2000

by Noemi Martinez

he was right, the shadows in the wall look like a tree. we all want guns.

we were born under the sign/”tomorrow you may hear”/time notes.

that is a story. you are just a vomit of symptoms. you really are not
that. “your spirits will rise

when you think

of balloons…” you

when i left the room

wrong

you can’t define yourself. let me help you. insert here.

this is what you mean.

“cheer up! things are never

as bad as they seem

if you dream your

favorite kind of dream”

that ain’t right, you are

just a metal flower

this companion is relentless,

“it helps to remember brooks

that trickle” you should

have known.

by Anna Kirsch/PNN

English follows

"Desde cuando los sue�os se volvieron en suicidio, desde cuando que los sue�os le quitan la vida a la persona. �Qu� es el sue�o Americano?" La voz poderosa de Muteado quebro el aire caliente y mal ventilado que llenaba el cuarto de poesia en la Librer�a City Lights. Era la apertura del nuevo proyecto revolucionario de Prensa POBRE, Los Viajes.

Exprimidos en filas de sillas escasas y rodeado por estantes de libros de poesia, lo oimos explicar la lucha de migracion en su poema, �El Sue�o Amerikkkano.� Un sabio de inmigracion y la pobreza, Muteado es uno de varios autores, poetas y artistas publicados en Los Viajes.

Los Viajes es un libro y proyecto de audio que arroja una nueva luz sobre el significado de la inmigracion y cruce de la frontera. Redefinar inmigracion. Los Viajes comparte el dolor, la esperanza, y la lucha de gente Ind�gena quien cruza la fronteras por todo el mundo. Desde Mexico a los E.E.U.U., Oakland a Berkeley, del pasado al presente. Los Viajes explora lo que significa para la gente lo que es luchar con el racismo y la pobreza, en cruzar las fronteras fisicas, de identidad y racial.

"Para que la gente tenga la oportunidad de publicar es halgo realmente revolucionario." Tiny, la co-fundadora de Prensa POBRE hablo despues, ��Como es que se crea acceso para voces muteadas? �Como es que se crea la revoluci�n para que se mire como nosotr@s?� su voz poderosa cauptivo a todos en el cuarto. �Lo hicimos con nuestr@s ancestr@s, nuestras familias, y hij@s,� dijo ella, �Nosotr@s somos due�@s de nuestras propias historias, noticias y arte.�

Para crear Los Viajes, el proyecto escrito de prensa POBRE inicio talleres gratis, multigeneracional de arte y escrito en refugios, escuelas y centros comunitarios. Estos talleres les dio a adultos, jovenes, y ancian@s la oportunidad de contar sus historias y ser due�@s de su propia noticias y arte; para rechazar el titulo de inmigrante.

La musica se oyia del callejon al lado, mientras l@s sabi@s contaron sus historias. Ingrid de Leon, la primera reportera de prensa POBRE y la inspiracion para Los Viajes, compartio su lucha en el trabajo, �Tengo Miedo� ella hablo honestamente y claramente. �Soy dicriminada y humillada por mis patrones,� ella dijo. Angela Pena nos conto de su viaje a los E.U. para salvar la vida de sus nieto. Vivian Hain nos conto de su familia, y cuando se migraron de Oakland para Berkeley en sus historia, �Cajas Cerradas.�

En cada historia del sabi@ hubo dolor, pero tambien esperanza porque sus verdades finalmente fueron contadas.

Ingles Sigu�

"Since when did dreams become suicide, since when did dreams take people's lives. What is the American dream?" Muteado's powerful voice cut through the warm, stuffy air that filled the poetry room at City Lights Bookstore. It was the launch of POOR Magazine's latest revolutionary publishing project, Los Viajes (The Journeys).

Squeezed in tight rows of chairs and surrounded by shelves of poetry books, we listened to him describe the struggle of migration in his poem, "Amerikkkan Dream." A race and poverty scholar, Muteado is just one of many authors, poets and artists published in Los Viajes.

Los Viajes (The Journeys) is a book and audio project that sheds new light on the meaning of migration and boarder-crossing. Redefining migration, Los Viajes shares the pain, hope and struggle of indigenous people crossing boarders all over the world. From Mexico to the U.S., Oakland to Berkeley, past to present, Los Viajes explores what it means for people struggling with racism and poverty to cross physical, identity and racial boarders.

"For poor people to publish is truly revolutionary," Tiny, the co-founder of POOR Magazine spoke next. "How do you create access for silenced voices? How do you re-make the revolution to look like us?" her powerful voice captivated all those in the room. "We do it with our ancestors, our families and our children," she said. "We own our own stories, media and art."

To create Los Viajes, POOR's community writing project conducted free, bi-lingual, multigenerational art and writing workshops in shelters, schools and community centers. These workshops gave adults, youth and elders the opportunity to tell their own stories and own their own media and art; to reject the label of immigrant.

Music wafted in from the alleyway below as the scholars shared their stories. Ingrid De Leon, the first reportera for POOR Magazine and the inspiration for Los Viajes, shared her struggle in the workplace. "I am scared," she spoke clearly and honestly. "I am discriminated against and humiliated by my own bosses," she said. Angela Pena told us about her journey to the U.S. to save the life of her grandson Vivian Hain described her family's migration from Oakland to Berkeley in her story, Sealed Boxes.

In each scholar's story there was pain, but also hope because their truth was finally being told

by Queennandi XSheba & RAM

No more stolen lives

Police get a gun and badge

And think they just can thrive

And be full of jive

Wheres the us and the we when they only think about the I

How much more shit must we take

How many constituional rights must they break

On the Bart plaque shooting us in the back

Police reports be lies and the wrong stats

Planted guns and planted sacks

Lying in court about some nicks and nacks

Marching in Oakland on broadway Ave.

Spirits black as panthers putting unjustice on the slab

So many times we took this path

Mothers crying and brothers mad

        RAM

by Noemi Martinez

driving needles

and still now

i wonder what has become of you

where you are

mom saved your last text

on her phone,

june of 08,

I left it there

see you on the

shadow of men on the street

is that you,

and can I spare some change

change

can i

wait to see your name

on the newspaper,

on the late night news

of some body found

identifying tattoos

I search them out

i am afraid of you

like i’m afraid

of being alone

at night, in the streets

i’m afraid for you

leaving before your time

that time, ten years ago

they held you in Elsa,

strapped to a chair

another deal gone wrong,

you told mom

they pissed on you-

are those the demons

that chase you

guns in your nightmares

we are lost, hermano

by Tony Robles/PNN

I remember my first job in radio. I was attending City College of San Francisco (“Harvard on the hill” or “Extended high school” as it was jokingly referred to), in my first semester. I was sent to an academic counselor who was to shine her guiding light upon me. After much back and forth about my dislike of anything resembling a suit and tie, the counselor blurted out the immortal words: Why don’t you major in business? I left her office, taking in an array of (mostly forgettable) faces about campus; many of whom were as confused as I was.

I checked the course directory and saw that the school offered classes in radio, had a radio station (which broadcast on a FM cable signal) and production studios. I signed up for the radio station class, but of course they wouldn’t just let you in. You had to learn about Marconi and the radio pioneers first; then you had to take a class on how to push buttons.

The radio station fascinated me. I’d watch the DJ’s and news reporters speak into the microphone from behind a glass. To me it was an aquarium of brilliance, each word uttered, profound—although I can’t recall for you anything that was ever said. After what seemed an extended period of voyeurism, I was “allowed” on the air, that is, given my own show. I had to be trained on the equipment so I sat in with an on-air guy who called himself Jackson Clarkson—his real name was Marco Bertolucci. I watched him play records and say things like, “It’s Jackson Clarkson with you…spinning tunes to keep you in tune”, or some sort. After the shift I said, “Wow, that was pretty good Marco”. He gave me a chickenshit grimace and replied curtly: “Where’d you get that Marco shit? My name is Jackson Clarkson”.
“Oh”

Soon I was spinning records and uttering various radio bullshit (i.e.: time and temperature) on my own. I wasn’t smooth, every other word out of my mouth was
“duh” or “uh” or a combination of both. I began taping my shows, listening over and over until I barely recognized my own voice. I was trying to sound like “them”, whoever they or them was. I didn’t’ sound like me anymore—I didn’t know what I sounded like. I started sending tapes to radio stations for possible employment as an announcer.

I sent tapes to all kinds of stations—country, adult contemporary, oldies, easy listening—I didn’t care, I just wanted to get on the air. At the same time I had an uncle who was involved in community work and struggle. He knew of my interest in radio and suggested I visit one of his friends who ran a radio apprenticeship at a community station across the bay. I went to an orientation—one of three people. I met my uncle’s friend Roman. Roman was an activist who fought the eviction of elders of the International Hotel in 1977. He spoke about the need for community radio, to serve underrepresented and silenced communities. After the orientation, I decided that community radio wasn’t real radio. I didn’t return.

I got a call from a guy with a booming radio voice a few weeks later. He was the program director of an AM station in Concord. He hired me to do weekends. “We’re startin’ you off at 3.35 an hour…ok?” I would have done it for free but I gave the impression that 3.35 represented, to me, a gold mine. I signed on. The studio was big and fancy; it had a news department and a little guy who did traffic reports dangling from a helicopter. We had color coded songs—reds were hot hits, blues were songs moving up the charts, greens and oranges were the tried and true—Beatles, Eagles, Abba—all the stuff I disliked (for every 10 of those, you might get one Marvin Gaye). Somehow the Century 21 corporation supplied the bulk of the music on reel to reel tapes. The tape decks were mounted on the wall and were activated by remote control. We had to keep loading the tapes and cleaning the tape heads. In addition, the station had an FM sister station which was located down the hall in a room the size of a closet. We had to load tapes to keep that operation going as well. They were getting their $3.35’s worth. I lasted all of 2 weeks at the station. Rookie mistake—they told me to get to the station Midnight Saturday morning (i.e.: Friday midnight). I showed up Saturday at midnight, i.e.: Sunday morning. I was let go without a second chance.

After that debacle I worked at stations in Stockton, Napa and Vallejo. The Stockton gig was ok. The station was located in a cow pasture. On my first day, I was greeted by mounds of steaming cowshit. I knocked on the door and was greeted by the station secretary who informed me (while eating a hot dog on a stick) that the DJ’s had to enter through the back—which meant wading through more cowshit. I did my show in a bug-infested studio playing the likes of Michael Jackson, Madonna and Michael Bolton. Sometimes I’d look at the window and a cow would be staring at me. An audience, at last! Sometimes I’d be in a pissy mood and say to the cow, “what the hell are you staring at you son of a bitch?” But those instances were more the exception than the rule. Things were ok until the station owner suggested I change my on-air name from Tony Robles to Jeff Scott. I told him that I didn’t look like a Jeff Scott. He said, “This is radio…they don’t see your face”. He jabbed his index finger close to my face as he spoke. I told him my idea for an on-air name. “Marco Bertolucci” I blurted out, thinking of the guy from City College. The owner looked at me and walked away.

I continued the weekend shift for a year or so, the most memorable moment being an hourly newscast. There I was reading stories I’d ripped from the Associated Press newswire when this moth appeared out of nowhere—hairy and ugly like the station owner. At the midpoint of the newscast, the moth decides to fly into my mouth. I coughed and gagged into the microphone. Luckily I had the presence of mind to hit the button for the commercial. It was for the US Army: Be all that you can be. As it played I ran to the bathroom.

And there were ladies and young girls, of course. I knew I was in trouble when I’d answer the request line and a sweet female voice would make a request. It would be followed up by a question such as, how tall are you or what color are your eyes? I got hung up on the request line with one such woman who hooked me by saying that she listened to my show regularly while flipping through the Victoria Secret Catalog, that she had been an underwear model at one time. We set a date to meet at a nearby restaurant. She described herself. I walked in the door and saw her. It was obvious that her underwear modeling days were well behind her. Where was the cow in the window? I rushed out of the restaurant and into my car.

After Stockton there was Napa and Vallejo. The Vallejo station was a “Hot Country Hits” station. The owner was a little old man named “Stu” who had a flatulence problem. He’d walk about the station farting after each step. It went kind of like this:

Step>fart>step>fart>step>fart

Then it was on to Napa to a station resembling a winery. It was there that I became acquainted with wine and I have forgotten (forgive me) most of what I did on (or off) the air. I don’t remember if I quit or was fired.

Fast-forward a few years. Ended up working in TV as a production assistant shooting dogs (with a camera) for TV 20 followed by a stint as a radio-advertising salesman for a Spanish station (owned by a gringo whose father was a diplomat in Costa Rica). I spoke no Spanish but looked Latino (I’m Filipino) so I was pimped to pimp a community…I mean…market. I got a few accounts—a car dealership, an appliance outlet—but not enough to keep from getting fired. My last job was at a station known as “The Quiet Dorm”. I produced commercials and worked with on-air talent. That was short-lived as I mislabeled a commercial, costing the station several thousand dollars—another common mistake, but this mistake took place during the year-end budget crunch. They did not forgive. Neither did I. I quit, for good. Or so I thought. More than 10 years later I’m back where I started, in radio—a place I vowed I’d never return. I’m co-hosting the POOR Magazine radio show with Lisa Gray-Garcia, AKA Tiny at that community station my Uncle sent me to so long ago. I am having a good time…this time. And it’s real radio. I realize that now. I’m finally where I should have been all along. It just took me a while to realize it. I’m back.

by Leroy Moore/Illin n Chillin

Hello Peeps it’s been a long time. Last time I wrote about Krip-Hop we just got out of a wonderful Diversifying Hip-Hop: Krip-Hop Homo-Hop event at University of California at Berkeley. Well a lot of things are popping at Krip-Hop Nation.

Krip-Hop Homo-Hop event has caught attention of New York University so this year Rob Da Noize Temple of the Sugar Hill Gang and Krip-Hop Nation will present at NYU on the evolution of Krip Hop, Krip Hop Nation, and the disability rights movement. Event Details: October 21st - Rob Da Noize Temple Speaks @ NYU The Kimmel Center60 Washington Square South Room 602 7pm-8: 30pm October 30th - Rob Da Noize Performs at NYU's Diva Ball Celebration The Kimmel Center60 Washington Square South E&L Auditorium, 4th floor7pm-11pm. NYU wants to bring Diversify Hip-Hop: Krip-Hop Homo-Hop to their campus next year. We’ll begin talking and organizing this after the holidays.

In 2009 Krip-Hop Nation teamed up with Handicapped Art Works in München, Augsburg, Germany to start working on a new international project, Mcees With Disabilities, MWD. MWD is an international CD Project of Mcees With Disabilities from around the world. MWD has collaborated with talented Hip-Hop artists with disabilities from around the world to create not only an international CD but to form a community to put a spotlight on the talents and projects of musicians with disabilities. Today MWD has artists in Germany, US, UK, Africa, Italy and Spain and is still growing.

After almost a year working together through the internet, Binkiwoi of Handicapped Art Works and I, Leroy will meet face to face in Binkiwoi’s home on October 29th to talk about MWD with a music manager and to put together MWD’s Demo. MWD’s process and creation has happened online so this is the first time we will see each other. After that creative meeting, Leroy/Krip-Hop heads to WOMEX World Music Festival in Copenhagen, Denmark where Staff Benda Bilili of the Congo will perform and be awarded the number one CD in Europe. Staff is an all disabled musician band. My sister, Pamela Juhl, who is a reporter in Copenhagen and I will cover the festival interviewing Staff and others at the festival.

After Denmark, Krip-Hop will be off to Philly and NY for a Krip-Hop presentations at Temple University and City College in New York. So stay tune for updates…

by Noemi Martinez

you don’t smoke do you?

no parties?

no overnight stays.

no visiting relatives.

no party types.

you don’t smoke do you?

how many kids do you have?

they go to school right?

you don’t smoke do you?

no overnight stays.

i’ll walk through once a month.

no parties. no party types.

you do work, don’t you?

where do you work?

you can afford this, can’t you?

no other adults?

no, there are no rats.

I don’t care if you don’t have a social security.

the traps are cautionary.

ignore the dead roaches.

and the cracks in the walls.

the mold won’t make you sick.

the stains in the rug aren’t blood.

ignore the smoke stains.

smile.

sign here.

by Staff Writer

I like Mike, still do. Truth be told, I didn’t buy the later albums and I only watched the Thriller video once or twice. To me, Michael was at his best when he was singing with his brothers. I loved the way Michael and Jermaine switched lead roles and the way the Jackson Five moved across our black and white TV set and living room floor. How could he move like that, such a young boy?

He seemed more than human, super-talented, in command. Of course he owed a debt to the singers that came before: James Brown, Jackie Wilson, Billy Stewart and others. Of course there’s the debt to Berry Gordy for signing him and his brothers to Motown but let’s not forget the secretary at Motown who kept bugging Mr. Gordy to give the group a shot, a listen. To me, Michael was the young kid at the forefront of the Jackson Five, wearing those cool hats and singing with a range and emotion beyond his years.

I talked to one of my coworkers, a musician. We debated which song was Michael’s best. We pondered the songs in our minds—too many to remember—too many great albums. I said, “Got to be there” and “Never can say goodbye”. He shook his head in agreement. A few minutes later he said, “What about Working Day and Night” from the “Off the Wall” album. The debate goes on, as we work day and night.

To me, “Thriller” was both Michael’s biggest success and biggest downfall. The best selling album of all time. How do you top that? He tried. The songs crossed over radio formats, songs like “Beat it”. I remember a radio DJ announcing the song, not mentioning Michael but proclaiming “That was Eddie Van Halen on guitar”.

It’s hard to stay on top. Michael did it for nearly 4 decades. To call him the king of pop is an insult. Somehow, genius doesn’t quite apply either. But for all his success, he had insecurities, fears, doubts—just like the rest of us—perhaps even more so. I like to think of Michael as a soul singer, a great soul singer. Is there more to it than that?

The media has been very disrespectful in its coverage of Michael. The media has made millions off Michael in life, and continues to thrive after his death. The drug allegations, the vilification of father Joe Jackson, his finances and the child molestation allegations have been the subject of talk shows while hosts have shown little compassion or empathy to the Jackson family. But, like millions, I sit and watch as these half-talents spew their disrespect through the clogged up cables reaching into millions of homes sponsored by companies whose products clog our arteries as well as our minds.

The man was the best in the world at his profession for nearly 40 years. Do you know anybody personally that is or was the best in the world at anything for 10 years, 10 minutes, 10 seconds? Tell me, do you?

by Staff Writer

Pt 2

by Tendai R. Mwanaka

You have come from the east?

Have you been here before this?

Of-course, she believed the stars!

Even though you are aiming at me,

I might as well admit it!

The food was not so bad.

But did you see what she saw,

Standing so gaily like
breaking shadows?

An empty house on
an empty street.

by Jennifer Fong/PNN Interna del Instituto de Raza, Pobreza y Justicia de Noticias/Race, Poverty, Media Justice Institute intern

English follows

Aunque la epidemia de ser acosados por la policía de la Bahía por razón de pertenecer de una raza particular no es cosa nueva, ha habido una ola de acciones discriminatorias en contra de la gente de color, específicamente con sus autos. La comunidad emigrante Raza especialmente son forzados a lidiar con este problema, de tener la grúa quitarles sus autos, y lidiar con las serias consecuencias que siguen.

Donnaji Esteva del grupo comunitario Personas Organizando para Ganar Derechos del Trabajo (POWER), vino al circulo indígena de Prensa POBRE, el Martes pasado para traer atención a este tema y para ayudar a ell@s que están sufriendo por esta discriminación. Ella, y tres otras residentes locales de San Francisco, fueron recibidas tiernamente en el circulo de familia y amig@s en prensa POBRE, donde aprendimos de su sabiduría y compartimos la lucha hacia la justicia.

“Muchos autos son detenidos por tener un rosario colgando del espejo o por tener un rotulo que diga ‘for sale’ en la ventana,” Esteva explico. La policía ha estado alegando que las razones por estas acciones es para bajar el nivel de violencia. Pero no hay ninguna razón clara o legitima que pueda explicar porque hay tant@s inmigrantes siendo parrados por la policía. Personas son parradas sin explicaciones, interrogad@s intensamente, cuestionad@s por sus documentos, y después el vehículo es confiscado. Muchas familias, incluso son perseguidas por la policías después y siguen siendo aterrorizadas.

La situación se exagera con ell@s que no llevan una licencia valida, particularmente en la comunidad inmigrante. El resultado es devastador. Una fianza de $2,000 debe ser pagada antes que se devuelva el vehículo. “Incluso, después de que se a pagado la fianza,” Esteva explica, “la gente recibe su auto en medias condiciones.” Ella nos dijo, que muchos vehículos son devueltos sin radio, sistema de estereo, herramientas y otras pertenencias personales. Hasta la gasolina es robada del tanque.

Mas alarmante es el paso en que estos eventos están ocurriendo. En una publicación reciente del periódico, El Tecolote, 66,288 vehículos fueron tomados por la grúa en el ano fiscal del 2009. Esteva revelo que todo la gente Latina y inmigrante, cada una a tenido su auto llevado por la grúa por lo menos una vez. No hay ninguna persona que no ha pasado por este crisis. Un hombre hasta ha perdido quince vehículos. Algunas personas podrían preguntarse, como es que alguien en esta situación continuaría agarrando un nuevo vehículo, poniéndose en riesgo. La razón es que muchas de estas familias dependen en sus autos para sobrevivir a diario. Mucha gente trabaja lejos de donde viven y deben cargar muchas herramientas. Madres tienen dificultad montando toda su familia en un bus. Para hacer el caso peor, cuando la grua les quitan su auto, muchos son forzados a perder su trabajo, resultando en una carga mas para la familia que depende en el cheque.

La co-editora de Prensa POBRE, y sabia de la pobreza, Tiny, hizo la conexión de la represión policíaca de gente sin techo, gente inmigrante, y toda gente de color cuando contó su historia de cuando vivía en su auto con su mama, y tenían a la policía constantemente acosándolas, siempre quitándoles su auto. Ella se referir a su “crimen,” como, Manejando mientras eres Pobre y Manejando mientras eres Afro-Americano y Latin@.

Escritora residente de prensa POBRE y sabia de la pobreza, Vivian Hain contó su historia cuando la policía le discriminaba y tenia que luchar para manejar como gente pobre en la Bahía. Tuvo seis autos tomados por la grúa en el pasado ocho anos que ha vivido en Oakland. Uno de los policías le puso la pistola en su cabeza y no la dejo sacar nada de su auto antes de que se lo confiscaran.

Una pareja casada quien también estuvo presente en esta junta nos contó que a ellos le confiscaron sus autos dos veces. Le habían rogado a uno de los oficiales que los detuvo, que no sacaran a su hija del auto porque estaba siendo mucho frió y tenia problemas de la salud. El oficial no quiso escucharlos y cuando finalmente llegaron al hospital les dijeron que la niña tenia neumonía. El auto es vital para la salud de su hija, quien es sensitiva al clima fuerte, y se enferma de la neumonía cada ano. Ahora tienen que lidiar con una cuenta medica de $10,000, arriba de la cuota de la grúa que no pueden pagar. “Hasta ahora pagué $800 por el auto, pero todavía no nos lo quieren dar,” dijo el señor.

La empresa de San Francisco, Tegsco Llc Regreso de Auto, hace una cantidad de $3.7 millones cada ano, por confiscar y usar la grúa. POWER es protestando en contra de esta injusticia. El 7 de septiembre, el grupo tuvo una protesta de mas de 50 personas en frente de la empresa para presentarles un premio en forma de una gran rata con una corona por, “La Empresa mas Corrupta del 2009.” Desafortunadamente, nadie de la compañía estuvo presente para aceptar el premio. Aun así, POWER continua su llamado para poner un alto de la confiscación de autos por un periodo de 30 días, y que el costo de las cuotas sean reducidas. Aunque el grupo no se ha podido comunicar con el Fiscal de Policía actual, han hablado con la Fiscal de Policía anterior, Heather Fong. “Una cosa que es inspiradora fue que ella vio a la comunidad de San Francisco muy organizada y quiere enfrentarse al tema,” exclamo Esteva.

Pues, la campaña para enfrentarse a la discriminación racial esta en progreso, y Esteva invita a tod@s y cualquiera al las reuniones semanal de POWER, los Miércoles a las 6pm en la oficina 335 South Van Ness St. “Nos tenemos que movilizar para poner un alto ha esto,” dijo ella.

Cerrando el circulo, Tiny les agradeció a tod@s las almas en el cuarto que han sentido el impacto del prejuicio racial, y las ultimas palabras que dijo mando escalofríos de verdad en mi columna, “Una de las cosas que me salvo la vida es unirme a la lucha porque cosas como estas nos matan.”

Inglés sigue

Though the epidemic of racial profiling by Bay Area police is nothing new, there has been a recent wave of discriminatory actions taken against people of color, specifically their cars. The migrant Raza community especially is being forced to deal with the problem of having their vehicles towed, and the repercussions that follow are creating harsh realities.

Donnaji Esteva of the worker advocacy group People Organized to Win Employment Rights (POWER) came to POOR Magazine's indigenous news-making circle/Community Newsroom last Tuesday to bring attention to this issue and to help those that are suffering from it. She and three other local residents of San Francisco were warmly welcomed into POOR’s circle of family and friends, and we learned from their scholarship and shared in the struggle for justice.

“Many cars are detained for having a rosary hanging from the mirror, or a ‘for sale’ sign in the window,” Esteva explained. The Police have been claiming that the purpose of these actions is to bring down violence levels. But there is no clear, legitimate reason for why so many immigrants are being pulled over by the police. People are unexplainably pulled over, intensely questioned, asked for paper work, after which their vehicles are impounded. Many families are even followed by the police afterward and continue to be terrorized.

The issue is exacerbated for those that do not have a valid driver’s license, particularly within the immigrant community. The result is a devastating $2000 fine that must be paid before the vehicle is returned. “Even after the money is paid,” Esteva described, “people are only getting their cars back half complete.” She proceeded to tell us that vehicles are often returned without their radio or stereo systems, and tools and other belongings that were in the car go missing. Even gasoline is stolen right out of the tank.

More alarming is the rate at which these events have been occurring. According to a recent El Tecolote publication, 66,288 vehicles were towed in the fiscal year of 2009. Esteva revealed to us that of all the people she has spoken to within the Latino immigrant community, every single one of them has had their vehicles towed at least once. Not one person she has talked with has gone untouched by this crisis. One man has even had fifteen cars taken away. Some folks may wonder why someone in such a predicament would continue to get new cars and put themselves at risk. The reason is that many of these families depend on their automobiles for daily survival. Many people work far from where they live and must carry a lot of tools. Mothers have difficulty loading their entire families onto one bus. To make matters worse, when vehicles are towed some are forced to miss days of work, resulting in an increased hardship for any family that relies on a paycheck.

POOR/PNN Co-editor and poverty scholar Tiny linked the po’lice repression of landless/houseless folks, migrant folks, and all peoples of color when she told her story of being vehicularily housed with her mama and having the po’lice constantly stalking them and having their “hoopties” seized and towed for what she referred to as DWP/DWB (Driving while Poor and Driving While Black and Brown.)

POOR/PNN staff writer and poverty scholar in residence Vivian Hain told of her story of po’lice profiling and struggle trying to drive as a poor person in the Bay Area. She has had six cars towed during the past eight years that she has been living in Oakland. One of the policemen that pulled her over held a gun in his hand and did not allow her to get any things out of her van before it was taken away.

A married couple that also attended the meeting told us that they have had their vehicles impounded twice now. They had begged one of the officers that pulled them over not to remove their daughter from the car because it was very cold out and she has health problems. The officer did not listen, and when the family was finally able to reach the hospital, they found that their daughter already had pneumonia. Their car is vital to the health of their daughter, who is sensitive to harsh environmental conditions and falls sick with pneumonia every year. Now they face a $10,000 medical bill on top of the towing fine that they cannot afford. “Even today I paid $800 for the car, but they still won’t give it to us,” said the man.

The San Francisco Tegsco Llc Auto Return company makes an annual amount of $3.7 million by towing and impoundments, and POWER is rallying against this injustice. On September 7th, the group held a protest of over 50 people in front of the towing company to present them with an award in the form of a big rat with a crown for “The Most Corrupt Business of 2009”. Unfortunately, no one from the company was present to accept the honor. Yet POWER continues to call for a halt to the removal of any vehicle for a 30 day period, and that the cost of fines is reduced. Though the group has not yet been able to contact the current San Francisco Chief of Police, they have spoken with former Chief of Police, Heather Fong. “One thing that is inspiring is she found the San Francisco community very organized and wants to face this issue,” exclaimed Esteva.

Thus, the campaign to stand up against racial discrimination is in progress, and Esteva encourages everyone and anyone to join the weekly POWER meetings held every Wednesday at 335 South Van Ness St. “We must mobilize to stop this,” she said.

As the Newsroom came to an end, Tiny thanked all the souls in the room that have felt the impact of racial prejudice, and the last few words she spoke sent shivers of truth up my spine, “One of the things that saved my life was getting involved with the fight because this stuff kills us.”

by Staff Writer

by Tendai R. Mwanaka

The blowing wind

Is like a fog

Obscuring our rising sun

And this is the desert

The desert of our desert

And distant people

Are always our enemies?

Unless if they throw

Sand into the air

For the hand

That throws the sands

Does not hold a sword

And this is where

We were born

And we permit ourselves

To know nothing else.

by Marlon Crump and Laure McElroy/PNN poverty scholars in residence

“I have cataracts in both eyes, diabetic feet, advanced periodontal disease and PTSD, “ says Mesha Monge-Irizary,a local organizer, powerful woman, and the founder of ISARC (Idriss Stelley Action Resource Center). Mesha continued, “Now that medi-Cal cut off othamology, podiatry, dentistry, and long-term mental healthcare I may be forced to die blind, with amputated feel, toothless and crazy!"

 Mesha is also one of the millions of seniors who will suffer under the lack of an affordable, comprehensive national system of healthcare combined with massive budget cuts in health services at the state and local level. “This is nothing less than an early death sentence, a genocide for us elder diabetics in the United States."Mesha concluded.

"I never could accept the idea that healthcare is not free and is really a business. Cutting healthcare to me, as a pregnant mom with a six year old causes me a lot of anxiety," says June Hall, a.k.a Jewnbug, single mom, co-founder of Family Project of POOR Magazine. "These new cuts have affected my access to dental care, eye care, and even certain medications.”
 

Last week I had to ask myself, “Who is disposable?” as I looked through the letter informing me of changes for the worse to my medicare and state disability benefits.
 

The truth is, those of us without finances are prevented from accessing the healthcare we desperately need because budget cuts enacted at the federal, state and local levels keep defunding our services. Every single day, anyone who is anyone that has little or no finances are having their pockets prevented from accessing affordable health and medical care. Every single year, all government officials at the city, state, and especially at the federal jurisdiction “propose budget cuts” that relate to health and medical services
                  

We are not silent about it.. We who are impacted take to the streets, we wave picket signs and banners. We sound horns, we march and we petition. It’s a dance of protest that is all too familiar these days. But is it really fair to make any sick person fight like a dog for their own chance at health?
 

"The Republicans have a new healthcare proposal: Just say NO to illness!” says Mark Russell, stand up comedian and political satirist. Does his comic art imitate life for the near future? Is this what we have to look forward to?
 

In 2006, Bush the Younger signed into effect the Medicare part D prescription benefit, which required the elderly and the disabled to pay a $295 deductible on medication coverage, and 25% of medication costs until the costs reach $2700. After that, patients participating in the program are required to pay for all of their meds. In November of 2008, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger collaborated with federal social security officials to cut medicare bart b, which covers doctor’s visits, treatments, diagnostic tests, among other things.

Every  single red cent subtracted from poor and working class individuals is catastrophic for them, somewhere down these lines. In July of this year, California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger called the budget cuts “tough” but necessary.” Of course these cuts included healthcare, welfare benefits and programs.
 

At the same time, recipients of state disability benefits also received drastic cuts. Apparently the only cuts worse than a wound is getting slashed while receiving such vital health care services, and not having enough to even pay remaining costs and coverage.
 

“My net monthly income is $300 after I pay my rent.” says Bruce Allison, senior elder scholar, and staff writer of POOR. “If I have to pay $60 for my medicine and hospital care, I will leave the state!”
 

“Medi-Cal has affected my not having access to getting my rotting teeth fixed!” sharply explained statement by Vivian Hain, single mom,poverty scholar and co-teacher at POOR Magazine.
 

Although the San Francisco Board of Supervisors adopted the Health Care Security Ordinance, following the 2006 establishment of “Healthy San Francisco” (a program providing health care services to uninsured residents) Mayor Gavin Newsom constantly proposes budget cuts that affected the poor and working class of a “Healthy San Francisco.”
. 

In a recently published study on how documented and undocumented latina women access healthcare at San Francisco General Hosital, results suggested that uninsured women were less likely to access preventative, dental or even urgent health care services (Immigration Status and Use of Health Services among Latina Women in the San Francisco Bay Area, Elena Fuentes-Afflick, M.D., M.P.H. and Nancy A. Hessol, MSPH, Journal of Women’s Health Volume 8, 2009).
 

“Immigrant communities are wrongfully blamed for their own lack of initiative concerning health care.” Angel Garcia, staff writer, Race Poverty, and Disability Scholar and a POOR Press Author explained in detail in his 2007 POOR Press Article. “But the real reasons behind higher percentages of preventable disease among immigrant communities, is not because of a lack of understanding or self-care, but because of this country’s denial to provide access to health care for all.”

President Barack Obama has received major criticism this past year predominately from Republicans, regarding his plan of “Health care Reform” and what the costs of his program will be in the future. 



President Obama answered the criticisms with this clarification: “Opponents of health care reform warn that this is all some big plot for socialized medicine or government-run health care with long lines and rationed care. That’s not true either. I don’t believe that government can or should run health care. But I also don’t think insurance companies should have free reign to do as they please.”

Politically-condemned, death row inmate and award winning journalist, Mumia Abu Jamal recently wrote an article regarding the whole healthcare system and the politics that continue to surround it.

“And yes, a bill will pass, and Obama will sign it, but it'll mean less, not more health care. It'll mean higher co-pays (really prepays, or deductibles), less services, and more profits for their campaign contributors. There will be celebrations and TV PR people will praise it like American Idol but it'll be a sell-out, pure and simple.Unless people really raise hell and demand single payer and universal health care……….before the door slams shut.”

The hospitals and rest care facilities are overwhelmed with lack of humanity for the sick, the disease  affected, and seniors who  are unable to balance the bill.The voices of those of us in poverty go unheard and/or ignored , ” Welfare Queens/Super Baby Mamas, undocumented, migrant families, workers, and the disabled, eyes filled with too much sorrow to even clearly see the bill. Long lines of poor and working class people continue in an ill-fated mission to locate the medical care stolen from their lives.

by Joseph Bolden

Living A Life

Recently my age double five still alive.

It occurs to me I’ve missed opportunities, which may have saved my life at various crossroads in my life.

Nearly drowned at Orchard Beach at 5 or 6 years old I think a girl or young woman saved me.

Saw no bright lights, did feel calm floating around.

Volunteered for Viet Nam in 1972 or 3 at the age of 18 or 19 the usual reasons no job, leaving home,the military makes men, or to do something with my life.

Anyway I volunteered at four branches of the military plus The Air National Guard.

Was turned down because of a lazy eye

[told to drink plenty of carrot juice.]

All it did was make my stool orange and learned I liked carrot juice, cookies, and cake.

It could have been after being asked,
“What if you are ordered to shoot a man?”

My answer was “Why, what reason to do that?”

I guess that's the wrong way to answer a direct question because in the circumstances
when given an order one’s duty is to obey without question any or most orders when given by a superior or higher ranking officer.

Not being a perfect specimen because of faulty sight may have indeed saved me from that war.

Also while exercising that involves jumping up and down I may have been too enthusiastic jumping too high and across the floor.

Oh well I did volunteer so it’s one of those fateful choices that could change anyone’s life.

Before that bad times in summer camp sponsored by New York's Our Lady Of Mercy Church.

Bright yellow shirt green writing stenciled on.

Pain connected memories.

I'm fighting another kid.

With a fear churning belly, backed up for room to fight, then I’m stuck!

I had backed into a nail.
impale or Impaled! don't which is right but I couldn't move!

A wooden box or pallet turned with the nails exposed.

Couldn’t move forward, back shoots shocks of pain through me.

Not knowing this as I fought girls are screaming and gasps from other kids.

Some bigger kids and adults separate us.

Blood drips from the wood on to the ground only then did I see the bent, rusty nail as I with help was pulled slowly forward
from the wooden structure.

My blood gleams seems to glisten in the morning sun.

Little girls scream, crying,touch my back, shoulders as if they feel my pain before I can.

Red seeps from me.

I was thinking its raining feel my back wet.

Girls crying make me sad is all I was thinking.

I’m rushed to the a nurse at the infirmary.

She says its not serious but gave me a tetanus shot.

I still have a jagged scar on my back.

I'm able to go to summer camp, the new hole in my back is no big deal.

Years later when my mother, brother, and I moved I thought it was because of the divorce looking back it may also have been because of that incident.

That wasn’t the only time I was impaled.

Also speared in the throat after giving two quick, hard rabbit punches to some guy thought if funny to take my gym shorts down in public while on a grassy field as everyone was jogging outside?

I rabbit punched him, bloodied his nose.

for me its over, wrong.

The next week was his revenge as I’m speared in the throat by a shopping cart weighed down by football equipment
including two bars used to raise another bar to jump over.

The guy pushes the cart running with it, somebody yells."look out!"

Too late I'm speared in the side of my neck!

I'm on the grass holding my bleeding throat.

It looks worse than it really is.

I Bleed profusely from near the jugular vein is scary.

I always felt my voice had been changed because of that.

It is only now I’m trying to see if I have any singing voice at all.

Girls, women were and still are confounded mysteries always drawn to ‘em but not they to me so missed out on dances, social stuff, graduated danced a little.

Bummed around L.A. just when a psychopath who road the rails hunted and killed transients/
homeless now called houseless folk.

Safe in Mr. and Mrs. Joe’s church/house working for room and board in L.A.’s West End Skid row
before doing the same in The Salvation Army.

I could hear screams for help and wonder was it the railway killer or some guy getting beaten up or worse because they got caught by a gang or someone just wanting beat on someone who has less than they have knowing they’d get away clean because society didn’t care.

Was this the beginning of criminalizing transients, houseless, jobless, and youth creating or increasing more disposable people besides families or single mom’s or dad’s on welfare?

Eventually while learning a skill I did find a few women taking a chance on me.
As for the four letters word of L-O-V-E

I missed that call to me.

As an old movie line says, “What’s sex without love?
“It’s Just sex, it’s just sex.”

Better the latter if the other isn’t meant for us.

Now I’m 55, there are still places to go, visit, people to know.

I know to go forward not backup and avoid sharp objects or persons with sharp objects and really before speaking listen to women most of 'em help too few to mention have hurt me.

So what If I missed some things as a single healthy black male I count myself as rare and lucky in the extreme to still be alive at this stage of the game each day is God/Goddess given gravy.

San Francisco is where I reside for now that may change its all right change is constant.

I’ve tended to go-with-flow, not let too many things up set me.

I pray to live a long vigorous, adventurous, life have many good fem buds and guy friends as well avoiding old grim reaper, faking out Mother Nature for as long as science and technology will allow.

Did any of our lives turn out as we hoped or is it less than we dreamed?

Any comments sent to

telljoe@poormagazine.org or email me at

jsph_bldn@yahoo.com

Yes,my email,I'll try email you back.

by Tiny aka Lisa Gray-Garcia/PNN

"I wont be able to sit in Mama dee's chair anymore, " My six year old son looked at me as he spoke with his saddest puppy look. We were sitting in the Van Ness cafe at the corner of Van Ness and Geary. He was responding to the news that the Van Ness cafe was facing demolition by Sutter Health Corporation who is attempting to build a new hospital which will span the entire block of Geary to Post on Van Ness.
The proposal by Sutter Health is a classic example of the rampant over-development fueled by corporations and real estate speculators from San Francisco to South Africa.

"We dont know where we will get another job, this is a bad economy," said Oy, one of the several employees at the Van Ness Bakery, and a long-time friend of my Mama Dee, who frequented the Bakery often for its mild old-skool-non designer coffee and chocolate ice-caked donuts.

"We are doing a survey of the tenderloin and surrounding working-class communities to see how this 1.7 billion dollar health facility will really serve the working-class community it is planning to be in," said Robert Webber, community activist in the tenderloin.

When my son and I heard about the pending proposal to demolish and build, not only did we know that the spirit of my Mama dee, co-founder of POOR Magazine, who passed on her spirit journey in March of 2006, was very angry with the demolition of her favorite spot, but more importantly as someone who struggled with poverty, racism and gentrification her entire life, i knew my mama was also mad, like I was, at the lie of California Pacific Medical Center for proposing to build a hospital that isnt really needed in a community that it isnt really geared at, and in the process dismantling the jobs and livelihoods of poor workers and small business owners and putting more strain on a tired pacha mama with gratuitious building.

"The manager or someone came out here the other day and told us that maybe we have six months more in this place, but they were real vague,we dont know what to think or do. Then they told us not to bother coming to the hearing on the 15th, because it was alreadty decided on." Oy concluded.

After speaking with Oy i did some more investigation and the whole proposal is not a "done deal". We still have a voice. We can still be heard. And just like our brothers and sisters in South Africa facing demolitions of their homes so the World Cup Stadium can be built, the corporations would love to silence us, but we must continue to fight, for us, for our families, for our ancestors, for Mama dee.

PNN Radio 10/26/09

Poor Magazine's Podcast

by Tiny aka Lisa Gray-Garcia/PNN

The blessings began the moment i walked in the magical path winding me through ropa y colores, jugetes y arte - each calavera whispered to me about rios and tierras stolen, remembered and dreamed about by indigenous peoples across pacha mama.

I was led into the palace of art y musica y ceremonia known as Corazon del Pueblo- House of the Heart- by mi hermana in struggle and resistance, fellow welfareQUEEN, Vivian Hain.
"You have to come tiny," her eyes shown as she spoke about coming to the store, a special kind of shine, Women, mamaz, revolutionarias, listen to each other when we see that kind of shine in each others eyes, because we know that our companeras have seen the light, the light of resistance, hope and power for our silenced peoples that we all seek on the daily.

As i walked down the path - color flew at me. I had been wondering lately where my mama dee was hanging out. My mama dee, an African-Boricua- Taina- resistance fighter who passed onto her spirit journey in March of 2006. As i followed the colors, i knew.

"We are here to celebrate the ribbon cutting of this beautiful space, we are here to celebrate our mothers, our children, our ancestors, we are here to celebrate Ethnic Studies 40 Years Later: Race Resistance and Relevance being held at San Francisco State University this week." Dorinda Moreno, life-long revolutionary, poet, teacher, mama and grandmother who had been one of the original folks leading the fight for ethnic studies at SFSU, led the circle of blessings through a ribbon cutting at a new room in the back of the store dedicated to Danza Azteca classes and other events in the beautiful store owned and operated by another powerful mama and teacher, Josefina Lopez.

Elders and speakers, ninas and babies filled the space with more color and music and then when i truly thought i had seen and felt everything to feed and care-give my soul, when i thought i had tasted every gift pacha mama and the ancestors had to give me today, the room became silent. People spoke in hushed tones, with a look of disbelief in their eyes,"That's pancho villa's son, Ernesto Nava, that's him, he is here!"

An elder wearing an old-skool sobrero de vacuero walked down the magical path where all light and color and cloth and sculpture dwelled. People whispered, "he is 92 years old".
As he stepped through the small entrance he looked up and before i could say anything he shook my outstretched hand, "Mucho gusto," I whispered through a breath of awe. His eyes shone with dreams still being done and work still being worked.
 

Other members of our POOR Magazine family were celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day and the deKKKolinzing of KKKillerolumbus at Berkeley's Pow Wow so in the middle of a serenade by mujeres mariachis myself and Vivian stepped out of the magical space back into a slightly brighter, slightly richer International Blvd, determined to come back as many times as we could, to keep dreams being dreamed, art made and ancestors properly honored.

To take your own tour and create your own magic go to Corazon Del Pueblo at 4814 International Blvd in Oakland. or call 510-532-6733

by Marlon Crump, QUeennandi, RAM /PNN

This was the 14th annual national day of protest against a plague of legal lynchings that if the Sssystem was true to its’ citizens, would never exist - po’lice terror.
This was the national day that fallen comerades & leaders such as Idriss Stelley, Cameron Boyd, Sean Bell, Oscar Grant, Bobby Hutton and Chairman Fred Hampton were remembered. For some of us at the march, it was an almost-new experience, but for those such as myself, It was a wound re-opener and a slap-in-the face fact that regardless of our heroes and sheroes waterfalls of bloodshed, The struggle continues. Painfully, I listened to the mother of our SBP (Slain By Pig) brother, choked up with emotions speak on her child. “He was a father, a brother-my son!” The pictures of Asa Sullivan, Idriss Stelley, Anita Gay, and many, many more shone away on this beautiful day as if the sun was their spirits, sending their warm blessings to inspire us to keep on fighting, and not to forget them.

All of us in the crowd jeered and booed when learned that the change of venue in SBP brother Oscar Grant’s Case was granted, for we all believe that if the crime was committed in Oakland, it should very well stay there. How is it that a pig like Johannes Mehserle can murder a man in cold blood, and his so-called right to be tried by a jury of his peers be handed to him on a gold platter? The foundation of the venue change is made of racism, cover-ups, political bootlickin’, back room shady deals, and of course, the pig’s right to a jury of his peers, so definitely the trial will be held on copland territory.
Fellow comerade, and “Man on the cross”, Brother JR spoke with fire:

“Wherever the trial goes, we will go! We will organize and educate the people ( in the area that the trial will be taking place) and enlighten them on the seriousness of po’lice brutality and murder!” Brother JR himself has been nailed to the cross for his souljah role in seeking justice for Oscar Grant. (JR’s court date is set for Oct 30th in Oakland) His unbroken spirit opened eyes and restored faith in the fact that the only way to justice is in the hands of Just Us.

I held back tears as I spoke on the assault I endured when I was seven months pregnant by SFPD’s “finest” officers Miller (ret) and shea. I was slammed viciously on my huge belly, and when witnesses began to gather around to protest, I was punished even more. One officer actually had the “beastly” nerve to put his knee on my back, using all of his weight and I thought for sure that my unborn cub wouldn’t survive. Po’lice brutality has become a generational experience in my family. My mother and younger brother did not survive this hateful wicked Sssystem, and it is up to me, and the rest of us to take a stand to demand of this murderous Sssystem that there will be NO MORE STOLEN LIVES!!!

With that said, I’d like to share a piece I wrote entitled “I AM TIRED OF BEING A SLAVE!”

QUEENNANDI. PNN

by Gloria Esteva--Voces de Inmigrantes en Resistencia

Editors Note:

PNN recognizes that all peoples are impacted when any of our children are denied their basic human and civil rights.

PNN reconoce que toda la gente es impactada cuando cualquiera de nuestros hij@s son negados los derechos humanos y civiles básicos.

Scroll Down for English

San Francisco, una bella cuidad santuario. Ahora los es por todo lo que implica la palabra santuario y por toda la lucha que hizo la comunidad en los ochentas, para lograr este privilegio. En ese tiempo, grupos civiles, políticos y religiosos viendo cuanto sufrimiento estaba provocando las guerras en Centro América vieron la necesidad de dar refugio a miles de personas que se vieron empujadas y desplazadas, y que llegaron en grandes cantidades a este país.

La póliza de la ciudad santuario menciona que todas las personas en San Francisco tienen derecho a recibir servicios sociales en escuelas o refugios sin que su información de inmigración sea revelada—a menos que la persona lo autorice; o sea, que se respetaría su privacidad. Además, la policía no debe de cooperar con migración ni en investigaciones, ni a detener a los inmigrantes, solamente que haya delitos graves o exista una orden federal.

Esta la puerta abierta de nuestra ciudad santuario y muchos seres egoístas quieren cerrarla para dejar que este logro de nuestras luchas se desplome y de paso a al odio, la ignominia, violando este precepto que ha hecho que esta ciudad reciba a tantos seres que han contribuido con su trabajo artístico cultural y mano de obra barata. ¿Que la hace bella, especial y por esto mas atractiva?

Porque aunque no se reconozca, los sabios y los economistas saben de donde surge la riqueza de este país y esto surge en gran parte de los trabajadores inmigrantes de todas partes del mundo.

Y si somos productores de riqueza porque no se respeta nuestra vida y la vida de nuestros hijos y nuestros jóvenes? ¿Donde esta el respeto a la Justicia? ¿Existe esta para los trabajadores pobres inmigrantes y sus familias?

Por lo tanto, lo que propone el Supervisor David Campos es algo lógico y sencillo que hasta el mas sabio no puede combatir por lo que esta planteando, algo que ya esta establecido en la leyes de este país, que nadie es culpable hasta que se demuestre o lo determine un juez. ¿Y porque no se puede aplicar esto a las vidas de todos nuestros jóvenes documentados o indocumentados? Al permitirse que la policía entregue a los jóvenes a la migración sin previo juicio se les esta tratando sin respetar la calidad de nuestra ciudad santuario.

Ingles Sigue

San Francisco, a beautiful Sanctuary City. It is today, due to what the word sanctuary implies and for the entire struggle that the community in the 1980s fought through to gain this privilege. At that time, civil groups, politicians and religious organizations saw the necessity of giving refuges to thousands of people who suffered, were pushed and displaced by consequence of the civil wars in Central America.

The Sanctuary City policy mentions that all people in San Francisco have the right to seek social services, in schools or shelters, without having to reveal their documentation status—only if the individual authorizes it; this is to say that their privacy is respected. Even though, the police should not be collaborating with immigration in investigations, or arresting immigrants, only if there is a felony or a federal charge.

The door to our Sanctuary City is open, but many selfish people want to close it, allowing that the success of our struggle to dismantle; this leads to a path of hate, ignominy, where violation the perception that has allowed this city to have so much contribution from artistic and cultural workers, and cheap human labor. What makes this city so beautiful, special, and more attractive?

Although, it is not recognized, the scholars and economist know what are the roots of this country’s wealth. The roots stem in large part from the immigrant workers from all parts of the world.

If we are the producers of so much wealth, why is it that our lives and that of our youth are not respected? Where is the respect for Justice? Does this exist for all the poor workers and their families?

For these reasons, what Supervisor David Campos proposes is logical and simple, that even the most intellectual politician cannot compete with what he is tabling, something that is already established in the laws of this country, that “everyone is innocent until proven guilty.” Why can’t this stay consistent with the lives of our youth, documented or undocumented? If we allow the police to turn over the youth to immigration without due process, the essence of the sanctuary law is not being respected.

PNN Voces de Inmigrantes en Resistencia reportera Teresa Molina, Margaretta Ramos and Ruyata Akio McGLothlin interviewed Board Supervisor David Campos on the legislation he is proposing.

La reportera de PNN Voces de Inmigrantes en Resistencia, Teresa Molina, Margaretta Ramos, y Ruyata Akio McGlothilin entrevistaron al Supervisor David Campos sobre la legislación.

by Nestor Castillo/CISPES

Thursday the 15th, President Barack Obama will be visiting San Francisco for a private fundraising event, at the St. Francis Hotel. With tickets starting at $500 just to sit in the reception, the vast majority of the working class who voted him in, will be barred from attending.

That same day at Union Square Plaza, directly across from the St. Francis Hotel, a coalition of community organizations under the banner of Stop NAFTA/CAFTA will be demonstrating their opposition to neoliberal trade policies such as the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Central American Free Trade Agreement as part of a International Week of Action campaign taking place from October 12th- 17th.

The coalition will be holding Pres. Obama accountable to keep his campaign pledge of renegotiating such policies that have further increased poverty and inequality. At the Cleveland Democratic Debate, Obama said, “I will make sure that we renegotiate [NAFTA]…I think we should use the hammer of a potential opt-out as leverage to ensure that we actually get labor and environmental standards that are enforced.” Since then, however, Pres. Obama has done nothing to change such agreements.

The facts are that these trade agreements have been the root of forced migration and loss of land rights in Mexico and Central America. In the first eight years of NAFTA the annual number of immigrants from Mexico increased by more than 61 percent (read more at: globalexchange.org) 2/3 of Mexican people living in the US have come after the passage of NAFTA (read more at: witnessforpeace.org).

Another example of just how unjust trade agreements are, is the way in which federally-subsidized U.S. corn is dumped on their markets therefore small farmers are forced off their land because they cannot compete with massive amounts of crops at a cheaper price. With no way to make a living, hundreds of people are forced to leave their homes and families every day to make the treacherous journey to the U.S.

The latest news of the injurious effects of CAFTA/NAFTA agreements come from San Isidro, Cabanas in El Salvador where gold mining companies, Pacific Rim Mining Corp. and Commerce Group, are suing the Salvadoran government for $177 million under CAFTA for loss of potential profits. The lawsuits come despite strong opposition of local communities to mining and reports showing devastating effects to the environment and water contamination of the country’s main source of clean water, the Lempa River.

Meanwhile, many anti-mining activists in El Salvador are being death threatened or being killed. There is strong evidence suggesting that Pacific Rim is involved in such atrocious crimes as a mean to intimidate those opposing the mining project. "We believe that the results of CAFTA demonstrate the failure of 'free' trade and justify a definitive split with this model by the incoming Obama Administration," said Burke Stansbury of the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES), a member of the coalition. "Not only should the Democratic Congress reject pending agreements such as the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, but the party in power should take this opportunity to introduce a new trade policy based on human rights, and economic, social and environmental sustainability."

The rally will have key-note speakers addressing the effects of NAFTA and CAFTA on its signatory countries, issues of privatization, sweatshops, the Honduran coup, the displacement of indigenous people, among other topics. It will begin at 5pm at Union Square Plaza on Powell St. in between Geary and Post.

This is only one of the events taking place during the International Week of Action against NAFTA and CAFTA. There will be various demonstrations in Vancouver and Milwaukee where Pacific Rim and Commerce Group headquarters are located.