare or cycling between the two. Nearly three-quarters (71 %) of recipi­ ·ents had recent work histories. Fact: Welfare is primarily a children's program: in 1995, 69% of AFDC recipients were children, and 82% of those children were under the age of 12. Fully 100% of adult Wisconsin's welfare system (W-2) has been touted by public officials across the nation as the best state welfare plan in America. This is according to what one bases their judgment on. If based on caseload reduction, it ranks extremely high. Ranked according to number of forcible, physical evictions of families with children from their homes, it also ranks very high. Since W-2 began, evictions and homelessness have skyrocketed. Before W-2 began, Milwaukee County had an average of 700 physical evictions. After welfare "reform" began, 2,389 households were physically evicted by the county Sheriff's Department in 1998 alone. These were households that had their belongings literally set out on the sidewalk. According to a report from the Workers World, "In the past, people receiving eviction notices simply moved to another apartment. Now an increasing number have no resources at all and just stay put until they, their children and their possessions are forced out onto the street." At the same time, in 1998, Wisconsin changed its law to allow children to be removed from their family's home simply because the family is poor. Before this policy took affect last summer, the law required neglect to be established. Now if the family is poor, the state welfare recipients care for children, nearly always without a spouse's assistance. Myt h: Welfare encourages women to have children outside of wedlock. Fact: The growth in never-married women who are mothers has been greater among women who are not welfare recipients. The proportion of these mothers in the general population tripled between 1976 and 1992, increasing from 12% to 36%. Myth: There is an epidemic of teen childbearing in the United States. Fact: Teen births have been declining over the last thirty years. Few welfare recipi­ ents are teen mothers : in 1995, only 6% of. adult female AFDC recipients were age 19 or younger. Myth: Most people on welfare get trapped in the system and stay on for years as welfare becomes a way of life. Fact: Monthly data indicate that, of all people entering the AFDC program, 56% left within one year and 70% left within 2 years. Fact: About half of those who exited left for employment. The majority of these, however, ended up returning (most within 2 years), ott1n .b,.~c~~sr of a lack of stable employment and ina9~~uat~:.or !Jrtd~o~qab~e •. child car~,qr j'\ealt~ jn~ur~6ce~ 1 ) , ' 1 ) • £ • r _~ r 1= 1 >! Myth: Paid employment is the solution to welfare dependency. Jobs are available and chances are good that families on AFDC can move out of poverty if they would just work more. Fact: An increasing number of jobs pay low earnings. Over the period from 1973 to 1995, the share of workers with annual earnings lower than the poverty level for a 4­ person family increased from 24% to 30%. Furthermore, women are much more likely than men to earn poverty-level wages. Fact: In recent years, the minimum wage has dropped to a near 40-year low when adjusted for inflation. At the current minimum can legally take children away from their fami­ lies! Anyone receiving welfare, anyone working small below-livable wage jobs, and especially anyone who is terminated or sanctioned on welfare is in immediate danger of having the state take their children. With this happening, will workhouses and orphanages be far behind? Instead of providing a safety net to support mothers with children to be able to raise their children adequately, the government is blaming the victim and punishing mothers & children. In Wisconsin , W-2 denies cash assistance to any welfare applicant that a caseworker judges is job ready. The cash assistance is denied even though the parent does not have a job at the time or any means to support her children. Furthermore, Milwaukee has privatized its welfare system. Companies who have contracts with the welfare department make financial profits by decreasing the caseload size. This is a monetary incentive to get people off the rolls regardless of how much hardship these families will face. It is policy like this that is leading to the high eviction rates and children being taken from their parents as families lose any means of support. (Information Resources: " Workers World") wage of $5.15 per hour, by 2000 the minimum wage will be 26.7% below its 1979 level. Fact: Other characteristics of many low­ wage jobs that create obstacles tq relying on paid employment for economic self-sufficiency include the short duration and high turnover of many of these jobs; deteriorating job mobility prospects within and across firms; the increas­ ing incidence of part·time and temporary work; inadequate or nonexistent nonwage compensa­ tion (e.g. health insurance), and ineligibility for unemployment insurance coverage. Subscribe to Streetvibes Subscriptions to Streetvibes can be purchased for $12 per year. Please send a check to the below address and the paper will be mailed to you each month. Streetvibes 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 4521 O Please make checks pay­ able to the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless-­ Streetvibes. If you have any questions, call 421-7803. �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine STREETVIBES Etcetera... SHAKE ITOFF AND STEP UP from Cliff Jones A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule "braying" - or ­ whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well were worth the trouble of saving. Instead he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened ... and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery. Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shovel­ ling and the dirt hit his back ...a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that everytime a shovel load of dirt landed on his back...HE SHOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP! This he did, blow after blow. "Shake it off and step up... shake it off and step up ... shake it off and step up!" he repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought "panic" and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP! It was not long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, STEPPED TRIUM­ PHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL What seemed like would bury him, actually blessed him...all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity. THAT'S LIFE! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness or self-pity... THE ADVERSITIES THAT COME ALONG TO BURY US USUALLY HAVE WITHIN THEM THE POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT AND BLESS US! Remember: FORGIVENESS, FAITH, PRAYER, PRAISE, and HOPE .... all are excel­ lent ways to "SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP" out of the wells in which we find ourselves! WALKING THE STREETS by Matthew Hagerty Out on the streets of Clifton and Over-the­ Rhine, there is a voice that cries out across the sidewalks and alleyways "Chocolate, cranber­ ries, Berta, bird, bat, read your 'Streetvibes.' That's where it's at." It is the call of Berta Lambert as he waves a newspaper over his head in front of the Esquire Theater. Lambert is 56 years-old and lives in a homeless shelter on Elm Street. He buys the 'Streetvibes' newspaper for 20 cents and then paces through the street in an attempt to sell them for a dollar. "I make enough money for pocket change," said Lambert. "If I can make five dollars I'm happy. That's all it takes for me to live on. I Berta Lambert hawks his papers near the Esquire Theater on Clifton Avenue spend 60 cents on the bus ride up and back and then the rest on living supplies and newspa­ pers." Lambert enjoys reading the news and keeping informed. He said that he buys the New York Ticnes every day, but has trouble finding the time to finish reading it. "To me, it's like getting a big piece of chocolate candy and not being able to eat it all," said Lambert. Some of Lamberts time is occupied by keeping the streets clean. As he walks down the street, he crushes cans that sit in the street gutters and along the walkways. "I can't stand to leave them there," said Lambert as he picks them up one by one and carries them. He then walks back to a gate that latches between the drug rehabilitation center and unlocks it with a key. Inside the gate are hundreds of bags filled with cans that sit organized neatly against the alley walls. "I'm an elected member of the Over-the ­ Rhine Board of Trustees," he said. "I'm the chairperson for the local cleanup campaign." Lambert also participates in many protest walks. He walked in "The Great Peace March for Nuclear Disarmament' in 1996. It was a walk that carried him from Los Angeles to New York and then to Washington D.C. He also partici­ pated in "The Walk for a Peaceful Future in the Middle East," and later even helped organize "The Poor Peoples Walk" that went from Cincin­ nati to Columbus, Ohio. "After you do a walk like that it builds self­ confidence," said Lambert. "You meet new people and exert yourself. We walked in extreme heat and a lot of cold." Lambert said that one of the greatest moments of his life was when he carried the Olympic Torch in the summer of 1996. "I was selected to be one of the people to carry the Olympic Torch," he said. "I wrote a paper about myself and sent it off. I was the only person from Over-the­ Rhine to do this. They gave us the option to buy the torches we carried, but I didn't have the money to but my torch from them. But that experience is going to be one of those things that's going on my obituary." Lambert says the worst days of his life are to come. "I'm getting older and don't have a family," he said. "If you look at my Page 11 life in terms of economics, I'm poor. Poverty limits you a lot. It doesn't let me do all that I want to. It makes it hard for us to keep up our health, and you don't have money to buy CD players or VCR's. We get left out." One of the things that stands out about Lambert is the pink hat that he wears. It reads "Be Kind." He said that the letters stand for ,6oost Everyone's Knowledge, Integrity, and .Qignity. Theses qualities mean a lot to Lambert who takes pride in his commu­ nity. As he walks down the streets of his neighborhood, he tells the stories behind all the buildings that sit abandoned and unkempt. "See that building," he said. "It's going- to be named after my friend Buddy Gray who was shot a while back. It's going to be a shelter for the homeless. You see that ball park over there. It used to be just a parking lot, but look at it now." Many of the buildings in Lamberts community are abandoned. Boards barricade the windows, paint chips are flaking off the brick, and trash clutters the street below. Lambert sees these places as potential homes and shelters for the poor and homeless who sleep in the muck of alleyways. Lambert is one of the lucky one's who found his way into the protection of the shelters. He writes articles for Streetvibes and sometimes takes pictures of the streets he used to call home. He takes pride in his neighborhood, and he wishes other people would too. "I think people should be peaceful planet people," he said just before he grabbed a stack of papers and walked into the street in front of the Esquire movie theater - where he would stand through the night crying out "Chocolate, cranberries, Berta, bird, bat, read your Streetvibes, that's where it's at.• .. Scramble by Ron Carter Try to unscramble these related words: ETERTSBEVSI SI NO HET SREI EESPLS LPHE SU KAET Tl EHGHRI Answers on page 15. tc.., ~'s~ ANOTHER CLASS PRODUCTION Oise.Jockey Service CLIFFORD JONES (513) 761 · 34&4 (513) 230-6353 �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Page 12 STREETVIBES Mr. Whitehead, Dear Mr. Editorials & Kunzel, Letters I heard about your organization through Dan Cahill. He told me to write and ask to be put on your mailing list. I was born and raised in Reading, Ohio and the downtown city area. My mom died in July, 1998 and because of a few outstanding bills I had to sell the house. If I live long enough to get out of jail I'm going to need to get a roof over my head. Without it, I'll have to find a place under a bridge somewhere. I'm 61 years old and expect to be in my late ?O's when, and if, I get out. Well, see what you can do and I'll be looking forward to hearing from you. DEAR EDITOR I hope all the vengeful proponents of the death penalty feel better now that Wilford Berry has served as a sacrificial lamb for the lynch mob. In previous times, Mr. Berry would have been the witch burned at the stake in the town square to atone for all the evil in town that month. His murder by the state will not deter future killings, heal the broken hearts of those who grieve or rage at their powerlessness over life, nor will it keep us safe from crime. But like any placebo, it might make some feel better until another lamb is needed to calm the mob. His execution will save us some money, but we could have saved a lot more had we provided proper medical treatment for him thirty years ago. Those who have led the charge for this state murder; Betty Montgomery, State Senator Richard Finan, The Cincinnati Enquirer, etc., will have the blood (and souls) of innocent men on their hands because the system sucks, and mistakes (as well as railroad jobs) happen. Just think of your brother stepping into that death chamber as an innocent man! I still have a couple of questions that nobody has yet answered for me: 1. Why is Mr. Berry's accomplice not on death row too? 2. W hy is i~ that of the 20,000 homicides each year, only 250 get a death sentence? (And half of those are later overturned} 3. How come the homicides continue (and actually increase} in Texas and Virginia where they get to enjoy one execution after another? Execution is not the solution. There are no such easy answers for complex life situations, but we sure keep trying to find one as long as it is at someone else's expense. God forgive us fools. Wayne Hoevenaar, #168-223, Lebanon, Ohio Sincerely, Mary Louise Neumeier Elmer F. Neumeier Jimmy, Hi. I subscribe to Streetvibes. Very interesting paper. Especially the news from prisoners. I have a broth.er..on deatn row: Enclosed is an article on my brother. Want to know if you can put it in the next issue of Streetvibes? Thank you. Sincerely, Jackie Bowers Mr. Donald Whitehead, Mike Shryock Subject: Re: Drop Inn Center''••d'':_ --" . . I •!•112i111t11·1••111:1nt • l' . ' d .. Wyoming Coalition for the Homeless P. 0. Box 1232 Cheyenne, WY 82003-1232 (307) 634-8499 PHONE email: wch@vcn.com Subscribe to STREETV/BES! For only $12 per year you can have STREETVIBES delivered to your home every month. National and Local Stories on Issues regarding . homelessness and the Yo-el here ...Thanks for publishing my article in Streetvibes. I was brought aware of this by my comrade, Dan Cahill in Orient [Correctional Facility] . I was there over a month ago, but was transfered to Chilicothe, and my new location is on the outside. If at all possible could/would you forward me a copy of the-issue with the article I speak of. Plus, I seek ideas concerning subject matters that you feel peopte need/should know about. I have no problem whatsoever in'helping Where I'm needed. Your : ~~elP, r~Uified. fl'l'Jl from <?incinna,ti. myself, t born and !a~~ed, s~ a reply 1s requ,f:\~ted, at ~he , , earliest date possible. I'm out ort thlal rttte. I , ' I 1I Saying that I will remain strong, as I have no choice in the matter. !S I: Letters sent to all the papers [in Cincinnati protesting the closing and/or relocation of the Drop Inn Center.] If nothing else it makes them aware that what they do there is noticed in places other than Cincinnati, so maybe they'd think more?????? Virginia Sellner We are writing this letter to appeal to you and your Art and Business supporters to recon­ sider your efforts in trying to relocate the Drop Inn Center. We cannot imagine this center being any other place other than where it is. It has been a haven of rest, peace and home to so many desolate people over the years. We have visited the Center on many occasions and saw for ourselves all the wonderful things being done for the homeless, all the compassion and dedication of the volunteers and those who work there. If you and your supporters are familiar with Lenten Devotions and the Stations of the Cross, you will recall the 1Oth station, "Jesus is Stripped of His Garments" and you will immedi­ ately know that it is wrong to· 'strip' anyone of their dignity, and it is only right and just to reach out to those who cry for help, and not disrupt their lives needlessly. We appeal to you to please reconsider your plan to have the Drop Inn Center relocated. We sincerely pray that this campaign will come to a peaceful and just end, and not one that will disrupt the lives of so many homeless citizens, who are, indeed, all God's faithful tenants. . I Yo-el. Editors reply: Thank you Yo-el, for your interest and contribution to Streetvibes. We have found that prisoners are prolific writers but because of limited space we can't always print everything that we recieve from incarcerated persons. However, we are always interested in stories of hope and freedom. Also, keeping the number of words to a minimum will allow room for more writers. Peace. llqqr-,:. News, Information, Personal Stories and more, written every month by homeless and formerly homeless persons ... Send Check or Money Order for $12 to: Streetvibes C/O Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 4521 O �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine 'YOUTH' cont. from front page Even though tobacco use is less among African American youth compared to other ethnic groups, African American teens are more likely to start smoking after they leave high school. It should be noted that some kids are able to illegally purchase their own cigarettes. However most kids get their nicotine supply from their parents or other adults. The increased health problems to African American youth are also brought about by a parent's use of tobacco. The Surgeon General's Report highlighted the increased health danger of exposure to kids of second­ hand smoke at home, in cars and in public places like restaurants. Exposure of second­ hand smoke has resulted in a higher number of African American children who have asthma attacks compared to other ethnic groups. They are seen in the emergency room for asthma more than any other group and the asthma also seems to be more severe. Smoking while pregnant among African Americans can lead to serious health problems for their unborn children. Pregnant women who smoke are more likely to deliver babies with weights too low. If all women quit smoking during pregnancy, about 4,000 babies would not die each year. To ensure that it has customers for years to come, the tobacco industry is now focusing much of its advertisement efforts towards African Americans. The Surgeon General's 1998 Report mentions how studies have found a higher density of tobacco bill­ boards in racial/ethnic communities. Three major African American publications - Ebony, Jet, and Essence- had 12% more cigarette advertisements than widespread publications such as Newsweek, Time, and People. Accord­ ing to the report, the tobacco industry has attempted to maintain a positive image and public support among African Americans by supporting cultural events and by funding minority higher education institutions, elected officials, civic and community organizations, and scholarship programs. During Minority Health Month, a variety of activities such as fairs, and workshops are being offered to address health concerns among Ohio minority members. A calendar of events describing these activities is available through the Commission on Minority Health by calling (614) 466-4000. For a copy of the U.S. Surgeon General's Report, go to http://www.cdc.gov/ tobacco/sgr-min-fs-afr.htm IS FIFTH/ THIRD BANK RUNNING OUT OF MONEY? Carolyn Meszaros On Saturday, February 13, I got a long awaited refund check (not paycheck or the like, refund check). I could have gotten it shortly after January 1 if the sender had been the least bit efficient. It was drawn on Fifth/Third Bank. Since it was around 2:00 p. m. when I got the check, it wasn't possible to cash it at my favorite check-cashing place as that was closed, and, of course, the banks, too, were closed. I needed the money but not desperately enough to go out to kingdom come (there are places open Saturday afternoon and Sunday), so I decided to wait until Tuesday (Monday was Presidents' Day, so everything was closed Monday, too), and just take it to Fifth!Third (it had my name spelled very badly, anyway). Fairly early Tuesday, February 16, I went to the Fifth!Third main office since that hap­ pened to be convenient. I handed the check to the teller and she informed me there would be a $5 charge for cashing the check if I didn't have an account there or I could open an account (and of course incur any subsequent bank charges). Supposedly the policy was in effect as of February 16; they only cashed checks for their customers. I didn't go there to open an account or to pay $5 out of a belated refund; so, I pointed out the obvious, the check was drawn on Fifth/Third. That the depositor was their customer was irrelevant. The withdrawer also had to be their customer. I could talk to a manager if I liked. I sat for the manager. While I sat, maybe ten m'inutes, a couple of other people opted to sit, but I can't say for sure it was the same type situation. Same song and dance from the manager; and, we got a bit sticky in the matter, me pointing out things like they were essentially acting as cashier for said company. Made no difference, I was not one of their customers. Both the teller and the manager wanted to know where I banked, which I don't think happened to be any of their business, but I told them BenchMark Federal and I liked them. They never heard of BenchMark (this was a manager at the main branch of Fifth/Third, you under­ Page 13 stand). Well, they've been around for 150 years (I think it's really 120) and that struck me as pretty stable; and, furthermore, if Fifth/Third hadn't been closed Presidents' Day I would have been over before their rule went into effect since I got the check Saturday. According to the manager I could have cashed the check at Kroger's the day before to which I said why should I have to go to Kroger's .... Now, I, personally, had no real problem. simply went up to BenchMark, had the teller call Fifth!Third to make sure there were funds in that account, and cashed it. I can, however, see that if all the banks start charging $5 to cash a "non­ customer" check, this could be a severe hard­ ship to people working the "work today get paid today" temporary services. If such people work every other day, get four checks as a result, the net pay after taxes might be $35-$40 per day ($160) and if it's a "non-customer" situation they'd be handing over $20 just to get their money on a weekly basis-$80 or more a month out of money needed for rent or whatever. After I took care of my immediate busi­ ness, I called the federal information number and subsequently talked with someone in Texas who informed me the $5 charge was perfectly legal. They also gave me information on a deputy whatever they are in Sharonville; but, I didn't call there. I did, however, call the state legislative offices (Senator Finan's office) to report a possible hardship (I honestly don't think the girl got what I was talking about, though) and the governor's constituency office to say the same thing. Since one might conclude that neither Fifth/Third Bank nor Kroger's is in dire need of customers, I, personally, can think of only two reasons why such a policy would be adamantly enforced: 1. Cut-throat competition to knock out even large banks if possible, and 2. Fifth/ Third has so many poor-risk depositors that they hope to regain some of the money lost on bad checks issued (if company "x" w rites checks with no money to cover them in the account, and the person getting the check runs to the bank immediately-a sensible thing to do if you don't trust the thing-and it takes 2-3 days to run it through to the depositor's account, then the money given to the person cashing the check is being put up by the bank; the person is long gone, so an account there from which the bank could retrieve the money makes sense from the bank's point of view). Anyhow, considering the number of people working at places like MinuteMan, QuickStaff, Labor Ready, etc., even though their accounts may be at banks that presently don't charge, that doesn't mean such can't turn up especially if competition demands it. " H1TTHE BULL'S EVE WITH OUSING IN A HURRY! If you're in the market for a new apartment, call Cincinnati's affordable alternative ... CMHA communities are budget-fri endly, are located in neighbor­ hoods across Hamilton County, and are near the places important to you ... jobs, churches, hospitals and stores! With CMHA's Housing In A H urry Program, you can be made eligible to be housed in 5 days or less. Don't miss this opportunity! Location: 163 5 Western A venue Call CMHA at 421-8190. Comedy Corner by Ron Carter CMHA ! Hours: Mon.-Sat., 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. • There once was a guy named Will Who lived on Capitol Hill He went out to have some fun with Wanda. Who drove a little blue Honda This took place a few years ago Their were witnesses who told me so He lied to his wife named Lil Now he's about to become a done deal. Just like the old TV show, Dragnet The names have been changed to protect the innocent. �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine 'Nation• from page 7 ... performs less well than predicted. Add to this the plan of many in Congress to create an expensive new entitlement - individual retire­ ment accounts - and the cuts in the nonde­ fense portion of the discretionary budget grow still deeper. Capitol Hill New Census Legislation The House Committee on Government Reform approved seven bills affecting census operations the week of March 15, mostly along party lines and despite strong opposition from Commerce Secretary William Daley. The Committee markup highlighted the ongoing disagreement between Republicans and Demo­ crats on how best to address the chronic undercount of racial minorities, children, immi­ grants and the urban and rural poor. Some of the bills require a post-census local review, printing census forms in 33 languages and Braille and mailing a second questionnaire to all households. Democrats accused Republicans of trying to burden the census process in order to prevent the Bureau from tabulating corrected numbers by the legal deadline for transmitting redistrict­ ing data to the states. Ranking Democrat Carolyn Maloney (0 -NY) called the package of bills a ''wolf in sheep's clothing." The full House is likely to consider at least one of the bills next week before Congress breaks for Spring recess. Homeless Programs Hearing On March 16, The House Banking and Financial Services Committee's Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee held a hearing on H.R. 1073. This bill was introduced on March 11 by Subcommittee Chair Rick Lazio (A-NY) and Representative Barney Frank ( D~ MA). In general, the witnesses called to testify supported the bill. Concerns addressed in remarks by some of the hearing witnesses and some members of the Subcommittee included: block granting homeless assistance funds to states and local governments; Shelter Plus Care funds being used to fund housing renewals; the amount of local flexibility in using the funds. It is unclear when the Subcommittee will mark-up the bill. Public Housing Agencies Sue HUD Organizations representing the nation's public housing agencies have filed suit .ag~inst HUD in Federal District Court for the D1stnct of Columbia. The suit charges that HUD violated the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to provide an adequate comment period and information during the rulemaking process on the Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS), the new version of the old Public Housing Management Assessment Program (PH MAP). PHAS scores the performance of public housing authorities in four areas: physical quality, financial capacity, management ~erfor­ mance and resident satisfaction. HUD will use PHAS scoring results to determine the amount of federal funding housing authorities receive and the extent of federal regulation and over­ sight to which housing authorities must submit. According to the housing authorities, the crux of the suit is HUD's refusal to fully describe how housing authorities will be assessed and scored. The housing authorities assert that the standards must be public for the program to function, while HUD, the housing authorities say, fears they will "game" the system if they kno~ the rules. According to a fact sheet the housing authorities have distributed, HUD has likened providing the information to allowing students to grade their own papers. For more information: National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, 202/ 289-3500; Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, 202/638-1300; Public Housing Authorities Directors Association, 202/546-5445; National Organization of African Americans in Housing, 202/588-0866. · Success Stories A Measure of Success Eight years ago, Joan, a Columbus, Ohio native, found herself, her kids and her husband homeless and living out of a car. After floating for some time among abandoned buildings, relatives and parking lots, she left her husband and entered the Catholic Social Services' Holy Rosary Family Shelter. Funded by federal Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG), the Holy Rosary program not only provided her family shelter, but also assisted her in setting goals, taught her how to budget her money and to keep a clean house. For the past two years Joan has been successfully employed and is currently respon­ sible for helping adolescents who are not capable of helping themselves. In addition, with the assistance of the Lutheran Social Services' Supportive Housing program, a Continuum of Care program, her hard work and perseverance have given her family the opportunity to recently move into a new apartment so that she can bring up her kids in the way she really wants. Terri Weisbrode Green with the Commu­ nity Shelter Board in Columbus believes that the comprehensive approaches to ending homelessness encouraged by the ESG and Continuum of Care programs were the key to Joan's success. Contact: Terri Weisbrode Green at the Community Shelter Board (614)221-9195. Minneapolis Private Funding The McKnight Foundation has awarded a $23 million grant to the Family Housing Fund in Minneapolis to build and preserve 5,000 units of affordable housing over the next four years in that city. Page 14 and the statewide investment/resource priorities process. You can contact your local primary care association via the web at http:// www.bphc.hrsa.dhhs.gov/bphc/stintel/st.htm or call the NHCHC at 615/226-2292. NAEHAwards The National Alliance to End Homelessness held its Tenth Annual Awards Ceremony on March 18. The multimedia program, including readings by Lee Stringer, author of Grand Central Winter, and perfor­ mances by the Washington Performing Arts Society's Children of the Gospel Choir, honors representatives from the private, nonprofit and public sectors. This year's private sector awardee was H. Wayne Huizenga of Republic Industries in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The nonprofit award was given to Lakefront SRO in Chicago and was accepted by Jean Butzen, President. The public sector award went to former Portland, Oregon City Commissioner Gretchen Miller Kafoury (Ms. Kafoury introduced Portland's enacted and under-attack preserva­ tion ordinance last fall). , Department of Housing and Urban Devel­ opment Secretary Andrew Cuomo received the John W. Macy Award. In his remarks, Secretary Cuomo stated, 'We need more affordable housing .... The economy is so strong .. . now is the time to do these things .. . it's a matter of political will." Scholarship Fund NLIHC is committed to assuring that the perspective of low income people is directly represented in the deliberations and actions of the coalition. That requires providing the support necessary fgr low income people to come to Washington. NLIHC is establishing a Scholarship Fund for contributions designated to underwrite travel and accommodation expenses of low income people, who serve on our Board _-/' of Directors, who represent state coalitions, an~-----­ who participate in our conferences. e.tease-sena a donation to the NLIHC SChOtarship Fund, 1012 14th St. NW, Suite 610, Washington, DC 20005. Thank you for your help. Texas Public Funding According to the Texas Low Income Housing Information Service, an agreement by Texas housing advocates and the new Director of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Daisy Stiner, the Depart­ ment has committed to doubling its spending on the state's lowest income families - an increase of $15 million a year. In the Dallas Morning News, John Henneberger, of the Texas·Low Income Housing Information Services, stated "It is unprecedented." For more in-depth Texas housing information visit Texas Low Income Housing at their web site http:// www.texashousing.org. Resources The National Healthcare for the Homeless Council is encouraging all local healthcare for the homeless (HCH) projects to participate actively in their local primary care associations and primary care offices. According to ~HCHC, the Bureau of Primary Health Care provides funding to primary care associations and primary care offices. These are increasingly important agents in the devolution of health care 0 spending. They are charged to ensure "10~ /o access to preventive and primary care serv~ces and 0% health disparities in every community across the country". Being involved with the associations and the offices will help ensure your community's dollars are being effectively used. NHCHC strongly encourages health care for the homeless projects to form relationships with their primary care associations and to participate in association and office activitie~ , including the statewide market place analysis C. D. CORNER by Gregory Payton We would like for our patrons to be aware about chemical dependency. We would like to inform, educate and let you know just what maybe going on in your community, work place, or even household. Some people do drugs because, their friends do, they think it's cool, they have low self-esteem, they want to belong, want to have fun, or they're just curious. Re­ gardless of the reason, we know they were misinformed. This issue we will discuss: Huffing According to Dr. Neil Rosenberg (Medical Director, International Institute of Inhalant Abuse) huffing is when the indivdual inhal~s household products we use to fuel our engines, freshen our air, and paint our projects. When inhaled or huffed, these inhalant's provide a quick, cheap and accessible way to get high, but their effect can be deadly. This is more dangerous than Marijuana, Cocaine. The long term effects are loss of memory and brain damage. Remember that when the label says "this is dangerous" it really is to what we treasure the most~ (Freeman http://www.cbn.org./news/stories/huffing.asp) �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine STREETVIBES Announcements Live Studio Audience Wanted STUDIOS OF CINCINNATI COMMUNITY VIDEO, 2 114 READING ROAD, FROM 7 TO 8PM. STREETVIBES TV COVERS NEWS ON POVERTY, HOMELESSNESS AND RELATED ISSUES. CALL US AT THE GREATER CINCINNATI COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF OUR LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE. FOR MORE INFORMATION - 421-7803 National Protest to Stop STREETVIBES TV SHOW­ the Execution of Mumia WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A PART OF OUR LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE? Abu Jamal SHOW IS TAPED LIVE ON THE April 24th, 1999 Philadelphia, PA SECOND MONDAY OF EACH MONTH For More Information Call Justice AND IS BROADCAST FROM THE Watch (513) 241-0490 STREETVIBES Classified Ads Streetvibes is now accepting Classi­ fied Ads for items such as Help Wanted, Items for Sale, Apartments for Rent and other non-personal items. The rate is only $1 per line, approximately ten words per line. Classified ads are due by the 20th of the month. People below the poverty level will be allowed five free lines for six months to advertise their skills or products to our readers. Otherwise, payment must be re­ ceived before the ad will run. No refunds will be made. Also, if there is an error, notify us after the first printing. You will be given an extra month of ad time. Mail the ad copy to: Streetvibes 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45210 or fax it t o 421-781 3 music Band Looking for Wor k Streetvibes (the band). We like to party. R&B, Oldies, Blues/ Jazz, Reggae. Helping the homeless to help themselves through free enterprize. Call 421-7803. position wanted Dwight Wise HVAC Technician for hire. 24 Service! • Call 751-3182. Thank You! ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• STREETVIBES provides Classified Ads free to low income job seekers. Others may place ads for only $1 per line. Ca/1421-7803 for info. Support Your Local Vendor... Tell A Friend About Page 15 In Memory of "Mac" Who Believed In Hu­ man Rights For Every­ one & Who Founded Jus­ tice Watch ... Because 'Every­ one' includes Prison­ ers and Former Pris­ oners. Scramble Answers from page 11 ... Streetvibes Is On The Rise Please Help Us Take It Higher Streetvibes Radio Hour On WAIF 88.3 fm The Homeless Coalition has a live radio program which can be heard on WAIF radio on the second Saturday of each month at noon. The show is co-hosted by Mary Burke, Donald Whitehead and other monthly guest hosts. The show mixes talk focusing on the stories in this paper. and eclectic musical selections. Here are the next show dates; WAIF 88.3 fm Saturday, May 8th, 1999, noon to 1 pm Streetvibes! Advertise in Streetvibes! StreetvibeS Vendor Code of Conduct Each vendor has to sign the following code to b e able to sell the paper. 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for a $1 voluntary donation. I agree not to ask for donations more than $1. I also understand that I will be able to keep 80 cents of each dollar collected. Future issues of Streetvibes will be purchased from the Homeless Coalition for 20 cents. 2. I agree that I will never distribute Streetvibes while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 3. I agree that I will not ask for donations after 12 midnight. 4. I agree to treat others with respect. I will not use abusive language or force someone to give a donation. I will not give a "hard sell" or m~ke someone feel threatened. 5. I agree that I will not supply copies of Streetvibes ~o persons who are not registered distributors. 6. 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. 7. I agree that I will not contest territories with other distributors. 8. 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. 9. I understand that failure to comply with any of the above statements will result in me no longer being able to distribute Streetvibes. Advertising in Streetvibes is a chance for businesses to help a good cause while promoting themselves to over 5,000 concerned people each month. The rates are shown below. ***Business Card Size 2" x 3 1/2" $10 per month ***Two Business Card Size 4" x 3 1/2" $20 per month A check or money order must accompany the ad copy. We reserve the right to deny any ad, especially those which promote alcohol or tobacco products. You will receive a full refund should your ad be denied. For larger ads, call the number below. Ads are due by the 20th of each month. If you need assistance in preparing your ad or have any other questions, call the Homeless Coalition at 421-7803. Mail ads with payment to: Streetvibes 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 4521 O �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine OUR DEEPEST FEAR "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. You are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within you. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we uncon­ sciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence auto­ matically liberates others." Attributed to Nelson Mandella Page 16 Streetvi bes TV The Streetvibes TV Show is produced at the facilities of Cincinnati Community Video, 2114 Reading Road. If you would like to be a part of our live studio audience please call the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at 421-7803 for more information. Streetvibes TV MAY Schedule May's Live TV show will begin at 7PM, Monday, May 1Oth, and will be broadcast from the Reading Road Studio. The new show format includes a studio audience along with a guest panel discussion. Channel 7 LIVE CALL-IN SHOW. MONDAY. MAY 1Qth at 7PM. Rebroadcast Dates for Show on Chan­ nel 24: Saturday, May 1, 1999, 4 PM Friday, May 14, 1999, 11 am Friday, May 21, 1999, 11 AM Monday, May 24, 1999, 1 PM Saturday, May 22, 1999, 4 PM o Broadcast schedules are subject to change - consult your local TV directory. If you have any ideas for future STREETVIBES TV shows please contact our office at 421-7803. We always enjoy hearing from our viewing audience. Ideas should address subjects related to homelessness and poverty in our city. We are always interested in viewer ideas, so please give us a call. .. Streetvi bes Wish List Streetvibes newspaper is published monthly on a shoe-string budget. We depend heavily on the goodwill of many volunteers and donors. If you can help out with some of the items on our wish list please give us a call... >35 MM Film for Streetvibes photo's >Laser Printer >Advertisers to help support the paper >Good used or new Xerox machine . >Office Supplies >Supplies for Vendors Lounge (coffee, cups, etc.) >Computer for Streetvibes layout and writing ender: 80 cents >Subscribers a in-:ror Call the Greater Cincinnati Coal' ·c the Homeless at 421 -780 if you can help! 0 Printing and Production: 20 cents e r If for some reason you find yourself homeless, contact a Coalition Member Agency for Shelter, Treatment, Housing or Services. If you have any questions, feet free to call the Homeless Coalition at 421-7803. SHELTERS: Women and Children 241-2757 Alice Paul House (Abuse) 281-5770 YWCA Transitional living Prog. 557-2873 Bethany House 762-5660 Salvation Army 431-8717 Welcome House SHELTER: Men City Gospel Mission Garden Street House Joseph House (Veterans) Mt. Airy Center Volunteers of America 241 -5525 241-0490 241-2965 661-4620 381-1954 SHELTER: Both 761-1480 Caracole (AIDS} 821-5100 Chabad House 721-0643 Drop Inn Center (Singles) 381 -5432 Friars Club 863-8866 Haven House (Hamilton) 244-7226 Interfaith Hospitality Network lighthouse Youth Center (Teens) 961-4080 Streetvibes has a minimal overhead cost so that the vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. If anyone selling Streetvibes claims to be collect­ ing for a private charity, please call our office at 421-7803. Thanks for your support. e St. John's Temporary Housing HOUSING CMHA Excel Development Miami Purchase OTA Housing Network ReSTOC Tender Mercies (Mental Ill) Tom Geiger House TREATMENT: Women O.D.A.A.T First Step Home TREATMENT: Men Charlie's 3/4 House Prospect House St. Francis- St. Joseph House Starting Over TREATMENT: Both N.A. Hopeline A.A. Hotline C.C.A.T. Talbert House Transitions, Inc. VA Domiciliary OTHER SERVICES AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati Appalachian Identity Center Beech Acres ?• 651-6446 721-4580 632-7149 241-0504 369-0004 381-0954 639-7056 961-4555 241-7343 921-7324 784-1853 921-1613 381-4941 751-3260 820-2947 861-9966 381-6660 684-7956 491-4435 559-5011 421-2437 621-5991 231-6630 Center for Independent living Options 241-2600 591-2246 Churches Active in Northside 961-0600 Cincinnati Health Network 569-1840 Community Action Agency 381-4242 Contact Center 241 -2563 Emanuel Community Center 241-1 064 Freestore/Foodbank Goodwill Industries 771-4800 621-7149 Hamilton Co.Mental Health Bd. Hamilton Co. TB Control 632-7186 Health Resource Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van 352-2902 221-3679 House of Refuge Mission Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assistance Ctr. 271-5501 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 Oral Health Council 621-0248 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 Travelers Aid 721-7660 United Way 721-7900 VA Homeless Program 559-6656 Women's Crisis Center 491-3335 � 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 1999 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 1999 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Struggle to Save Drop Inn Center Intensifies African American Youth: A Preferred Tobacco Industry Customer Pg 2: The Traveler Pg 3: Homeless Disease Pg 4: Police Predators FICA Rip-off Pg 5: The Broken City Pg 6: Arts & Poetry Pg 7: Nationwide News Point of View Pg 8: Prison News Pg 9: HUD Funding Pg 10: Welfare News Pg 11: Walking the Streets Streetvibes Etcetera Pg 13: Cleveland News Comedy Corner Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project (curated by Katelyn Lusher) 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 1999 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Photographer: Jimmy Heath Writers: Mary Ann Bravo Ron Carter Denise Crew Sheila Crowley Dorcy Mathew Hagerty Jimmy Heath Mike Henson Cliff Jones Susan Knight Carolyn Meszaros Gina Miller Gregory Payton Eunice Timoney Ravenna Dr. Tom Bomani A. Tyehimba Donald Whitehead Lynn Williams Bomani A. Tyehimba Carolyn Meszaros Cliff Jones Denise Crew Donald Whitehead Dorcy Dr. Tom Drop Inn Center Eunice Timoney Ravenna Gina Miller Gregory Payton Jimmy Heath Lynn Williams Mary Ann Bravo Mathew Hagerty Mike Henson police brutality prisoner Ron Carter Sheila Crowley Susan Knight the broken city The Traveler welfare https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/a7e003b7890ae7ec21418bbc5df8ea46.pdf 49131558edcf3e8dbb3c8b35a2e19ab0 PDF Text Text April 20th - M ay 3rd 2018 | Vol. 21 Issue 9 (No. 380) advocating justice | building community Rejecting Hierarchical Divisions, Paul Breidenbach | 8 This Issue is sponsored by Bromwell's Harth Lounge INSIDE THIS ISSUE Issues Abound at the Faith Community Alliance Ceremony | 2 Red Bike Announces Equity Program: Red Bike Go | 5 The Deep State Part II: Tails wagging dogs, big and small | 11 Eisenhower’s Farewell Address | 7 Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.org Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 13 �2 LOCAL From The Director: From the Coalition Against an FC Cincinnati Stadium in West End O n Monday, April 16 Cincinnati City Council voted 5 to 4 to support a deal for FC Cincinnati to construct a stadium in the West End. This total deal includes more than $33 million from taxpayers for infrastructure needed to support the stadium, a property tax abatement for the taxes that would be due to the city, the payment of half the amount that would be due Cincinnati Public Schools without the abatement, exemption from construction sales tax and approximately $15 million in tax dollars from Hamilton County to build a parking garage. We reject this decision to the highest degree for the following reasons: • The development of this stadium would lead to the displacement of people from their homes and neighborhood. • The City has zero legislative protections for people who rent to prevent displacement by the market. • Approximately 20% of our Cincinnati Public School children will experience homelessness this year, last year more than 137 people A p r i l 2 0 - M a y 3, 2 0 18 | N o . 38 0 JOSH SPRING Executive Director died without a home in our city and county, we have a shortage of 40,000 affordable homes in Hamilton County; 28,000 of which are in Cincinnati, of the 50 largest metropolitan areas in this country, we have the tenth highest number of evictions, the housing crisis is so significant that 70% of families with children who seek shelter are turned away and all of our shelters are seeing greater numbers of people than they have ever seen before. It is wrong to invest funds in luxury while so many in our city are living without out access to the needs of basic survival. It is wrong to subsidize the wallets of billionaires. • Both the City and County are predicting tens of millions of dollars in budget deficit next year. • West End Residents and people from throughout the city have come to numerous meetings and have publicly and vehemently opposed the location of such a stadium in the West End. • The West End Community 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Josh Spring Credit: Homeless Coalition Council overwhelmingly voted against the stadium and voted to only work on a Community Benefits Agreement if the stadium were forced on the West End neighborhood. Despite this, the president of the West End Community Council, Keith Blake orchestrated work on a Community Benefits Agreement and gave it to FC Cincinnati in opposition to the vote of the Community Council. (Continued on page 3) ISSUES ABOUND AT THE FAITH COMMUNITY ALLIANCE ANNUAL LUNCH AND AWARDS CEREMONY I ssues took center stage at the Faith Community Alliance's annual lunch and awards ceremony at the American Red Cross Building on April 12th. The two invited speakers Catherine Turcer, Executive Director of Common Cause/Ohio, and Todd Portune, President of the Hamilton County Commission, split their time between championing Issue 1, the Congressional redistricting proposal on the May 8th ballot, and depicting upcoming County budget issues. Luncheon emcee Charlie Wallner, longtime leader of this coalition of faith groups and service and community organizations, also discussed the Alliance's current focus on advocating that City Council recommit to allocating 1.5 percent of the general budget to human services. Using a power point presentation to visually display Ohio's extremely gerrymandered Congressional Districts, Turcer explained how Issue BILL WOODS Contributing Writer I, a proposed State Constitutional Amendment, would end this process of one party drawing maps to insure its dominance in the U.S. House Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org BLOG: streetvibes.wordpress.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor: Justin Jeffre Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Justin Jeffre Layout: Key Beck Reception: Larry Johnson, Anne Evans Maintenance: Pete Roper ----------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE of Representatives for a decade. The perfection of gerrymandering through the utilization of computers, noted Turcer, finally got the (Continued on page 7) Writers: Josh Spring, Bill Woods, Dr. Mark Mussman, Rev. Rich Jones, Justin Jeffre, Michael Earl Patton, Saad Ghosn, Jim Luken, Kim Green, Willa D. Jones ----------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, Dr. Mark Mussman, Jubilee Campaign, Justin Jeffre, White House, Saad Ghosn, Jim Luken, Bill Woods --------------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �LOCAL Do You Speak Like a Gentrifier? No. 38 0 | A p r i l 2 0 - M a y 3, 2 0 18 D o you hear things that make your skin crawl? Of course, when you hear racial slurs, (including racist mascots and team names), or when you hear someone treated poorly, your ears might perk up and you make note of the words that someone uses. As an educator, it is important to “meet someone where they are” and understand that they may need some clarification or information to make better word choices, because after all, words do matter. I have written many times about the importance of person-first language when talking about people who are experiencing homelessness. This is to ensure that we don’t erase their identities by equating their circumstances with who they are. Person-first language does not diminish the priority of finding housing, but rather operates outside of “deficit culture” which purports weaknesses above strengths. Person-first language also shows that homelessness is a temporary situation, rather than someone’s identity. Straight, cis-gender, white men will have trouble understanding this because their viewpoint isn’t challenged, and they are rarely labeled. This may be where education comes in. The process of gentrification has many tactics, which result in the displacement of residents. We have begun to mete these out in a recent JOSH SPRING (Continued from page 2) • Without the consent of the Membership the West End Community Council Executive Board had no legal ability to sign the “CBA” in question today, therefore the “CBA” is not legally valid. • Today’s meetings were the only time City Council had set aside to publicly discuss this deal. BILL WOODS (Continued from page 2) attention of the news media and the public. Then the grassroots success of the citizen initiative on redistricting that was already underway goaded the Republicans and the Democrats in the Ohio House and Senate to draft the reform proposal that is currently before the voters. Although the proposed Amendment is not without flaws, Turcer argued that it includes enough safeguards to make it 99.9 percent better than the present process. Besides requiring 50-percent of the members of the Legislature of both major parties to adopt the new District maps, it requires public hearings (including the ability of citizens to submit district maps). It also includes DR. MARK MUSSMAN Staff Writer Developers benefit from gentrification Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman 3 contribute to the displacement of low income, typically African-American, residents. Under the guise of “cleaning up the neighborhood” tactics are used to both remove low-income and people of color from the neighborhood. The false narrative, that it’s dangerous and full of criminals, is constantly used to enable property values to drop so that speculators can gobble them up and wait on them until they are ready to develop for luxury housing. As I have written before, this also happens to our public spaces, including parks. This is more than just a war on values or ideas — this is a war on our community, that some call genocide. When people call Over-theRhine “O-T-R” they are using the language of the gentrifier. When 3CDC (Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation) began their assault on Over-the-Rhine, they renamed Vine and 12th the “Gateway Quarter,” which more than clearly demonstrates their goal. First, to rename it provides an avenue by which they can say “it’s not Over-theRhine, it’s the Gateway Quarter — see, it’s safe, and new and shiny!” They attempted to both simultaneously benefit from the gritty, raw, urban landscape, and they allure of wealth. My skin crawls when I hear people call my neighborhood “OTR” as it’s the language of the invaders. Even hastags like #ThisIsOTR were created and maintained by the chamber of commerce, even though they are made to be the voice of brochure at the Homeless Coalition. Concrete things like tax abatements, community development corporations, neighborhood enhancement programs, surveillance, entrepreneurship programs, dog parks, breweries, sidewalk seating, and hostile design denote the displacement of residents in low-income neighborhoods in favor of increased wealth for some at the expense of others. Interpersonal tactics, such as blight determination, favoring businesses over residents, discomfort, criminalization, denial of experience, and the creation and maintenance of a false narrative, also • Some of the land in question is subject to use restrictions pertaining to the end of the federal program, HOPE VI and the City West agreement, thus requiring that this land be used for the construction of affordable housing and therefore the proposed use of this land is not allowable. • This process has been riddled with back-door deals and lies. For these reasons and more, we plan to continue use every method accessible both legally and socially to stop this stadium. We will oppose this stadium at every pertinent zoning hearing, planning commission meeting, county commissioners meeting and city council meeting. We will oppose all liquor permit requests and proposed sales of public land. West End Residents will take the necessary steps to impeach Keith Blake the current president of West End Community Council for his pursuit of an FC Cincinnati stadium in West End in spite of the vote of the West End Community Council. To Don Garber and Major League Soccer and Jeff Berding and FC Cincinnati, it is important that you know, this is not over. We are not done. language calling for compact districts and a minimal splitting up of counties and cities. With both major parties endorsing Issue I, it has a good chance of passing. However, since this is a primary election, less people will go to the polls, and voters often skip or vote against ballot initiatives that catch them by surprise. For this reason, Turcer urged FCA members to inform their friends and neighbor's about the importance of this issue. If we don't take advantage of this opportunity before the 2020 Census, declared Turcer, we will confront the potential of another decade of extremely gerrymandered Congressional Districts. Commissioner Portune used a power point presentation to outline the major issues facing the County as the Commission prepares to tackle drafting the next budget. One of the basic problems confronting Hamilton and other Ohio counties is the loss of state funds. In recent years, these losses have been severe; requiring the Commissioners to find local, resources to try to shore up many departmental budgets. He specifically cited the County's challenge in paying for a number of unfunded state mandates. In his opening remarks to the luncheon attendees, Charlie Wallner spoke with passion about the need for City Council to take seriously its commitment to funding human services. Council, he stated, has sadly regressed from the ordinance put forward over thirty years ago by former Mayor Bobbie Sterne that earmarked 1.5 percent of the budget for these services. Despite giving lip service to increasing funding for services to a level of at least 1.5 percent, the Administration and Council always seem to find budget obstacles that prevent this from happening. With Cincinnati's high poverty rate and the present opioid crisis, noted Wallner, it is a moral imperative that City Government assumes more responsibility for financing critical services. FCA also presented a series of awards to individuals and organizations that have made major contributions to the community. Award winners were Morris Williams, Greg Landsman, Rabbi Miriam Terlinchamp, the Greater Cincinnati Black Nurses Association, and the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED (Continued on page 12) --------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- �4 LOCAL THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED A p r i l 2 0 - M a y 3, 2 0 18 | N o . 38 0 �5 JUBILEE CAMPAIGN The “New Parish” in Cincy No. 38 0 | A p r i l 2 0 - M a y 3, 2 0 18 A s I write this, my faith is in the midst of its Holy Week…as a Jesus follower, we celebrate the cycle of life as demonstrated through Jesus, conception, birth, life, death…and then resurrection. The resurrection of the church is happening all around us, even now, as I write. As traditional and even modern or post-modern churches and faith communities either decline, plateau, or stagnate, they are beginning to recognize that they cannot “work harder or smarter” to grow numerically. Faith communities have often become “purveyors of religious goods” and have committed to an attractional model to bring in new members. Often, those “new” members are simply folks that are migrating from one church to the next, searching for the latest or hippest church. It can become a maddening process that eventually burns out those that are seeking and those that are producing the “next” church or faith expression. Faith community members are fine folk, they have done much of the “right things” to survive, yet they have not been able to thrive. Eventually, all things come to an end, and we are witnessing, in most cases, the slow death of church. That resurrection shows itself through churches that realize that the faith story is not about “winning” converts, but, instead, it is about our own conversion as we stop trying to be constantly relevant. Rather, we can follow the practice of Jesus and “move into our neighborhood” (read the 1st chapter of John in the Bible). Jesus’ example is one of being with us in full humanity and living in community with us as a true friend, and, out of T REV. RICH JONES Contributing Writer that friendship, together with anyone willing to be in friendship, working towards knowing and being known locally in the context of where we live. In every neighborhood across Cincinnati, there is a “mega-faith community.” Unlike some of the large mega-churches or other large congregations of faith that are housed in big buildings, this “mega-faith community” is hosted in many houses of worship. It crosses theological boundary lines and dogma and is marked by the sort of radical inclusion that begins with “everyone belonging and contributing” as best as you can. This has been called the “New Parish” by some. It is a movement of folks who may belong to different churches and/or faith communities/ expressions but are realizing that friendships “trump” everything. God’s very expression of God’s self is in community, in relationship… creating, saving, sustaining. Denominational or man-made religious opinions should not get in the way of humans being truly human and connected with one another in deep and meaningful friendships. This is beyond simply being ecumenical, it is living in authentic connection and community together and practicing radical neighborliness while building up the common good of the place in which one lives. The Parish Collective is a part of the movement that is proliferating this practice of being neighborly and faithfully present with yourself, your neighbors, and within your faith community. Other groups like the Economics of Compassion, Oasis, the Common Good, and so many others share this “DNA” of faithful presence and are a part of this movement also. The ethos of “Asset Based Community Development” (ABCD) has been a key part and practice of faith communities becoming more neighborhood engaged. Many would say that they find God at work already in the neighborhood, building connections and relationships together. The concept of abundance of the neighborhood over scarcity has been a beacon of inspiration for faith communities as they struggle to figure out their shifting identity in a changing world. The church that I pastor in my neighborhood, Fleming Road UCC, has been on a journey towards community engagement well before I was called to be their pastor. Together now, we are having dialogue on what it means to listen to one another and to our neighborhood. We are seeing where there is beauty as well as struggle in our Finneytown community. Through our partnerships with Parish Collective, Oasis (www.oasisfinneytown.com), and the UCC we have found friends, encouragers, and collaborators as we work together to live into this new story emerging in our neighborhood and in our church. We will be walking the neighborhood, sitting in restaurants and bars, engaging the local school district and government and listening and building friendships as we move together with other faith communities in the “new parish” in the months and years to come. Together, we are working towards the flourishing of our neighborhood, just as many others are doing across the country and world. And, in so doing, we are seeing faith communities move from being purveyors of religious goods and experiencing decline, towards thriving communities of authentic relationship and a “re-functioning” of what it means to be “church”. For more stories, check out the Parish Collective and Parish Collective Cincinnati. They are at the heart of the groundswell. Faith communities are connecting with each other and attempting to grow the fabric of love and care across parishes throughout Cincinnati and across the world. Parish Collective is currently undertaking valuable new initiatives to help "grow roots" in the neighborhood and "weave links" across places. We collaborate with practitioners, explore stories, and access resources as we seek to build a network of communities working together to support a movement that is changing the meaning of church as it engages with its neighbors. For more info, go to www. parishcollective.org, also, check out an exciting opportunity coming this fall, the Conspire Gathering at www. conspiregathering.com. Rich Jones is the pastor of Fleming Road UCC in the Finneytown neighborhood in Cincinnati. He is on the board for Economics of Compassion and Oasis Cincinnati and is an organizing team member and community connector for The Parish Collective. He also coaches cross country at Finneytown Schools and is an obsessive runner. His spouse, Debbie, is a PTA and they have two teenagers, McKenzie and Brennan. --------------------------------------- Red Bike Announces Equity Program: Red Bike Go he bicycle has been called by some, “The most efficient machine on earth.” That might explain the popularity of Cincinnati’s Red Bike program which opened in September 2014. Now with Red Bike’s new equity program more low-income riders will be able to access them. During Minority Health Month and just before Bike Month, Red Bike launched Red Bike Go, a discounted $5 monthly membership program to ensure everyone has access to the bikeshare system. Red Bike Go provides people with limited income access to the bikeshare network at an affordable price— helping more people go where they want to go—for health and wellness, JUSTIN JEFFRE Contributing Writer transportation and recreation. The Red Bike equity project is funded by a generous grant from Interact for Health. Red Bike Go is available to residents in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, who receive food assistance (SNAP) or energy assistance (HEAP and PIPP) or are clients of partner organizations and agencies. People can sign up online at www.cincyredbike.org/gopass. For $5 a month, Go Pass holders receive a member card and have unlimited 90-minute bike rides for 30 days. They can pay month to month or set their pass to auto-renew every month at the same price. Payment can be made with a credit card, debit or bank card, most prepaid cards, or cash. Payment cannot be made with an EBT card. If paying with a card, Go Pass holders can sign up online or in-person at an Red Bike Go outreach event or class. Cash payments must be made in person, either at an outreach event or at the Red Bike Shop on a weekday by appointment. Cash renewals can be dropped off at Red Bike during weekday business hours and at Red Bike Go events. To schedule an appointment to pay by cash and get signed up, contact Red Bike Go Manager Elese Daniel at elese.daniel@cincyredbike. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED org or (513) 621-2453. The Red Bike Shop is located at 14 W. 15th Street, 45202 in Over the Rhine— one block west of the Vine Street Kroger. Red Bike is partnering with local organizations to connect their clients to the Go Pass. Initial partners are Ohio Means Jobs, CincinnatiHamilton County Community Action Agency, Greater Cincinnati Urban League, and the Brighton Center in Newport, Kentucky. Red Bike is looking for additional partners. All interested agencies and organizations should contact the Red Bike Go Manager to discuss the opportunity of connecting their clients with Red Bike Go. In addition, Red Bike is working with the Human (Continued on page 6) �6 JUSTIN JEFFRE (Continued from page 5) Services Chamber of Hamilton County to connect the Go Pass to hundreds of clients within their 50 member organizations. There will be a Red Bike Go outreach event at the Ohio Means Jobs Center on Monday, May 7 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Residents can sign up in-person at the event. The Ohio LOCAL A p r i l 2 0 - M a y 3, 2 0 18 | N o . 38 0 Means Job Center is located at 1916 Central Parkway, 45214 on the edge of Over the Rhine and the West End. Additionally, Red Bike is deploying a Street Outreach Team to help spread awareness about Red Bike Go and the benefits of bicycling and bikeshare at events throughout the city. The Red Bike Street Outreach Team kicks off their efforts later this month at the 15th Annual Health Expo on April 28 in Washington Park. Bicycling can be a convenient way to actively commute around the city, get to work or school, run errands, exercise and enjoy time outside with friends and family. The Red Bike Go program hopes to expand that awareness and interest to be more inclusive and representative of the larger community. Concurrently, Red Bike is releasing a new Monthly membership option at $15 a month, with no eligibility requirements. Monthly members will receive a member card and have unlimited 90-minute bike rides for 30 days. Monthly members have 30 additional minutes of ride time compared to the Day Pass and Annual Pass at unlimited 60-minute rides. The new Monthly membership and Red Bike Go complement the existing Day and Annual Passes to offer Red Bike’s diverse mix of riders options and pricing that best accommodates individual needs. The Red Bike network covers two states and four cities—Cincinnati, Covington, Newport and Bellevue— with 57 stations and 440 bikes. Since launching in 2014, Red Bike has had more than 320,000 rides. Seeking landlords who accept Housing Choice (Section 8) Vouchers for efficiency and 1 bedroom apartments. Interested in developing a long-term relationship with ongoing tenant referrals. Please contact Alexis Aghotte at 513.446.7554 or aaghotte@ shelterhousecincy.org THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �LOCAL Eisenhower’s Farewell Address No. 38 0 | A p r i l 2 0 - M a y 3, 2 0 18 R ecent events in the midEast have reminded me of President Eisenhower’s farewell speech that he gave shortly before leaving office in January 1961, to be succeeded by John Kennedy. His warning about the power of the military-industrial complex seems out-of-character for a man who spent almost his entire adult life either in the military or as its commander-in-chief. If the “permanent armaments industry of vast proportions” and its influence are such a concern, then why did Eisenhower wait until the waning days of his presidency to voice his warning? Excerpts of his speech are given below (the full speech is easily found on-line). But first I want to give some context by briefly reviewing a couple events of 1960. Maybe there is a clue as to why Eisenhower gave this speech when he did. During the presidential election campaign of 1960, the Democratic candidate John Kennedy accused the Eisenhower administration of being soft on defense and that there was a “missile gap” between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, with the U.S. being far behind. Kennedy’s opponent was Richard Nixon, then vice-president under Eisenhower. The truth was completely opposite – the U.S. actually had the lead. Nixon knew that, but he could not challenge Kennedy on this without revealing U.S. intelligence capabilities. Eisenhower had Kennedy privately briefed on the true situation, but Kennedy kept on making the erroneous claim. He probably did so because it played well with the media and the public. (This was later one of many things spoofed in Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 dark comedy Doctor Strangelove, where the worry becomes the “mine shaft gap.” The U.S., the film acknowledged, had more missiles but was behind in deep underground places that offered protection from atomic fall-out.) On May 1, 1960, a U-2 spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union. The cover story was that the plane was a high-altitude weather research plane operated by NASA over Turkey. The U.S. “speculated” that the pilot may have had oxygen difficulties, became unconscious, and the plane continued to fly over the Soviet Union on autopilot. This was about 2 weeks before the Four Power Paris Summit where the Soviet leader, Khrushchev, and President Eisenhower were to meet. The cover story was exposed when the Soviets announced that the pilot, Francis Gary Powers, had survived. Eisenhower said that he had authorized the flight, but even at the time some blamed the CIA. After all, Eisenhower was certainly aware of the risks involved in such a flight and had wanted the summit to succeed. As for his statement that he had authorized the flight, the alternative 7 MICHAEL EARL PATTON Contributing Writer Dwight D. Eisenhower, official photo portrait, May 29, 1959 Credit: White House would have been to admit that he was not in control of the government. Instead, the summit quickly ended in failure. With that background in mind, here are excerpts from Eisenhower’s farewell address: “My fellow Americans: … This evening I come to you with a message of leave-taking and farewell, and to share a few final thoughts with you, my countrymen … “Crises there will continue to be. In meeting them, whether foreign or domestic, great or small, there is a recurring temptation to feel that some spectacular and costly action could become the miraculous solution to all current difficulties. A huge increase in newer elements of our defense; development of unrealistic programs to cure every ill in agriculture; a dramatic expansion in basic and applied research -- these and many other possibilities, each possibly promising in itself, may be suggested as the only way to the road we wish to travel. “But each proposal must be weighed in the light of a broader consideration: the need to maintain balance in and among national programs -- balance between the private and the public economy, balance between cost and hoped for advantage -- balance between the clearly necessary and the comfortably desirable; balance between our essential requirements as a nation and the duties imposed by the nation upon the individual; balance between actions of the moment and the national welfare of the future. Good judgment seeks balance and progress; lack of it eventually finds imbalance and frustration… “Our military organization today bears little relation to that known by any of my predecessors in peacetime, or indeed by the fighting men of World War II or Korea. Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED industry. American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. Added to this, three and a half million men and women are directly engaged in the defense establishment. We annually spend on military security more than the net income of all United States corporations. “This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence -economic, political, even spiritual -- is felt in every city, every State house, every office of the Federal government… In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together… President Eisenhower concludes by stating the need for disarmament “with mutual honor and confidence,” his disappointment in not making more progress [an apparent reference to the failed summit], and for peace with justice. Was he thinking of the next president, John Kennedy, who may have won the election because of an appeal to more armaments when he had been trying to reduce them? Was his summit with Khrushchev torpedoed by the CIA and their fascination with who is ahead in hardware counts? This is speculative weaving, but the result does fit. In the present day, I have been distressed by the unquestioning attitude of the American major media whenever it comes to our military. As for the supposed chemical attacks in Syria and our response, no one seems to be asking what the actual evidence is or whether video or social media can be faked. (By the way, whatever happened to the discussion on fake news?) Instead, I saw a fascination with American, British, and French firepower. This may not be intentional since military hardware in action is far more visually interesting than a discussion as to what our response should be. And apparently more interesting than even Stormy Daniels. But harm allowed by lack of oversight will last much longer than the better ratings. �8 RELIGIOUS PEACEMAKERS Rejecting Hierarchical Divisions, Paul Breidenbach, an Atheist, Uses His Knowledge of Spanish to Help Immigrants Regain Their Equal Rights A p r i l 2 0 - M a y 3, 2 0 18 | N o . 38 0 P SAAD GHOSN aul Breidenbach grew up in a Catholic family, one which had to relocate frequently, mostly in South America, due to his father's employment at the State Department. As a child, he went to church every week and participated in various religious activities. He became, however, quickly disillusioned with religion and rejected the hypocrisy of its followers who did not live according to its teachings, teachings that he, himself, was not ready to adopt. In addition, Breidenbach did not believe in the presence of a God. When he reached college, he decided to cut all his ties with the church and declared himself a convinced atheist. This, however, did not take away his concerns for the other. On the contrary, he developed a strong sense of equality and of respect for everyone's rights. "My principles are simple," he says, "not to do things to others that I do not want done to myself. Also, to fight injustices, protect people, make sure their basic needs are met, and help them improve things in their lives." For college, Breidenbach attended Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT and studied American History, mentored by Henry Abelove, the radical marxist historian who influenced the way he looked at things. He was also introduced to E.P. Thompson's thinking about class formation in capitalism, also Contributing Writer to his concept of moral economy. He ended up graduating with a PhD in US History from the University of California in San Diego. "During these years, I was not a real activist," he says. "I participated in the recycling Coop of the university, helping collect recyclable material all over campus; also joined a rally and was vocal against institutionalized racism; and raised money in solidarity with El Salvador... But this was practically it," he adds. Breidenbach's studies and the fact that he was fluent in Spanish thanks to the many years he had spent abroad in Hispanic countries, affected, however, the future orientation of his life. In 1996, married and with two kids, he relocated to Cincinnati and there, with his egalitarian and progressive values, he connected right away with the increasing Latino immigrant population. He started meeting with refugee individuals, listening to their complaints, interpreting for them, helping them find solutions to their problems. He did it voluntarily and most of the time without compensation. He also taught part time Spanish and History in a local private school. These activities, however, not being financially sustainable, he decided to join the social justiceoriented union side law firm of Kircher,  Suetholz & Grayson, a firm that represented organizations in What is ATHEISM Atheism, in the broadest sense, is the absence of belief in the existence of deities, i.e. gods. The term emerged first in the 16th century; and the French Revolution of 1789, which witnessed the first major political movement in history to advocate for the supremacy of human reason over the notion of gods, was the first time atheism became implemented politically. The difference between atheism and agnosticism is belief of god and knowledge of god. An atheist (a-theist) does not believe god(s) exist and an agnostic (a-gnostic) does not know if god(s) exist. There can be many combinations of atheist, theist, gnostic, and agnostic to describe people's approach to god. There is no one ideology or set of behaviors to which all atheists adhere. Conceptions of atheism also vary and accurate estimations of current numbers of atheists are difficult. In 2015 WIN/Gallup International polled 64,000 individuals and found 11% of them to be "convinced atheists". In 2004, a survey by the British Broadcasting Corporation(BBC), however, recorded atheists as comprising 8% of the world's population. Europe and East Asia are considered the regions with the highest rates of atheism. In 2015, 61% of Chinese reported being atheists; and in 2010, a Eurobarometer survey in the European Union (EU), reported 20% of the population not believing in "any sort of spirit, God or life force".  (From Wikipedia) the labor movement and which tried to empower workers in order to obtain mutual aid and protection in the workplace. Breidenbach served there as an interface with the Spanish speaking workers. A few years later he became the interpreter and office manager of Brennan Grayson, the lawyer who had hired him initially in the firm, and who had since become the president of the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center (CIWC, Paul Breidenbach which aims to mobilize, educate, and organize low wage and immigrant workers to achieve positive systemic change) and then the current Executive Director of the Workers Center derived from it. In the meantime, he also worked at United Way for Housing Opportunities Made Equal, a nonprofit organization that deals with inequities and injustices affecting low income renters, addressing the illegalities that arise in rental housing. He served there as the advocate for the Hispanic tenants, representing them face to management, moving forward and officializing their demands, helping them fill out escrow forms that legalized their complaints. Breidenbach got thus associated with The Willow, a 400 unit low income complex apartment in Springdale, mostly inhabited by immigrants from Guatemala and Senegal, also by some African Americans. In response to tenants' complaints of lack of security and of neglected maintenance problems, the management of the place, in a gesture of good will, created and offered an educational space to be used by the tenants and other low-income residents of the neighborhood. Breidenbach has been intimately involved with the operation of the space, now used, among others, by Su Casa and Trihealth. "We can teach English as a Second Language, teach kids music, hold art activities...," he says. "It can be a fertile ground for mutual understanding." At The Willow, and at The Colony, another low income apartment complex also in Credit: Saad Ghosn Springdale, Breidenbach offers tutoring and homework help with English and other assignments to youth living there. He is now helping a 22-year-old immigrant student succeed in passing courses toward his graduation. Breidenbach has also been going to local elementary schools to teach Spanish, encouraging kids to acquire early on a 2nd language. He does it with the hope to facilitate communication and cultural exchange from a young age, away from the rigid stereotypes and prejudices easily developed with age against immigrants. He envisions also achieving the same through the practice of group sports, which have been proven to create bonds in the youth, transcending discrimination. Breidenbach is also working with the Immigrant Dignity Coalition against bullying in the schools, in anticipation of what could happen in the current intimidating political climate. And thanks to his command of Spanish he has always served as a facilitating resource to many union organizations, including the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers (Continued on page 11) Religious Peacemakers is a regular column highlighting Greater Cincinnati individuals who use their faith and religious beliefs for peace and justice. Saad.Ghosn@uc.edu is the founder of SOS (Save Our Souls) Art, an organization that promotes arts as vehicles for peace and justice and for a change. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �NATIONAL “Is Your Refrigerator Running?” (Just asking) No. 38 0 | A p r i l 2 0 - M a y 3, 2 0 18 I love writing for this little newspaper. Even now, living far away, I'm drawn to being a semi-regular part of something that is doing so much good for so many people. I'm sure you readers look at the back page now and then. Those are the pictures of our distributors who spend hours on the sidewalks and street corners, selling this paper. Obviously, their “job” provides them spending money. They use this money the way you and I do, sometimes for essentials, and sometimes to buy stuff that makes them feel good. I don't begrudge the ones who drink. I drink. Or the ones who might use it now and then to get high. Been there. Done that. Probably will do so again Life is tough, especially for those who live so close to the streets, to the bottom line, to the bone. Selling Streetvibes provides some of these folks with a little extra to make their lives a little easier, a little better. The one thing that sometimes bothers me about this paper (and about the dozens of other “streetsheets” published in cities around the US and the world) is that it is too expensive to be purchased by poor folks, and especially by homeless folks. This means that we contributing writers can seldom, if ever, direct our stories and articles to an audience of the poor, the so-called marginalized. Instead, we write for you, the good people who generously, issue after issue, purchase the paper from our distributors, and hopefully enjoy our non-mainstream insights 9 JIM LUKEN Contributing Writer and perspectives. Our “audience” is primarily you concerned middle class people, generally from the suburbs, who come downtown to work or shop or eat. Now, many of you “upscale” Cincinnatians have chosen to move downtown, but you also choose to support the Homeless Coalition's work and our Streetvibes distributors. On behalf of all the people who work with the poor, or who contribute time to Streetvibes, and on behalf of those who benefit from the services provided, I will take this moment to thank you, sincerely, for being an integral part of what we do as we try to bring an end to the ongoing problem of rampant homelessness. At this point, you readers are probably wondering why this article has so strange a title. As you read on, you may wonder what the refrigerator story has to do with the problems relating to our downtown poor, or to homelessness, here, there and throughout the world. I will try to make some associations at the end, but for now, I'm telling you that I am providing the essay to this (your favorite downtown paper!) in the simple hope that you, my middleclass audience will find it interesting and perhaps enjoyable. I wrote this piece several years ago and entered it in a contest sponsored by Sun Magazine, which perhaps a few of you read regularly. It is a generally a good read, but it did not include my essay among the short pieces it published under the heading of: Refrigerators My entry was titled, “A quick course in refrigeration.” It follows below: Some of us older folks, remember making anonymous phone calls as kids, and asking the person at the other end, “Is your refrigerator running?” If the answer was “Yes,” we responded by saying, “Well, Ma'am, you better go catch it.” Click. I recall it was a scary thing to try, and that the joke seldom worked. If you were to walk into the kitchen and listen to your refrigerator at this moment, the odds are that it would indeed be running. If not, it soon will be. The sounds of its various fans and motors are part of the ambiance of your home, you seldom even notice the noise. Perhaps the most reliable, and vital, household appliance, the refrigerator stands quietly against a wall in the kitchen, and—with no visibly moving parts—keeps our everchanging foodstuffs cold (or frozen) over years, even decades. We take THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED things out and put things in every day of our lives with seldom a thought. I have been in my present apartment for twelve years. I estimate that the fridge is nearly 20 years old. I have yet to replace a single failed component in my own fridge. Ever wonder how this amazing and reliable machine works? As a long-time maintenance technician, I will attempt to explain the process. Of course, you could go to Wikipedia, but my explanation may be easier to grasp. And more fun. In fact, I'm not even going to check. So here goes: A refrigerator (or A/C, or dehumidifier) is a closed, tightlysealed system filled with a gas often referred to as “freon.” Unlike the liquid “gas” (gasoline) that burns off as it powers the engine of your car or lawnmower, freon gas is used over and over and over again to cool that trustworthy insulated box wherein you keep your perishable food. Each refrigerator employs a motorized pump called a compressor. As the heart of the cooling system, the compressor's (Continued on page 11) �10 LOCAL A p r i l 2 0 - M a y 3, 2 0 18 | N o . 38 0 May 18 - June 9, 2018 For tickets please call (513) 381-2273 Purchase tickets online at www.cincyshakes.com AD Donated by Mark and Sue Ann Painter season sponsored by the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �LOCAL The Deep State Part II Tails wagging dogs, big and small No. 38 0 | A p r i l 2 0 - M a y 3, 2 0 18 A few months ago, one of the cartoons in the weekly New Yorker magazine was a drawing of two scruffy-looking guys sitting at a bar. One is angry as he says to the other: “What's the point of having a conspiracy theory if everyone's going to conspire against it?” I cut that cartoon out, and it sits here on my desk, annoying me every time I glance its way. Why? Because I am a true believer in many conspiracies, and I'm in no way ashamed to say so. Some six years ago, I wrote a series of essays for this paper about conspiracies related to a variety of topics, The JFK assassination, of course. Also, about Martin Luther King, the fluoridation of our water, and… The day that changed everything My favorite conspiracy, which I researched for years and wrote a full length play about (as well as a short film script and a radio play) had to do with the events of 11 September, 2001. Yes, dear readers, I remain convinced that what happened that day, “the day that changed everything,” were perpetrated by a cabal of operatives JIM LUKEN (Continued from page9) job is to “squeeze” the gas so hard that it becomes a liquid. This process actually creates heat, which is dispersed out the bottom of your refrigerator. The now-liquid freon then “escapes” through a tiny tube called a capillary, or through a carefully-sized orifice called an expansion valve. The escaping liquid expands into a gas, which is quite cold. (Have you ever felt the chill when using an aerosol can, like hairspray? Same principal. A liquid escapes through a small nozzle on the can, expanding into a gas. Your finger feels the chill. The can is cool after releasing the gas). The cold gas in the fridge then expands into a tight coil of copper pipes usually located under the bottom panel (or behind the rear panel) of the freezer section. The fan that you hear when you open the freezer door pulls air through this SAAD GHOSN (Continued from page 8) (CFT), the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), in their dealing with labor issues pertaining to Latino immigrants. Breidenbach's involvements all along have also remained with 11 JIM LUKEN Contributing Writer by UC police officer Ray Tensing was handled. The same type of conspiracy takes place regarding virtually every murder committed by uniformed police officers across the United States. There is an almost conspiratorial rule: Even in the most obvious of cases, cops will not be convicted of a crime. I have a friend who is a high-ranking officer in the Canadian Mounties. He told me that Mounties who committed such obvious crimes, like the Dubose killing, would be out of a job in short order, and usually convicted and jailed. Canadian deaths at the hands of police are minimal compared to those in the US. 2) I believe that there was a conspiracy involved in the way Western-Southern, and its CEO, John Barrett, gained possession of the Anna Louise Inn, an historic refuge for poor women in Cincinnati for more than 100 years. That landgrabbing crime should never have happened. 3) I believe that there is an ongoing conspiracy as 3CDC continues to manipulate real estate in OTR, so within what is now known as the Deep State of the United States. More on that later. But for now, regarding 9/11, it is manifestly clear that it was an inside job, that we did it. 9/11 happened because an elaborate, ultra-secret element of top-ranking traitors from every level of our national-security state planned and perpetrated it, then—even more elaborately—covered it up. This writer is anything but alone in my convictions about 9/11 “truth.” Thousands of architects, engineers, pilots, ex-CIA people, ex-military, scientists and academicians from all over the world have signed on publicly, officially, forcefully, insisting that what happened that day was “an inside job.” Many did this at the risk of their jobs and reputations. Some paid with their lives. There is even a huge group which names itself “Patriots for 9/11 Truth.” Look it up. [Or, simply go to You Tube and search: [Retired General Stubblebine “Oh, my God.” A true patriot, Stubblebine's credentials are impeccable. His 15 minute video chat will convince almost anyone.] Conspiracy theory 101 But in this piece, I want to discuss “conspiracy theory” more generally. I don't need to tell you that those two words are maligned by politicians and the news media on an all-too regular basis. “Oh, that's another wacky conspiracy theory.” Perhaps as you began reading this piece, you were thinking that the writer must be a nut. I congratulate you for continuing to read. By the end, I hope you see that I am relatively sane and fairly well-informed on the subject. The technical definition of a conspiracy theory is: “a theory that explains an event or set of circumstances as the result of a secret plot by usually powerful conspirators.” That's from Mr. Webster. I like it, because it contains nothing negative about we believers. Nor does it suggest that all conspirators were/are doing something unlawful, or illegal, although that is usually the case. Here let me provide a short list of recent local conspiracies. 1) I believe that there was a conspiracy involved in the way the obvious murder of Sam Dubose finned copper coil (the evaporator). This circulating cold air both freezes the freezer section (to around O degrees) and chills the air in the fresh-food section of your “ice box” (to around 38 degrees). So called “frost free” refrigerators actually do create frost on that finned coil inside the freezer. If your house isn't air conditioned, and the ambient humidity is high, quite a bit of frost will form on the coil. Not to worry. Every twelve hours, a timer turns off the cooling system, and turns on this electric heat element located under, or around, the cooling coil. For a brief time, the element gets red hot, melting the frost away. After about 15 minutes, the timer turns the refrigerator's cooling system back on, and the heater off. The homeowner is seldom, if ever, aware that this defrost cycle is happening, or when. An adjustable thermostat “senses” the temperature inside the refrigerator section and regulates the overall cooling system. Once you set the thermostat to a desired coolness, the compressor and fans are turned on (as the box temperature rises a few degrees) and off (once the compartment returns to the set temperature). The system maintains these levels of coldness day after day, year after year, winter or summer, no matter what the ambient temperature of the kitchen happens to be. Except for having a part replaced now and then, you need do nothing but pay the electric bill. Simple, right? But if you really want to find out if the light bulb goes out inside the fridge when you close the door, you may need to consult an expert. Does anyone remember the character “Vern?” What does this have to do with poverty or homelessness??? Well, nothing, really. But in some ways, it might prove quite relevant. Think about it. If you don't have a home, then you don't have a refrigerator. You don't have the option of going into a room, opening the thick door and grabbing a cartoon or a bottle, then pouring yourself a perfectly chilled glass of milk, or twisting the top on a cold brewski. Or of eating food that has been kept fresh just for you. This appliance, this amazing convenience, which most of us take for granted (unless we lose power during a snowstorm) is NOT part of a homeless person's everyday life. So Reader, in your urban or suburban home, would you miss not having a refrigerator? Of course you would, but probably not quite as much as you would miss not having a toilet at your immediate disposal when nature beckons. Think about it. Everyone should have a toilet. Everyone should have a fridge. Everyone should have a home. Affordable housing for all!!! Now go check if your refrigerator is running. P.S., Once I had written the above essay, I did go to Wikipedia. As I thought, my explanation is much easier to grasp than theirs. Do you trust me? the Workers Center and the Labor Council of the AFL CIO, which represent the interests of working people, promoting safe work places and practices, protecting workers' wages, fighting for their rights, and advocating for social and economic justice for all—regardless of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, ethnic or national origin. Commenting on the current times, Breidenbach is quick to state that they are apocalyptic, controlled by greed, power and money. He thinks that we should look for solutions outside the classical norms of the democratic structure, and that we need to take our voice instead to the street. He would like to promote alliances between oppressed people who have a lot in common; and bring together those who face similar problems of inequality in order to impact a change. "We are all human beings and equal," he states. "We all have similar rights and should be given equal opportunities. I do not believe in hierarchy or that some are better than others because of birth. We need to fight injustice wherever it is and empower workers everywhere and whoever they are." THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED (Continued on page 12) --------------------------------------- �12 DR. MARK MUSSMAN (Continued from page 3) the neighborhood. (Rarely do they include people by focusing on street scenes, sunsets, buildings, etc., but that’s another story.) This goes deeper into the development community. 3CDC (Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation) owns hundreds of buildings in the neighborhood now. How many? Well, we don’t know. They refuse to release their property list — they told me it’s proprietary information. What are they hiding? If you look up properties on the county JIM LUKEN (Continued from page 11) that the poor are being systematically displaced from the neighborhood where their families have lived for generations. 4) There was also a conspiracy in the way an entire north wing of the downtown public library was being sold to 3CDC for a proverbial song...without community input. Fortunately, that conspiracy was unraveled in time, because angry citizens found out in time, although a primary whistle-blower lost her job. 5) Here is a Cincy miniconspiracy. But it affects hundreds and hundreds of our city's homeless and poor. When the downtown area was “renewed,” one facet of that renewal involved hundreds of new park benches. Nice. But each of the new park benches contains an “armrest” built in the very middle. This armrest all but prevents tired or homeless people from sleeping on the benches. Is there anyone out there who could be convinced that these “armrests” were simply installed by accident. No, the planners conspired to have the city buy benches like these. Their conspiracy could not be considered a crime, but it nonetheless seems almost criminal. The Proof is in the pudding All the horrible things our “deep state” has done (mostly without being caught) would seem to prove that we are capable of doing anything. Anything to preserve a status quo that “the powers that be” are so comfortable with. The deep state is potentially free to perpetrate the most heinous of crimes, without ever being called to task. Just as the police are never really called to judgment in the deaths of so many African-Americans. I will give you a very recent example of how conspiratorial forces, the forces of collusion, the deep state, might have chosen to work: Poisoning of Russian former spy in England. We all know the story. This former spy and his daughter were poisoned with a deadly nerve agent. They remain very sick. The entire world is convinced that “Russia did it.” Maybe they did. Most likely they did. Hundreds of Russian diplomats STREET VOICE A p r i l 2 0 - M a y 3, 2 0 18 | N o . 38 0 auditor’s site, they are registered under the address, rather than under 3CDC. There are so many LLC’s (limited liability corporations) it’s impossible to tell which buildings are actually owned by 3CDC. 3CDC will say they are “land banking” but when buddy gray was working with the community to acquire buildings for low-income housing, they were accused of “stockpiling” them. Can you spot the difference between the effect of “land banking” vs “stockpiling?” The language that we use has an effect. All of this is to say that we all, especially white people, have an obligation to do the emotional labor and to learn by listening to our neighbors, doing research, and ultimately distancing ourselves from people who wish to erase the history, culture, and people from inner-city neighborhoods. We must resist false narratives and lies like “no one has been displaced from Over-the-Rhine,” “there are more people living in Overthe-Rhine now than 15 years ago,” “more bars will bring opportunity,” “a stadium is going to bring jobs,” “school life won’t be impacted by construction,” “it’s not removing housing,” etc. Just like in everything else in life — if it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is. We must hold our elected officials accountable for the decisions that they make that harm our communities, and we must hold each other accountable when we use hurtful or flagrant language that creates barriers to solutions and the truth. If you’d like to learn more about the Over-the-Rhine People’s Movement, please contact us to schedule a tour or a speaker. You can learn more and conveniently sign up on our website, under Education: cincihomeless.org have been expelled from counties all over the world. 60 from the US. But Russia (Puten) claims they didn't do it. Maybe they didn’t. If the Russkies really didn't do it, who might have perpetrated this nasty act? The fact is, because of the election interference, because of the annexation of Crimea, because of militarization of part of Ukraine, Russia is on the ropes right now. So think about it. Couldn't there be at least a possible scenario in which the US or the British planted the nerve agent of the door of Russian spy's boats, attacked the USS Liberty, a technical research (read “spy”) vessel in the waters off the Sinai Peninsula. The Israelis hoped to pin the attack on Egypt. 34 men died and 172 were injured. Surviving crew members were immediately put under a gag order. To this day, Israel insists that the attack was a freak accident, a case of mistaken identity, that continued for more than an hour despite repeated distress signals from the disabled ship. To this day, many of the surviving crew members of the Liberty are house in England so that Russia would be further vilified? And never forget that the US warehouses the largest supply of chemical agents and nerve agents of any country in the world. Why do we find this necessary if we never plan to use the stuff? Again, look it up. Let me be clear, I'm not saying that this is what happened. I'm not saying that the US (or Brittain) created a “false flag” operation, implicating the Russians. But I am asserting that this is a distinct possibility. This is why people who are hard-core conspiracy theorists suggest government (deep state) collusion in the midst of so many tragedies. We've done it before. We could do it again. The attack on the Liberty: an example I'll make this as short as I can. On June 8, 1967, during the “6-day war” with Egypt, an unmarked Israeli fighter jet, along with several torpedo determined to prove that the attack was premeditated and deliberate. The evidence they have produced is all but insurmountable. But the cover-up continues. Why? Because the murderous raid happened at the hands of Israel. We never mess with the Israelis. The attack on the Liberty provides a glaring example of CONSPIRACY between the US and the Israeli governments, and their militaries. The media as co-conspirators Let's bring this full circle. Conspiracies, small and large, take place anywhere and often. In the case of the grandest conspiracies, the mainstream media participate in covering up, and refusing to properly investigate them, although they are often sometimes treasonous crimes. A personal example: During the US “secret” Contra war in Nicaragua (1981-89), an esteemed journalist for our most prestigious newspaper (the New York Times) told a photographer friend of mine that if he were to send home stories that reflected positively on the Sandinista government, or too negatively about the Contras (whom the CIA was secretly directing and funding), he would be given his walking papers. As bizarre as this may sound coming from an admittedly liberal perspective (mine), Trump has reason to speak, in some instances of the “fake media.” Since the orangehaired President seems to present a clear and present danger to our national interests, he is most likely correct in asserting—in so many words—that “the deep state is out to get him.” The “deep state,” those shadowy actors who control much of what goes on in our foreign and domestic policies can conspire against the right or the left. AND they control much of the mainstream media. They are known to have placed “gate keepers” in the employ of every major newspaper, magazine and news outlet in the US. These CIA or NSA people receive two paychecks for making sure that certain negative stories (about the deep state, for example) remain unreported. So they do a sterling job of keeping the lid on stories that might upset the system. Back to 9/11 Thus, regarding the greatest conspiracy of the 21st century— the 9/11 attacks, which killed three thousand people—the media have steadfastly refused to conduct any independent investigations of that monstrous event, or to probe the various cover-ups that continue to this day. Nor will the media provide any kind of forum for the thousands of patriots who have researched that event and would like to present their research to the public. Any call to reopen an investigation of the “crime of the century” goes unheeded and unmentioned. This should qualify as a “conspiracy of silence.” The truth about what happened on 9/11, cannot be exposed. It could destroy our nation's soul. Or as the New Yorker cartoon stated: What's the point of having a conspiracy if everyone is going to conspire against it? THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED --------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- �STREET VOICE No. 38 0 | A p r i l 2 0 - M a y 3, 2 0 18 SOME EASY CHOICES 13 LIVING BY GOODNESS Each day God gives us life How merciful our creator Would you rather read about Springer Spaniels, He gives us a wonderful start Than Trump's escapades with Stormy Daniels? To live life with breath In our lungs and a beating heart Would you rather read a Shakespeare play, Living by goodness and by grace Than about the horrors of Scott Pruitt's EPA? Thank you God for another day Would you choose to hear real birds tweet, Living by goodness makes one feel good And thankful for Gods good grace Rather than to Trump's social media conceit? Would you rather talk to your neighbor's cat, Than to think about D.C.'s would-be autocrat? If you find these questions pose easy choices, Then you and I better raise our voices. BILL WOODS Contributing Writer KIM GREEN Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer THE PROTESTING HORSE WHO SAID THAT ANIMALS ARE NAIVE TO THINGS WITH THE HUMAN RACE? WHO SAID ANIMALS HAVE TO BE TAUGHT TO OBEY AND STAY IN THEIR PLACE? I SAY THAT THE ONLY DIFFRENCE BETWEEN PEOPLE AND ANIMALS IS WE HAVE A VOICE PEOPLE OFTEN TALK TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE WHILE ANIMALS LISTEN WITHOUT A CHOICE I BELIEVE ALL I SEE AND SOME OF WHAT I HEAR SO THEREFORE I KNOW WHAT'S BEST DO YOU BELIEVE I SAW A POLICEMAN SITTING ON TOP OF A HORSE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PROTEST? DO YOU BELIEVE THE POLICE WAS AGAINST THE PROTEST AND THAT MADE THE HORSE MAD? KNOW THE HORSE PASSED HIS BOWELS AT THE DOOR THE OFFICER WENT FROM HAPPY TO SAD SHOCK SWEPT IN THE CROWD AND I HEARD,"GET A PICTURE SEE THE HORSE NO THEY WRONG!” PROTESTERS STOPPED TO LOOK AND SHOUTED THE HORSE KNOWS AND STARTED SINGING A SONG AINT NO STOPPING US NOW, GOD IS ON THE MOVE, AINT NOBODY GONNA TURN US AROUND EVERYBODY HEARD COULD NOT DENY THAT THE HORSE HAD SPOKEN WITH A CLEAR SOUND!!!! WILLA DENISE JONES Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �14 PUZZLES A p r i l 2 0 - M a y 3, 2 0 18 | N o . 38 0 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 149 Across 1. Hobble 5. Assist in wrongdoing 9. Saltwater fish 13. Musical instrument 14. Exists 16. Song 17. Animal hide 18. Decorating material 19. A small room 20. Make a great effort 22. Wild plum 23. In vigorous good health 24. Epoch 26. Fury 28. Dusk 33. Style of glazed earthenware 36. Unit of electrical resistance 37. Kind of fruits with hard rinds 39. Tooth 41. Harvest 43. Outstanding 45. Gown 46. Showing keen interest 48. Claw 50. Beer 51. Religious doctrine 53. Crazy 55. Parts of the Roman calendar 57. Insect 58. Dart 61. Stalk 64. Formerly a European gold coin 68. Parasitic insects 69. Path or track 71. A strong line 72. At a later time 73. Evergreen plant 74. Overt 75. Changed location 76. Melt 77. Following 2. Wild goat Down 1. Smooth gait 67. Collapsible shelter 3. Small burrowing mammal 4. Oceanic bird 5. Any high mountain 6. Prejudice 7. Malevolence 8. Singing voice 9. Unmarried man 10. Region 11. Part of a window 12. Brief occasion for buying at reduced prices 15. Lieu 21. Neat and smart in appearance 25. Highly excited 27. Jewel 28. Ripped 29. Cereal grass 30. Visual representation 31. Pain 32. Trample SODOKU PUZZLE NO 279 - MEDIUM 34. Drift 35. Furniture item 38. Open river valley 40. Tall woody perennial grass 42. Feeling or expressing remorse for misdeeds 44. Burial chamber 47. Color 49. Requirement 52. Fractious 54. Nerve cell 56. Swagger 58. Defect 59. A telephone connection 60. Graphic symbol in computing 62. Apiece 63. Mineral 65. Manage 66. Peak 70. Jurisprudence PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ISSUE 379 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 148 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 278- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �RESOURCES No. 38 0 | A p r i l 2 0 - M a y 3, 2 0 18 Central Access Point 15 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children Bethany House 557-2873 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Soup Kitchen 535-2719 St. George Food Pantry 751-8771 2554 Dennis St. 45219 Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 131 E. 12th Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 Other Resources St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 215 E. 14th St. 45202 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 Salvation Army 762-5660 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 Shelter: Men Shelterhouse 721-0643 1125 Bank Street 45214 411 Gest St. 45203 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 1437 Walnut Street 45202 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 2121 Vine Street 45202 Prospect House 921-1613 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Parkway Center 661-4620 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 Starting Over 961-2256 Shelter: Youth Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women Shelter: Family Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both Interfaith Hospitality Network First Step Home 961-4663 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 471-1100 Housing: 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 1522 Republic Street 45202 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Advocacy Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health 961-0600 Center for Respite Care 621-1868 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center 799 Ann St. Newport, KY ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 for 26 issues 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Justin Jeffre at 513421-70803 x 12 or email streetvibes@ cincihomeless.org $100 859-491-8303 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 $150 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED for 26 issues and a $50 donation �16 A p r i l 2 0 - M a y 3, 2 0 18 | N o . 38 0 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2018 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource April 20-May 3, 2018 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: From the Director Issues Abound at the Faith Community alliance Annual Lunch and Awards Ceremony Pg 3: Do You Speak Like a Gentrifier? Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: The “New Parish” In Cincy Red Bike Announces Equity Program Pg 6: GCHC Pg 7: Eisenhower’s Farewell Address Pg 8: Religious Peacemakers Pg 9: “Is Your Refrigerator Running?” Pg 10: GCHC Pg 11: The Deep State Part II Pg 12: Dr. Mark Mussman Continued Jim Luken Continued Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource April 20-May 3, 2018 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Josh Spring Bill Woods Dr. Mark Mussman Rev. Rich Jones Justin Jeffre Michael Earl Patton Saad Ghosn Jim Luken Kim Green Willa D. Jones Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Jubilee Campaign White House Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Bill Woods Cincinnati Dr. Mark Mussman Eisenhower FC Gentrification Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Jim Luken Josh Spring Jubilee Campaign Justin Jeffre Kim Green Michael Earl Patton Red Bike Religion Rev. Rich Jones Saad Ghosn White House Willa D. Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/0fddc305685aa17f4d3553399f41b9b4.pdf 340148de42cd57771af867cb81c397b8 PDF Text Text arrived. None of us were ready for what Kunzel would pull from his bag of tricks that day. Spontaneous Demonstration Erupts Kunzel Meeting is Circus of Deception and Exclusion by Patrick "Tree" Mosolf The struggle b o etween Erich Kunzel's Greater Cincinnati Arts and Education Complex (GCAEC) and the Drop Inn Center has taken strange new turns recently. KLi[lzel and his Board have been making increasingly warlike gestures even after saying the Drop Inn Center does not need to be moved in the first phase of construction. The real casualty in the process has been any sense of democracy, whi'ch is so important if we are to have a jµst society. Background The Drop Inn Center first began to fight Kunzel's plan to move the School for Creative and Pe~rforming Arts into the Washington Park area 15 months ago when the GCAEC architects revealed that 3 out of 4 plans would involve moving the Drop Inn Center. After 12 months of grassroots organizing by the Drop Inn community, an article appeared in the newspaper January 7 saying that the new school could be built without moving the Drop Inn Center. However, at Kunzel's Board meeting on January 31st, a motion to commit to preserving the shelter in all phases of the plan aroused a great d.eal of opposition, and ultimately failed to pass by a vote of 8 to 8. Kunzel Boots Community . . Activist from GCAEC Board Kunzel's next move was to set in motion a series of steps to remove longtime Over the Rhine activist Bonnie Neumeier from his Board . Early on, Kunzel had included 4 representatives of the Over the Rhine low income community on the Board, presumably to build consen~us for his project. Bonnie had been quite vocal in stating that Kunzel and his henchmen had not adequately considered the community's needs before making their plans. When Kunzel tried to streamline the meeti~gs to bypass important issues like displacement and moving the shelter, Bonnie would draw the conversation back to these important considerations. Kunzel apparently did not like dealing with issues relating to the community, for his board moved not to renew her place on the Board. Over the Rhine community activists were debating what steps to take to mai~tain Bonnie's place on the Board when the meeting date, March 141h, nclnrl On March 14th I-had a funny feeling in my stomach, but was resigned to more of the same from Kunzel's Board- a streamlined agenda, silencing the public, and verbal attacks on the community reps. At 4:30 when the meeting was supposed to·start I was still languish ing in the office at the Drop Inn Center. Suddenly we got the news th at Kunzel and his Board had locked people out of the meeting. All of our supporters had come to see Kunzel's meeting but were now stuck outside! Denise Crew, a longtime shelter worker grasped the significance of the situation and called on the residents and staff of the . Drop Inn to go to the meeting. Of course, none of them was allowed into the meeting either. Well, a spontaneous demonstration was formed, with vibrant chants and stirring cheers. The people finally had a chance to express their frustration with Kunzel 's high handed, exclusive process outside of MemorialHall. Clapping our hands, raising our voices, we were unified by Kunzel's discrimination. In the end, rather than helping his agenda, he stimulated more of an uproar which disrupted his own meeting. Mysterious Meeting Change Despite the ·ban on members of the public in ~unzel's March 14th meeting, I managed to get into it by way of participation in SCPA's Local School Decision Making Committee. This group is one of the governing bodies of the SCPA school, and is composed of teachers, administrators, parents, students and community members. Strangely, their meeting had been rescheduled from March 16th at SCPA to March 14th at Memorial Hall (where Kunzel's meeting was being held.) The reputed reason for this was for Kent Cashell to be at the ·GCAEC meeting, and then to meet with the SCPA folks afterward. (Kent Cashell is an administrator for the Cincinnati Public Schools, and is the person responsible for the Facilities Master Plart, which includes designating $26 million for Erich Kunzel's Kunzel, continued on page 3 �5 TREE TV I BE 5 The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Page 2 STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Streetvibes, the Tri-Stat e's Home­ less Grapevine, is a newspaper written by, for, and about the homeless, social justice and poverty related issues. It is published once a month, 1 2 issues a year, by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Vendors buy the paper for 20 cents (to cover printing costs) and then sell the paper for a dollar . don~tion. The vendor keeps the profits. Becoming a Streetvibes Vendor is a great way for homeless and other low­ income people to get back on (or stay on) their feet. Streetvibesvendors are given an orientation and sign a code of conduct before being gi\{en a Streetvibes vendor badge. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a group of shelters, agencies and individuals committed to ending homelessness in Cincinnati ' through coordinating services, educating the public and grassroots organizing. ADVERTISE IN STREETVIBES!!! Socially Conscious Readers Support Socially Conscious Businesses If you have a business, Streetvibes is a great place to advertise. We reach over 6,000 socially conscious residents of Greater Cincinnati every month who want to support businesses who are equally socially conscious. We regularly sell papers at locations such as Xavier University, University of Cincinnati, St. Xavier High School, Ursuline Academy, Ludlow Avenue, various downtown locations, Bellarmine Chapel, and many other local churches. Our business card-sjze ads are just fifteen dollars and a double business-card size ad is just thirty dollars. We'll even hel p you design your ad! If you own a business or an employment agency and need employees, put your help wanted ads in Streetvibes, for just $1.00 per line, with ten words per line. ' Staff Susan Knight , Tom Billman, John Halpin Jess Ballew Ron Carter, Warren Perkins, Pat Mitchell Administ rat ive Coordinat or Streetvibes Editor Assistant Editor Editorial Intern Vendor Support Tenant Organizing Volunteer Receptionist Writers Mike Henson Donald Whitehead Jess Ballew John Halpin Sonny Williams Tom Billman Rodney Sutton Lynn Williams · Tree Mosolf Bonnie Neumeier Tina Maser Marsha Ramsey Pat Mitchell · Ron Carter Michelle Kitchen · John Perroti Kevin L. Deal William Phillips Africa C.W. Mcintosh ­ Your advertising dollars will help us make certain our vendors have the late.s t Str eetvibes to _sell, all month long. The sale of advertising will also give us the flexibility we need to help vendors become seriously involved in the writing and editing of Streetvibes. Advertising in Streetvibes in one of the most tangible ways that you can support the homeless in Cincinnati. It gives you a chance to be part of a very. exciting time for Streetvibes and the Homeless Coalition as we expand and make our services even better! Give John or Tom a call at 421-7803 for more information, or feel free to send an ad with your check to Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, 1506 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45210. Graphics Photographs by Andy Hutzel, T. Billman, Sketches by John Perotti, Demetrius . · Jackson, Patricia Lay Dorsey ... Streetvibes accepts letters, poems, stories, essays, original graph­ ics, photos.... We will print everything · we have room for, giving preference to those who ar,~ homeless or vendors. Please send all material to th~ following address: Streetvibes c/o Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45210 (513)421-7803 fax (513) 421-7813; e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com (text.:. only) or homecoal@primax.net ( attached files) web page: http://cinci.com/gcch Armed-Guards prevented Community advocates from attendiing GCAEC Boar(i-meeting �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Kunzel, tcontinued from page 1 "dream school" for SCPA.) If this is the case, it is sad to think Cashel! wouldn't have time to have a separate meeting with the SCPA folks, whose futures are at stake in this whole plan. But that probably is not the reason. It's hard to know who initiated the combining of Kunzel's Board meeting with the SCPA Decision Making Committee, but it probably involved Kunzel, Kent Cashel! and the SCPA principal. I think the motive was to galvanize support_for Kunzel's plan by impressing the rank and file· parents, students and teachers at SCPA with Kunzel's high profile board. It may also have been intended to alienate SCPA supporters from Drop Inn Ce.nter supporters, since the · SCPA supporters were allowed to participate in Kunzel's meetings whi le the Drop Inn Center · supporters were forced to demonstrate outside. It wouldn't be difficu lt for an SCPA supporter to misunderstand the situation of the Drop Inn Center and label them as "troublemakers". But despite Kunzel's attempt to drive a wedge between the Drop Inn and SCPA, the reality is that the SCPA people have also been left out of the process. · done on their behalf and they weren't even told about it or invited to participate. This kind of thing is the essence of Kunzel's elitist paternalism. It m~de. me feel even more strongly that Kunzel's motive is not so much to help SCPA, but to secure his own legacy. I challenge Kunzel to truly put the power into the hands of the people- members of the SCPA community can negotiate with the Drop Inn Center and other community stakeholders to determine a good locaticm for the Page 3 school. Maybe then all the options could be considered, including renovation of the existing building. Kunzel's handling of the project has · been so clumsy that it's time he abdicated his self serving role and leave the planning to those who can handle this important decision.: the school, the shelter, and the public . . To get involved with the struggle for the Survival of the Drop Inn Center, call 721-0643 during regular · business hours. SCPA is also Marginalized When I first went to SCPA to meet its supporters I thought it would be difficult to relate to them, since one group's interests had been pitted against the other group's. But I soon realized that they knew very little about what was going on, and had been left out of the planning and decision making for their own school. I was shocked when I had to tell the members of the SCPA group about Kunzel 's Board meeting on January 31st: The w}lole thing was being Bonnie Neumeier speaking to Over-the-Rhine Community members who have just been excluded from the GCAEC Board meeting. Community Advocate is Kicked off the Arts and Education Center {GCAEC) Board Bonnie Neumeier was the Over-the-Rhine community repres_ e ntative on the GCAEC Board. This is a statement she issued on March 14, 2000. I have been at these Board meetings with my body. My attendance has been perfect. I have been at these Board meetings with my mind, asking intelligent questions . I have been at these Board meetings with my voice, representing the voice of many, hoping whatever evolves is just and fai~ to the folk who call this· neighborhood home. I have been at these Board meetings with my spirit, for I feel passionate about our people, our land, our years of labor of love to build grassroots efforts, like the Drop Inn Center, that have kept people and our dream alive. ltis no surprise that I am not being re-nominated for the seat I hold. The reason given: "Other people on the Board think that I tend to be more divisive than building bridges; that I am abrasive, disruptive, and intimidating, thus causing other Board members to be quiet" Whoa, if I had that kind of power .... Deep down inside, I know we are a collaborative people, networking all the time to make the impossible possible here in Over-the Rhine. I/We need to stand proud about my/our participation. And know that the real reason for not recommending me for re­ coalescing .. ..You don't go into coalition nomination is an attempt to silence the because you just like it." The reason we voice of the people that this plan and are here with you is that we care about our process has not worked hard enough yet to community staying alive and we don't want understand, engage, res~ect or appreciate. to be drowned out by a dream plan that Getting rid of me will nofget rid of this can't recognize that we've been swimming collective voice. I admit it is not easy to sit · here for a long time ang we hope to stay here with our differences and the varying · afloat. Dr. Reagon also says: - "We've perspectives we bring to the table. I don't pretty much come to the end of a time relish these meetings either; it always feels when you.can have a space that is uncomfortable to me. So I can appreciate yours only--just for the people you that the Over-the-Rhine Community Voice want to be there. There is no hiding can make you feel uncomfortable and place. There is nowhere you can go frustrated. This situation reminds me of an and only be with people who are like article I read and often return to entitled you. It's over. Give it up." The tension "Coalition Politics" by Dr. Bernice Johnson that rises up at this table is a collective Reagon, Director of the Program in Black consciousness about a principle of fairn~ss · American Culture of Smithsonian that Over-the-Rhine people and programs Perf'.orming Arts. She writes this about deserve. That spirit cannot be snuffed out. coalition politics: "I feel as if I'm gonna keel over any minute and die. That is Respectfully, often what it feels like if you're really _ doing coalition work. Most of the time . Bonnie Neumeier----.. ._ --­ you feel threatened to the core and if Over-the-Rhine Resident you don't, you're not really doing no March 14, 2000 �STREET VI BES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Kevin Scudder is Next to be Executed in Ohio? By Michael Manley, Ohioans to Stop Executions Note to Streetvibes readers: Kevin Scudder is the next Ohio death row inmate scheduled for execution. Like Wilford Berry, Scudder is a "volunteer" and has waived his rights to further review. Unless a stay of execution is issued in the next few weeks, his execution will be April 25. Although Kevin Scudder has said he wants to die an~ is scheduled for execution on April 25, 2000, there are serious questions conce~g his competency in 1990 to stand trial and his competency now to waive his rights to further review. IBtimately, there may be questions concerning his competency to be executed. Since no evidentiary hearings on these questions have been held, the execution would be unconstitutional until Kevin Scudder has been found competent regarding all of them. It is likely, but not certain, that a full competency hearing would require more time than the April 25 execution date allows; therefore, a stay of execution may be necessary. UPDATE ON KEVIN SCUDDER On January 7 , 2000, Kevin refused to sign a habeas petition and informed his attorney that he wanted to be executed. He wrote to the Ohio Supreme Court requesting that they allow the execution to pro~eed, and the Court set an execution date -April 25, 2000. On January 28 Scudder was moved, for undisclosed ' "security reasons ," from death row at the Mansfield Correctional Institution to the Corrections Medical Center in Columbus, where he remains at this time. On January 10, S. Adele Shank and Sharon L. Ovington, Scudder's attorneys,· entered a next friend petition in the United States District Court; with S. Adele Shank acting as next friend. The petition includes 24 separate claims for relief, beginning with the claim that the defendant "was incompetent to stand trial or go forward with any subsequent legal proceedings. No Get thee to a halfway house U.S. Court Upholds Law to ~ Evict Tenants for Drugs A U.S. federal appeals court has ruled that tenants in public housing can be evicted for a household member's drug use, even if they did not know about it. In a 2-1 decision on Monday, the 9th U.S . Ci rcuit Court of Appeals upheld a 1988 federal law that . allows local housing authorities to apply the Department of Housing and Urban Development's "one-strike" policy. http://news.findlaw.com/News/sl 20000215/courtca/ifornia.html court evaluated his competency in compliance with federal constitutional standards" (Habeas Petition, p. 1). The next friend petition itself raises the question of competency, which must be resolved , before Scudde r may be a llowed to wa ive his remedies. Whatever the courts should decide about Scudder's competency du ring past proceedings, they ultimately might need to address Scudder 's comp etency to be executed, since the execution of the insane has been .found unconstitutional as a violation of the Eighth Amendment. . Now that case has been brought before the District Court, Judge Marbley is proceeding with a competency hearing. The defense and the state are submitting names of mental health experts, and Judge Marbley will select three (one from each of the subm itted lists and one of his choosing). · These experts will examine Scudder and make their recommendation to the court. A full hearing would ensue, with opportunity for cross-examination, and Judge Marbley would issue his ruling based on that hearing. BACKGROUND ON KEVIN SCUDDER Kevin Scudder (37) was convicted in 1990 of murdering Tina Baisden, age I 4. ·The charge of aggravated m"urder included attempted rape and kidnapping specifications. On December 14, 1990, Kevin Scudder was sentenced to death. Even though Kevin Scudder has maintained his innocence of the crime, he told his attorney in December, 1998, that he was "tired of living on death ro_w" and that he wanted to waive his remedies and be "put down" by the state; a month later, he explained to his attorney that "the voices in his head told him not to appeal or he would die that night." That attorney had serious doubts about Scudder's competency, and he expressed them to the Ohio Supreme Court. However, Scudder changed his mind and . Page 4 sought further review of his c_a se. He continued with this determiDation for the last year. Then on January 7, 2000, he refused to sign the habeas petition. When considering. Kevin Scudder's requests to waive his remec:iies, it is crucial to understand that this defendant has a long history of physical and mental health problems, ahd a legal history that raises serious questions about his competency. Physically, he was born with a cleft palate and amblyopia, and he is currently an amputee in a wheelchair and catheterized. Mentally, he h_as received a broad range of diagnoses , including paranoid schizophren ia, organic brain, damage , s ociopathy, an d drug dependence. In,1980, he was charged with breaking a man's jaw, but he ·was fo und incompetent to stand trial and then was fqund not gu ilty by reason of insanity. He was committed to Lima State Hospital for the Criminally Insane and then was sent to the Central Ohio Psychiatric hospital and the Mansfield Correctional Institution. While at the Franklin County Correction Center, he is reported to have attempted to hang himself, and there are further indications of suicidal tendency in the record . The question of Kevin Scudder's ..competency was raised before the murder trial. There was an evaluation by the state· forensic center; on the basis of this report and the "demeanor of the defendant," the .cou rt decided Scudder was competent. However, no evidentiary hearing was ever held, no independent evaluation was ever done, no opportunity to challenge the state report ever was ·allowed . · Since the defendant 's "demeanor" deteriorated during the course of the trial, the court should have reopened the question of competency but failed to do so . . It should be a matter of grave concern, even to supporters of the death pen alty, that Ohio resumed the practice of executions by killi.ng a man suffering from a serious mental illness, and now, one year later, is scheduled to kill another man suffering from serious mental illness. We need to examine closely how the judicial process treats the mentally ill and how it selects them for ,death. For the full text of this article and for additional information, see the " Ohioans to Stop Executions" website at www.otse. org. �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Dying for Justice ....... by Jess Ba/few . Did you know that the Supreme Court, in McCluskey v. Kemp (1976) ruled that a certain amount of racial bias is "inevitable" in death penalty cases? And if this bias exists, why continue a system of "justice" so final as the death penalty? This was the predominant theme of Bryan Stevenson's March 2 lecture at the University of Cincinnati School of Law. An Alabama attorney and Harvard graduate, Mr. Stevenson is the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative of Alabama, an organization which seeks legal representation for death row cases in a state which has no public defender system following the initial trial. Mr. Stevenson recruits other attorneys to do pro-bona work for capital cases, and it is clear that he has his work cut out for him. He had to return to Alabama immediately following his lecture to attempt a stay of execution for a man scheduled to be put to death at midn.ight This man had spent three years on death row·--three "critical" years, according to Mr. Stevenson -with no legal representation. -_ Although Mr. Stevenson w,_as in Cincinnati to persuade attorneys to ~ volunteer for pro-bono capital cases, his lecture at U.C.maintained focus on the inevitability of racial bias in death penalty cases. Using the same statistical analysis that proved smokers are two-and-a-half times more likely to get lung cancer if they smoke regularly, it has been proven that a defendant is eleven times m_ore likely to get the death penalty if he or she is African American and the victim is white. Despite this blatant racial bias - and despite the Page 5 American Bar Association's recommended moratorium of the death penalty because of this bias - the Supreme Cou_rt continues to uphold the death penalty. So the question remains: why do we continue a process of retribution as final as the death penalty when bias has been absolutely proven? Our system of justice is not one­ hundred percent effective in determining guilt or innocence. Just recently in Illinois, 12 of 160 death row inmates were released after their innocence was proven beyond a shadow of a doubt. Mr. Stevenson gave an example of a man in Alabama convicted of murder and sentenced to life-imprisonment - even though he had over thirtywitnesses to prove he was at a barbecue at the time of the murder. So why continue a punishment that is one-hundred percent final? As Mr. Stevenson so eloquently emphasized, the death row prisoners are "literally dying for justice." Throw Momma from the Shelter wAsH1NGToN, o.c. The mayor's office takes a sudden interest in a chronic emergency at the federal City Shelter. (rep.rinted from the Washington City Paper) ...By Kevin Diaz It's a windy Monday morning outside least the past four years city agencies have Washington's biggest and most beleaguered been sending families there , according to CCNV homeless shelter, run by the Community for director Terri Bishop . She also contends that Creative Non-Violence (CCNV). Squads of so­ the Coalition of the Homeless and Housing Or­ cial workers and health inspectors are expected ganizations recently heard CCNV's plans for a at' 10a.m. The television news cameras start new family wing and that even the mayor's con­ gathering a few minutes before. For the 600 or stituent service staffers had sometimes referred so residents at the shelter it can only mean one hard-luck family cases there , Suddenly, on this thing : They and the rickety structure they call Monday morning in February, getting women home are about to become the backdrop for and children out of this land of leaky toilets and confrontation between municipal scandal and free-roaming vermin has become Public Prior­ damage control. . ity No. 1. A week ago, a lengthy feature in the Washington City Paper reported on the abys­ Pardon Bishop if she's become a little mal conditions inside the shelter, where reporter cynical over the mom issue. "This is all a kneeJason Cherkis lived for a week. The presence jerk reaction to the City Paper article," she says, offamilies with children , Cherkis noted, is a vio­ as the mothers continue filing into the brisk morning air. Bishop wonders aloud whether lation of CCNV's lease, which expires at the end D.C. officials are more concerned with avoid­ of the year. One the eve of publication , D.C. ing bad press tnan with actually helping her cli­ Deputy Mayor for Child and Family Services ­ Carolyn Graham suddenly vowed to take ac- · ents. Some of the clients apparently agree. tion . Though Graham promised to send in the By Monday morning , the mothers were told, bureaucratic SWAT teams the very next morn­ they and -~heir kids had to be out. Word is that ing, they wound up waiting a few more days. But today: after years of inattention , city social the city will find them alternative shelter at D.C. workers are descending on the place with clip­ Village, near the Blue Plains waste treatment facility in fa r Southwest. "Isn 't that where all boards in hand·. The mothers and the child ren are the shit goes?'' asks one of the mothers. -Oth­ among the fi rst to file out the doors of the ers complain that it's far from their jobs and their kids' schools. troubled shelter. There's Angela Barnes, with 6-year old Brittany and 9-year old Brenda; By the time the city workers get to Fedthere's Sharon Holloman , with 8-year-old Felicia era I City- they're 45 minutes ·1ate - most of the and 9-year-old Robin ; and then there's Michelle _ mothers a re already in the street, the place Ragland with her three kids , Ash_ley, i 2, Ashton, · ,having ~en er~ temporarily for a demon-10, and Candice, 8. Most of th.em are wearing sir.@{ion aga ifls.t ,~"f.~ ~ dictio ns . The maneuver red baseball caps emblazoned wrrh the ogos as yielzt€, d a tef~ i\iz: crOJWd.. Most wander saying, "Help the Homeless." . off, but . or~ lhan t001residents and staff gather · The famil!es serve as !"r0ps-in -a w:~i ·' f . · ~;~ ~. Q_ct 1d handicapped-access ramp, where a worlds and symbols with city un1ctdb .11110 µru­ microphone has been set up. About a dozen fess ~c- '-- B shocked that the Federal City Shel­ children play in the park across the street. ter - located two blocks from the mayor's of­ "We don't know what's going on," says fice at Judiciary Square - is actually occupied Barnes, with Brittany tugging at her coat. "So by families with children. Never mind that for at far, they've promised us nothing. The social .. workers just told us we can go to D,C'. Village, but I've heard there's a 90-day limit." Whatever else people want to say about the quality of life inside CCNV 's shelter, it's been home to Burnes since December 6. "They've accepted us," she says. "They didn't leave us out on the street. You've got to give them credit. " While Barnes recounts her tale, five District social workers exit purposefully from a white sedan and file into the troubled homeless shelter. They're there to talk to shelter residents, not to Bishop, and certainly not to reporters. "I'm out of the loop," Bishop says. "They're not com­ municating with me, so I don't know what their plan is." T:hen she adds sardonically: "I'm not sure they even know what the plan is. They've just been told to come down here. And when you work for a salary, you do what you 're told ." Some of the mothers have already in­ terviewed with social workers since the City Paper story.· Those mothers tell the others out in the street that if they don't lea'{e, their chil­ dren cou Id be taken away from 'them . That gets the fighting instinct flowing in more than one mother. "I don't know where I'm going to go," says Holloman. "But I know that if they try to take my kids, I'm going to have to open _up a fresh can of whup-ass. " By early afternoon, the social workers and health inspectors have fanned out through the building at 425 2nd Street. Television crews fol­ low through the corridors, snatching interviews with confused res idents where they can. No­ body from the city is publicly taking charge, so there's general confusion about what's sup­ posed to happen next. "By now, I WqS expect­ ing to see some vans or a bus pull up, " says· Barnes, w ho's heading outside for a smoke. While they're at it, the inspectors decide to pay a visitto the D.C. Central Kitchen opera- Washington Shelter, (continued on page 17) �ST REE TV I BES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Page 6 PROTESTERS AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY RIOT IN MONTREAL AP Wire Service - Mar 15, 2000 MT. OLIVE PICKLE BOYCOTT UPDATE by Sonny Williams On March l 7rh at St. Monica-St. George Church in Clifton, more than 22 people braved thirty-degree weather to hear Father Joe Nelson, Director ofthe Hispanic Center for the Carthage neighborhood. Also speaking wa~ Mike Ferner, former Communications Director of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC Union) , Toledo, Ohio. Mr. Ferner said . that the Mt. Olive Pickle Boycott has caused the Kroger Grocery Chain M t. Olive products at .....·... J.'-"l~""' Toledo area. "(The Mt. company is the la~ the South.) iJJ~o toxic ~~:Z;!il!:= Co. call the shots in agribusiness today. They dictate contract terms withfarmers before the crop is ttven planted They tell farmers how much they will bepaid on delivery and workers.are hired based on thatprice,. When confronted, they claim they are not to blame, saying don't employ the pickers, the growers do. " ..... From the web page ofthe Toledo chapter of theAmerican Association ofUniversity Professors. For more information on the Mt. Olive Boycott, call lntercommunity Justice and Peace Center at 579-8547. Or write to Donna, Central American Task Force, 7 45 Derby Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45232. Or call Sonny Williams, Welfare Rights Coalition, 381-4242. "we MONTREAL (AP)-_ Hundreds of people protesting against alleged police brutality broke windows at a police station and damaged shops and cars in downtown Montreal on Wednesday. Riot squads broke up the demonstration and arrested about 100 people. The unrest erupted two days shy of the 45th anniversary of another Montreal riot, when hockey fans enraged by the suspen­ sion of Montreal C~madians star Maurice Richard went on a rampage. Targets of the estimated 400 protest­ ers, some wearing masks, on Wednesday night included McDonald's restaurants, a , bank, a police station, and vehicles parked along downtown streets. No injuries were reported. · · Bernard Vadier, 62, said he was drinking coffee at a McDonald's restaurant when the windows were smashed. "It sounded like a bomb," he said. "The windows.shattered but there was no glass flying. Everyone was snacked. We all left the restaurant. " The protest came a few hours after prosecutors said a hearing would be re­ quired to determine if charges would be filed against two Montreal policemen who allegedly took part in the beating of a home­ less man. The victim died weeks later. Michel Breton, a chief prosecutor, said serious charges against the policemen could result from the special hearing. But Yves Manseau, a spokesman for the protesters, said the special hearing was extremely unusual and showed that police­ men in Montreal were getting preferential treatment. HOMELESS PEOPLE'S NETWORK <http://aspin.asu.edu/hpn> 7,500+ ar­ ticles by or via homeless & ex-home­ less people Nothing About Us Without Us ­ Democratize Public Policy kkkkkkkkk*********kkkkkkkkkk****7<kkkkkkkkkkkk************** . HPN maillist - HPN@aspin.asu.edu http://aspin.asu.edu/mailman/listinfo/hpn Where is Giuliani's Compassion? Policies jeopardize homeless' right to shelter by Shelly Nortz Ne~ York Mayor Rudlph Giuliani's plan on homelessness is dangerous and contradictory. Instead of proposing permanent and effective solutions, Giuliani wants to evict homeless people form shelters and arrest many of the streetbound homeless. His plan will not create one new home or one new job for a homeless person. The glaring contradiction between the two new policies betrays giuliani's real motive. Clearly; this is about sounding tough in campa_ ign sound bites and not about compassion : Imagine how a homeless person ·who has fallen through every safety net might react when he awakes to find the police offering him a ride to a shelter, handcuffs at the ready. Giuliani's plan threatens the 10-year­ old legal right to shelter for homeless New Yorkers. In 1979, the Coalition for the Homeless brought a class action lawsuit on behalf of Robert Callaban and other homeless men sleeping on the streets of New York city. On Christmas eve, the New York State Supreme Court ordered the city and state to provide emergency shelter t ~ homeless men, and in 19f31, approved a consent decree establishing the right to shelter for all of the city's homeless men. The court was concerned that the homeless were suffering frostbite injuries and that some had frozen to death in recent winters. In later litigation, the shelter right was gra nted to homeless women and families, 1 too. The coalition has returned to court repeatedly to enforce the decree when there have been too few shelter bed~ to meet the need and when shelter conditions have become especially dangerous. -Just two years ago, the Giuliani administration w_as ordered to open immediately 200 new shelter beds for homeless people whom the city had failed to accommodat~ during the coldest winter months. A truly compassionate· approach would -bring the streetbound homeless, particularly those who are most troubled, into safe, small shelters with legitimate outreach. To be effective, outreach should be conducted not by police officers, but by trained professionals experienced in engaging the homeless mentally ill and helping them to move to supportive ·permanent housing. If Mayor Giuliani wants to claim that his homeless policies are compassionate , he should embrace effective solutions by increasing funding for outreach, working wit the state to build 10,000 units of supportive housing fo r the homeless mentally ill and most important, leave the right to shelter intact so that the homeless have a safe and warm place to go. Shelly Nortz is Deputy Director fcir Pnfirv fnr the Coalition for the Homeless, a non profit .organization that serves a court-appointed monitor for New York City's shelters. �sTREETVIBl·s . The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Page 7 Honduran advocate speaks in Cincinnati · ··~·by Sonny Williams In the Wake of the WTO - Seattle ..... from the Open World Conference in Oefense ' of Trade Union Independence & Democratic Rights, c/o S.F. Labor Council, 1188 Franklin St., #203, San Francisco, CA 94109 . ... ...From the opening speech of the c 'o nference by Nancy Wohlfarth, VicePresident of the California Labor Fed­ eration: First of all I'd like to tell you that there are delegates from 56 countries attending this conference . We are truly a global wo'rkers' conference, representing a workers' re­ sponse to the devastating policies that are being perpetuated by the worldwide multina­ tional corporations who tell us the fantastic advantages of this wonderful "free trade" market. · ...It is terribly exciting to me and I am sure to every delegate in this room that we~ meet two months following the last major, public demonstr9tion of the 20th c~ntury, when over 50,000 people came together in Seattle to oppose this global economy and the so-called free trade policies of the world's billionaires. It was a protest to oppose the policies that are destroying lives of worker~ and entire nations around the world - from the genocide of millions of people in Africa under the guise of "free trade" because we cannot give them drugs to fight the scourge of AIDS that is rav­ aging the nation, to the poisoning of the drink­ . ing water with arsenic in Bangladesh. When we met in the Western Hemi­ sphe-re Workers' Conference in November 1997, few U.S. trade unionists had even heard of the World Trade Organization .... ...... However, through the work of so many people; and I think we owe a greatdeal of credit to the organizers of that very first conference in 1997' our message has been heard. The WTO is now a household word. No longer are these trade deals taking place in dark, back rooms. They are now be­ ing exposed to the vast majority of working people in the -United States and in all coun­ tries across the globe for what they really are - deals that are making a few peopl~ billion­ aires while the rest of the people are driven into dire poverty...... ......from the keynote address on the "International Struggle Against Child . Labor" by Gemma Lopez Limon, re- . s.e archer on child labor at the Autono­ mous University of Baja California at Mexicali, Mexico. ..... . .... In their drive to lower the costs of labor and in the name of "maintaining their com~etitive advantage," multinatio~al corpo­ rations and governments in their servjce are fueling the development of child labor. You find boys and girls working in increasing numbers in the "free trade" zones and sweat­ shops, or maquilas, that are prolifer:ating across the globe. You find child labor not only in agricul­ ture; you fin'd it in big industries, such as the shoe industry in Brazil or the bottling industry The Cincinnati Central American persons in City Council wanting to support Task Force invited Elvia Alvarado of Phil Heimlich's attempts to make Honduras to speak in Cincinnati on her Cincinnati-Garbage Collection employees organizing experience_in Honduras. -She private workers.) said that the people of North America and She says it is a constant struggle to not the government are in solidarity with the · obtain Honduran workers and peasants' poor of Ho-nduras. She is the Chairperson rights, including human rights. The Korean of U.T.C., Union of Honduras, a workers Corporations, who have sweatshops in union in that country in Central America . Honduras, tape the mou~hs of the Latino · She said that in Honduras there is land women, so they can't talk to each other on reform, but the Honduran government does the job. The Honduran women don't have not'enforce the law. She said that because any power, and the men have caused the her ion was only a few people, the problems in Honduras. She said that her Honduran government would not listE~n. work with women is to get them to speak And the problem for 20 years is that the out and be more open with disagreements . land is in the hands of the rich. withthe Honduran government. "The Corporations who own the land have ~old women of Honduras have no civil rights or land to the trans..,national corporations from worker's rights. We always say that we the U.S. and South Korea. The U.S. want to create social change in Honduras. Military has taken over at least 50% of the ''We need North Americans to help land to train soldiers· to go to Colombia, us with educational projects, like tutors for and Panama, to defend U.S. interest in the workers and peas~nts in the rural . Latin America. When U.S. delegations mountains." ·come to Honduras, the Union asks them to For more information on the visit the rural areas in the mountains, but - workers struggle in Honduras, write to Su they never do: · Casa Hispanic Community Center, The Honduran government is talking Seymour & Fairpark Avenues, Cincinnati, about privatizing everYthing. (Like CouncilOhio, or call (51-3) 541-9158. _ uh in India, which subcontracts to Coca-Cola and other soft drink companies . Because it is largely illegal. work, it is hard to quantify the extent of child labor. The International Labor Organization (ILO) esti­ mates there are today approxim~tely 250 million children at work, with close to 1 million · child deaths each year due to accidents on the job. These statistics, according to our research, are low. The statistics that exist regarding deaths and accidents among child laborers are very inconsistent. Many ofus believe that the abolition of · . child labor should be the battle cry, the fight­ ing banner, of the international trade union movement and of all political parties and organizations that speak in the name of working people . Why do we say this? First, it is clear that when boys and girls are at work, they are taking the job of an adult who could and should be employed. This leaves the adults idle, without work. Hiring children also puts a decreasing pressure on the wages of the working adults. The bosses, knowing they have a huge reserve army of child labor, threaten to fire the adults if they don't accept lower wages. Children become _ competitors of the adults on the labor market. This creates a vicious cycle. The drop in_ wages forces the adults to send their children to work, and therefore tends to depre~s wages even further. Sending .children to work, moreover, does not solve poverty, but simply reproduces it. The jobs are largely unqualified , req~iring little or no skills. An unqualified labor force is expanded, as these working children, in their large majority, do not go to school. ....... �. r -r RliT ,. ··>lA=lh~Tri~StC:t~;~ '·"';:;~;,;;r;;;~-Graf;e;;~; . Send your poetry, writings or artwork to . Thundering In Strcctvib'cs, do GCCH; (Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the.Homeless), Lyrics by Paulette Meier 1506 Elm St., Cincinnati 45210 ·' Phone- 513;;.421­ You found chances in this place ·. To build upon your affluence . . and build upon your grace. You'd have come sooner if you'd known Now you're brushing up the velvet and · you're polishing the chrome · 7803, E-mail (text): to streetvibes@jnno.com, E-mail (attached files, graphics): to homecoal@primax.net By Anthony Ray Watkins, Jr. I am the light that people can't see I am the light destiny for own history I am the light that shines like a candle In the night in the rwilight, you know I'm right Sometimes I frown on the outside · . But if you look deeply you can still see a smile B~t how can I smile in a world full of so much hate and confusion, there's no illusion Just look at our children ,' :,• :;, ''' ' ':•.;.....=- We -Need Your Creati11ityl SON OF-THE LIGHT ·- . _- ··f!:g:~~.<~~. _CHORUS: You come thundering in You come thundering in You want and you've taken plenty And all the things that we grew You'd plunder them through After last verse go right to ·And you'll drink till o·u r cu,p is empty Blindly thundering. For years we've been a ·nuisance in your eyes. The poverty and homelessness, you cannot disguise. Youid like to rid us from your sight And send your checks for charity, with no disturbing your fine_nights. CHORUS You want to build a world .class place . · : To celebrate the arts with those who have the finest taste.· You'll spend millions foryour scheme. While crumbling scho9ls and program cuts destroy our.children's dreams. CHORUS We'll tell you we have artists, too. Creating hope and healing, weaving tapestries of truth. We want beauty in our community; . · You have 110 right to e~ploit our plight and destroy our sovereignty. · But it's ~ hard knock life, a hard knock fight To do what is right Many a time I wonder; like an earthquake beneath my feet, · why others sleep. Why can't tl~ey see what I see Why is ~verybody in a constant fuss Why can't we all get on that bus? Because everybody's in a rush But still the sun burns with a high glow of light · And still will remain God's first child, , the son of light All that Glitter Ain't Gold What Tender Mercies is all about by Marsha Ramsey . Tender mercies Step Up is a place . permanent housing; the homeless can go to.regain their selfWe have relationship groups which respect and to lift their self-esteem. The · can help you through every day existenvironment i"s drug and alcohol free.' · ence. If you follow the rules you will survive. · It's like living in a village with The staff helps you with your goals, people from all different ethnic back­ and they give you a place to stay if you grounds. Security helps to keep us safe. qualify. Tender Mercies has eight build­ The staff at Tender Mercies are here to ings ih and around the Over the Rhine help you figu re out who you are and area : Dana Hotel -5 W. 12th Street where you want to go in life. We even Rec. Center-.24 W. 12th Street, Pl~as· have a Psychiatrist who comes once a . ant House - 1440 Pleasant Street, New week. The help _is here; all you have to · Morning House-1209 Elm St., do is reach out and ask somebody. · Women 's Building - · 1214 Race St. , There also are many programs to get H~ven Hall - 25" W. 12th, Step Up/Step involved in if you want. All you need to Out - 29 W. 12th Street. You are al­ do is ask. This is what I believe Tender lowed to stay a maximum of two years; Mercies is all about. then you have the option of going into Just recently, nine guys standing in front _, of the Drop Inn Center were suddenly approached by a man that promised · them jobs at $8.00/hr, and a meal. They were taken to breakfast and given a few bucks to put in their pockets. The man then collected all their ID cards and Social Security Cards, saying he needed · to make copies for the job. He took offand never returned. Don' t be so quick to get something for nothing. Just because it might glitter at the time, it ain't ahyays gold. . ' ....... .Pat Mitchell �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Page 9 My ~lack bag made me cry A show-and-tell for adults that shows how bad homelessness really is and demonstrates the intimacy and horror of what nurses do. ..... Cathy Crowe Dear Streetvibes, And wonder how did you make it? How did you last? . At 23 I came to Cincinnati How did you hold your head up when the homeless, s~parated frorp my husband, burden ~as too ~uch to bear? and pregnant with 3 children by my And how did you bear the burden when you side. We stayed in a homeless shelter thought none was there? (I'll leave nameless) where my children How did you smile were treated less than good. We lived in the face of a tear? in the projects and Over the Rhine and ,And how did you triumph · bounced around from here to there until . in the face of fear? I decided to replant us in some solid How did you have enough faith ground. . ­ . to believe in a better day? I have struggled and fought and ·A nd how did you hav~ worked my way to a somewhat peaceful . enough strength to tackle and content life for -me-and my children. everything in your way? Seven years laterl am still here. I have Who helped you up after every fall? 5 kids now and although my-path has Who was always there been hard and ·my burdens heavy God if only you call? has beeri good to us. We are blessed How did you come through and on~ of God's gifts to me besides in your times of need? my children is the gift of word. Through the grace of God, Here is one of my best so get down o-n your knees. messages: Because just when you thought you could no longer stand, · TIMES OF NEED The Lord was quietly holding your hand. There comes a time in ones life when you reflect upon the pa~t. WRITTEN BY, You put on the brakes, TINA MASER no need to go fast. P.S. I never forgot where I came You look at the years that went by from because I want to spread the in a flash, A trusted friend recently implored me to bring my nursing black bag (actually it's a knapsack) to a very public event that we were planning to attend. He advised me, as o~ly he can do: "People will find your bag so in­ teresting they wjll learn a lot about what you . do when they see what's inside." So I grudg­ ingly lugged my 30-pound black outreach bag, which ha.d given me nine months of a rotator-cuff injury last year, on a five-hour trip . to Ottawa for its five minutes offame. tt was a very public show-and-tell. The last time I had opened my black bag so conspicuously was on the altar of a Unite? Church in Toronto. It was the minister's idea. She invited the children to the altar to sit with me, before they dashed off to Sunday school, at which point I would give the first sermon of my life to adults on the topic of homelessness. One by one, the children were invited to put their hands into the darkness of my black bag to pull out a surprise. To each sur­ prise, the minister asked each child: "Why do you thin_ k Nurse Cathy carrie_s socks in her bag? Why does she carry granola bars and milkshake drinks and vitamins?" The chil­ dren with sweet and innocent expressions of c~ncern, quickly responded with all the right answers. Sadly, I thought to myself, they knew the answers. This time, the show-and­ by flashlight, checked. intravenous drips, tell was meant for adults. The message: See catheters and other tubing. They made hot how bad homelessness is - I'm a nurse, milk in the middle of the night and then, later but I have to carry socks, mitts, a blanke!, at home, soothed a child with too-frequent vitamins, even food! · earaches. On cue, my hands nervously groped I'm thankful, in retrospect, that my hands inside my black bag to find the right con­ always felt needed. To help colleagues tents to demonstrate the intimacy and horror make 30 beds on a ward on a short.:.staffed of what I and other nurses do every day. In.a Saturday morning; to write a 1·e tter for an clinical fashion, I explained their purpose to elderly stroke victim to his long-lost sisters; the adults in the room: to shop for canned salmon and strawber­ "You see, we now see ~igns of star­ ries for the retired recluse that I was told to vation and malnutrition, so I· carry Ensure." discharge from ~y public-~ealth nursing ·"We don't have enough sleeping bags in caseload ("he was not achieving any goals," Toronto, so I carry these space blankets." said my supervisor). · More recently, they held on to a dying "The duct tape is for taping the soles back father's hands. on shoes, but also for taping cardboard to­ These are good uses for hands. .­ gether for a roof." My black bag is still at my f~iend's house. As I spoke, my heart raced. I wondered later Despite being so full, it feels so empty. - how had the contents of my bag and the My bandages no longer cover the wounds way I nurse changed so much? To my sur­ of my patients. My vitamins will not prevent prise, I began to cry. ' the white plague of tuberculosis from taking _It is said that your body holds memo­ another victim. ries, and my nurse hands clearly remem­ I cannot even help someone achieve one bered better days. My nurse hands once did peaceful night of safety and sleep. more useful things. They immunized the fat, Only roofs will do that. And I am not a car­ healthy thighs of infants, they carefully mea­ penter. , sured cardiac drugs to administer to young heart patients, they bathed both the elderly Cathy Crowe is a nurse and works on lady after her surgery and the 24-year-old Ital­ the streets of downtown Toronto. ian-Canadian woman after ~er death. My HPN maillist - HPN@aspin.asu.edu hands once mixed linseed poultices, rubbed http;//aspin.asu.edu/mailman/listinfo/hpn 20 backs a night before darkness fell and, ­ word of hope and find a way to help. A Treat fof Road-weary Feet AUSTIN, TEXAS House the Homeless Inc. will join forces with The Lauterstein-Conway . Massage School and Clinic on February 16th to bring foot massage to Austin's Homeless Community. We will soak, wash, and massage feet then provide new socks and new footwear all for $5.00. Not only does everyone deserve to be touched but they deserve to be . treated with respect and dignity. There is nothing quit so good for the "Sole" as when one puts on new sneakers. "Heart and Sole" will operate on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. Wish us luck. ..... Richard HPN maillist ­ HPN@aspin.asu.edu http:/ . �ST REE TV I BES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Snnday; March4, 2000 Dear Mr. Williams, How are you today? --Oood, I trust. I received a short note from you concerning your support for my upcoming parole hearing, and I wanted to at least drop you a Sincere 'Thank you!" for that and I also wish you the best in life and many, many healthy years to a::me. PAN OHIO Sonny Williams is a local representative for Prisoner's Advocacy Network Ohio, which serves as an advocacy organization for the rights ofprisoners. The following letters . were sent to him by prisoners from around.the state and are about their experiences with the courts and prison systems. . While I'm writing would you care to tell me what "PAN-Ohio" stands for and what it represents? As you know I'm being plastered , all over the news and in the papers because of . my upcoming hearing and to be honest it's just , ~ood old fashioned vindictiveness by people who don't know me or what all happened those many years ago . . My story remains the same. "I was · provoked into defending myself and in doing so a man lost his life." But no one wants to hear that because of who he was and what he was supposed to represent. So the story goes LONG LIVE. JOHN AFRICA THE On the Move! · COORDINATOR!! Sonny, got your letter, and as always good to hear form those active in the work of struggle. Long live John Africa! I'm doing good on this end, staying strong and revolutionary as ever. That is a must because the solution to all the problems we face as peoples of the world is in the activity of "total revolution"! -not the way it is twisted to "eonfuse" by this system, but how it is taught by John Africa to be the work people must do to stop supporting this system on all levels by working to rid themselves of all the system training & programming instilled in them. As people work to break free of the addictions to this systems (values, religions, schoolings, alcohol, fears, lies, fashions, drugs, materialism, etc.), the freer people will become and the weaker this system will get without their support. Long Live John Africa Forever! As you can see by this system's murderous lust for revenge, hate & oppression, the death row will continue to swell ion this country. The recent murder of death row prisoner "Beets" in Texas and the statements made by those who wanted to see her dead, ·shows that the Death Penalty is motivated by hate and revenge; and even more dangerous, as shown by · the actions of "Bush", that the D. P. is motivated by politics! That is the most dangerous of all the motivations, because it targets those this system wants to eliminate to try to stop the flow of.truth, such as Mumia Abu Jamal, and those of us · that they fail iri their attempts to murder on the street. This _v icious D.P. must be stopped and completely done away with! When people "volunteer" forthe D.P., it does make the battle harder. But the point can be made that suicide is sJ pposed to be "against" the law and there is no · difference between someone "committing suicide" and someone "volunteering" for the D.P. I heard a politician say on TV · yesterday, that there should be "no time limitation" on justice being done; well, . then, what seems to be the problem when we get to talking a_ b out how justice ain't never been given to th~ slaves & native peoples, how come them same politicians want to put limits on our demands for justice in those areas? How come every time we demand justice for our family they • murdered when they dropped that bomb ·on our children & family; in "1985", These same so call "defenders of justice" want to put limits on us! How come them cops are never faced with the D. P. for all the people they murder on a daily basis? These are the-things we must keep in these rotten politician's faces when · dealing with the issues of the racism, corruption and wrongness ofthe·o.P.! · Well, Sonny, I must close here for now, still much to·do.before I can call it a day. Feel free to write when you want and be sure to make contact with The Move Organization in Philly at MOVE, P.O. at Box 19709,Phila., PA 19143, (215) 387­ 9955, Fax: (215)476-7551, E-mail: movel lja@aol.com This is how any mail to me should be addres-sed from now on.... _ ' William Phillips Africa, #AM­ 4984 1000 Follies Road, Dallas, PA 18612 As always, Take care, stay strong by staying revolutionary in mind and action. On the move! Phil Africa Page 10 on; the truth doesn't matter- only that someqne pays, and in the process many more lives are affected and being destroyed, mainly my family's, and my two children . · It's a tragedy all away around, and just to keep the air clean between us, I am sorry that a man lost his life partly because of my actions. I have apologized to the victim's family the bestwaythat I can, and they've made it clear that it's not wanted oraccepted. So all I can do is go on, try to be positive, and grow, for whatever future that.I may be able to have once all of this is finally over and behind rre. Thanks for your ~ime in reading this and your support, and if you'd like to.keep some corresp6ndence from time to time that would be fine; and if you have any papers on what "PAN-Ohio" is all about, I'd like to read them. Take Care, C. W. Mcintosh Marion Correctional Institution. 3/17/00 Dear Sonny, How you doing, Bro? I had hoped I'd be back to Luc already so I could call you, ~ut they're low walking all these transfers, and it's taking forever. So ·1don't · know when I'll bet back.- They hav e-to operate on me again at OSU in Columbus due to cutting a vein when they went in last time, so that should be this week. Happy St. Patrick's Day!! I thought today was a Nationat Holiday so didn't expect any mail. It's always good having you though. I saw the Newsletter and it was pretty good. I was glad to see that they got it back out. I don't hearfrom Karen at all anyr;nore. I haven't pursued any religious · know, while I've studied groups, Bro-'you tt:le Bible (I am a Catholic), I'm just not too good at relating to religious folk. So how's my little honey Sara doing? Give her a Big ~iss for me, and my love to Lynn Marie. Stay Strong, John, Tiger Political Prisoner, �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Page 11 TJ-IE CRISIS IN OUR STREETS HAS NOW BECOME THE CRISIS IN OUR PRISONS By Michelle Kitchen, #39440 Northeast Pre-release Center Cleveland, Ohio has exposure ofraw sewage in the bathrooms In responding to Carol S. Manning's ~ditorial due -to inadequate plumbing. The "hotel" I'm entitled, "9hio prisons should not have the frills ~escribing is a dorm style building by the name ofa hotel," I would like the opportunity to ofHale (coined "Hell") at the Ohio address her questions: "If prison is so bad, why Reformatory for Women. do inmates keep going back? If they did not In continuing, Ms. Manning, the like being incarcerated, why did they keep ­ Department ofRehabilitation, and Co-rrections breaking the law?" Both ofthese are commonly or any other prisoner with doesn't supply asked questions in society today. In addition, I ~oap, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, would relish the chance to enlighten Ms. tampons, or douches. These are the "frills~' I -Manning concerning her many misconceptions purchase while I'm in prison and the amount of about prisoners and pris,o n conditions. state pay I earn doesn't nearly cover "frills" Fear ofcrime and increased feelings of because the product costs keep increasing, and vulnerability have hardened public attitudes and prisoners' state pay hasn't increased in twenty ­ led to tougher penalties for criminals, regardless­ years or more. of the sensibility of the policy. Most people The majority ofMs. Manning's editorial entering prison today serve shorter sentences for consists ofconjectured remarks surrounding one minor crimes such as shoplifting, possession of prisoner, Steve Garret. The crisis on our streets_ illegal drugs for personal use, or writing bad has now become the crisis in our prisons, and checks. The amount of time imposed for such the crisis I'm referring to I the lack ofeducation. crimes does little to effectthe elemental reason Mr. G~ret hasworked diligently to "educate" -for criminal behavior; therefore little prevents ­ not only prisoners, in order to help transform them from returning to their "old ways" or the them into productive members ofsociety. He same behavior after release. Recidivism results has also "educated" agencies and organizations from lack ofrehabilitation and education, not outside the institutions in order to shed light on from~ desire to return to prison for its "plush" the state-run bureaucracy ofinjustices that environment. siphon billions of tax dollars out of the The misconceptions stated in Ms. economy every year and resists every effort of Mannings' editorial are confirmation ofher reform. I'm sorry you don't know Mr. Garret . uneducated awareness ofprisoners and prison personally because, maybe, ifyou did he could conditions. She would like society to believe "educate" you in the areas ofstatistics, state that prisoners are given accommodations • expenditures, DRC "smoke screens," and civil C?mparative to "Low ctass hotels" and that the rights. Department ofRehabilitation and Corrections Don't you understand, Ms. Manning, supplies prisoners with all their "necessary'' that edu<:ation is the road to decent jobs and out amenities·. I don't know ofa "hotel" that, ofcrime? The only game I see being played here shelters 265 people in one room, has noise levels is not a game being played by Mr. Garrett, but typically ranging from 80 to 90 decibels, has ice instead a game being played by you and a vast forming on the l.nsides of the walls in the winter majority ofsociety: "the blind leading the months, has no working air ducts and_no blind!" The way I see it, unless the rules change, ventilation in the sweltering summer months, there are no winners. has roach and lice infested -mattresses and me A letter from Mumia to all the attendees ofa rally held in Philly on Jan. 77, 2000: LLJA! Ona Move! First, My thanks to all who made this trip on this cold day, to a cold Philadelphia, on behalf of Life. ­ On behalf of many others on Death Row, I also extend our Gratitude. We live in an age of Death. Politi­ cians shamelessly run on fear and Death today, not even bothering with Yesterday's promises of prosperity, better housing, better education or what not. They will promise you more jails, but not more justice. They will deliver more death penalties, but not truly competent counsel. ­ They will erect more penitentiaries, but inner city schools will crumble. They promise the poor more poverty, and only orphanages for the children of the poor. For those.promises made yesterday ­ still haven't been fulfilled today- So why do we expect them to be fulfilled tomorrow! Why hope for that which is hopeless? Why settle for politicians we don't want! Why settle for a system we don't want! Why settle for it! Why not resist a system that gives nothing but pain, poverty, prison and death to the poor? Why not fight to build the Alternative? ·Why not join us as we fight for Life, for true justice, for overcoming the Amerikkkan way of Repression? I invite you! lthankyou! ' Ona Move! LWA! Mumia Abu-Jamal pillows, has little or no hot water for bathing, or - John Perotti recently had surgery at CMC in Columbus, Ohio. Get well, John!! In Solidarily, Sonny Williams, Cincinnati The American ~cademy of Paralegals is a paralegal school offering its m~mbers both ·law courses and certification examinations, the American Academy of _ Paralegals also provides quality legal assistance to incarcerated pri~oners across the country at costs that are affordable. Tuition, fees, and membership dues are reasonable. Additional information may be acquired by writing the Academy's headquarters at: P.O. Box 2051, Houston, Texas, 77225-0510. . c/-·-· Fully Pardoned Jail ministry, P.O. Box 372, c.c - .........­ ••-.251 S. Mulberry, Troy,Ohio 45373, (937) 440-8828 We offer housing, food, clothing assistance, books and Bible studi~s to prisoners and ex-prisoners. Let's help each other to eliminate misery! ...... James Pryor �5 TREE TV I BE 5 PAN-OHIO Prisoners Advocacy Network Meets Next at Old Presbyterian Cl1urch, corner of Bryden & OhioAvenues, Columbus, Ohio, on April 30, 2000 For further information, contact (513)241-8014 SllliEll/lllfS Prisoners News contains the writings ofpersons incarcerated in our nation's jails and prisons. Subscribers within the walls receive Streetvibes free. If you want to support us in this effort, please sponsor someon_e on the inside by sending us $12 for a year's subscription Sendyoutcomments and questions to streetvibes@juno.com mail : STREETVIBES, 7506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 452 70 The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Page 12 INNOCENT ON DEATH ROW A "Shameful record'~ his victims are rotting in prison. · That's how Illinois Governor George Ryan described his state's death penalty system as he ordered a moratorium on executions January 31. Illinois has released 13 innocent men from death row in 13 y:ears. But there are more ·innocent men behind bars. Stanley Howard is one. _ His 1984 "confession" to the murder of an off-duty police officer followed hours of beating and torture by Chicago cops. ' ~ Stanley was handcuffed _ to a wall in the police station, Officer Ja~es Lotito wrapped a plastic bag around his head and began suffocating him - until Stanley agreed to sign anything that was put in front of him. Chicago police later admitted that Stanley was tortured - but he remains on death row. And there's Ronald Kitchen. His ."confession" in 1988 came after he was beaten repeatedly in the groin with a blackjack, a telephone book and a telephone receiver. Stanley and Ronald are two of the Death ~ow Ten - Illinois prisoners sentenced to die based on confessions made during torture supervised by former ·Police Commander Jon Burge. So ma.uy torture charges piled up against Burge that the Chicago Police Department dumped him in 199 3. But while Burge gets a full pension to finance his comfortable retirement in Florida, SICK REALITY The stories of the Death Row Ten show the sick reality of the death penalty. But years of pressure by death penalty a"pponents have exposed the horror of t~is unjust system - from wrongful convictions in Illinois to the execution ofjuvenile offenders in . Texas to gruesome electric chair killings in Florida and Alabama. Now Ryan, a pro-death penalty Republican, has been forced to stop executions. And just days after the Illinois moratorium, President Clinton - who also supports the death penalty- was pressured into considering a similar move for federal prisoners. The national debate around the death penalty has been transformed. As Ryan said in calling a moratorium, the death penalty in Illinois is "fraught with error and has come so dose to the ultimate nightmare. " But the system is just as "fraught with error" in the other 37 states with the death penalty. And the "ultimate nightmare" - the execution of an innocent person - has already happened in Illinois and across the U.S. That's why the Death Row Ten and the more than 3,500 other people living under death sentences should have the threat of execution lifted- n~w! We need to step up the fight to force President Clinton and the other politicians to stop all executions - now! + + + PINE RIDGE RESERVATION STRUGGLES CONTINUE ...ftom the Northern Kentucky AIMsu.pportgroup.... ~p Justice was established afterthe bodies ofWtlson Black ElkJr. And Ron3ld Hard Heartwere found brutally beaten and murdered. Accusations were leveled at the Sheraton County Sheriff's Office in Nebraska American Indian Movement (AI.M.) leaders arrived to organize and lead a protest. The . protesters have been there since. White Clay beer sales exceeding4 million cans a year have received the brunt of the blame for the recent deaths and other general violence and alcohol problems. The Pine Ridge Reservation, just a little North of the Village, is dry. A few members ofAl.M. ofOhio and Northern Kentucky support group and Miami Council orNativeAmericans traveled there in February. They brought supplies, food and clothes. There they found the protesters spirits still high after 9 months. While in Pine Ri~ theymetwith Grass roots "Oyate" Lakota People at Ogalala Sioux Tribal Headquarters. Theywere planning strategies for the future. One ofthe key demands was met, to seize and remove records. They also demanded the removal ofWesley ChuckJacobsO.S.T. Treasury. TheFBiand Bureau ofIndian Affairs supenntendent removed records on January 18th. The crowd ofNativeAmericans applauded as they carried themoutandmembersofCrazy HorseDnun leadthe people in theAI.M. Song. �....~~~~,fto:oi •• ,... ,. • • ·--~ -........ ~~:;:w .. ,-;:F-7:',;~.~.... ~'(f' - .... , S'l°UftVIBES . . ,_ 1ci";«;.;" .-.. "'."""" ,.~ "~---;,~"\:"-~~- N:~1 """•'.:=-:'t~t."'~~~•i:i:~~~:.» .... • ... .:-."*.-~, .....~ .... ·~,... - .... ~ .. -c-:.~~,~ .. ,.,,...,..... • ... • - • -- ~ The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine """'~ - -.. . ..,..,,. ~ . • ~~ ;~ Page 13 ~ ... . ~. , -~~. .. ,.,..,."'s'J. .. L'l ,.,, ~ ~ ,.. ~" - •~\FJ -J-~-;,.•."' ... .., • ~ Anti-Same-Sex Marriage Bills Introduced in OHIO Legislature Courtesy of Stonewall Cincinnati - _ A group representing Equality Begins at Home, a statewide simple, we need this language in plaee right now to protect families lesbian~ gay, bisexual, and transgenderlobbying group, held a January 12 ._from the non-tradltional vahles others may try to bring- into our state. press conference at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus in opposition to a This bill does nothing more than reaffirm that marriage between a bill that would deny the recognition of same-sex marriage in Ohio. inan and a woman is the cornerstone of the most basic unirin our Stonewall Cincinnati Exeeutive Director Doreen Cudnik was among the society, the family." glbt-rights activists who spoke at the conference. She wasjoinedby Eric Sponsors ofboth bills insist that their legislation's sole purpose is Resnick of Stonewall Akron, Sarah Fox ofthe transgender advocacy _to protect "traditional marriage," butas Resnick pointed out,-the group It's Time, Ohio!, and attorney Susan Gellman ofthe ACLU definition ofa "traditional marriage''.has changed dramatically over the Columbus chapter. generations. "In my grandparents' time, it was 'traditional' for marriages The focal point.of the January 12 conference was State Sen. Jay ·to be arranged. Until 1966, states had marriage statutes that made wives Hottinger's (R-Newark) reintroduction of a statewide "Defense of · the property of their husbands. In 1972,_there were states that forbade Marriage Act." A member of the Ohio House, State Rep. Jim Jordan (R- · · marriages between people of different race·s. ·It's our job GLBT Urbana) introduced a H:ouse version of the bill at the same timeHottinger's people to tell the truth about "traditional marriage." bill was introduced in the Senate. (Jordan is·also one ofthe lawmakers The House version of the bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Jordan, who voted to freeze federal funds for HrvIAIDS training unless the Ohio Aslanides, Brading, Buchy, Buehrer, Calvert, Carey, Clancy, Depiero, Department ofEducation agreed to an "abstinence-only" sex education Harris, Hood, Hoops, Jacobson, Netzley, Roman? Taylor, Terwilleger, program.) Tiberi, Willamowski, and Young. Depiero is the only Democrat co­ An identical measure, introduced by Hottinger in ~997 in response sponsoring the bill. The Senate version has also been-filed, ~d its to a Hawaii Supreme Court ruling, died in committee. Hottinger' s new bill · sponsors, all Republicans, are Sens. Carnes, Oelslager, Latta, Mumper, would reassert that the only marriages legally recognized in Ohio are those Wachtmann, White, and Watts. between a man and a woman. "If there is a silver lining in any of this," said Cudnik, "it is that "Ohio law is very cleat on the issue," Cudnik said. ''The Ohio bills like Mr. Hottinger' s pop up in response to our hard-won victories Revised Code already specifies that 'only a man age 18 or over and a around the country. The national gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender woman age 16 or over, b_oth who are unmarried, may ~e joined in movement is changing things one heart and one mind at a time. Mr. marriage.' Furthermore,-Ohio courts have ruled on this issue and have -Hottinger and those like him wantto turn the clock back on civil rights limited the right to marry in Ohio to male-female couples. Yet, Rep. advances for gay lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. But we will · Hottinger wants to ~ngage the Ohio General Assembly in a hateful, not let that happen, not here in Ohio. We will continue to build coalitions, divisive, and unnecessary argument, an effort to please his right wirig we will continue to fight, and we will eventually win in our struggle for supporters. This bill is nothing more than an attempt to bash gay and basic equality and dignity." lesbian couples who wish to share the same rights and responsibiµties of Cudnik, Fox, and Resnick are members of the·E baH steering civil marriage.'' committee, which will hold a "lobby' day" at the Statehouse on April 12. · Gellman, representing the LGBT community, discussed the Equality Begins at Home Ohio is part of a national network of state unconstitutionality of carving out a gay exception to the "full faith and lobbying groups, coordinated and funded by the National Gay and credit" clause ofthe tJ.S. Constitution. The clause requires states to • Lesbian Task Force and the Federation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and recognize the "public acts, records, ~d judicial proceedings ofevery other Transgender Statewiqe Political Organizations. The April 12 EbaH lobby state." . effort is a follow up to a successfuf event held fast year in Columbus. . Sponsors of the bill claim that there is ~need for the bill, in light of .This year's lobbying efforts will be equally divided between . a recent ruling in Vermont in which the Supreme Court ofthat state said Hottinger and Jordan's anti-marriage bill and a bill to include gays and that same-sex couples are entitledto the same rights and benefits as lesbiansin Ohio's hate crime law. ·opposite-sex couples. The Vermont State legislature has until mid-April to _ The existing ''ethnic intimidation," passed in 1987, increases figure out a way to do this. · · penalties for five misdemeanors ifthey are committed because of the "When we debated this bill last session, many of my colleagues victim's race, color, religion, or national origin. said the time wasn'.t right for this bill because no real threat existed," The hate crime bill, H.B. 277, sponsored by Rep. Joyce Beatty Hottinger said. "With the recent ruling in Vermont and the rising number of (D) ofColumbus, would add sexual orientation, gender, disability, and domestic partner benefits cases in our own state, there is no better time · ancestry. It would expand the law to include felonies, and would . than now to address this issue." ·· classify hate crimes committed by organizatfons as domestic Jordan, the bill's co'...sponsor in the House, said, "Plain and terrorism. as in Ca l·en d a rs For Sa-l e PHOTOS · sy JIMMY _ffEAi A VISUAL TESTIMONY OF THE STRUG ~LE IN OVER-THE-RHINE, CINCINNATI'S INNER CITY Togetyourveryown, send $8 to GCCH ($5 for GCCH members), 1506 Elm St. Cincinnati 45.21 orcomedown and pick one up �ST RE EJV I BES . ·.· ·.·. ·.·.·.· ·.· · :;~ : The Tri-State's •. . Hqmeless Grapevine , '11.- · ~~"'~ <-~< Page ,. 14 ··.·· .. . .. ' i-!!~~ •11111•••••1 •lfltlllal : ·l Letters Police Brutality Witnessed in Over-the-Rhine Mentally ill man the victim of attack ..... by R. w. Last night, near the corner of Green and Race, a mentally disabled man was walking down the street counting his money, when two cops on horseback accosted him. ­ He was not doing anything, yet, rea.cting to the threat of arrest, he became agitated. In response, the two cops on horseback pulled out their billy clubs and began to beat him, punch him, spray him with mace, and kick him in the face. He was even kicked in the ribs by one of the horses. The 40 to 60 bystanders who witnessed this brutality were practically at the point oftaking up arms against the police, whose numbers then had grown to eight. When bystanders a·pproached the police to protest this treatment of a mentally disabled man, they were threatened with arrest thems~lves if they did not keep quiet. R. W. , a neighborhood resident, said that he is fa irly well acquainted with the man, and that he has never witnessed him being disruptiv~ or violent. The man attends the same church as R.W. - Nast Trinity at 1310 Race Street. God and &1. Francis . Conversing ••• "Frank, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world isgoing on down there in the USA? What happened to the · dandelions, violets, thistle and stuff I started eons ago? had a perfect.no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long-lasting blossoms, atfracted butterflies, honeybees,· and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now. But all I see are these green rectangles:" "It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to great extent to kill them and replace them with grass." "Grass? But it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees, only grubs and sod worms. It's _ temperamental with temperatures. . Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?" "Apparently so, Lord. They ·go to great pains tQ grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn." . "The spring rains and cpol weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites ·happy." "Apparently· not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it -sometimes twice a week." "They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?" '.'Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it Politicians, Keep • your promises DEAR CITY FATHERS: It has come to our attention that there is money to be spread around, yet it just doesn't seem to be making it's way to the things that we , the people, elected you to direct them to. I mean, look at the youth programs; do you actually think that our youth want to sit around and learn how to build · cabins out of popsicle sticks? The only way lhat will work is if the popsicle is still on them: Don't get me wrong, our youth are definitely more cognizant than that, but what you're offering, is no better. Ladies and Gentlemen , the time for "Backdoor Politics" has gone. To keep trying _to use them is a quick way to bring the people in the front door with more than just a suggestion. Oops, I'm sorry - I still haven 't said what -money I'm talking about. The money that is being referred to. is the money that you so gra,ciously turned over to the "Kunzel Project." You know, the project that is supposed to make the Over-the-Rhine area so much more appealing to-the public. Yes, you have once again done something for the people without so much as letting them know about it, or even asking them how they felt. I normally , leave politic~ to the politicians, but for some reason it just isn't working. So last year, I !istened to all the promises that were made by all those running for office. I even talked up and put it in·_ bags." . "They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?" "No, sir. Just the opposite. They .pay ' to throw it ·away." "Now let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?" "Yes, sir." "These Suburbanites must be relieved · in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and savesthem a lot of work." . . "You aren't going to believe this Lord . When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it so they cancontinue to mow it and pay to get rid of it." "What nonsense! At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade· in the summer. In the autumn theyfall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in thesoil and protect the trees and bushes. Plus, as they rot, the leavesform compost to. enhance the s,0il. It's a natural circle of life." to a few and ran some ideas by them. This is what I got from five of the nine that were _ elected. 1. I feel that's a good idea, but now the ball's in your court; just bring it back to me on a later date. I'll always remember who you are, and we can get right to work on it. .(This one must have thought I was really drunk; he was handshaking in a local bar.) 2. It seems to me that the people are truly left out of a lot of the true issues. Truthfully, I've never understo·od it. (Never answered the question and wouldn't know the truth if it bit him/her.) 3. Have you ever thought of going into politics? You seem to really care about people. Give me a call so we ·can discuss your suggestions further and run _ them up the flagpole. (Flattery only works if it helps me win the lotto. And next.time give me a card so I can at least make that call to you!). 4. I think me and my constituents can really work something like what you're suggesting into what we already have in mind. (Is he/she talking about the same three already mentioned? Oh boy, are we in trouble.) 5. You see it's people like you that just don't give people like me a chance to do what really needs to be _ d one before you , complain . Give the system a chance fo r once. (Who does she/he want to hold their breath? Me, my children, my gra~dchildren, etc.?. So now you see why this letter was so important:.... not that I'm fini_s hed; I just have to take a break from the constant reminder that Cincinnati is living up to its name "The Blue Chip City." The only question is whether the cow was blue as well? Maybe we should have kept the name "The Queen . City"? At least royalty can blame its mistake · on Parliament. Come on Cincinnati; let's get it back together for the children's sake, if for no one else. If you want to destroy your future, then make sure it's yours and yours alone. .... Kevin L. Deal, Homeless Vet "You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and havethem hauled aw_ ay." "No! What d,o they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winterand keep the soil moist and loose?" . "After throwing away your leaves, they. go out and buy something they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in p!ace of the leaves." "And where do they get this mulch?" "They cut down trees and grind them up." · Enough! I don't want to think. about this anymore. Saint' Catherine, you 're in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us tonight?" "Dumb and Dumber, Lord. It's a real stupid movie about. .. " "Never mind I think I just heard the whole story." T.his was in th~ Spring 2000 Issue of Earth Connections Newsletter. �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Page 15 CONFERENCE Ending Women's Poverty in ....... By Lynn Williams On March 6 and 7, the NOW Legal Defense Fund and the Georg~town University Law Center held a conference on ending women's poverty in America, "To Promote the General Welfare: Ending Women's Poverty" . The four cornerstones of ending women's poverty advocated at the conference were ending violence against women, especially domestic violence; reproductive rights; child care; and jobs, education, & training. The conference got off to a great start with inspiring keynote speakers who revved up the audience. One keynote speaker was Diane Dujon, a former welfare recipient in Massachusetts, spoke of the reality of what it is like to be on welfare and try to make ends meet. She also deplored the fact that welfare reform is not about reform but about getting rid of welfare altogether. She spoke on the need for income security for all women and children in this country. She spoke on the effects of the time limit in Massachusetts; the numbers offamilies staying at shelters and going to food pantries. At the church food pantry where she volunteers in Massachusetts, she reported that families are coming to them for food and they are now having to tum them away. "That is such a hard thing to do when you see hungry children right in front of you and there is nothing left to feed them," she said. She continued, "If welfare reform is not affecting you directly, it's on its way. ,This is affecting whole communities. I'm going across the country and I'm seeing the same thing happening as in Massachusetts when we reached limit (for receiving cash assistance). the Front headlines ofnewspapers everywhere say such things as, 'The governors say how great that time THOUGHTS ON ANOTHER SCHOOL SHOOTING TRAGEDY ... by Pat Mitchell ·we all heard about the tragedy of the 6-year-old girl that was killed at school in Michigan. As the story goes, this kid was at school and had had words with a little boy at school and the next day, he came back and shot her! Now, after all the trauma, the country is asking who's to blame for this little girl's death -the 6-year-old boy? The parents? Who? ' Well, it tu rn s out that the parents and the owner of the gun were charg ed with the crime. And I certainly agree that the · parents and the gun owners are responsible . We must set val ues and morals for our ki ds, protect them from r welfare reform is ... how successful it is.' But later on in the back pages of those same newspapers you read, 'All the shelters are full. Record numbers of families are coming to food pantries.' Somehow C~ngress is not associating the numbers of homeless with those without food and welfare reform." Ms. Dujon stated, "I am absolutely outraged at the welfare reform law and what it has to do with welfare. Where did this idea come from that women taking care of children are not working? Have you ever seen your mother sit down and do nothing? Taking care of children and living below 50% of the federal poverty level is extremely hard work! Women do work by raising children. Just because it isn't paid work doesn't mean it's not work!" For this she got loud applause. She went on to add, "How come it's not seen as work unless you are watching someone else's child? Maybe it's because if you love the people, it's not considered work? If you don't love the people, then you get paid, but for a very tiny paycheck." "Our country's politicians give so much lip service to the importance ofchildren, but actually their policies mean that children come last." "What is so bad about being dependent? I used to be dependent on welfare, now I'm dependent on a paycheck. We are all dependent on each other some of the time, we are all interdependent. We have a social responsibility for other people. None of us Iives isolated from . other people. What is so bad about that?" "A motherwhose children are going hungry or has no income for rent is doing the right thing to go and apply for welfare. There whatever. As parents we must do even more. Kids are important; they are our future. I think every young mother should be required to take a parenting class. Wake up! Kids killing kids? We must take responsibility and take charge of our kids! Cincinnati Enquirer, Sunday Mar. 5: "In Mount Morris Township , in eastern Michigan , a first-grade boy shot his classmate, a 6-year-old girl. The children apparently had fought on the playground the day before. The girl, Kayla Rolland, had yelled ' at the boy for spitting on his desk. The boy brought to school a gun from a relative 's home. The boy, whom authorities won 't identify, shot and killed Kayla.·Then he put the gun in his desk and went to the principals office" should not be shame in doing the rig}J.t thing to make sure your children are provided for. She should not have to be ashamed for doing this . She is taking care of her children. We must not let the government tell us that we are doing the wrong thing by going to get help for our children." Kathy Rodgers, President of the NOW Legal Defense Fund, stated, "Thirty percent to fifty percent offamilies dropped from welfare do not have earnings at all. Those with jobs are by and large still living in poverty." She continued, '~Recently President Clinton bragged that welfare reform is a complete success in his State of the Union Address. This is hypocrisy which we will not tolerate at the beginning of the year 2000. · Contrary to \Yhat press headlines are reading, welfare reform is not working. Consider that: 1 in 7 Americans live today in poverty. (This includes people working full­ time year-round.) 1 in 5 children live in poverty .i n America. 1 in 3 African-American children live in poverty. Even these statistics don't tell the whole story, that the poverty level is far too lowand outdated.'' Dorothy Roberts, professor at the Northwestern University School of Law, spoke on reproductive rights for poor women. Unexpectedly and with a unique tum ofthought, she emph4sized the reproductive right ofpoor women to bear children. She stated that the laws are limiting this right, specifically the Family Cap, wherein additional children are denied benefits; and with the aggressive use ~fNorplant pushed on poor women. Professor Roberts cited a long list of statistics from America's history on the numbers of women, poor and especially poor and black, who were forced to be sterilized in America. She went on to add that in recent years, many poor women are in effect sterilized because doctors will not remove Norplant implants. There are accounts of women who have actually tried to cut the Norplant implant out oftheir arms. · Professor Roberts emphasized that poor women must have the right to bear children. In response, another panelist commented that half ofAmerica's famous people would never have been born if poor women had not had that right. Although women at the conference were not in agreement on all issues, such as t~e extent of reproductive rights and the value of stay-at­ home mothering over employment, participants were in agreement that Congress must get serious about ending the high rates of women's and children's poverty in America. • • • �5 TREE TV I BE 5 The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Page 16 ·STREET MUSIC IN CINCINNATI of the book is to make an environment more suitable for human beings, instead of an environment where people are eating like lions, tigers, and bears. We are attempting to take the negative and turn it to positive by changi~g our ·physiology, by practicing the Mucusless Diet Healin-g System, which gives -our music a healing effect. Dishon Woody My Name is Dishon Woody. I am the percussionist for the Healing System Band, Lead by Victor Buttrom (Sax), with Jack Walker (sax), Matt Anderson (Bass), and Tom Billman (Keyboard). Victor introduced me to. playing in the streets many years ago. It's been fun, but even after years of fighting for the right to play, we still receive complaints and harassment from Police. _A City ordinance states that we are allowed freedom of speech for 90 minutes, regardless of whoever complains; but City Hall doesn't back us in our right to play by sending a message to the Police to honor our 90 minutes of free speech. Victor and I have been banned from playing at Findlay Market for some years; the reason - a decision made in a secret meeting held by city council - Go play in your own nei_g hborhood. The name of our Band was taken from a book called the Mucusless Diet Healing System, by P_rofessor Arnold Ehr~t. The goal Many people have supported my work as a street musician, and I would like to thank them: Allen Brown, Douglass Mansfield, Arzell Nelson, Ken Blackweel,_ Steve Stuhlborg, Scott Greewood, Judge Mallory, Mr. Sunderman, Dave Wecker, Melvin Greir, Laura Randall, Tanya O'roarke, Channel 5,9,12,19, and a special thanks to Cincinnati City Council, CMHHA, the Cincinnati Police Department, Congress and Capitalism for providing a crime and drug free environment where everyone's basic needs are provided such as food, shelter, healthcare, education and freedom of speech. And last but not least, the beautiful people of Cincinnati, Ohio who support street musician,S.­ ____.---­ Peace ·and Love, Dishon WOody �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Tales from across the river to have some kind of roof, so I started scrounging for something, anything, to keep the rain off me. I found a piece of plywood by Mark Pierce, Northern Kentucky . and some plastic for cover. It has been my home for the past 6 years. Matthew 11 :28-30 -- " Come to me, all you I had unknowlinglyenterecl God's Kingdom ~ho are weary and burdened, and I will give thatJesus was talking about in the scriptures above. you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn From that dayon angels have aided me on a daily from m e, for I am gentle and humble in heart, basis to provide food and clothing for me in ~ytime and you w ill find rest for your souls. For my oftrouble. You might not know them, but I do; ~ey yoke is easy and my burden is light. " are the people who man the soup kitchen lines and When I first ended up homeless in streets I the ones at shelters who give out clothes to people thought that I was among the lowest forms oflife ever like me. They have saved my life and many others on to exist. I was unemployable, had no self-esteem and · our journeys oflife. absolutely no hope. I felt abandoned by all I knew. I · "I was hungiyand you gave Me something to would go to churches and I prayed to die a lot, and I eat; in as much as you have done it (or one of the am grateful My God ignored those prayers. I had least ofthese, M y Brethren, you have done it for . suffered through some depression some time before M e!'"' - Mathew25:35-40 anditwasheavyonme, and I was bone tired. My · So ifyou are homeless forthe first time and physical condition has not changed much bymy ·are making your wayto the Lord's Table, remember attitude towards where God.had led me has. those who are serving the food donated to you! For it 'When mytime allowed to stay at the Drop-In is truly a gift from your Heavenly Father who helps Center ran out, I was really without a home. I twas you and I survive today! the beginning ofApril, but cold. I went down to the Not that I am a saint nor claim to be; but river bankand found a blanket. It was dirty, but; it was what kept me warm that night. I knewthat I had Rest for Your Soul , Page 17 Sunday's at 8:30 A.M.: Coffee and Snacks are served at Goebel Park in Covingto·n for all Northern Kentucky Homeless individuals. ther~ was a Saint named Francis who had a very humble lifestyle. The next time you are eating in St. Francis's Soup Kitchen on Liberty Street and you see one of those Franciscan Brothers in brown robes who run that school and kitchen, remember that they have dedicated their lives to the lifes~e ofSt. Francis. Here is a quote from an article'about him: · "He gave up eveiy material thing he had, pilin:g even his clothes .before his earthly father (who was demanding restitution for Francis' "gifts" to the _poor) so that he would be totally free to say; "Our Father in H eaven." He was, for a time, considered to be religious "nut," begging from door to door when he could not get moneyfor his work, bringing sadness or disgust to the hearts ofhis former friends, ridicule from the unthinking." · I am a furn believer that if the LOrd called you into the street He will not forget you! WASHINGTON SHELTER, (Continued from p.5) · tion, i.n the basement. "I've never seen this many inspectors at once," says volunteer coordinator Gary Adler. But Adler, for orie, doesn 't mi nd th e scrutiny. "A lot of advocates are sorry to see what's happen­ ing here in the interim, but they're not sorry to see some investigators [at CCNV] an d get some mom en­ tum going for something to change. " Out on the street, meanwhile, people are car­ rying their placards , warning against getting "Eggercized," _a reference to Central Kitchen Direc­ tor Robert Egger's reservations about CCNV, quoted in the City Paper story. Bishop says CCNV is solv­ ing the only problem that matters in the short run. "Whoever is out there homeless and needs to come in. we let them ir)," she says. "The lease is not going to keep them out." There are 17 mothers at the shelter Monday, . with 30 children among them, according to Bishop. Regardless of the conditions of CCNV's occupancy, she has· no plans to tell them to leave, she says. That's up to the city. But by 3p.m., residents see a bus pull up behind the building, and the moms and their kids climb in. After nearly a week of posturing by CCNV and the city, the women are being relocated to D.C. Village. , After four hours, the mayor's office releases a statement from Graham that terms the forced move part of a "much larger process that will loo_k at dilapi­ dated buildings all across the city whereby more situ­ ations like CCNV may be uncovered and will be qu ickly addressed ." The statement goes on to say · th at the move was necessary becau se th e shelter is su pposed to serve only single men and wom en. Among those on th e move is 2-month-old Wendell Taylor, whose mother, Storm Taylor, gave birth to him two days before she moved into the shel­ ter. "I came -here for the sake of my child," she says. "It's the first time I've been anywhere near a shelter. Now it feels like home ." "This protest is a.g ainst hypocrisy, apathy, in­ difference," declares Bishop in a statement posted on a wall inside the shelter. As long as she's had space, Bishop claims, city agen cies, from the Metro­ politan Police Department to Child and Family Services to the mayor's offjce, have dumped fa mi lies like Taylor's at her door when they had no oth er,place to put them . "Everybody's kn·own what I'm doing," she says. "I don 't do anything undercover. The city could have stepped in at any time. But they didn't." . In the meantime, she complains, the city has shortchanged CCNV by providing money for only the most superficial of repair~. though everyone's known the Federal City building is falling apart. Until Monday, ·she says, she's never seen so much as a fire or building inspector in­ ·side the place, though the health department regularly inspects D.C . Central Kitchen. And . she's certainly never seen so many social work­ ers out in force at once . "The city's just putting a Band-Aid over a bullet hole," adds John Baggett, a homeless staffer at CCNV. . In any event, says advocates, the real issue lies beyond the scope of regulatory quib­ bling. "Is some place better than no place?" asks _Mary Ann Luby of the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. "The broken-down building is not [CCNV's] fault. Who's at fault? The city's at fault." But why, if it could jeopardize her lease, did Bishop continue to allow ch ildren in Federal City? Why didn't she tell the city about her co n­ cerns before? "Why shou ld I?" she says. "If I'm in the busi ness of housing women an d children , it's becau se wo men and children are homeless. What's the issue? They should be concerned about what's happening in the community that drives these people to the shelter." At the end of the day, the cycles of life ­ and death - return to normal at Federal City. Come 2a.m. bed check, 58-year-old Marshall lshmell, a resident who had been in and out of the hospital, is found unconscious in the men's wing. He's rushed to Howard University Hospi­ tal, where he's pronounced dead, the ninth fa­ tality at the shelter in the last year. * * * �5 TREE TV I BES The Tri-State's The Traveler ........Donald Whitehead My travels lately have been filled with a newfound realization of my own miscon­ ceptions. I have witnessed the transforma­ tion of others due to reality encounters. In my new position at Goodwill Industries, I have had the opportunity to work in a new envi­ ronment that is closely tied to my old one. Workforce developm·ent·is one of the most important elements in a successful end to homelessness as well as prevention from homelessness . .While the current ecdnomy is strong , it has not trickled down to those at the very bottom of the economic ladder, for the most part. It has, however, forced em­ ployers to reach out to populations that were long ignored. People traditionally locked out by past indiscretions are now a lot more likely to be given a second chance. Every day I witness the elation experienced by those either en.tering the workforce for the first time or re-~ntering after a long period of absence. Working with the Welfare reform population has helped me gain insights into a culture that I was only vaguely aware of. · 1 have discovered that myths I thought to be untruths were in fact untrue. The idea that most people receiving seNices through the human service department were unwilling to work is perhaps the biggest misconception of them all. My experience so far has been that most people are very willing to work. I discovered that most of my encounters have been with people who were willing , but un­ able, because the issues that needed to be addressed, that kept them from work, were either inadequate or invisible. These issues, such as as transportation and training, are paramount to the success of any person en­ tering the workforce. With people transitioning from welfare, these necessities are too often viewed as unreasonable de­ mands. I also believed all human service case­ workers to be uncaring. I have since discov­ ered that the uncaring is more systemic than individualized. I was horrified to discover that some caseworkers have as many as 300 in­ dividuals on their caseloads. With 300 people on a caseload per caseworker the level of frustration must be extreme. Contin­ ued frustration does take its toll on Human Service workers. Just like the clients them­ selves, there is a definite need for support for the employees at the human services department. Their mission is to get people off of assistance by whatever means neces­ sary. Unfortunately welfare reform crafters in Ohio and many other states have not put -enough resources into support programs. The inability to recognize the value of sup­ --- port systems for those transitioning back into the work force, is a glaring flaw that will have drastic long-term consequences. B e ­ cause of a booming economy and a market that is begging for workers, placement has been fairly easy. The fact that many of ._ the placements have been in service-related occupations is of great concern to most ob­ Homeless Grapevine servers. Service re­ lated jobs are gener­ ally low paying, stress related, and lacking benefits. It is the hope of this writer that higher wisdom pre­ vails and the punitive nature of Welfare Reforms gives way to well thought out polices that have long-term suc­ cess as a goal for participants. ' I was going to dedicate this entire ar­ ticle to the issues around welfare. I have however decided that it is time to revisit an issue that has come to my attention again. The issue of cities' frontal attacks against their homeless populations. Cincinnati, too, has fallen victim to a plague that shallfrom here on out be referred to as Gui lianism . Gu ilianism stems from pol ices drafted by Mayor Guiliani of New York to rid the streets of homeless peopl e. The broken window concept is designed to rid the City of major crim es by aggres sivel y pursuing petty crimes. ·Thi s ill-advised strategy has been used for some ti me in New York City. The National Coalition for the Homeless has documented many cases of civil rights vio­ lation over the past five years but they have gotten steadily worse since Mayor Guilani began his program in New York. A more frightening a serious co nsequence of Guilianism is duplication by th e Mayors of other major Cities. A recent series homeless roundup thathave occurred in several cites including New York and Clevel and . Due to strong advocacy those practices have been stopped at press time. On an almost daily basis a policy pop up that infringes more and more on the rights of the homeless and the poor in America . Case in point is a policy in . Portland Oregon that is intended to limit the amount of people attending a church that serves low-income people. Cincinnati has also been infected with Guilianism. I just learned recently that the Cincinnati Police ·department was conducting a cleanup of outdoor encampments, particularly those · under bridges. I don't know where the order came from but it is extremely .coincidental that the sweeps happen one week prior to the outdoor locations count conducted by the Census department. If the City of Cincinnati wants to clean out the underpasses the best possible strategy would be to start investing as many resources into its low-income population as it invests into its Fortune 500 companies. I propose the" It Takes A Village Plan" ­ - a project that would require significant re­ sources, but pennies in comparison to the resources targeted for the many special in­ . terest projects in the City of Cincinnati. The project would be a marriage of old projects · that had some success but where shelved during the Reagan/Bush era when so many social programs were slashed or eliminated. The plan would use existing resources, one of our abandoned or soon-to be-abandoned school bl!ildings to create affordable hous­ ing with support. Those that wanted to live in the housing would do the construction. By participating in the building the residents would receive invaluable training in building · skills and a pride of ownership in the finished Page 1a project. The lunchrooms could be used as an on the job training site for those desiring training in culinary arts. The Gymnasium and Auditoriums have multiple possibilities for use -- community plays fund-raising and other activities. The residents would be re­ sponsible for ongoing maintenance and up­ keep. I am currently exploring possibility for funding and other important details for the concept implementation. I am.very excited about the possibilities. If there are readers interested in exploring this project, please. give me a call; we'll travel down this road to­ gether. * * * EYE ON ·MOTHER EARTH Agent Qrange now hastens our self-destruction DIOXIN Dioxin is a class of seventy-five chemi­ cals, formed when waste containing a chlorine · source such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic is burned and .during the manufacture _ of certain organic chemicals· containing _ chlorine. At least seven of dioxin's chemical forms are highly toxic, and-.on.e'"- 2,3,7,8­ tetracholorodibenzo-dioxin .- is believed tobe.... the single most carcinogenic compound in existence. Scientists have documented that,, . / even at very low levels of exposure, dioxin c~ also cause birth defects and affect the ·m::­ mune system, reprodueti e organs, and a variety of hormonal processes in ways whose ultimate effects are unknown. Because the chlorine bonds in the dioxin mofecule are extremely resistant to chemical or physical breakdown, dioxin is highly persistent in the environment. It can be airborne for long distances and subsequently enter the food chain through plants and water, ending up in meat, dairy products, eggs and fish. The Human body processes dioxin very slowly once it is consumed, creat­ ing a buildup of the chemical in fatty tissue ­ such as the female breast. Thus, nursing infants are particularly likely to receive doses of dioxin . . Combustiop-related sources, such as incinerators, account for the majority of know dioxin emission. A large proportion of dioxin emissions, from a multiplicity of sources, can be traced to a handful of individual chlorine­ relat~d products and processes: PVC, plastic, chlorine-based pulp bleaches, pesticides, and chlorinated solvents. PVC is the most abun­ dant product of Ghlorine chemistry, consum­ ing more than 30 percent of all the chlorine produced annually in the United States. It is widely used in pipes, many other building materials, furniture, packaging, _and more. And dioxins are formed both when PVC is manufac.t ured and when it is incinerated. From the Winter 2000 issue ofThe Amicus journal, the_ magazine ofthe Natural Resources Defense Council �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Page 19 SCRAMBLE Answers (from Page 7) Exercise, Aerobics, Running, Jogging, Swimming, Dan'c ing , Pushups, Cycling Streetvibes TV covers news on poverty, homelessness and related issues. If you would like to be a part of the audience, or if you have ideas for future shows, call us at 421-7803 . ..··: .·..·. : ::}~.=.: .=.). ··:: :::::.:· ·:.. :· . :· .. . . . .·... ·.-: ...:.. : -: ..···: .· .:· ..··.·. ·..·..· .·:.::-. -~ ..·..··.. ··. Streetvibes Live Radio Hour Tune in to WAIF •• 88.3 FM! Mac Day on the second Saturday of each month at 12:00 noon for The Planners Needed Homeless Coalition's live r_ adio program. The show is co-hosted by Mary Burke, Donald Whitehead and other monthly guest hosts.. The show mixes talk focusing on . the stories in this paper and edectic musical selections . The 2000 Mac Day (tlie Rev. · McCrackin Day held in honor of the late 0­ T-R activist pastor) Committee is forming. We would like anyone and everyone inter­ - ested to come to the meeting on Monday, AprH 3, 6 PM at St. Joseph Catholic Church Rectory, 745 Ezzard Charles Dr. Mac Day has been a child-friendly gathering ofpeace making, alt. living, enviro, grassro?ts, anti-nuke, homeless advocates, ;u,1 good-thing I good-vibe people festival with lots ofgood food and music. It happens in June at the Laurel Park in the West End, Macs' old romping grounds. We need as many people as possible to help plan, guide and_mold this event. Please come and/or share this info with others. Thank you, STREETVIBES Classified Executive Director position avail­ able at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Send resurne and cover to Clifford Jones, GCCH, 1506 Elm St. , Cincinnati 45210. Brian Crum bcrum@fuse.net 221 -5537 (Cincinnati) Streetvibes accepts Classi­ .fied Ads for items such as Help · -, Wanted, Items for Sale, Apartments for Rent and other non-personal items. The rate is only $1 per line, approximately ten words per line. to order one or more copies of 510lEN LIVES a project ofthe October 22 Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, ·the National Lawyers Guild, and the AnthonyBaez Foundation, People below the poverty level will be given five free lines for six months to advertise their skills or products to our readers. Call 421-7803 for more information call 212-477-8062"orthe local . · chapter of the Oetober 22 Coalition at 513-241-8014 for an order form ' Mail the ad copy, or deliver, to: GCCH,1506 Elm Street,Cincinnati, . OH 45210 or fax it to 421-7813; or e-mail to streetvibes.@ juno.com· VOLUNTEER at the Opening Day Parade Monday April 3, 1000 Decoration Volunteers •.· will be meeting at 6:00 •· a.m. 1904 Woodburn <: (Parade starts at 10:00 .·.·. ••.. a.m.) :·.· .·.:· Come Join the Fun!!! · Cincinnati-Hamilton County ............................ Community Action UBS!l2~ Agency /Head Start l' 1t ..,-., .:WI' J _...A. IA .It- ..'.\ ~ Jt. , JJ . i.t tt ~ • -~ #. l>lt JI .R ...k .d ..I' •..!. .0. _. <# ::.t:! ~ J1 _., ~ >'1' ;f. -» ~ .• ~ -ci Jf • 'y ·' ..... Subscribe to Streetvibes J ., Subscriptions can be ··P.~ rchased for $15 per year. (you can give more ifyou want) ·Just send a check to the below . ~iddres.s '. and the pap.e r will be mailed · . toy6u each month . . . STREETvlBES, 1506 Elm Street, .. · . Cincinnati, OH 45210. Please make · checks payable toGCCH. If you have any ·. questions, call 421-7803. If y ou have subscribed, but are not receiv­ ing your Streetvibes, Please let us kn ow. ' ::i �ST RE ET VI BES Homeless Grapevine The Tri-State's Streetvibes Page 20 endor Code EER Each vendor has to sign the following code to be able to sell the paper. 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for a $1 voluntary donation. . I agree not to ask for donations . more than $1. I also understand that I will be able to keep 80 cents of each dollar collected. Future issues of Streetvibes will be purchased from the Homeless Coalition for 20 cents. 2. I agree that I will never distribute Streetvibes while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 3. I agree that I will not ask for donations after 12 midnight. 4. I agree to treat others with respect. I Will not use abusive language or.force someone to give a donation. I will not give a "hard sell" or make someone feel threatened. · 5_. I agree that I will not supply copies of Streetvibes to persons who are not registered .'d istributors. 6. I agree not to deceive the public b y 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. 7. I agree that I will not contest territories with other distributors. 8 . I understand that Streetvibes strives to be a seif-supporting paper created by people who are homeless or formerly h omeless. ·To help in this effort, I. will try to spread the word and write stories if possibie. 9. I understand that failure to comply with any of the above statements will resuJt in me no longer being able to distribute Streetvibes. D S ree . ibes is looking for volunteer writers, reporters, photographers, etc. interested in serving on the Streetvibes _ editorial work group. For more information, please call the office at 421-7803 ish List Streetvibes newspaper is published monthly on a shoe"'.string budget from the offices of th e Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. We depend heavily on the goodwill of many volunteers and don6rs. If you can help out with some of the items on our wish list, please give us a ca ll. .. 0 Supplies for vendor's lounge (coffee, cups, paper towels, cream and sugar, ' etc.) 0 Photography Help of all sorts for Stre,e tvibes- photographers, film, developing , (a digital camera?) 0 Streetvibes has a minimal overhead costs o that the vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. If anyone selling Streetvibes claims to be collecting for a private charity, please call our office at 421-7803. Advertisers and S-U6sctlb~ 0 Computers/components (monitors, ,.,. hard. drives, etc.) for story-writing ~ editing, research, and future home-/ less computer lab ~ · - If you can help!, contact l:JS at: Streetvibes, cl o Greater Cincinnati Coalition for. the Homeless, 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45210 ph: (513) 421-7803, fax (513) 421-7813 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com Thanks for your support. ee Hep or ant to Help? If for some reason you find yo1,1rself homeless, contact a Coalition Member Agency for Shelter, Treatment, Housing or Services. If you have any questions, feel free to call the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. SHELTERS: Women and Children YWCA Battered Womens Shelter 872-9259 (Toll Free) 1-888-872-9259 Bethany House 557-2873 Salvation Army 762-5660 Welcome House 431-8717 SHELTER: Men City Gospel Mission · Garden Street House Joseph House (Veterans) · St. Francis- St. Joseph House Mt. Airy Center Volunteers of America SHELTER: Both Caracole (AIDS) Chabad House Drop Inn Center (Singles) Friars Club Haven House (Hamltton) 1.nterfaith Hospitality Network 241-5525 241-0490 241-2965 381-4941 661-4620 381-1954 761-1480 821-5100 721-0643 381-5432 863-8866 471-1100 Lighthouse Youth Center (Teens) 961-4080 St. John's Temporary Housing 651-6446 HOUSING CMHA Excel Development Miami Purchase OTA Housing Network ReSTOC Tender,.. Mercies Tom Geiger House 721-4580 632-7149 241-0504 369-0004 381-1171 639-7056 961-4555 TREATMENT: Women 0.D.A.A.T First Step Home TREATMENT: Men Charlie's 3/4 House Prospect House Starting Over 241-7343 961-4663 784-1853 921-1613 751-3260 TREATMENT: Both N.A. Hopeline A.A. Hotline C.C.A.T. Talbert House Transitions, Inc. • VA Domiciliary 1 820-2947 861-9966 381-6660 684-7956 ·.491-4435 559-5011 OTHER SERVICES ; \ • ~ "• ' • > ' 1' f'-' 1. 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 He~lth Network 961-0600 569-1840 Community Action Agency . 381-4242 Contact Center 241-2563 Emanuel Community Center 241-1064 Freestore/Foodbank 771-4800 Goodwill Industries 621-7149 Hamilton Co.Mental Health Bd. 632-7186 Hamilton Co. TB Control 357-4602 Health Resource Center 352-2902 Homeless Mobile Health Van - 221-3619 House of Refuge Mission 241-9400 Legal Aid Society Madisonville Ed. & Assistance Ctr. 271-5501 721-4811 Mary Magdalen House 621-0248 Oral Health Council 621-6364 Our Daily Bread 621-5514 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 721-7660 Travelers Aid 721-7900 . United Way _ 572-6226 VA Homeless Program 491-3335 Women's Crisis Center 872-9259 Women Helping Women ' 4 < .. 'Ii • ·., • ~ ·• $ I '\, • 1, ­ � 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 2000 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 2000 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Kunzel Meeting is Circus of Deception and Exclusion Pg 2: Armed Guards Prevent Community Advocates from Attending GCAEC Board Meeting Pg 3: Community Advocate is Kicked Off the Arts and Education Center (GCAEC) Board Pg 4: Kevin Scudder is Next to be Executed in Ohio? Pg 5: Dying for Justice Throw Momma from the Shelter Pg 6: National News Pg 7: International News Pg 8: Arts & Poetry Pg 9: Arts & Poetry Continued Pg 10: Prison News Pg 11: A Letter from Mumia Pg 12: Innocent on Death Row Pine Ridge Reservation Struggles Continue Pg 13: Anit-Same-Sex Marriage Bills Introduced in Ohio Legislature The Broken City Pg 14: Editorials & Letters Pg 15: Welfare News Pg 16: Street Music in Cincinnati Pg 17: Tales from Across the River Pg 18: The Traveler 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 Date April 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Susan Knight Tom Billman John Halpin Jess Ballew Ron carter Warren Perkins Pat Mitchell Donald Whitehead Lynn Williams Bonnie Neumeier Marsha Ramsey John Perroti William Phillips Africa C.W. Mcintosh Mike Henson Sonny Williams Rodney Sutton Tree Mosolf Tina Maser Pat Mitchell Michelle Kitchen Kevin L. Deal Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Advocated arts Arts & Poetry Bonnie Neumeier C.W. Mcintosh Cincinnati Death Penalty Donald Whitehead Editorials & Letters education GCAEC International news Jess Ballew John Halpin John Perroti Kevin L. Deal Lynn Williams Marsha Ramsey Michelle Kitchen Mike Henson Music Over-the-Rhine Pat Mitchell police brutality prisoners news Protests Rodney Sutton Ron Carter Same-Sex Marriage Sonny Williams Street Music Susan Knight Tales from Across the River the broken city The Traveler Tina Maser Tom Billman Tree Mosolf Warren Perkins welfare news William Phillips Africa