2002

by Michael Steinberg

Grace Well, a disabled very low income 85 year old African American woman in San Francisco, has been fighting an eviction brought by an out of state landlord for almost two years now. Since 1989 Ms. Wells has lived in her flat at 908 Page Street, one block off Haight in the city's Western Addition. She's been in the neighborhood, once an African American working class community, since the 1940s.     

In July 2000 June Croucher--whose address is listed by the SF Assessor's office as P.O. Box 50533, Reno, Nevada 89513--bought Grace Wells' home. Shortly before that the long term tenant who lived in the flat above Ms. Wells passed away. It's still vacant, with one front window fully thrown open to the elements, offering Ms. Croucher every opportunity to move in there, but June Croucher isn't satisfied with just one flat. She wants both of them so she can convert the building into her own personal mansion. And she has to throw Grace Well out on the street and make Ms. Wells' life a nightmare to get her SF dream house, well business is business.     

The only problem with Croucher's plan is that Grace Well refuses to move. And she's gotten a lot of support in her fight to keep her home. That support was apparent on Thursday, March 21, when over 30 of her backers rallied in front of Ms. Wells' home and threw up a picket line to inform neighbors and the media of her struggle.      

The action also attracted three SFPD black and whites, whose officers lurked around the block. Demonstrators carried signs reading "Greed Isn't Pretty," "Stop Senior Evictions," and "This Is Bullshit." They serenaded sympathetic neighbors and the cops with chants of "Yuppie Yuppie Stole My Pad, Yuppie Yuppie Bad Bad Bad!"     

Dean Preston, an attorney representing Grace Well, told the crowd that June Croucher "has made life hell" for Ms. Well. "Croucher has served Grace two eviction notices," Preston said. "She decreased Grace's services in her home--including cutting off her heat this winter."     

Ms. Wells' heat is back on now, due to public pressure mounted against her landlord's unscrupulous actions. But Croucher is continuing her eviction shananigans. Now she's trying to use the infamous Ellis Act--which allows landlords to kick out tenants if they claim they're going out of the landlord business.     

Ted Gullicksen of the SF Tenants Union, which organized the March 21 demo, declared "We're here to say, 'You don't have the right to take away someone else's home because you have lots of money and the tenant doesn't.' We'll be back and we'll keep coming back until we stop this eviction." Gullicksen also said, "This neighborhood has been gentrified to an extraordinary degree in recent times. On a small block around the corner on Scott Street, 75-95% of the tenants have been displaced by owner-move-in and Ellis evictions over the past year and a half."     

The 2000 Census reported that, between 1990 and 2000, the median monthly rent in SF jumped from $643 to $977, a 59% increase. Over that period units renting for between $250 to $749 a month decreased by over 50%, from 132,278 to 63,849. Meanwhile units renting for $1000 or more a month skyrocketed from 24,070 to 90,247, an astronomical 308% increase.  

Grace Well and her supporters are determined to make sure that she doesn't end up as another unfortunate statistic in the rich's war against the poor in San Francisco.    

by PoorNewsNetwork staff

When I was little, my single mom and I lived on disability she received for bipolar disease. Though she's a talented writer interpreter and translator, my mom can't work full time and make enough money for us to live on and be able to save in case of an emergency because she has been intermittently plagued with highly debilitating illnesses like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. I just came to understand the meaning of savings and how terrified my mom must be that we don't have any such life savings in case of an emergency. 

That Eemergency, that always seemed so distant came right before I was to start my last year of high school. Despite a verbal agreement that we would continue paying the same rent at least until I finished high school-- around August of 2000-- the landlady of our San Francisco apartment gave us a notice saying she would be increasing our rent from $1500, a price that we couldn't afford without a roommate in the first place, to $3000 for our two bedroom apartment. 

She claimed that it was legal under the Costa-Hawkins precedent because we were supposedly subtenants.  This was at the height of the dot com boom when there was a 1% vacancy in SF. After a crazy legal circus and way more anxiety than my mom could handle, we settled.  We had until the next August to leave and she gave us 5,000. The money went to the lawyer and we essentially got left with nothing. 

With all the anxiety that this precarious situation caused in my mother she again became ill and could not work as much as she needed.  Now we had to look for a house with a past bankruptcy on my mom's credit report and no reference from our last landlady, besides the fact that rents were way too high and we didn't have the money to put down first and last months rent on any place.  If it hadn't been for my grandfather 's and my godmother 's help we would have been on the street.  It really is a thin line between homefullness and homelessness.   

So for the people faced with such emergencies, through no fault of their own, who don't have families and friends to back them there is the street or the centralized intake system &  For single adults who can't even get into shelters 90% of services are only offered Monday through Friday from nine to five o'clock.  Adult shelters can often consist of one hundred or more people all in one room with one monitor.  And, despite legislation that is supposed to provide service to all those needing in-home support, it seems that no results have surfaced.  This means that if a person is not capable of self-care they are thrown out. 

As Allison Lum from Coalition on Homelessness pointed out a major problem with the shelter system is the disparity in power between staff and homeless people &the power of writing people up is all in the hands of staff. And there isn't total unaccountability, where the treatment of the people in the shelters is concerned. 

According to Rebecca Vilkomersen from Homeless Prenatal there are three basic ways to get into a shelter. 1) Case management, which means you follow what the case manager tells you and can get into a shelter from 30-60 days 2) lottery, this is random and can get you a room for one to seven nights 3) coordinator referral, which just isn't working right now. For people with children the only option is a family shelter, of which there are four in San Francisco. 

Right now there are 150 families on a 3-6 month waiting list in order to get into a shelter.  Once they are there, depending on the situation they can stay for up to 6 months and then they have to sign up all over again. The instability of the current shelter system is especially destructive to families.  Those that don't get into shelters often ride buses all night, go to SRO hotels or stay in abusive relationships in order to keep a roof over their heads.  Under case management there are certain times when a person must be in or out of the shelter. 

The times are set without regard to a person's work schedule.  A major problem occurring right now is the waste of money on bureaucratic systems that don't really serve any useful purpose.  Right now $500,000 a year is going to an office whose only job is to manage the shelter wait-list. 

Rebecca notes that there is more emphasis on database collection then on services.   Homeless Prenatal is currently working on a "Know Your Rights Book" to hand out to people in shelters.  If you would like to participate they are asking people to go 995 Market St. on the 9th floor from 3 to 5pm every third Thursday of the month. 

The press conference to release The Community Homeless Proposal was held on the steps of city hall Wednesday, February 20, 2002.  In response to Supervisor Gavin Newsom's homeless plan which includes extended hours for shelters and drop-ins, the creation of a new homeless department and homeless services advisory board, and interagency coordinating council, a five-year plan and the centralized information system, the community of homeless people and homeless service-providers has introduced The Community Proposal, endorsed by over 40 organizations. 

While the real experts, homeless people and homeless service-providers, agree that extended hours for shelters and drop-ins are needed we feel that the rest of the legislation would waste money, violate people's rights and in the end would only help to perpetuate the cycle of poverty and homelessness.  According to the experts, 'This proposal is an expensive and desperate attempt to make it look as if change is happening. In reality, it simply creates more bureaucracy at high cost.  None of the components of the proposal would create the permanent solutions that are really needed: such as additional subsidized housing, treatment, child care, education, job training or living wage jobs.

Finally, as Joyce Miller put it, If homeless people had housing they would not be homeless. It is for that reason that The Community Proposal seeks to build low-income housing while reforming the shelter system until sufficient housing is built. It is time for people to stop seeing homeless people as a separate population that came out of nowhere and that can be thrown in and out of shelters and can be used by this and that politician to win votes.  Homelessness needs to be solved and the only way to do so is to provide homes through a process that involves the real experts every step of the way.

*******************************************************

The following is the Executive Summary of The Community Proposal:


Making A More Effective and Accountable Homeless Program

The Community Proposal

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The following is an alternative proposal, birthed from years of bi-weekly or monthly workgroup, council and community meetings, as well as a critical examination of practices in other communities.  It is in response to Supervisor Newsom's recently released plan to create a new Homeless Services Department.  We have serious concerns with that proposal and put forth this proposal in its place.

CITY-WIDE HOMELESS COORDINATION AND STRATEGIC PLANNING

Eliminate the Mayor's Office of Homelessness

In its place, create an Independent Office with at least one full time staff person.  This Office's responsibility would be to provide staffing for the Local Board.

Change the make up of the Local Board

To include federal and state representatives, as well as the current local department representatives.

Two-thirds of the remaining community seats would be held mainly by homeless or formerly homeless individuals (90%).

10% of the community seats would be for homeless service providers.

40% ofthe community seats would be for families and 60% for single adults.

In addition, community seats would be representative of poor neighborhoods throughout the city and reflect the City's homeless population young and old, immigrants and veterans, gay and transgender, disabled, victims of domestic violence, members of the diverse racial and ethnic groups.

Televise the Local Board meetings on a public access station

MANAGEMENT AUDIT OBJECTIVES

To discover and understand the weak links or breakdowns in this large and complex system, a true Management Audit needs to do the following:

determine who is making what decisions and on what authority

review enabling legislation (Local Board) for all funding streams and policy making bodies

sort out who does what among the various coordinating / advisory / intra- and inter-departmental groups

list community and provider strategy planning sessions

review contract goals and objectives

monitor oversight and advisory bodies

review contract awarding processes

review program policy, procedure or eligibility changes

determine who makes changes in objectives and priorities, and on what authority

determine who oversees and monitors the coordination and integration of homeless programs with treatment, housing, employment and education

determine who decides what is or is not cost effective, and on what basis.

MONITORING COMMITTEES

System-wide Shelter Monitoring Committee

Develop a system-wide monitoring committee to make unannounced visits to shelters and drop-in centers. The responsibilities of the Committee will include the monitoring of city-funded shelters and drop-in centers for single adults, families and youth.

Civil Rights and Diversity Monitoring Committees

Begin implementation of the civil rights and diversity committees as described in the Continuum of Care plan, recently passed as the City's five year homeless plan

HOMELESS DEATH ACCOUNTABILITY
           

Restart the homeless death count immediately, with staff allocated for this effort.

Reform the Advisory Board to advise the department of Public Health's outreach team, to oversee the data collection, and with input from DPH epidemiologists, to release an annual report in time for the Winter Equinox annual memorial.

CENTRALIZED LIST OF VACANT CITY OWNED PROPERTIES

Create a central database of all vacant city owned property. Each landowning city department will report quarterly on property whose original use is no longer needed, e.g. when a school or fire house closes down or moves.

Create a Community Advisory Board to be appointed by the Board of Supervisors that is made up of non-profit housing developers, architects, Homes Not Jails, homeless or formerly homeless people, and the Mayor's Office of Housing. The Board will determine if the newly vacant property is suitable for providing affordable housing to people who are homeless, or if it should be sold to create a dedicated Fund for the development of affordable housing.  The Local Board will maintain this fund and award contracts for the development of this housing.

Ensure long-term affordability of all housing developed through this process by developing through a Community Land Trust. Rehabilitation of the buildings will utilize a model that includes wages for homeless and formerly homeless people.

INTAKE FOR FAMILY SHELTERS

Reduce services at Connecting Point to a 1-800 number for homeless families, the telephone to be staffed by two individuals, staggered hours, at a community organization.

COORDINATED STREET OUTREACH WITH INTAKE WORKERS

We propose an outreach effort, coordinated through the Mobile Assistance Patrol, that will have intake workers from different non-profit agencies and representing different area of service accompany MAP drivers. In addition, we propose that the police stop their practice of ordering homeless people to move on when no law has been violated.

by Mari/Youth in the Media Intern

I was casually checking my e-mail on a slow workday, and one of the e-mail's subject line said: Digital Storytelling. The subject line seemed interesting so I didn't erase it. The email basically stated that there was a workshop coming up for youth that wanted to do digital stories on domestic violence, and it was going to be free. So I thought why don't I check this out, it sounds like a good experience. So I called the person who was in charge of interviewing people for the workshop, her name is Amy. She de-briefed me on the workshop, and I got even more excited. I was going to basically make a mini film talking about an issue that is relevant to my community, which is domestic violence.

The workshop was separated into five days. The first day I met the other youth and the workshop presenters. Everyone seemed nice and friendly. It definitely was a safe space. Then we thought about ideas for our "script". I wrote about my personal story with domestic violence in a poetry format. The next few days we started to work on our digital stories. We had to get pictures to describe what we were saying in our script. That was really hard for me. To get a picture to help explain what it feels like to be beaten or see your parents fighting was just difficult.

The reason why we were doing this is to get our stories about domestic violence out there. Too many times adults will speak for youth in cases of domestic violence. This time we wanted our voice to be heard! The silent victim now shouting for a survivor's voice to be heard.

In October, we had an event called Break the Silence, Stop the Violence. At this event we had education, music, spoken word, and presented our stories which talked about domestic violence. It went so well. We raised money for the kids of Claire Joyce (a woman who was murdered by her boyfriend in front of her kids), and educated people about domestic violence.

A few months passed by, and then I got a message from Amy. She asked me if I could let her show my video at the V-day (a Vagina Monologues event which raises money to help stop the violence against women) opening celebration, and in the Masonic Auditorium lobby at V-Day. Also if she could put my story on the Silence Speaks CD (which is a compilation of digital stories about domestic violence). Of course, I told her yes. To me this was such a beautiful opportunity to share my story with others, which is one of the reasons why I did the digital story.

A few days passed, and I get a message from Amy again asking me to tell my story written in poetry format on the stage at the Masonic Auditorium. I would be sharing the same stage with Eve Enlser, Gloria Steinem, and many more powerful happy vagina friendly women. I would be sharing my story in front of over 3,000 people. I said yes, but I was so scared. I would be telling a sold out crowd my story about domestic violence. At first I felt why was I the chosen one? Why do I get to say my story? How about all the other people who have stories to tell? At one point, I even thought that I might not even be worthy to tell my story.

Then I made up my mind I would do this piece for myself and all other young silent victims out there. I did it in the hopes that one-day we can grow up in happy, healthy homes.

I called my sister, brother, mother, and stepfather to tell them the news. My sister was happy even though I am not sure she understood the whole thing. I think she took it as my Ate is doing something great and she's happy, so I am happy for her. Then I told my Mom. She went crazy. She knew what the Vagina Monologues were because she loves to watch The View with Barbara Walters and they talk about the Vagina Monologues. So, my mom's reaction summed up was basically "MY BABY IS GOING TO PERFORM WITH THE VAGINA LADY!" Then she told my stepfather I was going to be in Vagina Monologues during our conversation. So in the background while I am talking to my mom. All I hear in the background from my step dad trying to talk to my mom saying "Honey did you just say Vagina?" "Vagina What?" "Excuse Me, did you say Vagina?" "Hello, Vagina?" "Vagina What?" "Why are you saying the word Vagina?" Interestingly enough this was the reaction I got from most men when I told them about me telling my story at V-Day. The only difference is that my step dad was the one of the few who could say vagina.

So the next step was to meet Eve Ensler. I knew of her somewhat before I met her. I knew she had to be a tight woman to write the Vagina Monologues. I found out about her and the Vagina Monologues in an independent bookstore. I saw the word VAGINA on the cover and knew whatever the topic was I just had to buy the book just because the word VAGINA was on the cover. I eventually started reading it and I liked it. I told my self whenever Vagina Monologues comes to San Francisco I must go see it. I never got to see it, which is probably good because I might have been more scared to go on stage.

On Monday, I walk into the Masonic Auditorium lobby, and walk towards the stage. It a very welcoming, inviting stage. There was red, plush, soft carpet on the stage. There were cameras surrounding Eve too. I was just looking around thinking WOW! I can't believe I am going to be a part of the V-day movement. Then Eve comes to me and hugs me. At this point I was like EVE IS HUGGING ME! I was hugging Eve! WOW! I got to meet Abby who was very nice and classy. Then Eve took my hand and held it. We walked backstage so Eve, Abby, and I could talk. We stepped inside the green room, which wasn't green at all. I told Abby and Eve my story. They both were shedding tears. Eve was holding me. She was very supportive, and protective of me. She is like a very healthy mother to me. Eve told me how did we ever find you? I told them the story. Eve told me also if I wanted her by my side while I was telling my story to ask her. Eve gave me some beautiful advice about life. Then we talked about what we were going to wear and about the Vagina Monologues coming on HBO. Abby and Eve made me feel like that I was the diva of the show, which helped me to be less sacred.

Next day is the big day; V-Day. Amy comes back and picks me up to go to the Masonic Auditorium. I get to the Auditorium and do my sound check and rehearsal. In the middle of the rehearsal Eve says, "I love you, Mari." Then I say "I love you, Eve." Then Amy and I rush to my house to pick up my costume for that night. Then I go to work and back to the auditorium to start getting ready for V-Day. I go back in the green room, and there is this lady practicing her monologue. I tell her "I've seen you somewhere before." She looks back to see if she has seen me before. I tell her "You live in San Francisco, right?" Then she says "No." I say "You live somewhere in the Bay Area then, right?" She says "Yes, but I just recently moved. You probably seen some of my work." I still am convinced that I have seen her at an event, protest, or action somewhere. (Later, I find out I saw her in A Thin Line between Love Hate, and her name is Lynn Whitfield.)

I am backstage getting ready with all these other beautiful women. My friend Chyna does my makeup. People keep on asking if we are sisters. (We are not.) I paint my nails. Then I get told to go to the basement of the auditorium to take pictures of the cast. I grab my red boa and head downstairs. The whole cast goes downstairs to take pictures. In the basement, there are all of these paintings of white men all in a row. I told Julia Butterfly-Hill "I hope we don't take pictures in front of these scary paintings." She said, "Oh, I hope we do. Can you just imagine all these beautiful women with red boas taking a picture and all these men rolling over in their graves?"

We started taking pictures. We were singing about happy vaginas. The person leading the singing was Eve. The lights go off. Then Kathy Najimy starts singing "A boy like that." Eve joins in, but Rita Moreno did not join in. We all go back to the green room for a Powwow before the show starts.

Then we all were waiting to go onstage. People are running everywhere. Red boas are grabbed, shoes are taken off, and members of the cast go onstage. Eve starts introducing the Vulva choir (the all-star cast). I am in the green room painting my toenails red. I continue to watch the TV in the green room when one of the crewmembers tells me to get ready to go on stage. I grab my boa, and Eve comes backstage to come and get me. She introduces me. I walk onstage to tell over 3,000 people my story about domestic violence, and child abuse. I start crying in the middle of my story. Tears run down my face. I am healing the pain that I have experienced in my life. I finish by saying "You got to stand up and say the cycle of violence will and has to stop with me!"

I move away from the back and see the Vulva Choir giving me a standing ovation. I walk back to sit on the nice red, fluffy couches that are on stage. I hug others members of the cast. The are so supportive towards. I sit between two strong women Gloria Stienem and Rita Moreno. Rita is about to her monologue "My Angry Vagina" she leans towards me and says "I am gonna make you laugh." Well she did. Rita was onstage and took off her thong. It was so hilarious. I was cracking up laughing.

It was coming to the closing, so Eve Ensler said thank you to the supporters. She also asked people to stand up if they been victimized, then if they knew someone who has been victimized, then if the violence of women is going to stop with the people who have not stood up. Then there was a live band playing music and the Vulva Choir started dancing and singing. Rita started running around with her thong. Eve and I started dancing together. The show was finally over. Everyone in the cast went back stage and was hugging each other. I went outside to the lobby to find my friends. I hugged all of them. Then these people asked me for my autograph. I was like Ok, but I was thinking are they talking to me?

So many people are coming up to me and telling me their stories about violence that has happened to them. The story that affected me the most was from this lady. She told me that she had gone to Vagina Monologues and V-day events ever since they first started. Tonight though was the first night she ever stood up when Eve said "Stand up if you violence has ever happened to you." She said my words made her realized that abuse had happen to her. She never before thought her mother hitting her as abuse. That is why I did V-day.

by Leroy Moore Jr.

In Home (Un)Support Service, IHSS

IHSS what is that

I don't have a home

No support on the streets

I’m caught in the system

Dot coms moved in my home

My support system is broken

Mother in a nursing home

Father in prison for three strikes Poor, Black and Mentally Ill

Sisters in foster care

Nobody cares

Sleeping with strangers

I’ve seen all of this and am only a teenager

You hear me; I donít have a home

Uncle Sam took away my support

Hispanic, disabled and unemployed

One strike and Iím out is this Americaís past time

What is IHSS

No roof over my head

Another night and another one dead

Can’t afford a loaf of bread

Do I qualify

Cause I don’t have a home and

The INS thinks I lying about my disability

Pete Wilson thought I was a strain on the economy

You think I’m crazy

Your advice is more and more medication

You don’t understand my situation

Four jobs under the table and you call me lazy

IHSS

Is not in my vocabulary

Please! English only!

I’m in shackles in the land of the free

I have no home

The US don’t want me

Disabled in my country equals no opportunity

Living on the streets in the riches country

IHSS SSI and ADA

Uhh I can’t comprehend

INS LAPD and Prop 187

Oh yeah know I understand

No money

No family

No community

I don’t need your pity

From Mexico to the US

From the streets to the hospital

From the hospital to prison

I’m on the move

My home keeps on changing

I’m just waiting

For a bed in a shelter, SRO or better yet section eight

Right now I’ll take anything

In Home STOP!

I have been kicked out

I have not been inside for a long time

Outside, out numbered, outstunned.. out out get out

Homeless

Alone

No green card, no service

No income and I know the outcome

********************

Open Letter to Gray Davis from Disability Advocates of Minorities Organization (DAMO)

I’m writing to you to voice our strong disapproval of the recent proposed change in the services of In-Home-Support-Services system! We have received noticed that in Governor Gray Davis’ Proposed Budget Act for Fiscal Year 2002-03 will radically change the In-Home-Support-Services program. As we understand this change, will cut out family members’ eligibility to be care providers and also limit the choices to one caretaker.

As disabled youth and adults we depend on our families for our special needs, support and as you know historically the family support network has played an important role in people of color communities. Most of the time the family is the only resource in disabled youth and adults, especially low income and people of color with disabilities. To cut this link inside the homes of people with disabilities is an invasion of privacy, family values and leads to separation i.e. institutionalization which equals segregation. This proposed change would unfairly hit families of color and low-income families who have lack of resources to afford a caretaker and have their own cultural norms inside their own homes.

We all know that people with disabilities live under harsh poverty so why are you taking away the little amount families get to take care their disabled. This proposed change would dig people with disabilities and ourfamilies deeper into the poverty blanket. Please realized that In-Home-Support-Services family member provides are a life or death necessity and should be left up to the families and the disabled community on how and who provides in our own homes! We demand you to keep families together by rejecting this deadly change in the In-Home-Support program.

Sincerely

Leroy F. Moore,

Executive Director/DAMO

by Connie Lu/media intern PoorNewsNetwork

The memory of Idriss Stelley continues to fuel the
sheer and ever powerful driving force behind the
pursuit of justice that united the many passionate
supporters who gathered at the Justice for Idriss'
Community Forum, which served as both an update to the
shooting of Stelley and as a meeting for a violent act
of police brutality around Hunter's Point.

Mesha Monge-Irizarry, Stelley's mother, has been
fighting this long battle since June 13, 2001 when her
son was shot over 20 times at the Sony Metreon by
eight San Francisco police officers, who were fully
aware of his personality disorder, but obviously not
trained to handle situations such as this. Irizarry
has been ignored and lied to by the SFPD, but has
recently broken through to the SF Board of
Supervisors, who voted in favor that all SFPD Officers
undergo a crisis intervention training program.
However, this is only the beginning for Stelley's
mother, who continues to seek justice and at the same
time, support those who have suffered through the
similar pain of police brutality.

As Irizarry finishes with updating the current
situation regarding her son, she introduces the
mothers from a closely knit neighborhood around
Hunter's Point, where police brutality has also become
a threat to the lives of the many children who no
longer feel safe to play outside. The innocence of
their childhood will never be the same as it is taken
away by the very ones who are supposed to protect and
preserve their safety.

Susan McAllister, who lives
in Hunter's Point with her 13-year-old daughter began
sharing about this traumatic incident as tears formed
in her eyes and in her broken heart. Her voice was
shaky and apparently very upset as she spoke to the
audience that sat surrounding her in a crowded, elbow
to elbow semi-circle. The walls were made of red
bricks with layers of mortar oozing out from between
the bricks. There were also a few windows in the
front of the room, which brought on sudden relief to
the extreme sauna of body heat and sweat, as people
fanned themselves in a desperate, yet futile attempt
to somehow coax the cool air outside to come in.

But soon, the heat was forgotten as my attention
was drawn to listening intently to McAllister's
emotional account of an unforgettable Martin Luther
King Day. The police were yelling and holding a
threatening gun to the head of McAlllister's daughter,
who was absolutely terrified along with the other
three children involved, ages 12 to 14 years old. The
oldest boy, Jerome Brown suffered the most severe
injuries of a concussion, dislocated jaw, and bruises.

The police finally answered the parents after
ignoring their several attempts to find out why their
children were being treated like criminals when they
had done nothing wrong. The police say that they
received a call regarding suspicious men in a red car.
But, there was nothing found on the innocent children
or in the car they were in.

After this traumatizing experience, the children's
perception of the police will be completely skewed and
corrupted. They continue to struggle with even being
able to sleep with ease at night. I did not
personally experience the terror these children had to
endure, but at the same time I have realized that a
uniform does not necessarily symbolize trust and the
absence of feeling vulnerable.

At the end of the forum, I truly felt a sense of
unity after listening to the many personal experiences
that were shared. By holding hands in concentric
circles within the room, I realized the power of unity
to achieve a common goal, as each person around the
circle said just one word of encouragement such as:
love, peace, unity, Jesus, courage, hope, justice,
power, prayer, determination

by Joseph Bolden/PoorNewsNetwork

On a warm Sunday in March I attended "The Housing Winter Summit" taking place outside the Polk Street side of Civic Center.
We are supposed to start at POOR Magazine’s office at ll:00 am. Glad I’ve done my daily Martin De Porres free breakfast and not sleeping in, which is what I would do normally. Usually on Sunday I like to plan my day around doing absolutely nothing. That’s either sleeping, television, listening to radio, or being in Berkeley meeting with my ladyfriend, suffice to say, resting is always a treat.

The Housing Winter action started at 12 noon, with James Tracy and Willie Warren (Po Poet and activist) from the "Right To A Roof Project, talking softly, strongly and passionately about suffering Veteran’s from VietNam, Desert Storm, getting little but lip service from the country they pledged their honor, blood, limbs, mental stability and lives for. After much heartfelt testimony from several speakers we were then blessed with a Capoiera troupe. Midway through the day a Free Tibet march walked on the other side of the street- we paused to wait them out and give them respect for their resistance. Then on to the Poetry…

It began with a piece by Jack Hirschman, poet, actor, activist and author, whose stirring, true depiction of struggling street life mesmerized audiences with its deathless prose. Another poet, Nancy Esteva from The Coalition on Homelessness spoke her poem or, should I say poesa, completely in Spanish, and even though it was in another language her emotional content came through clear.

Then, almost simultaneously, and very quickly, two structures were erected, one was an arch erected from shopping carts, in honor of all the folks who were arrested and had their shopping carts taken away by DPW and the SFPD, and a brightly painted pink house with two sleeping bags inside.

The Pink house stood as a representational, physical backdrop of the need for housing for all.

At first I though I having an adverse bummer trip seeing a carnation pink brightly colored structure in the shape of a small house, behind it metal shopping carts suspended in the air by thick metal normally used for foundations in high rise buildindgs.

I blink at the sight feeling whoosy and and sick again the sun beaming on me - heat hurts.

Next up was poetry and kinetic sculpture by the performance group The ‘Po Poets` Project including .Junebug, A. Fay, Dharma, Tiny, Mari, and me. Each person did a piece to the theme of Equal Equity in housing, holding signs that read; Will Work For Equity, Will Work for Land and Will work For Justice. At the end we all chant a line, Permanent Housing For All and depart the "stage" There were more poets before the day was over – and then finally, the remaining people "occupied" the Pink House, hoping to also seize the unused land of the Civic Center

Still feeling the after effects of getting over the flu I wanted to simply get under covers and sleep in my little SRO in the Tenderloin that I am lucky enough to have.

However, I have one more duty to perform on this Sunday, help someone move out of their long cherished living space in Bay View Hunter’s Point, where they were evicted for no good reason at all and now are homeless.

That Pink House is still standing, I hope.

by Joe B.

Revelation & Armageddon, Ready To Rise Up? I AM.

For a couple days I’ve been listening to radio, TV, and overhearing conversations on busses about the Middle Easter Conflict between Palestinian Refugee’s and the Israeli Government.

Bloodshed and the biblical portents or signs this means to all religions globally.

Me, raised as Roman Catholic cannot help see this conflict like a whirlpool sucking in all nations in the Middle East.

American made weapons used in this slaughter. [Tanks, uniformed troops even if not an elite trained one, as a occupying force with superior arms going up against children throwing rocks or people with small arms, massacre, overkill, slaughter, and genocide come to mind.]

The Anti Christ is suppose to be roaming the earth gathering people and power I know he’s not Clinton, G.W. Bush Jr., Cheney, Al Gore.

On second thought Mr. Gore is brilliant but mega quality charisma is not his strong suit though he may have seen this if not the world changing September, 9-11 tragedy.

I’m not an agnostic, atheist, [thanks for the assist Ms. Estrada].

More of a lapsed Catholic who still believes in the tenet biblically and of course just in case the
"Rapture" [The call of living, ill and dead rising skyward into heaven’s kingdom before tribulations fall on those still on earth who’ll have horrors undreamed but prophesied many holy works besides the holy bible]

When it looks like or feels "Last Days" time I want and need to be sure that even if I’m not one the lucky ones rising that if I die or survive the coming bloody horrors on earth there's still a chance for me to be enfolded in the lord’s hands.

Reading the bible is not my favorite activity - science fiction, fiction, adventure, some autobiography and other interests are uppermost but all that pales in comparison to EndWorld, Left Behind scenario’s.

I speak and believe life extension e-immortality by scientific means however if we human’s are on The Eternal’s time clock [One of God’s days = a thousand years to us].

I don’t want to be the ultimate unluckiest person or persons ending up in Hades, Satan’s realm eternally tortured.

Arafat and others trapped in a complex somewhere in the soldier occupied encampments.

To me its a systematic killing ground.

Think of the West Bank Occupied over 30 years with soldiers granted car bombs, small arms, and booby trapped areas have maimed, killed, and wounded civilians and soldiers alike but protection turns into terror tactics.

Tanks, soldiers, weapons, in neighborhoods happened all over the inner cities in America from New York, Watts in Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, nearly any and everywhere the population is non-white, speaking another language police may not live in the area but can quickly mobilize to occupy area’s in question for weeks or months at a time.

In Palestinian Encampments soldiers are an occupying force with the power of life and death, torture, or freedom, and if there is a history of hate between occupation troops and occupants.

In America the Police’s "To Serve And Protect" is the motto unfortunately in
our inner cities of America its no longer just people of color, ethnic group, age ranges that are seen as a problem but anyone not warring the uniform are seen as "prey" to hunt, chase, torture, kill, or let go to chase again.

Even police themselves out of uniform are deemed as "alien" that’s one of many reason’s why police kill brother officers (Friendly Fire) out of uniform and working undercover.

In America’s suburbs of modest homes, picket fences, children, dogs, cars, and next door neighbors police are seen as protectors, citizen soldiers doing danger and perilous jobs defending the right of the public. (which is at times) hazardous and lethal.

Just as Firemen/women, in many dangerous kinds of occupations can end in death.

Israeli’s constant occupation, arbitrary stop-arrest-torture first legitimately for self protect then as an occupying territory where people in their own homes are demonized as the enemy, non entities, and walking targets.

This sounds awfully familiar to Black, Brown, Yellow, Red, Poor Whites, and Racially Mixed folks, working poor, and houseless persons struggling with the same issue: Being seen and arbitrarily targeted as ciphers (zero’s) on the landscape, our lives in constant peril.

I could be wrong folks but what is happening way over there is so damn de ja’vu it’s scary (International language key stroke program needed)

Occupying soldiers in uniforms and plain clothed citizens make it easier to pick targets, except when soldier and citizen’s switch clothes then enemy, friend, or non combatants become murky.

The West Bank, where homes are destroyed, families and individuals are told to exit their homes and knowing soldier’s do lie make it difficult for an occupied people to leave homes on threat of death.

Is this the beginning of The Second Coming?" I don’t know but Synagogues, Mosques, Churches, or other hallowed places in Bethlehem, the holiest of cites under bombardment and civilians killed must sadden and anger The Eternal seeing the carnage rise.

This could give one a Messianic complex or paranoid delusional fantasies but again as a Black Roman Catholic (Woolly hair, Olive skin) hmmm.

I do hope to be lifted up and not be chosen to suffer the greatest of tests, if and when these Biblical prophecies come true.

I sincerely pray including my family, friends, strangers, and myself just so if it all does come to pass; my mortality burned away replaced by spiritualized, eternal, infinite, life on a renewed transformed earth can be my due.

I just don’t want be a lead soul or assistant soul on an endless multi-task job though if God-Goddess, Spirit needs me in that capacity, for an eternity; who am I to say no?

If I did refuse I’d become assistant demon to the head of Hades or worse

Supreme Satan the 2nd relieving Satan No. 1 from his job as Head of Evil Incorporated.

I don’t want that job, The "I’d Rather Rule In Hell, Than Serve In Heaven
[John Milton, Paradise Lost. (1608 - 1674)] I paraphrase in case it is not an exact quote.

So, life and death is settled sort of for me, I hope to live a really long life even as this mortal one is shed.

Tell me if you believe the End Times is coming and if they are what would you do to prepare? ... Bye. ?

by Joe B.

Wednesday, 27, 2002. A brimming summer day in the city.

Yesterday I hear stuff about S-President Bush Jr’s proposed "Marry Unwed women to father of child or children plan." [I’m thinking of the Moony multiple marrige guy in the late 1970 or ‘80’s ].Has Bush had some ‘kinda mind-meld or is this a sick Moral Majority joke?

Some of the newsprint is from ABCNEWS webside so I can understand this Washingfluke ‘um ‘ton type of reasoning.

Many conservatives have made this their top priority, arguing that two-parent families are better for children and key to escaping poverty.
[There’s that Transubstan
tiation
]. bug infecting people who think: one size fits all or how they were raised works for everyone
It don't, just look at both republican, Democrat, or any other politial or quasi political parties broken, reformed, and blended families.

Let’s continue. But many are uncomfortable putting government that deeply into people's personal lives and no one knows what sort of programs would succeed in increasing marriage rates.

Governors, who want as much freedom as possible in spending welfare money, detest this sort of mandate, and aides note that Bush and Thompson are both former governors.

So the Bush plan will offer a pot of money — at least $100 million each year, according to one official — for experiments aimed at getting poor people to marry.

The administration will also suggest that states be required to explain what they are doing to promote marriage, forcing them to at least consider the issue.
[What does Bureaucracy mean?]

The administration also wants to scrap $100 million in annual bonuses to states with the largest reductions in births to unwed parents. Some argue that these bonuses have failed to reward the states that are really doing the best job. (To be continued)

Looking at Overall Funding
Another hot issue before Congress will be overall funding for the welfare program.

The president plans to ask that state grants be maintained at $16.5 billion per year.

Others argue there is much work to be done, and Thompson, who has always said the nation can't do welfare reform "on the cheap," agrees.

Thompson is now looking at how to move welfare reform to the next step: Helping people who have left welfare move into higher-paying jobs.

Studies have found that while most former welfare recipients found jobs in the strong economy of the last few years, most didn't make enough to leave poverty.

[He’s finally putting the cart and horse in the barn even though its way late in the day, maybe Mr. finally gets better education/skills component - to bad S-President Bush is stuck on marry-the-women-now-jobs-later deal.]

I looked up the Sun Moon stuff on the mass marriage thing.

Anyone remember Sun-Myung Moon (Translated: Shining truth)

I seem to remember a Reverend message, one of rebuilding families and restoring and uniting communities.

"We are one family and we want to stand together to end all the problems of our society.

We believe division does not serve our purpose."

"The Christian family we believe is coming together, them standing together to break down wall that divide us, racism, denominationalism, husband and wife." [Our current ‘Pres would eat this up.]

Mass Marriages: WHAT IS IT?

The term "Mass Marriage" is actually a misnomer.

I titled this section
'Mass Marriages" simply because that is what they are known as.

In reality, no one is being married in these mass wedding spectacles.

Instead, the "Blessing" as Moonies refer to this event, is a religious
ceremony and not actual weddings.

Though they are dressed as brides the ones that intend to be husband and wife will have to obtain marriage licenses from whatever jurisdiction they reside in.

In former years, only those couples that Sun Myung Moon had matched (Moon chose usually complete strangers that would then become husband and wife based on Moon's selection) or those that had passed very stringent qualifications (including from 3 to 7 years of celibacy before marriage) would be allowed to be 'blessed' by Moon.

In recent years, these events are often billed as a 'recommitment of marriage' to unsuspecting participants. That’s enough of that.

At least Moon’s marriages were only symbolic practice unlike what

Bush unlike Moon’s symbolic marriage really wants women married to men who fathered their children.

The nuclear family has imploded and simply marrying single men or women with children in no solution.

Is free or less expensive child care, along with expanded higher education, updated job/career skills, both traditional and non traditional vocational work. I know,

I’m confused too but that’s how this stuff plays out or looks to me. Bye.

by Dee/PNN

Poor folks pitted against the not as poor in Baton Rouge, La

By KELLY BREWINGTON, The Baltimore Sun
September 16, 2005 courtesy of rollbacktherents@yahoogroups.com

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Two weeks after rallying a
massive relief effort to welcome survivors of
Hurricane Katrina, the strain can be seen everywhere
in this laid-back college town, and many are having
second thoughts.

The waits at gas pumps are daunting. Grocery stores
have trouble keeping food on their shelves. And
classrooms are overcrowded. Meanwhile everyone --
including Red Cross volunteers, job hunters, store
clerks and television news crews -- is perpetually
stuck in traffic.

The ripples of Katrina seem to have left no one
untouched. And beneath its delightful southern
hospitality, this has become a town of brewing
tensions.

Crystal Brown, a lifelong resident of Baton Rouge, is
searching for a new home to rent but can't find any
vacancies. Her landlord is forcing her out because she
doesn't have a lease and he needs the home for
relatives displaced by the storm.

"You hate to complain because you know you are so
much better off than a lot of other people," she said.
"But I'm fixin' to be homeless and I wasn't even in
the path of the storm." Many Baton Rouge natives who
are looking for housing or jobs can't find them, she
said. "We've been swallowed up by an influx of new
people."

No one knows exactly how many Katrina survivors are
living in Baton Rouge, but officials estimate the city
and surrounding East Baton Rouge parish have more than
doubled in size from about 400,000 to more than
800,000.

The economics worry Brown the most.

"A lot of people who came in are from New Orleans and
couldn't get out because they are poor," she said. "I
would think that now, East Baton Rouge Parish is the
biggest welfare area in the state. And that's not a
good thing."

The displaced have picked up on the subtle changes in
attitude. Some say the overwhelming generosity has
faded, replaced by a humiliating assumption that
they're packing in some of the Crescent City's biggest
troubles, including struggles with crime and
relentless poverty.

Only about 80 miles apart, Baton Rouge and New
Orleans are distinct in their demographics and
character. The median income of East Baton Rouge is
about $5,000 more than in New Orleans. Nearly one in
four New Orleans residents live in poverty while the
poverty rate in Baton Rouge is lower -- 19 percent.
Blacks make up nearly 70 percent of the population in
New Orleans, versus 43 percent in Baton Rouge.

Charles Watts, who's living in a Red Cross shelter in
Baker, just north of Baton Rouge, said he feels
judgment in people's stares.

"People look at us like they think we have always
been poor and desperate," said Watts, 21, who
evacuated New Orleans' Elysian Fields neighborhood
with his extended family. "The truth is, we made it
out during the storm and we're just trying to get our
lives together."

"This is a storm that did this," he said. "People
need to realize this could happen anywhere to
anybody."

Geraldine Walker, who evacuated New Orleans and is
taking refuge at the Bethany World Prayer Center in
Baker, said she has come to view the blue wristbands
that shelter residents must wear as an added
indignity. Sometimes she covers hers up when she
leaves the shelter for an appointment. People dismiss
her when they notice it, she said.

Some in Baton Rouge fear that a host of urban ills
will infiltrate the town. Along with the New Orleans'
distinction for jazz, gumbo and the French Quarter,
many here have long viewed it as a city of crime.

After Katrina, word spread through Baton Rouge that
the town was experiencing an upsurge in looting and
violent crime, although the rumors proved to be false.
City officials say its crime rate is unchanged.

Nevertheless, many believe the newest residents make
higher crime inevitable.

"New Orleans is a major urban center with a pretty
severe gang problem," said Stewart Clayton, 32, a
surgeon at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical
Center in Baton Rouge, who lived in New Orleans for
many years. "A lot of these people who are part of
those gangs are now here. It's only a matter of time
before we see that activity here."

In fact, Baton Rouge has become inundated with so
many evacuees, it's difficult to classify any of them.
Along with exiled New Orleans residents of various
races and backgrounds, there are business owners from
the suburbs of Metairie, shrimpers from swampy
Plaquemines Parish, and immigrant families who have
recently moved to the Gulf Coast seeking the American
Dream.

Many believe the city simply will have to pull
together through this tough time.

"You can tell the city is tense," said Elle Burton, a
Baton Rouge resident who has taken in various
relatives who fled New Orleans.

"You can tell it's a real burden on our city," she
said. "But what we are dealing with is nothing
compared to the people who lived on rooftops waiting
to be rescued. I just think everyone's going to have
to get over it."

Community Advisory - A few ways to help the Black Community directly
*

Sisters & Brothers;

As many thousands of Black people, African people evacuate the disaster of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans many are coming to Houston with literally the clothes on their backs. Thousands are here staying with family members/friends, others in over 20 shelters at church's etc. and many thousands at the Houston Astrodome. Families, local media, artist and community groups are stepping forward in this emergency migration of people. As we are aware the major relief agencies are providing aid, however the level of need is so great grassroots groups must and are coming forward. Houston as one of the largest major cities closest to New Orleans and having strong family ties to the entire state of Lousianna must come forward to help our people. We are calling on our communities across the country for help to meet this need! More people are coming and are not likely to return to New Orleans anytime soon. The following are grassroots organizations and activities taking place in Houston, Texas for relief and aid. These are only some of the furry of activies taking place, these groups have a proven track record of consistent work in our communities.

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY! Some groups/efforts need volunteers call them directly.

HIP-HOP RELIEF/AID

Friday, September 2, 2005 9pm - Until

Candy Lady Comedy Club

4812 Almeda

Houston, Texas 77004

SOS RADIO Featuring ZIN, SAVVY & MORE

$7.00 Cover all proceeds after expenses go to aid efforts
Collecting non-perishable food items, toilitries, medical supplies, pampers, clothes

Coordinating with similar relief efforts in Florida to support Houston displaced persons Hurricane Katrina
sosradio@yahoo.com

RELIEF/AID DRIVE

Saturday, September 3, 2005

Nation of Islam Muhammad Mosque #45

4443 Old Spanish Trail

Houston, Texas 77231-1715

713-741-2747

non-perishable food items, toilitries, medical supplies, pampers, clothes, linens

Beginning 8:00am throughout the day
11:00am Millions More Movement LOC meet to caravan to shelters
MONETARY Contributions Made To: A.C.T.I.O.N. CDC Memo Line Hurricane Relief

ONGOING EFFORT

Shrine of the Black Madonna Pan African Orthodox Christian Church
Currently Housing, Feeding 150 displaced people

Make Donations To: PAOCC In Memo Line Hurricane Relief

5317 M.L. King Blvd.

Houston, Texas 77021

ONGOING EFFORT

New Black Panther Party - Houston Chapter

Krystal Muhammad Chapter Chair Person currently coordinatingsupporting 50 family members displaced in different parts of Houston & Texas. Gearing up to offer housing, food etc. to other displaced persons.

2812 Live Oak

Houston, Texas 77004

713-534-4021

Contribtuions To: New Black Panther Party, Memo Line Hurricane Relief

ONGOING EFFORT

S.H.A.P.E. Community Center

3815 Live Oak

Houston, Texas 77004

Open Monday thru Friday 8:00am-6:00pm & Saturday's call first

713-521-0629, 713-521-0641
drop off non-perishable food items, toilitries, medical supplies, pampers, clothes, linens
working on providing housing need funds to get electricity turned on in units
Contribution To: S.H.A.P.E. Community Center Memo Line Hurricane Relief

OTHER

St. Peter Clavier Catholic Church

Houston, Texas

Currently Sheltering, Feeding over 300 displaced persons
Church were organizing activities took place for Shaka Sankofa (Gary Graham)

Contact info TBA

New Black Panther Nation
Providing Housing and Aid
Contact info TBA

SPECIAL REQUEST

Reknowned Poet Activist Kalaamu Ya Salaam & family staying with family in Houston
Need Monetary Assistance, NBUF-Houston is seeking to make direct contact with him to provide assistance.

From Kalamu.

"if you are in a position to help, i have one request: i need work: speaking engagements, lectures, readings, short term residencies, writing assignments. please contact me via email:
kalamu@aol.com or kalamuya@yahoo.com"

If you wish to send contributions to NBUF- Houston earmarked for Hurricane Relief we will insure that funds/assistance gets directly to one or more of the above mentioned efforts and/or directly to those in need.

National Black United Front -Houston Chapter (NBUF)

2428 Southmore Blvd.

Houston, Texas 77004

713-942-0365
Contributions To: NBUF memo line Hurricane Relief
Community Meeting Every Monday Night 7:00pm

NEWS

Dr. Imari Obadele & Sister Johnita Scott-Obadele (RNA & NCOBRA) living in Baton Rouge, LA are okay. Not much damage in city. Evacuation has placed many people in city. Refute scattered reports that prisoners have taken over prison.

Forward,

Kofi Taharka

Chairman National Black United Front-Houston Chapter

**************************************************

Forwarded by the Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network

http://www.margueritelaurent.com/law/lawpress.html

**************************************************

*****************

*DISABLED FOLK IN HURRICANE KATRINA

By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express

August 31, 2005

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA--While some of those who were
caught in the path of Hurricane Katrina did so because
they failed to recognize the storm's danger, it is
becoming increasingly clear that thousands were unable
to leave because they couldn't afford to, or had
disabilities or existing medical conditions that made
evacuating difficult or impossible.
Several newspaper, television and radio accounts are
telling stories of people with physical disabilities
who were trapped on the lower floors of their homes or
apartments as the water from the storm surge climbed.
Fluffy Sparks, 46, told the Cox News Service that she
sat in her wheelchair in her Slidell home, just
northeast of New Orleans, as the flood waters rose to
her chin.

"I prayed like I've never prayed in all my life,"
Sparks said. "I told God, 'I can't believe you're
ready for me now. Don't let me die in this water here
by myself.'"
She pulled herself up onto a small table just as the
water stopped rising.

"It was horrible, and it's still horrible, but I'm
breathing," said Sparks, who was rescued Tuesday
morning.

Charlotte Goodwin, 62, who has diabetes, high blood
pressure and lupus, managed to escape the flood waters
at her New Orleans home. A reporter spoke to Goodwin
as she walked toward a shelter, carrying a bag full of
medications, but with no drinking water to take the
pills.

"I'm wondering if I'm going to make it," she said.
Police on a boat picked up 63-year-old Aleck Scallon,
who is paraplegic, and set him, his wheelchair, and a
companion in a dry spot on an Interstate freeway
on-ramp. Unfortunately, the place where they deposited
Scallon was surrounded by water.

"Where am I going to go?" he asked the Times-Picayune.

"They were supposed to pick us up and take us to the
(Super)dome."

Many people with disabilities who survived the wind
and the floods continued to struggle Wednesday with a
general lack of food, clean water, medical supplies,
and medications. Most of the hospitals in the area had
no power or fresh supplies.

Several reports described how many of those initial
survivors who were rescued -- even those who made it
to the "special needs" shelters -- later lost their
struggle. Some told of people having epileptic
seizures out on the open ground. Others told of dead
bodies in wheelchairs simply covered with blankets or
bed sheets.

There was one piece of good news: Twenty-five babies
at a makeshift neonatal intensive care unit were
airlifted Wednesday from a parking garage roof at a
New Orleans hospital and transported safely to other
hospitals in the region. Many of the babies were
hooked up to battery-powered ventilators to keep them
alive.

The babies' parents had been ordered to evacuate and
leave their infants behind. By the end of the day, the
parents had been told where their children were taken.
State officials had no concrete estimates Wednesday,
but said that many nursing homes, group homes and
other congregate living facilities in the area cannot
be saved. Those that were still standing could take
months or years to be livable again.

Provided by Leroy F. Moore Jr.
On The Outskirts: Race & Disability Consultant
sfdamo@yahoo.com, www.leroymoore.com www.nmdc.us www.poormagazine.org www.molotovmouths.com

*Banned Pregnant Graduate Walks Anyway

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- A pregnant student who was banned from graduation at her Roman Catholic high school announced her own name and walked across the stage anyway at the close of the program.

Alysha Cosby's decision prompted cheers and applause Tuesday from many of her fellow seniors at St. Jude Educational Institute.

But her mother and aunt were escorted out of the church by police after Cosby headed back to her seat.

"I can't believe something like this is happening in 2005," said her mother, Sheila Cosby. "My daughter has been through a lot and I am proud of her. She deserved to walk, and she did."

The school's guidance counselor delivered Cosby's degree to her house earlier Tuesday, but she still wanted to participate.

"I worked hard throughout high school and I wanted to walk with my class," she said.

Cosby was told in March that she could no longer attend school because of safety concerns, and her name was not listed in the graduation program.

The father of Cosby's child, also a senior at the school, was allowed to participate in graduation.

*Hawaii Woman Evicted From Lava-Tube Home

WAILUKU, Hawaii -- Karen Mayfield has made quite a home for herself, complete with a table and a canopy bed. But there's just one problem - her domain is inside a lava tube, an underground tunnel formed by molten rock.

A judge has evicted her while she awaits trial on misdemeanor counts of illegal camping, disturbing a geological feature and littering.

"I really miss it out there," Mayfield said. "I really prefer living an alternate lifestyle where I can hear the wind blow and see the stars at night."

Outside court, defense attorney David Cain likened Mayfield to a modern-day John Muir or Henry David Thoreau.
Advertisement

"During their time, a lot of people said they were kooky, especially Thoreau, and now his writings are looked at in high school classes," Cain said.

*SSI Recipients at-risk

The latest report from the Center on Budget and Policy
Priorities reveal that 220,000 SSI recipients are at
risk from the latest proposed budget cuts to the
low-income programs.

Congress is pitting the poor against the disabled in
the latest round of budget cuts, that will affect both
in the coming years ahead, due to the multi-trillion
dollar tax cuts granted to the rich.

Despite the known cuts to the major housing assistance
programs being proposed, little news has come out
about the proposed cuts to the SSI program that serves
the poor and disabled.

In the latest round of proposed budget cuts, SSI
recipients (seniors & disabled) face huge benefit cuts
which may result in some 220,000 recipients being
dumped from the program during the next few years!
[[[Income assistance for the elderly and people with
disabilities. If the Ways and Means Committee does
not achieve all of its required cuts from the EITC, it
might choose to make some cuts in the Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) program, which provided modest
income assistance to 6.9 million poor seniors and
individuals with disabilities in 2003.[2] If, for
example, the Committee met its target by cutting all
low-income programs under its jurisdiction by the same
percentage, SSI would be cut by $4.8 billion over five
years and by $1.2 billion in 2006 alone. Achieving
this cut by reducing the number of recipients would
mean dropping some 222,000 poor elderly individuals
and people with disabilities from the program.]]]
See the full report directly below from the Center on
Budget and Policy Priorities...

From the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities:
HOUSE BUDGET RESOLUTION WOULD REQUIRE MUCH DEEPER CUTS
IN KEY LOW-INCOME PROGRAMS THAN SENATE BUDGET PLAN:

The budget resolutions passed by the House and Senate
in mid-March differ sharply in the size of their cuts
in key mandatory (or entitlement) programs that
assist low-income families with children, the elderly,
and people with disabilities. The House Budget
Resolution calls for an estimated $30 billion to $35
billion in cuts over the next five years in Medicaid,
food stamps, and low-income programs under the
jurisdiction of the House Ways and Means Committee,
such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, foster
care and adoption assistance, the Temporary Assistance
for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, and child care.
The Senate Budget Resolution, by contrast, does not
include cuts in low-income mandatory programs other
than the Food Stamp Program. The Senate budget plan
would require the Agriculture Committee to make $2.8
billion in cuts over five years to farm and nutrition
programs, a portion of which is expected to come from
food stamps.

In other words, the House budget plans cuts to
low-income mandatory programs would be at least ten
times larger than those in the Senate budget plan.
This difference will be a key issue when
congressional conferees meet to develop a compromise
budget resolution.

While flipping through the New York Times on Sunday I came across a small, one-column article in back of Section A, snuggled between Macy*s and Volkswagen advertisements. The headline read: U.S. Inquiry Re-examining Prison Death. The opening paragraph reads, ?n a rare step, the Justice Department is re-examining its investigation into the 1995 death of a federal prisoner that the victim? family contends was a murder at the hands of the government. Several official inquiries have ruled the death a suicide.?The federal prisoner? name is Kenneth Michael Trentadue.

This column relates ?nformation has since emerged that evidence was mishandled or lost, prison officials lied and potential evidence of a struggle in the cell before the death was overlooked.?The Justice Department told the court that it did not yet want to release documents from an earlier inquiry regarding the death due to ?ngoing, related criminal investigation.?Trentadue? family used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain records, which point to the fact that evidence of a suicide was tampered with. The family has been awarded $1.1 million for intentional infliction of pain because the government had failed to explain the state Trentadue? beaten body.

A little research finds that Kenneth Michael Trentadue was wrongfully thought to be an associate of Timothy James McVeigh and therefore implicated indirectly to the Oklahoma City bombing. According to the Department of Justice Kenneth took his own life during a 20-minute window of time, between bed checks, in the early morning hours of August 21, 1995. The Department of Justice's official version of Kenneth's death is that he hanged himself from a thin plastic air vent with a bed sheet, but the injuries his body bore do not support that story.

Here are some details that the Times did not include in their piece: Kenneth's head had been repeatedly smashed to the skull by blows from a metal baton; his throat was cut; there were burns from an electrical stun gun on his head, shoulder and at the base of his spine, and there were cuts, bruises, and abrasions all over his body. Kenneth had literally been beaten front and back, from the top of his head to the soles of his feet.

The Department of Justice claims that Kenneth's wounds were either all self-inflicted or that his family mutilated his body. The Oklahoma State Medical Examiner, however, refuses to declare Kenneth's death a suicide. Kenny's family believes that he was tortured and killed by federal agents, and that his murder is being covered up by the Department of Justice. This week Justice Department public integrity section chief Noel L. Hillman re-examines the inquiry of whether the death was a suicide or a murder which was then covered up by prison and FBI employees.

www.deathrowspeaks.info - Death Row Speaks

www.mvfr.org - Murder Victims?Families for Reconciliation

***********************

Getting Recycled By The System - More on Welfare De-form

Yolanda Mendez of Long Beach, CA talks about her experience with the welfare system....

"Since 1998, I have been through the CalWORKs ?xpress to Success?job training program three times. When I first went to their job club, they showed us this video of how a housewife became a successful receptionist and can do all these things now, like order in pizza for her kids. In the six months I was in the program, I received no job training. Instead, they did trainings on how to dress and how to interview for jobs.

Their interview training taught us how to sit down politely, how not to chew gum, and how not to put our feet on the boss? desk. It was really insulting...We needed to be taught job skills, not be treated like little children.

I went to the job club ever day. They would give us the yellow pages and tell us to call places like Macy? and Pollo Loco. In six months, I had over two hundred interviews. I finally got a job working for a security company at $6.75 an hour. My shift was from 1am to 10am, but the county never paid my babysitter, so she quit, and I had to leave my job.

Later, I got a job in the printing office at the Housing Authority that paid $5.75 an hour. The welfare office then cut all my cash assistance and Food Stamps because they said I was making too much."

Yolanda is just one of the women whose story is documented in a recent report published by the Race and Public Policy Program, the Applied Research Center. Falling Through The Cracks: How California? Welfare Policy Keeps Families Poor points to systemic violations of the law by the state? CalWorks program. The report documents the experiences of over thirty families in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Alameda counties.

Findings illustrate that California? welfare rules and regulations are ?ife with arbitrary decisions, errors, and illegal practices on the part of the county administrators. Even when the system is working as the law mandates, many families remain in poverty due to arbitrary time limits, and outdated method for determining how much income is necessary to match the local cost of living, and a bias against providing families receiving assistance with the means to attain the training and education necessary to become economically self-sufficient and secure."

California Department of Social Services Director Rita Saenz has yet to respond to the study.

CalWORKS or California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids is a welfare program that is supposed to give cash aid and services to eligible needy California families. The program serves 58 counties and it operated locally by county welfare departments.
www.dss.cahwnet.gov

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The Justice System is Not Designed for the Poor

Letter from the North Carolina October 22nd Coalition

On May 18, 2001, Gilbert A. Barber was killed by a Guilford County Deputy. He was involved
in a one car accident, suffered a
severe head injury, had other injuries over much of his body, was naked, and yelling at
passing cars when the deputy tried to
arrest him.

The deputy alleged sprayed him with a chemical spray and an alleged struggle
with the deputy left Gilbert dead, and
the deputy wounded.
In the past three years, here in North Carolina alone, the October 22nd Coalition has been
able to document 12 lives lost
because law enforcement isn't trained to deal effectively with Emotionally Disturbed People
(EDP).

Statewide in the last five years,
the North Carolina SBI has looked into more than 58 fatal shootings by law officers. All
homicides by law officers are not
investigated by the SBI, but some departments conduct their own investigations, as the
Guilford County Sheriff's Department
alleges. With the count as high as 58, surely there were many more than 12 that fit the
classification of emotional disturbed.
The lawsuit, the Estate of Gilbert A. Barber vs. B.J. Barnes, Thomas Gordy and the Guilford
County Sheriff's Department that
allege wrongful death and fail to train its personnel to respond properly when calls
involve an emotionally disturbed person were
moved to the Federal Court, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.

This lawsuit is of enormous importance, not only for this local case, but will have an
impact on national policy on how law
enforcement handles situations with Emotionally Disturbed People.
This we believe is the first case to go to trial using the research from the law article by
Professor Mike Avery, of the Suffolk Law
College "Unreasonable Seizures of Unreasonable People," Defining the Totality of
Circumstances Relevant to Assessing the
Police Use of Force Against Emotionally Disturbed People.

The attorneys of McSurely & Osment, Anita Hodgkiss, of the Lawyers Committee for Civil
Rights of Washington, D.C. with
collaboration with Professor Mike Avery of the Suffolk Law College have developed a strong
case against the defendants. The
case has all the elements to prevail, but they need to be introduced by expert witnesses.
To have the best chance to prevail the facts have to be presented by expert witnesses.

Expert witnesses are needed in these
areas:

(1) Crime Scene Investigator to compare the physical and forensic evidence to Gordy's
deposition.

(2) EDP expert who has worked on training law enforcement agencies on accepted policies
and practices toward EDP and can
analyze the problems in this case.

(3) An Expert on how law enforcement should investigate a homicide. Issues that include the
department investigating it's own
officers, how that department allowed evidence to be immediately destroyed,
and that the department immediately took
steps to justify the homicide and obstruct any independent inquiry into it.

(4) Private Investigator to investigate what happened before Gordy's arrival, when Gilbert
was assaulted in the church. Was
Gilbert injured in the car or church? Why was Gilbert naked and where exactly
were his clothes and his hair found? And
other puzzling uncertainties.

Our biggest problem is MONEY and the amount of TIME we have to get it. The cost to
hire the experts needed, is
tremendous. The costs of these experts are from $5,000 - $10,000 each.

The Justice System
is not designed for the poor, for the
poor to get any form of justice it costs large sums of money. The deputy has the help from
a large foundation that solicits money
from the public to pay their legal expenses. (The Police Benevolent Association). Their on
going solicitation of public funds puts
any citizen with limited finances that challenges the authorities at a severe disadvantage.

The N.C. October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the
Criminalization of a Generation is soliciting funds to
pay for the expert witnesses needed to pursue the Gilbert Barber case. Again we
must emphasize the enormous importance of
this case, as it will affect the way law enforcement treat Emotionally Disturbed People
(EDP).

Make checks to; Beloved Community Center *, In Memo write; Justice Fund

Mail to: N.C. October 22nd Coalition

P.O. Box 1737
Jamestown, NC 27282

Contact Phone # 336-272-2155; 336-883-1721

* nonprofit 501(c)(3)

** $1000 donation you receive a Stolen Lives Book and O22 T-shirt, $500 Donation you will
receive a Stolen Lives Book

**************************

The Righteous Occupation

The US has taken Iraq, Israel is still in Palestine and hundreds of housing activists and their supporters have occupied a section of Montreal? Parc Lafontaine, where subversive and unpatriotic acts are occurring: a Tent City has been constructed and people are enjoying food, drinks, conversation and music.

The housing activists are not alone, the police have joined them! How nice. Since the gathering has begun, riot police evicted hundreds of participants at the Tent City inside Parc Lafontaine early Monday morning. At least 40 riot police were already placed inside the large park, and using floodlights in the dark, they proceeded to push back Tent City participants with shields and batons. Many people scrambled to gather their belongings, including their tents and tarps, while others maintained a line in front of the riot police, chanting defiant slogans in defense of the Tent City. According to one legal team member, at least 12 people were arrested in total.

The action was organized by the Comit? des sans-emploi (The Committee of the Unemployed), CLAC Logement (the Housing Committee of the Anti-Capitalist Convergence) and the Housing Committee of Ahuntsic-Cartierville -- is in response to Montreal? housing crisis, which is marked by vacancy rates of less than 1%, increasing gentrification of formerly low-cost working class areas, as well as increasing homelessness. Every July, hundreds of Montreal residents with expired leases are rendered homeless by the lack of affordable housing, while potentially thousands more are forced into substandard or unaffordable apartments.

The Tent City organizers have three principal demands: Decent housing for all; the end of the criminalization of poverty and homelessness; and the repossession of empty buildings for community use. They are stressing the anti-capitalist nature of their action, critiquing the root causes of the housing crisis in Montreal. According to a flyer being passed out at the Tent City (?ecent Housing for Everyone?:

?ehind the evictions and rent hikes, the homelessness and police, there is a logic ?the logic of capitalism. Under capitalism, things are produced, not because they are needed, but because they can be sold for a profit. It? not that there simply isn? enough roofs to cover everyone in Montreal that there is homelessness. There are unused buildings all across the city. But under capitalism, houses are only made available to people who can buy (or rent) them. The poor don? factor into the equations of supply and demand. When landlords evict their tenants, it is because they want tenants who can pay more ?they want more profit out of their property. When police harass, brutalize and jail the homeless, it is in order to raise the property values of the area.?

The Tent City website is at: http://tentcity.taktic.org

thanks to Indymedia for the newswire

***************************

Economic Degeneration: ExxonMobilChevronTexacoPetronas in Africa

An oil consortium headed by ExxonMobil Corp backed by the US government and the World Bank, are laying 5,000 pounds of pipeline in the oil fields of Chad and through the rain forests of Cameroon. Contrary to what was promised to locals in these African countries, the jobs that were created due to the ?nergy project?were insufficient in number, low paying and mostly temporary. The exploitation is apparent despite the euphemistic term for what have in the past have profited multinational corporations and corrupt regimes: ?hird World economic development project?he World Bank voted to support the project, asserting it provided "a unique opportunity ... to play a significant role in reducing poverty in one of Africa's poorest regions." This unique opportunity is doing plentyfor the oil companies and a few of the top government officials in these countries and nothing for the poor who live here.

In Mpango, a village of about 600 people a few miles from the pipeline's end on the Atlantic coast of Cameroon, the consortium has promised to replace one-room schoolhouse, a termite-damaged, tin-roofed building, to compensate the village for the loss of land to the pipeline and disruptions caused by construction, including pollution of a stream used for drinking water. "The new school is badly needed, and that's what we'll remember most from the pipeline," said Savah. "There have been some positives and some negatives, but the changes have not been great. We thought this was going to be a development project, and that is not what has happened."

At a work site near Nanga Eboko, almost all the welders laying one of the last stretches of pipeline were from the Middle East or South America. ExxonMobil says that locals hold four out of five pipeline jobs in Cameroon but few of these are of the highly skilled, highly paid ?ariety? The consortium has a financial incentive to hire Cameroonians because they are paid one-fourth or less what foreign pipeline workers earn. Instead of investing in training for locals, ExxonMobil says it simply can't find enough skilled workers in the country and hires foreigners.

Ekani Lebogo, a union representative for pipeline construction workers, said this explanation is unconvincing. "We have had welders on jobs in Angola, Equatorial Guinea and other parts of Africa, but here most of the welders are foreigners," he said. "Tell me how you should feel if you are Cameroonian and see this?"

The lack of Cameroonians in skilled jobs has resulted in strikes and protests. Bruce Hayes, an ExxonMobil employee who implements labor agreements in Cameroon, attributes the frustration to unrealistic expectations. "Everyone wants a job, and those that don't get one are upset," said Hayes, whose tan work shirt bore an embossed patch with a tiger giving the thumbs-up sign. "There's nothing we can honestly do to resolve that."

The sex appeal of the consortium's social efforts is its compensation plan, which has paid $10 million to thousands of people in Chad and Cameroon. It? a familiar tale: Anyone displaced by the pipeline, or whose farming is temporarily disrupted, is eligible. The oil consortium has also compensated villages that suffered a communal loss, such as the destruction of mango trees.

ExxonMobil officials say that the oil company is not a social service provider, and that the two African governments have promised to use their oil revenue to fight poverty. "There's a need to distinguish between the company's role and the governments' role, especially as the government presence has been largely absent," Exxon-Mobil anthropologist Brown said.

The ?evelopment project?proves itself environmentally and culturally devastating. The pipeline's southernmost section in Cameroon is its most environmentally sensitive stretch, running near Pygmy villages, through thick forests filled with soaring palms, and ending at the Atlantic Ocean in the town of Kribi. The consortium provided $3.5 million to the Foundation for Environment and Development in Cameroon, which is responsible for establishing two new national reserves and an Indigenous People's Program to improve health, education and agriculture in Pygmy villages.

In June 2001, its five-member board, which included an ExxonMobil representative, sent a request to the World Bank and the oil consortium, saying that is would need three times the

by Lisa Gray-Garcia aka Tiny

It was early, perhaps too early – the light at the newly named daylight was thin and gray. Thick strands of night fog reached into the 6:00 am sky. My body felt cold, empty and raw. I watched normal things like wet streets and moving windshield wipers and shuddered with their strangeness. My head throbbed a steady beat. A glaze of terror racked my body.

I had felt this feeling before. Four years ago – when I was in front of my PAES (welfare) worker, Why didn’t you turn in your month-end report?" She demanded.

"It was an accident, I was sick – the form was only one day late" She wasn’t looking at me anymore.

"We are sanctioning you for not getting that form in on time, you won’t receive your benefits for this month" I couldn’t cry – or even scream, for fear the security guard stationed at the door would drag me out of the building within seconds.

"Ok", I whispered.

On this day, four years later, I rode towards the offices of POOR Magazine, a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to providing media access, art, advocacy and education to very low and no-income folks. I was one of the very low-income folks who founded and organized POOR., and now acted as executive director and Co-editor. Yet I was still on welfare. As a very small organization with leadership comprised of very low-income youth and adults, we as an organization were on welfare and I was on my way to a meeting where the entire organization would be sanctioned.

The stakes were higher now – it was our whole budget. The POOR staff had developed a very innovative Job creation program that paid folks a living wage who (like a lot of us) were transitioning from welfare to work and wanted to work in the fields of media and multimedia. Our belief at POOR is welfare to work should mean welfare to WORK, and include training in something that actually enriches the person on welfare. After several months of development community support and lobbying , we had finally attained a referral based contract approved through the San Francisco Department of Human Services (DHS) which would be administered through the Private Industry Council (PIC). And of course even though it was dangerous as a funding source due to the illogical nature of bureacracy and funding, we all felt we were already "at-risk". And finally, how else could any of this even happen, without the DHS contract. Noone had any funding. We were just a bunch of idealistic poor folks trying to organize, trying to be heard!!

Unfortunately as many of the other smaller organizations noted when funding was finally granted through DHS, The Individual Referral contract we were granted was a very minimal contract at best. It offered no actual dollars unless people were referred to your program. And as we found out later , DHS would make it VERY difficult for anyone to actually get a referral to our program. The referral process, replete with the regular bureaucratic hoops included yet another additional level of hoops. And if anyone was persistent enough to make it through those hoops they could look forward to DHS Jobs assessors who would actually discourage them from joining our program and name our program as not as good as the "Other" programs. Interesting to note, most of these "others" happened to be ones that graduated you out into the work world in a matter of weeks, to get a "job" any job and therefore didn’t cost DHS as much money.

So here we were at 9:30 sharp. The inquisition was soon to begin. Light hit the classroom at POOR in sad shadows as though it too knew the sad fate about to befall its walls. There were three representatives at the meeting; two from DHS, one from PIC. As well, three staff were present from POOR as well as two other grassroots media organizations in support of POOR’s JOBS Program; Marie Harrison, of The Bay View and Terry Messmen of Street Spirit, as they employ and/or are beneficiaries of the JOBS Program. The moment was thick with discomfort.

The DHS/PIC group were somewhat put off by the other attendees and asked them to leave, as this was a monitoring meeting (read: sanction mtg.) Terry and Marie ( who helped create the JOBS proposal) insisted that they were integral to the program and were finally allowed to remain until the "monitoring" began.

After that issue was sort of resolved, I began by stating clearly, " POOR has already paid out their almost non-existent money to the participants' wages and as of yet have not received the reimbursement that PIC is contracted to give us."

The representative from PIC replied by saying clearly, "As soon as I get back to my office, I will send those invoices through" I breathed a sigh of relief as we had invoiced for those wages 9 days ago and as of yet received nothing even though we paid wages in good faith. After I resolved that the meeting officially began by the media partners voicing strong support for the program. Questions were asked of them about how they knew of the participants et al. They answered every question, thoroughly and emphatically.

"This is a great program, there is no other journalism training that does the things POOR does," Terry Mesmen, began an extensive testimonial in favor of the interns and graduates of POOR’s JOBS in the Media Program.

"I refer my upcoming writers to this organization – as it does a much better job at training in journalism that several formal journalism programs…." Marie Harrison began a long statement which encompassed several parts of the program design

They asked more questions, "What encompasses the internship duties at your publication"

"There are several duties, including writing, reporting….", Marie went on in great detail as to the kind of things involved in a media assignment from the Bay View and how that comes through Community Newsroom at POOR.

Yet oddly enough as though it had never been addressed, 20 minutes later they asked again. "What does an intern do?"

And so the day went. Whenever a moment of clarity would be attained, it would get buried in another hour of some kind of new version of the same question which would lead to yet another twisted "question" until a new version of the question would finally transcend into a "problem" or "discrepancy"

The questioning continued for four more hours. The entire day culminated with the PIC/DHS staff "meeting" (read: cornering, intimidating) with participants in the JOBS
Program, all of whom are current welfare recipients who are attempting to achieve success and hope through media and multi-media, and in fact one of the JOBS participants made a dire misstep in one of her responses to their questions out of confusion and stated that internship time was mixed with class room time. That was it. We now officially had Discrepancies.

After four and a half hours were over. All three "representatives" headed out. I went after them and with the last bit of energy left in me, repeated my query, " So we will expect those reimbursements for the participant wages this afternoon, right?"

" Oh yes, as soon as soon as I get back to the office"

I watched them descend the stairs. It won’t be long, I thought before the inquisition "findings" will be official, I knew just like that day four years ago, something was wrong with everything we all said or did. Did POOR really ever have a chance ? maybe we just thought we did, after all… we’re all still on welfare…………

Postscript: Later that afternoon POOR staff was called by PIC staff who informed POOR that PIC would be withholding participant wages until the "findings were complete", thereby reneging on their agreement earlier that day to reimburse the participant wages already paid out by POOR Magazine to the participants.

This situation has not only had a dire impact on POOR – the organization and the very low-income staff, but also all the JOBS in the media interns seeking to be heard. If you want to voice your support for POOR's JOBS in the Media Program - please call Deputy City Attorney, Virginia Elizondo at (415) 554-4276 or Joyce Crum at Private Industry Council (415) 431-8700 and urge them to make good on their contract and reimburse POOR's wages.

by Connie Lu/PoorNewsNetwork

Laura Flynn begins speaking about the harsh political
and financial situations facing the people of Haiti,
as her soft voice strains to compete with the constant
roaring of cars, buses, and blaring sirens rushing by
outside. I eagerly lean forward in my chair during
Community Newsroom at POOR Magazine, in an attempt to gain a
clear view of her expressive face, to read her lips,
which enabled me to not only hear with my ears, but
with my eyes as well. As Laura's large articulate
eyes continue to speak from her heart, and filled with
compassion for Haiti, seeds of curiosity begin to
firmly take root in my mind. What inspired her desire
to completely change her life by moving from San
Francisco to Haiti, one of the world's poorest
countries? But after having the opportunity to talk
to Laura personally, I realized that her source of
inspiration was truly compelled by the people of Haiti
themselves, who have so little and yet, still possess
this amazing amount of hope and strength that feeds
their perpetual hunger for a better life.

Before Jean-Bertrand Aristide became President of
Haiti, the people suffered greatly under the military
because it had complete control and power over them.
Flynn explains that one of the many unreasonable
demands made by the military was forcing people to pay
taxes for the simple act of taking a goat into the
city. As many as 5,000 Haitians were assassinated for
taking a stand against the military. However in 1995,
Aristide, who was the country's first democratic
President, abolished the military and broke the chains
of suppression.

After hearing about the Haitians' fight for freedom,
I am reminded of the history of China, my homeland.
The people of both Haiti and China sacrificed their
lives not for their own benefit, but for the benefit
of future generations. In 1989, students protested in
Beijing's Tiananmen Square against the communist
teachings of Chairman Mao and demanded freedom and
democracy until the order was given to the military to
end the student protest, as well as their lives. The
courageous students who dedicated their lives were not
able to witness the changes that have come about. But
if I were a student living in China today, then I
would have the freedom to apply to the job of my
choice, instead of being assigned to one by the state.

While in Haiti, Flynn developed a great respect and
love for the people as they warmly welcomed her into
their country, which soon no longer felt foreign to her.
She feels a strong sense of community, unlike America
which imposes the individualistic way of being
independent from your family and having your own
phone, car, and house. Haitian families and neighbors
depend upon each other with a sincere and genuine bond
of trust within the community.

I experienced this same sense of communal life when I
volunteered as an English teacher in China last
summer. I was concerned about my shy and quiet
personality that normally surfaces when meeting
unfamiliar faces. However, by the end of the summer
the students I taught were not only my close friends,
but now also a part of my family. My whole mind-set
and way of interacting with them was entirely
transformed into perceiving them as my own younger
brothers and sisters, even though I had just met them
a few weeks ago. The gifts that I received were
deeply treasured, knowing they were hand-crafted by
the students because they could not afford to spend
extra money.

Today, the people of Haiti have freedom under a
democratic government, but continue to struggle with
financial hardships. The United States has cut-off
crucial funding that was originally intended for
healthcare, education, and transportation services in
Haiti, claiming that this action was necessary because the
elections of 2000 held in Haiti were miscounted due to technical
processing problems. Coincedently, the U.S.
was not in favor of Aristide becoming president
because it was believed that he would gain control over the
parliament. Flynn also explains that the underlying
reason for this political controversy is racism because Haiti
inhabits the descendants ofthe many slaves that were in America.
But despite the inadequacies of Haiti, its people remain
optimistically strong in keeping hope alive through
their faith in God and unity within their communal
society and culture.

After talking to Laura Flynn I have gained a better
understanding of Haitians. Meanwhile, I was fortunate to experience
haitian food because I had the opportunity to eat at a Caribbean
restaurant that night for the first time with a couple of
friends. I tried the Chicken Roti, which is similar
to a burrito filled with rich and hearty curry
chicken. Every taste bud danced as they tasted the
flavorful spices that warmed my entire body. I also
realized that Haitian cuisine is truly a reflection of
the powerful flame of hope that continues to burn in
their hearts as they strive to improve the lives of
their future families.

Contact Information:

Haiti Action Committee

510-483-7481

haitiaction@yahoo.com

Donations:

Haiti Action Committee

P.O. Box 2218

Berkeley, CA 94701

by Joe B.

To all Editor’s, Publisher’s, Literary Agents, and hard working industry people.

I, Joseph Bolden as a POOR Magazine’s columnist appreciate comments on my work on PM’s-website.
If time permits to read and respond by email or snail me.
Please Do At.

askjoe@poormagazine.org or snail

P.O. Box #645 1230 Market St.

San Francisco, CA. 94102-4801
I’ve no phone but working on it.

Whatever help you can to a struggling scribbler is priceless.

I’m not thinking of anything in particular to write about this Thursday, March, 15, 2002 except if and when life exstension and immortality humans coexisted side by side how would our perceptions change?

The time between birth, death, and living inbetween would become awkward, odd, and continue as utterly strange.

The right to Life, Death With Dignity, Neptune Society, and Immortalists, Eternals, Cryoic-Iced people both full body and neuro-cold (Frozen Heads Only) will have lively discussions [minus frozen dead body or/ head folks.

The ultimate political stake: long people will want to live.

Question:Do we really want politicians and corporate entities deciding how long we or our children's children lives will be?

If like me the answer is no then there now is the time to begin a process of tackling these questions face on in a public forum, and not only by people in in business, politics.

I believe most of the scientist and researchers are with us because they to have families and want to personally see themselves, friends, friends, and loved ones benefit from the booming bio-sciences.

Lets start an on going debate on the most important
decision in all our lives.

The Extension of and eventual Immortality in our or vastly extended lives.

There might be underground networks of shadowy corporate research scientists, techicians, nano-molecularists working individually or in groups make money the new feild of sleeper/ extension/Immortalism.

Longer life may become a both open and gray market business.

From legitimate Life Ex/ ‘Emmortal clinics to places like the Brain Wash, or other spots in San Francisco may really have temporary and perminent hormonal, intelligence/paranormal increasing drugs, serums, med-tech devices, combined with cyber-organism with mutual parasitic and symbiotic properties to not only maintain health but when possible nanosecond by nanosecond subtly improves all germ/stem cells in the system.

These healthier humans will look and and like us still subject to death even if it no longer age related, better control of interior and exterior biological systems though still not gods just the first of long lived humans full of lifetimes of experiences, worries, regrets, and whatever human folly they are subject to - in other words...

Look in the mirror, that is the face of immortality.

Stronger, faster, intelligent using 40 to 60 or more percent of increase brain capacity and dormant paranormal abilities.

Stay on earth, travel starward, live on other worlds, create human made ones in space, greet aliens, or become so genetically changed that our species become alien to our ancestors and descendants, parallel or altinate world traveling, or through time itself.

When one has time its hard close off other possibilites of study, living, exploring.

It may not be in your or my life times [that’s what cryonics and hibernation chambers, and suspended animation is for].

Now a surgeon name Joe says he can make it possible for humans to fly; he’s talking real flapping wings (High Flying Angel) X-Man/Woman wings.

I’d go for it but first I need time to see the pitfalls.

I can already see and feel the joy of complete freedom from the ground but I’ll deal with one hard science miracle at a time.

For now life exstension and immortality is what I want and need and with time I just might want and need wings in a long future.

How about it readers extremely long lived to immortal humans able to fly under our own power?

Would you if you had long life go for winged flight too?
'Kinda makes that
"Men wern't made to fly, "I can't stand to fly "Superman" song obsolete, well not yet but someday soon. Bye.

by T.J. Johnston

"I'm gonna kill ya!" Spring arrived only a few hours earlier, but my vernal equinox began with a threat to my life. This being a new experience, I was a little thrown off by the verbal assault. "I'm gonna kill ya!" repeated the man. No doubt this stranger was speaking directly to me. Thank God he was shouting at me from thirty yards at Saint Francis Circle, where I was waiting for Muni.

The man in question wore bulky winter clothing and carried an equally cumbersome pack. I caught only a glimpse of a snake-style tattoo under his sleeve. I looked around to see if the other commuters were paying attention. No such luck, but I can't blame them for wanting to stay out of harm's way. I also checked for nearby men in blue: none were visible.

"I've seen you with that dog," the red-bearded stranger continued, "And I saw you in that truck. I'm gonna kill ya!" Absolutely jarring. Did this person know I used to walk dogs? Sounds plausible, but where did the truck come from? And who the hell was he to talk shit? Who was he, period?

I wasn't in the mood to refute his accusations and I am certainly unaccustomed to threats of extermination from apparently unstable people. "You must have me confused with someone else," I countered. Honestly, I didn't know what else to do. He went on his way to another bus stop. I walked further down the median. I'm not good with confrontation, especially the physical kind. So I let him walk away. Surreal as it was, the encounter lasted only a minute.

As if I didn't have enough crap in my life. The bus came, proving some public services were more reliable than others. At least I had fresh news for POOR's Community Newsroom…

There's a scene from Nick Hornby's novel, High Fidelity (it also appears in the movie starring John Cusack) where the protagonist, Rob, imagines different scenarios with a romantic rival. Like Rob, I immediately played script doctor with my bus stop scene.

SCENE 1. TJ whips out a camcorder and captures the images of his assailant. Very Norma Desmond, the crazed person plays to the camera. "I'm ready for my close-up," he says. "Now, I'm gonna kill ya!" TJ makes a run for it.

SCENE 2. TJ extends his wrist and shoots a web at his adversary, who struggles with his entanglement. A note is attached: "Courtesy of the Poor Man's Spiderman."

SCENE 3. TJ touches his earpiece. "5150 him." A team of cop cars and a padded truck speed in the perp's direction. Cops emerge, point their weapons and yell "freeze," and a now-straitjacketed perp is carted in the truck. With a smirk, TJ tells him, "Say hello to Nurse Ratched, Bubba."

SCENE 4. TJ imitates Robert Deniro in Taxi Driver. "Are you talkin' to me? There's no one else here, so you must be talkin' to me." He whips out a gun and empties it into him, just like Deniro did to the child pimp portrayed by Harvey Keitel. The local press heralds TJ as a hero defending himself against scum.

SCENE 5. A symphonic rendition of "Pop Goes the Weasel" induces TJ to act like Curly from the Three Stooges. He runs in place, slaps his head, and goes "woo-woo-woo." He then charges into him head first and beats the hell out of him. The number crescendos as TJ thrashes him about.

As writers for POOR Magazine, we represent ourselves in relationship to poverty (in my case, I describe myself as at-risk). Through POOR and the Raising Our Voices program at Media Alliance, I'm continually apprised of the plight of the indigent, the profiled, and the marginalized and their chronic subjugation. This particular person immediately lost my sympathy when he threatened me and became just another motherfucker. Call me "the liberal who just got mugged."

Admittedly, my account is subjective. Broaching the topic in Community Newsroom, I got a varied response. My colleagues inquired how I knew this person was homeless, mentally ill, and specifically targeting me. The consensus was that I acted properly in defusing the situation, and not just for my sake. One questioned the wisdom of involving police and psychiatrists. Another agreed that I had indeed been violated. Dee, one of our editors, suggested speaking to a counselor.

As I write this, I'm still attempting to make sense of this senseless act. Historically, I've had abuse heaped upon me by people who knew what they were doing and stood to gain from it. What distinguished this situation was the randomness of this occurrence, not to mention the wasted opportunity to fuck him over. It was a scene out of a Jim Thompson novel in an un-Thompsonlike neighborhood of West Portal. If I weren't already a light sleeper, I'd be downright insomniac. If this guy provokes someone more ill tempered than he, I'd enjoy it as much as "The Killer Inside Me."

by Kristina Shih/PoorNewsNetwork Media Intern

The early evening, warm and heavy with humidity, was drawing heat out of the sidewalks and streets. I arrived at the Hall of Justice on 850 Bryant St, joining a rally gathered to support the families of Hunters Point who recently experienced an incident comparable to a terrorist attack on their children. As the sun began to set, the red hanging in the sky all day was dissolving into evening coolness, but I could sense something else growing with intensity. Hot emotions of anger, frustration, and pure rage against the San Francisco Police Department were pouring out of peopleís mouths. On January 25th, five SFPD officers held four young children (ages 12 to 14) at gunpoint without warrant, brutally abusing as well as inappropriately touching the two girls. The victimsí parents, along with members of the community, demand that the officers be put on desk duty and that an independent investigation be established. Put together by the Bay Area Police Watch, a program with the Ella Ba ker Center for Human R

Fluorescent lights gleamed off the tops and sides of wooden benches. Filled with bodies brown, white, yellow and red we waited, and waited, and waited for the commissioners to come out. 5:35 pmÖ 5:40 pmÖ5:45 pmÖ

A young Latina woman steps up in front of the room and announces that since the police commissioners refuse to come out on time, we all must call them out ourselves. Someone behind me shouts, "Thereís no excuse for child abuse!" Louder and louder we repeat the chant, clapping our hands while our voices resonate stronger. The policemen and corporate media stare at us in amazement and disdain - they canít believe we have the audacity to rise up as equals to the supposed powers that be.

We jump from verse to verse, grabbing onto different words of protest when our throats tire of repeating the same sounds. "Stop police brutality in the Black community!" "Who got the power? We got the Power! What kind of Power? People Power!" Just as we are singing out, "Commissioner, Commissioner you canít hide, we can see your dirty side," the clock hits 6:10 pm and one by one the suit clad commissioners emerge from hiding and sit down behind a wooden panel table on the other side of the room. I think about how the architects who designed the conference room might have intentionally designed a twenty foot space between the public seating area and the panel in order to create the illusion that the People must approach the police with reservation and piety.

The five police commissioner sitting before the publics were Sidney Chan, Viktor Makras, Connie Perry, Wayne Friday, and Angela Quaranta. To the amazement of the people, Commissioner Chan announces that the police officers involved in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Incident were re-assigned to another district, and that there would be a departmental investigation before any further action is taken. The first person to step up to the microphone was Samantha Liapas of Bay Area Police Watch. According to Liapas, the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights has received dozens of phone calls from concerned San Francisco residents concerning the violent incident, and that many peoplesí fears of police brutality are grounded by the fact that these officers are still on the streets. "Seeing the perpetrators armed and still roaming the neighborhood adds insult to injury and further traumatizes these already shell-shocked children."

Following Liapas' statement, the parents the children gave emotionally testimonials to the trauma they saw their children go through. Tanish Bishop passed around the pictures she took of the children and the bloody streets the police officers left behind. "This doesnít happen in the Marina, in Nob Hill, in Pacific Heights." She reminded the commissioners of what a police officer said to her and the parents when they asked why they were physically hurting their children. "One officer told me, "As long as you people are here, we will do this to you. It's clear that these individual officers possess are racist and should not be roaming the streets," says Bishop. "This could happen again anywhere - in the Mission, the Fillmore, the Tenderloin, in Chinatown."

James Brown, the father of the child who had to be hospitalized for his wounds, gave a powerful statement expressing his great disappointment and anger at the San Francisco Police Department for letting such violence occur and stalling to take any course of action. "A badge does not give a person the right to abuse and acost our children. If the Police Commission truly cares about keeping San Francisco children safe, it will remove these dangerous officers from the streets until there is a full investigation. I taught my children to grow up trusting in policemen, but since I saw what the police did to my innocent son - shoving three teeth up into his jaw, slamming his head down on the pavement, and beating him down to the point where he did not recognize me at the hospital - Iíve rescinded that trust."

"If a parent were accused of doing these things to her child, she would immdiately lose access to the child," said Susie McAllister, the mother of one of the brutalized children. "But these officers are still patrolling the neighborhood, and can harass and frighten my daughter. How do I explain to her why her attackers are still on the beat, when sheís afraid to leave the house for fear of her life?"

As the parents bravely stood to describe their families' suffering and the damage done to the community of Hunterís Point, the police commissioners sat still with stoic expressions and looks of boredom. I couldnít believe how they did not show any bit of compassion or humanity towards the parents. Rachel Jackson of Books Not Bars, took the stand to point out to their faces that their behavior is, "most disgraceful. These are people, with feelings and hearts. Will you, Commissioner Chan, do something to right this wrong?" Commissioner Chan stutters and tries to avoid accountability by reestablishing his authority. "I cannot answer any questions, this is a public hearing. We are here to listen to what you have to say, and not give our opinions. There are two sides to every story, and we are here to listen to your side." Jackson proceeds to ask each commisioner, only to receive negative responses.

Many more individuals from the community continue to speak at the podium, adding more voices to the swelling dissent. Ying Sun Ho of the organization Letís Get Free, responds to Commissioner Chanís statement concerning the need to underside both sides of the story. "You have already spoke to the community with your silence. There are two sides of the story. The Truth, and the Lie. Which side are you on? Are you going to do the right thing? "

The meeting ended with the commissioners running out with their police escorts, while the rest of the people who came to support the parents stood united to fight the upcoming battle for justice. I spoke with James Brown, inquiring about his sonís condition and what he thought about the meeting. "Heís still in the hospital and is not okay. Iím very disappointed in the way the commissioners faced the community, and I donít expect them to do much."

As I stepped outside the Hall of Justice into the black night, I look up at the gray mass looming over my head. An American flag waves on the roof to the clouds passing. I can't believe I live in a country where children can be attacked by those sworn to protect them. I think about how outrageous and insulting the meeting was to the victims of the crime. How can law abiding citizens be protected from the law itself? And as communities like Bayview are facing gentrification pressures, poor people of color are going to be facing more harassment from the police trying to make neighborhoods more "liveable" for the wealthy. Todayís meeting clearly illustrated how the San Francisco Police Department, as well as the municipal political system, is reluctant to make any systematic changes for the benefit of the community. If our society is to progress, citizens must be able to walk the streets without fear of harassment and violence from our own government.

For more information, contact:Samantha Liapas at Bay Area Police Watch 415.317.3486

Po’-lice

by Tiny

"The government department established to maintain order, enforce the law and detect and prevent crime.!!?"

" The Government...."

-Regimental

-Goodly preventable

-Help me..I’m in the cell-now

"Department..."

-Compartment

-Cause that’s where me and God went..

"Established"

-By Corporations

-Plantations

-Of progressions

-And regressions

"To Maintain..."

-Reframe...

-And Con-tain...

The Human Spirit who is in fear of this place

and just trying to survive, thrive

and stay alive

A-BUSE -

enforce-ment

through those two doors

I went

But for what?

for crimes-

Doin time

for what?

doin my time

for Crimes...

of pover---tee

by Anita Roddick

If you consider yourself a person of
conscience who believes in justice, this is one
letter you'll want to read carefully. It's a
Letter of Conscience, offered in solidarity
with the Angola Three, three men who have been
languishing in solitary confinement for 30
years for crimes they did not commit.

If, after you've read this brief overview of
their story, you are as outraged as I was when
I first heard it, I urge you to sign your name
to the bottom and send it on to your friends.
We hope to gather several thousand signatures
to be delivered to the lawmakers and human
rights officials who have the power to right
this egregious wrong.

Albert Woodfox, Harman Wallace, and Robert
Wilkerson are three black men who arrived at
the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola in
the early 1970s on unrelated robbery
convictions. At the time, Angola was known as
the most brutal, corrupt, and racially
segregated prison in America. Stabbings,
shootings, and rapes were almost daily
occurrences. Hoping to make a stand for basic
human rights and dignity, the three men founded
a chapter of the civil-rights group the Black
Panthers to protect those inmates being
victimized the most and to expose and fight the
corrupt prison administration.

When a young white guard turned up dead inside
the prison, officials worked quickly to pin the
crime on members of the Panthers in an effort
to smash the group. Woodfox and Wallace were
soon tried for the crime, based on testimony by
known prison snitches who were paid for their
testimony with reduced sentences and, in one
case, with a carton of cigarettes a week. They
were convicted by all-white juries, sentenced
to life without parole, and thrown into
solitary confinement indefinitely.

Wilkerson soon joined them, convicted by
another all-white jury for the stabbing death
of a fellow inmate, again based on testimony by
a fellow inmate who later said he was coerced
into fingering Wilkerson. While on trial, the
judge had Wilkerson's mouth duct-taped shut.
Wilkerson's conviction stood for 29 years,
despite the fact that another man had confessed
to and was convicted of the murder.

Wilkerson's conviction was finally overturned
last year and he was freed. But Woodfox and
Wallace remain behind bars, in solitary
confinement 23 hours a day. The American Civil
Liberties Union has filed a suit against the
prison administration maintaining that 30 years
in solitary constitutes cruel and unusual
punishment.

Mumia Abu-Jamal said of the Angola Three, "It
is past time for people to organize for their
life in freedom. They are political prisoners
of the highest caliber who deserve your
support."

http://www.prisonactivist.org/angola/ .//www.prisonactivist.org/angola/>//www.anitaroddick.com/>

By signing this letter and forwarding it to
other concerned citizens, you are expressing
your commitment to human rights and justice, in
America and elsewhere. No one is free while
others are oppressed.

STATEMENT: Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace
are political prisoners who have suffered for
three decades under inhumane and cruel
conditions for crimes they did not commit. We
demand that they be moved immediately from
their solitary "supermax" cells into the
general prison population. Further, we demand
that evidence that has since emerged that their
convictions were based on false and coerced
testimony be considered in granting them new
trials. The American justice system lies at the
heart of the country's very identity as a free
and democratic republic. Travesties of justice
such as this weaken the system as a whole, and
therefore weaken both the country itself and
the cause of freedom around the world.

SIGNED:

1) Anita Roddick, West Sussex, UK

2) Justine Roddick, California, United States

3) Scott Fleming, Oakland CA, United States

4) Cal Joy, Brisbane, Australia
5) Brooke Shelby Biggs, San Francisco CA,
United States

6) Stephanie Green, San Francisco CA, United
States

7) Bruce Allen, St. Catharines, Ontario,
Canada

8) Marina Drummer, Berkeley, CA, United States

9) Kiilu Nyasha, San Francisco, CA, USA

10) Mary Ratcliff, San Francisco, CA, USA

11) JR Valrey, Oakland, Ca, usa

12) Lisa Gray-Garcia San Francisco, Ca, USA

TO SIGN: Copy the entire message into a new
email (please don't forward it!), add the next
consecutive number along with your name and
location, and send it to as many friends as you
can. (Please be sure to include this endnote!)
If there are 100 names signed when you receive
this, please send a copy of the email back to
me at staff@anitaroddick.com, clear the list of
names, add yourself as #1, and send it on. If
you choose not to sign or forward this email,
please send it back to staff@anitar

by Mari/PoorNewsNetwork

About a year and half ago I was houseless. I was forced to leave where I was living and go somewhere else. But where would I go? I was truly scared of what would happen to me. Could I survive everyday? Where do I sleep? How will I eat? These questions entered my mind every second. Everyday I was in survival mode.

I had a job at the time but I was in between checks. I had just spent my last check helping pay my friend's rent so she would not be evicted. So I had no income at all. I started to lose my self physically and mentally. I would freak out in a second. My stress levels were outrageous. I was told I had high blood pressure. Things that seemed so easy for people were hard for me. Things like taking the bus, finding food, and most of all finding a place to sleep. I was constantly moving around. I was usually carrying a big bag with me where ever I went.

During a conversation with one of my friends I heard about a program called Guerrero House (G House). It is a transitional living program for houseless youth between the ages of 18-23. I would be provided with food, a bed, and my own space. So I went to an orientation at G House to find out more information about the program. I met this lady Karisa. She seemed alright. The program had a lot of rules, but I thought I could follow them. So I applied to G House. I was accepted, I got on the waiting list.

During the time I was sleeping anywhere I could find the only thing that kind of helped me keep my sanity was that I was on the waiting list at G House. It gave me hope. About a month and a half wait. I moved into G House. G house was the most beautiful place I ever lived. It is a 97 year old brick mansion located in the Mission District. The garden has so many different plants. There are roses, lavendar, aloe vera, and many more plants. Our fire escape is a gray slide .There are over 13 rooms in G House.

Living at "G" (Guerrero) House, a transitional housing program for houseless youth, was very stressful and also very exciting at times. There were a lot of rules, I had curfews, expectations, and mandatory meetings. There were times I wanted to throw in the towel and leave. But I didn’t because where would I go?

About a year later, there were rumors of Larkin Street building low-income apartments for houseless youth. So I did some research and found out the rumors were true. The building was to be supportive housing for houseless youth. The day when everyone was told where to apply youth started lining up outside of TNDC to be able to apply the next morning. There were about 50 or 60 youth who slept on the street that night just so they could get the chance at housing.

I filled out my application. In fact I filled it out so fast I was number one on the waiting list. I went through like three interviews. The process was very grueling.

This last December, two days after Christmas. I got the best present ever... I got housing. I was given my very own studio with a kitchen and a bathroom. I even had my very own hallway! It was very shocking at first. It almost seemed surreal like I really didn't have any housing. It felt like someone could just take it away from me at anytime.

It has been three months now that I have lived in my studio. I feel like I have had one of the greatest opportunities in housing. I look back now and realize the only way I survived through my houselessness is because of God. She put people in my life to make sure I was taken care of. I was lucky to have supportive friends. I was lucky to find a program like G House. That is what helped me to live. If it wasn't for them and G House I would have probably died out on the streets.

by Gretchen Hildebran with PNN Media interns Gay Montgomery and Joseph Bolden

The two young women on the stage would have probably
liked to have been somewhere else. Driving up into the
Bayview on this hot and blue Saturday morning, I was
lulled by the light breezes and wide vistas on top of
the hills, serenaded by distant radios and kids
playing on sidewalks while parents and neighbors
chatted and kept an eye out. Surely Tenisha Bishop and
Susie McCallister would have rather been at home or in
the park with their kids, but on this past Martin
Luther King Day--a blue and hot day--their children
were terrorized in front of their homes by
eight uniformed police officers. They came to the Hunter's
Point Town Hall Meeting last Saturday to let us
know, in Susie McCallister's words, "We have to speak
up. We can't lay down any longer." Theirvoices boomed
around the wood and cement walls of the gymnasium, and
the affirmation that they received from the crowd made each
mother sit up taller and speak up a little louder.

The Town Hall, which was hosted by Kiilu Nyasha and
Wendell Harper and broadcast live on KPFA, was called to
give voice to those most recently terrorized by the police in
this neighborhood, and to link police brutality to the
environmental racism of the Navy and the Hunter's
Point Power Plant that has poisoned the air, water and
soil of this residential community. As panelist
Maurice Campbell put it, "We are talking about basic
human rights."

I have intense respect for all mothers, starting with
my own. The fight that all parents in this part of
the city face to create a safe environment for their
children is against increasingly severe factors.
Willie Ratliff of the San Francisco Bay View explained how
worsening conditions are forcing this community to
flee the city. Rather than experiencing the economic
good times of the last decade. Ratliff said, "San Francisco
in the last seven or eight years is regressing for
African-Americans." Quality of life in Bayview
Hunter's Point has been so endangered by police
brutality, pollution and economic decline that 23% of
the African-American community has been displaced in
the last ten years. 20,000 people have left. The
parents, neighbors, educators, doctors, artists and
activists that came out to this meeting addressed the
root causes of these multiple injustices that
jeopardize the health and future of their community.

"A Rose That Stings"

Environmental pollution that this community faces is
severe. In her introductory comments, Marie Harrison
of the SF Bay View and the Restoration Advisory Board
insisted, "This is environmental racism. By any other
name it is a rose that stings." Children are the most
vulnerable victims, and have outrageous rates of
asthma, Attention Deficit Disorder and cancer: The
environment we live in is so tainted, so toxic, that a
three-year-old can't go outside or breathe the air, a
12-year-old can't stay in school because he can't
concentrate. Another parent described her child's
symptoms of feeling crushing weight on his chest.
Mesha Irizarry, mother of Idriss Stelley, the young man
who was killed by police this past June, told of how
her son had had to filter the air in his room to sleep
at night as well as the water he would use to shower.

Panelist Dr. Ahimsa Sumchai explained many of the most
deadly toxins in the area originate from the Naval
Shipyard. The Navy, while acknowledging that the
poisons, which include lead, radium, asbestos and
radioactive cesium, originated from their activities,
has not taken responsibility for the effects on the
residents of this community. A case in point is the
fire that broke out on Parcel B of the shipyard.
Ray Tompkins, a Bay View resident who has been trying
to track the levels and effects of Shipyard pollution,
described that it took the Navy 16 days to even report
that fire to the SF Department of Public Health. Not
only did residents go on breathing contaminated air
without warning during those days, but physicians who
treated people suffering from the fire had no
knowledge of what to test or treat their patients for.
Tompkins explained that when the Navy was
eventually confronted with the medical effects of the
fire, they claimed that people's symptoms were
psychosomatic. They wanted to tell us, "You're all
just crazy!"

The powers are adept at ignoring reckless endangerment
of people of color's health rather than protecting
them. Tompkins explained, "Part of the fallacy of the
racism in science is that "normal" means a 35-year-old
white man." The testing that is supposed to be done
often doesn't get done at all or doesn't represent the
community. One government group who was supposed to
test air quality levels mistakenly did their tests in
Visatacion Valley rather than the Bayview. Other
tests don't allow for the fact that children are more
vulnerable to toxins. Tompkins own tests, done with
the help of professionals and at standards higher than
the EPA, showed toxins at levels 100 times over a safe
measure for cancer risk. He said he had taken at
least one sample from where neighborhood kids hang out
and play basketball.

Tompkins is working to urge Mitchell Katz, the head of
the SF Health Department, to release hospital intake
records from 6 weeks before the Shipyard fire broke
out and 6 weeks after. A comparison of these records
would be a crucial step towards building proof of the
health problems of the community due to the fire.
Until this proof emerges the Navy is unlikely to take
any responsibility for the disaster.

"The tentacles reach deep," said panelist Don Paul, as
to why the Navy and the city are willing to ignore
this situation. High-financed developers all want a
piece of the Bayview, if they don't own it already.
An Enron executive apparently sits on the the board of
directors of Bayview housing developers. Artist Lani
Asher from the Shipyard studios described how the
Bernard Corporation wants to build an "artist mall" on
contaminated parts of the Shipyard. All too often
corporations and government are in agreement about the
value of property over people.

In a chilling example of this, Dr. Sumchai gave
details of a conveyance agreement which Mayor Brown
plans to sign on April 1st which would transfer
contaminated Parcels A& B from the Navy's property and
open them for quick development. "Never in the
history of conveyance agreements has a developer been
named in the agreement. There always is a bid," Dr.
Sumchai stated. The agreement is illegal and grounds
for a lawsuit, she said, and is not in the interest
of the health of the community. The agreement must
first be approved by the Board of Supervisors and she
encouraged the audience to contact Supervisor Sophie
Maxwell to tell her to reject the measure.

Slavery All Over Again.

While environmental pollution poisons the natural
elements of the community, police brutality isolates
and terrorizes its people so they can't clean up or
hold onto their neighborhoods. Tenisha Bishop
described her experience on Martin Luther King Day as
"Slavery all over again." Her neighbor Susie
McAllister described how their children were
subjected to the very treatment that we warn them
from.

Theirs and other neighbors' children were pulled from a
car in front of their house, pushed to the ground, and
held at gunpoint. Some of the five kids, ages 12 to
14, were physically assaulted and arrested. The girls
were inappropriately fondled and molested by male
officers, and others had police hold them down with
their boots. A child who has grown up feeling the
weight of asthma on his lungs had then the pressure of
the police's boots in his back. McAllister described
her feelings at seeing her young daughter brutalized
by the police, "I felt helpless, I was being ignored,
treated less than a piece of meat."

Beyond the shock and fear that the audience reflected
upon hearing these descriptions laid the outrage and
anger at the targeting of communities of color by the
police. Bishop herself said, "I've work in Laurel
Valley, I've never heard of anything of this kind
happening there." Other audience members echoed this
sentiment, one rising to comment, "If white children
were treated in this manner, the whole country would
be plastered with the news!"

Basic Human Rights Should Apply

Samantha Liappes of the local advocacy group Bay Area
Policewatch made the simple comment about these
events, "Basic human rights should apply." This is
the demand of the community against the racist system
which ignores pollution where people of color live
while downplaying the brutal actions of police towards
those same people.

These were the rights that were missing on MLK day,
that were missing when Idriss Stelley called for help
during a psychiatric crisis and was shot down by
police, and countless other instances when police
practice brutal and illegal racial targeting, and the
rights that are ignored by the Navy and the
city government when it allows contaminated land to
continue to poison an entire community.

The next steps to be taken will be against the police
department, which has placed the events of MLK day
"under investigation." One speaker from the community
reminded us, "Civil Rights is about love. We
shouldn't hate the officers that did this as much as
we should hate the system which allows them to do
this." "Policewatch and other groups are working to
create community control over the police," said
Liappes. "The community should have power and
oversight over the police department and we have the
resources to make it happen right here."

Harrison expressed the desire that accountability will
also come with reparations for the damage done. When
she declared, "My intent is to see this police
department pay dearly for what they've done to these
children and this community." Her sentiment was
affirmed throughout the audience. The mothers spoke
of needing grief counselors, a greatly lacking
resource in this neighborhood, to help their children
deal with the trauma. A woman in the audience offered
her services. Maurice Campbell of the SF Bay View
stated, "We need to be with each other on this."
Along environmental justice and police reparations,
many people spoke out about the economic injustices in
their neighborhoods which need to stop. Campbell
spoke out on the practice of "redlining" neighborhoods
of people of color. "Banks have vacated our
community," he stated, while pointing out that fraud
was a common way of diverting city and other
government contracts away from local businesses.
Beyond a clean and safe environment, as Willie Ratliff
put it, "We all need the opportunity to get a job and
feed our families." Neighborhood activist Theresa
Johnson poised the question "How did we get involved
with criminal politics?" When our government signs
away protection, lands, lives, and children's futures, she
said, "I don't find that to be freedom."

Hopefully the mothers whose children suffered will
find hope in the community that rose up to support
them last Saturday. Samantha Liappes of
Policewatch mentioned in closing the recent racial
targeting of Laurie McElroy, a Poor Magazine writer
who was unjustly arrested for walking home with her
son in a neighborhood that the cops didn't find
appropriate. Liappes pointed out that "simply
existing in our own communities is now a criminal
act."

The only protection that these parents and their
children now have is from the community, whether that
is by calling city officials to demand a stop to
environmental racism, or by demonstrating against the
police, or by joining a lawsuit against the Navy and
other racist institutions. What is crucial is that
the larger community of San Francisco become educated
and involved in the struggle. Even if this wouldn't
happen "in my neighborhood." Because Tenisha Johnson
doesn't have to read the paper to know about what is
going down. As she said, "I just have to look out the
window, I see the power plant, I see children being
brutalized by cops. We have an amazing view but once
you get down to flat ground reality kicks in."

To express your outrage over the policies' racist
attacks:

Contact the Police Chief Lau at (415) 553-1551

Police commissioners: Sidney Chan (415) 397-1985,

Victor Makras (415) 992-1990, Connir Perry (415)
538-4146, Wayne Friday (415) 431-1702, Angelo Quaranta
(415) 885-1557.

Or to get involved contact Bay Area Police Watch:
(415) 951-4844 Ext. 224

To tell the SF Board of Supervisors to reject the
illegal conveyance deal on Shipyard Parcels A and B
call your district supervisor and call:
Supervisor Sophie Maxwell (415) 554-7670.

To demand that the SF Department of Public Health
immediately release the records of hospital intakes
before and after the shipyard fire, call Dr. Mitchell
Katz (415) 554-2600.

by TJ Johnston from Weird Services

"Call off your dogs," pleaded former President George H.W. Bush to the residents of Marin County, California. "I apologize. I am chastened and will never use 'hot tub' and 'Marin County' in the same sentence again. I shouldn't have done that," stated Bush in his Feb. 26 mea culpa to the affluent suburb, whose name he mispronounced.

That was his request to Marin Independent Journal editor Jackie Kerwin, who urged readers to respond to Bush's Jan. 25 defamatory remarks against suspected American Taliban John Walker Lindh as "some misguided Marin County hot-tubber."

And the letters flowed from maligned Marinites. In the last month, three editorial pages were devoted to their rejoinders.

Since Lindh, formerly of San Anselmo, made headlines with his involvement with the now-ousted Taliban of Afghanistan, the Marin lifestyle has been put under a microscope. Pundits have long ridiculed the home of the hot tub party, but after Bush's characterization of the 20-year-old Muslim fundamentalist, residents were fed up.

Because of the controversey, Kerwin guested on the Today Show on Feb. 28. The signature water container conspicuously appeared on the set.

Judging from the reaction of area yuppies, 23% of whom voted for Bush in 1992, most seemed forgiving.

"Of course, nobody wants to painted with broad strokes and I'm against stereotyping," notes San Rafael housefrau Mindy Universe while shopping for Zinfadel in Safeway. "Not all of us should be grouped in with the 'hot-tubbers,' especially Walker. Like, did you see how the boy looked? He needs to be deloused."

Particularly sensitive to Bush's comments is Kensington spa proprietor Blaine Worthington III. "If he hadn't apologized, I would still be smarting. It's never OK to hold a grudge. The recession and Sept. 11 have already cramped business. His saying 'I'm sorry' may stop the slide from going further."

However, other hot tub enthusiasts, like realtors Todd and Tiffany Terwilliger, still feel a sting. "We Marinites take a lot of flack for our lifestyle," muses Todd. Tiffany is quick to add, "Don't they have key parties in Conneticut or Maine or Texas, wherever he's from? He thinks jacuzzis are absolutely sinful." Todd goes on to say that Bush is uptight and "in need of a good soak."

Outside the area where Huey Lewis calls home, contrary viewpoints are plentiful. One angry, anonymous emailer vilified the Golden State. "You jerks from California have way too much time on your hands if this remark offended you poor babies! get a life. Most of the people in this country can't even afford food and health care, let alone feel bad about the hot-tubbers in Moron County."

Another vitriolic and nameless detractor wishes for "a really big earthquake will come along and separate California from the rest of the United States and it will drift out into the middle of the Pacific ocean."

"Dissing the county don't mean a thing," wrote Marin City storekeeper Muhammed Malcolm al-Kaline in an unpublished letter. He voices different concerns. "If baby Bush and Ashcroft go after this white boy from a nice neighborhood, there's no telling who else they'll lock up and throw the key away." Attempts for additional comments from al-Kaline were unsuccessful. He has since been reported missing and no one knows his whereabouts.

While apologizing for his "hot tub" comments, Bush denies disparaging local wildlife. "But what's this about peacock feathers?" he writes to Kerwin. "As Dana Carvey might say, 'Didn't say peacock feathers, wouldn't be prudent.'"

by Joe B.

Friday, April, 12, 2002. OK, what happened to my writings? PC glitches, human error in saving, or what I don’t know.

Maybe because this might be a multi-part piece I should wait until POOR’s Sunday’s Resistance Awards Dinner is over before beginning this epic or for a certain someone to leave the country?

Either way with business cards, girlfriends, poem practice, money problems and all manner of flux going on

I won’t be able to have time, patience, or mental strength to do the job at hand.

[I’ll visit a friend or two, rest, “get off,” be satiated then deal with this stuff].

Every once in a while a brake is needed, when I'm completely wiped its time to Get.- A - Way before coming back fresh-that’s where I’m at now as I begin feeling time speed-up its up to me to vanish for awhile.

The Title: Restrain Day deals with Domestic Violence and my being a third party to deliver a Restraining Order to one of the two parties on behalf of injured party.

Confusing isn’t it? Being a man, serving another man with restraining orders is not on any list at all of what I wanted to do.

That and other musings is part of my column on this difficult, dangerous, and complex issue.

by ALDO ARTURO DELLA MAGGIORA/PoorNewsNetwork

While returning my taxicab to the garage, I use to drive under the freeway underpass on Cesar Chavez Street where several folks reside outdoors.

I used to see several people gathered together around a fire trying to keep warm

Underneath the army street freeway exit, cars passed by where dry leaves blow soundlessly through the streets of San Francisco and into the world of homelessness.

A group of educators named Erasure lead by Matt Behnke built arches out of shopping carts throughout the bay area in remembrance of the displacement of homeless folks and those who have died due to the neglect and apathy of our society to homeless folks. Artist, Matt Kertesz clarified that the current location underneath the freeway overpass was chosen for the Shopping cart installation, because there was an extensive community that was swept out.

Greg Leon a resident of the area said that many people who reside in the area are respectful of the land and keep it clean. "It is a convenient spot because one can collect money from the recycling center which is near by." Leon told me that Cal Train would come every morning starting at 7:30 am to remove the homeless and sometimes call the police. Furthermore, Leon explains, "This area became publicized in the news which attracted several heroin addicts to move into the area. This was convenient for some of the users because they had access to methadone from General Hospital, which is nearby. Littering became a problem, and women with children who passed by were harassed. As a result of the media drawing in some of the heroin addicts, Cal Train and other city officials arranged the fencing of a big portion of land under the freeway where the homeless would sleep," The sign said, "State Property No Trespassing Penal Code 602 (L), No Lodging Penal Code 647 (J), No Littering with Personal Property Penal Code 374.4, Violators Will Be Prosecuted." The actions of some of the drug addicts made the rest of the community look bad," said Leon.

Matt Behnke addresses the homeless issue as an American issue. "America does not want to see poverty in their country because they don’t want to take responsibility."

The arch of carts is a symbolic display of art representing one’s survival. Many people lost their carts and their belongings due to Cal Train’s policy of taking and crushing the carts, including the belongings of those individuals who used the carts. Cal Train's bully tactics have cost many hardships to the homeless who have lost their money, referrals for drug rehab programs, food, sleep gear, etc.

I participated with Erasure and helped put up an arch of carts. There was a feeling of relief to pay tribute to the unseen population of the homeless. Unfortunately the arch of carts was thrown down 20 minutes later after Erasure left the site. I hope one day to see the fence under Ceaser Chavez freeway exit come down so the communities of people without housing can at least gather around a fire and have a place to keep warm and sleep