Name
2003
  • Birth & Death Years, Life-The Middle, We all need more middle and less death.

    09/24/2021 - 11:17 by Anonymous (not verified)
    Original Author
    root
    Original Body

    Each day a personal victory.

    I'm slowly working on the Ultimate
    Victory.

    Yes, I will die someday but with
    cryo-coffin prepared death could be...


    a temporary, slow down rest until my revival.

    by Joe B.

    Near half century, two generations and a half lifetimes.

    My pre birthday celebrations began in POOR Magazine’s Office where I work as Office Manager/Columnist, coffee and toast maker, trash man, photographer, rare reporter /interviewer, call/answer phones, whew; and transcriber of POOR’s new interns or people unseen with new, poems, or eyewitness true stories of lives lived between the margins.

    Though it seems a lot at first its not all that difficult if one learns how to multi task taking frequent rest one can.

    New and current interns on Thursday night bring sweets but not as pure honey and cream as their own strong and gentle personalities. (something’s in my eye and tears are removing it.)

    I’ve noticed mostly women come to POOR there a few men to be sure but its mainly women who really are fearless and at the forefront defending, helping, nurturing we that are working poor, houseless, and mentally ill.

    Is it their mental/physical/ psychological and social upbringing of our or other societies cause them to learn quicker, better internal survival mechanisms most men don’t have or do not to cultivate.

    Maybe we men have less access to being open, risking ridicule, censure as women have and this has given them tremendous strength of will them in mores ways as men are only now widen their society and self imposed narrow limits of manhood.

    All these women have taught the Warrior Goddess aspect of themselves.

    At times I’ve fought back and even recently come to grips life choices even going far making a dear friend believe me no worthy what mindless babbling rants over trivial matters.

    Hurting friends only rebounds double on the perpetrator.

    I act like a dim bulb at times and again must apologize again to a most kind, caring, brave, daring, darling woman who had befriend me I’ve been a complete jerk many times and like the poem recently written in her honor "I always saw you."

    If I am never forgive for being a fool well that is what the fool deserves.

    That goes for everyone else. My road may have been rough but smooth compared to other lives.

    When I was really young in Apple City, Harlem it was nothing for me to invent, create, and tell stories to children slightly younger than myself and I was 5 or 6 at the time.

    That was my true nature laughing, nurturing, spontaneous, loving, hugging, and kissing without fear or dread of being called anything but spirited, energetic, or gregarious.

    Between Lisa, Dee, Mari, Ashley, Alex, Lori, Christina, Isabel (you’ll always be my first muse).

    the other is pretty and physically alluring but she’s a colorful though pale imitation compared to you.

    Many more women not mentioned also helped me but cannot remember or write them all down.

    So the other date web sites on line I’ve checked and to these women I also thank here are some by nicknames.

    To ladybug, ginger-71, and all the rest who have answered online to me without a photo.

    For a fair woman in Ghana, West Africa, special thanks to writing to me.

    And as for everyone else reading I hope you’ve found humor, irony, sarcasm, intelligence, sensuality, sexuality, sexism, ageism, anger, joy, or any of the other emotions.

    I was being me and like everyone we’re all multi faceted personalities.

    I hope one day to write books, travel, marry, love a wife, children, grandchildren and either way to attempt a final victory.

    To be placed immediately after death in a Cryo-coffin (essentially frozen after blood is removed from body, placed in then high tech icebox to be eventually revived, youth regained until fully alive and able to take up life anew.)

    A far dream to be sure but I’m betting God or Goddess gave human’s free will, the capacity to free ourselves at least temporarily from the bonds of illness and death.

    Anyone have tips on where or how to join Cryonics and Immoralist organizations? Bye…

    Donations C/0 Poor Magazine

    1448 Pine Street #205

    San Francisco, CA 94103

    For Joe only my snail mail:

    Email: askjoe@poormagazine.org

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  • Baker Beach Time Lost, Trying To Be A Nudist With No Naked Folk Around, No Way.

    09/24/2021 - 11:17 by Anonymous (not verified)
    Original Author
    root
    Original Body

    Just trying something
    different.

    Some people surf waves and
    snow, parashute out of planes...

    I want to find nude beach or
    other places that are clothes optional.

    by Joe B.

    I decided checking out San Francisco’s Nearest Close Optional or Baker’s Nudist Beach area.

    I packed extra clothes, nose clips, ears plugs, rocks used to weigh down a sheet and sleeping bag to ward off both heat and cold and, a towel and kit bag with wet towel in plastic.

    4:23 am my new alarm clock rung me groggy but awake.

    When telling the 38 Geary bus driver where I’m going she informs other bus drivers.

    "Get off at 25th Avenue, cross the street and wait for the 29 bus-it’ll take you to Baker Beach."
    "Thank You."

    I was a long ride up the avenue, I don’t think I was ever out that far and still be in-city.

    While riding I had the shock of "Where are all the houses, apartments, motels, hotels?

    I was more green and browns than cement and wood setting I am used to its very calming riding into nature’s arms by way of a bus.

    Getting off walking, reading the signs for being careful of swimming because riptides have drowned people here.

    I see solitary people both sexes all wearing clothes either fishing or walking along the shoreline with sandpipers, seagulls, and pigeons flying on and off small ways of the water.

    From up the shoreline then down where homes over look the beach then I had the bright idea of walking across from Baker to China Beach time the tides.

    It sound great until the sea double crossed me just as I was nearly over the last leg of the journey a huge wave is heading my way.

    Remembering riptide deaths I searched for hand and finger holds grabbing on hard as that huge wage came upon me.

    It seemed larger but only reached my ankles but still it hit with enough force that if I wasn’t holding tight I’d be in the water forced out to see along with my old army back duffle-bag.

    My watch that my mother had bought me two or three years ago is gone! It must’ve been taken by the waves and either dumped in the sea buried in the sand.

    I went back to look but found nothing.

    That settles it this trip is over maybe for me the best place is at close optional resorts, camps, residential area, or apartments then try for the beach.

    The $4 dollar shoes are ruined, my watch is gone, no nude people in sight and I didn’t get to really experience any of the lightly humorous, to gross aspects of being nude or seeing nude folks in all our birthday suits.

    Can anyone out there tell me where apartments, residential area’s, camps, or other place to go.

    I’d read some of my poetry for the price of admission and I would hold my works up to my face and if there is rising during the course well erections happen so maybe it should be for young and mature adults.

    In fact I know it would happen because of the situation I’m placed in.

    I have to leave to work on something else now.

    I may try this nude adventure again but next time I hope its with a friend or two mainly female’s with experience in nudism who can guide this hapless male through the world of the unclothed.

    Donations C/0 Poor Magazine

    1448 Pine Street #205

    San Francisco, CA 94103


    Email:
    askjoe@poormagazine.org

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  • Mi Ultimo Adios… #4

    09/24/2021 - 11:17 by Anonymous (not verified)
    Original Author
    root
    Original Body

    An insider journey to the Philippine Islands

    by Mariluna/PNN Youth in the Media report

    Wow, so it has been a month already! time flies fast. This week I finally got sick. It was not a pretty sight. I
    knew I was going to get sick sooner or later. I’m glad I did bring tons of medicine with me. This week was the
    anniversary of the NGO (non-governmental organization) I volunteer for. It was also the President of the NGO’s
    Birthday. There was so much to do this week. The President had a Birthday Party in his house. There was a ton of food,
    dancing, music, and people. (No karaoke this time) It was a blast. On Friday night, I went out with the other two
    Fil-Am in my delegation and we went to a disco (this means nightclub). It was definitely an experience. The disco was
    called Bedrock, and reminded me of The Flintstones. When you go in they first sit you down at a table, and then you
    order food/drinks. The music is provided by a Cover Band. A cover band is a band that sings mainstream songs. The
    closest I can explain to this is it is like professional karaoke but without the TV. Imagine you are dancing to the
    song “Independent Women” sung by a cover band. The name of the cover band was “Colored People.” There is also
    breaks to go sit back down eat, talk, drink, or whatever. The energy inside the club was great; the cover band really
    involved the crowd. The band lets the crowd take the mic to sing the song. One of the singers even invited me to dance
    on stage! The next day was the day of the anniversary. There was mass, games, basketball, a play, and dance
    performances. At night time, there was a party just for the staff and volunteers. Each volunteer group had to do some
    type of performance, and it was supposed to represent where we are from. So the Fil-Am delegation danced to “In the
    Club” by 50 Cent. We came up with this idea an hour before the performance. The Korean delegation did a Korean
    dance that is called the “Poor Children’s dance” they wore different Korean Costumes. The French Delegation did
    a dance to a French song. It looked like country-western dancing. Then there was awards passed out, and there was
    dancing till 12 am or 1am. The next day my home gave a despidida party for our sponsor. Our sponsor also brang along
    30-40 high school seniors from Belgium. We had dance performances, singing, dancing and lots of food. The fun part was
    seeing the Belgians dance the “Spaghetti Song” by SexBomb. Many could not do the dance called the “ocho-ocho.”
    This dance is popularized by the group SexBomb. This is a dance where you put your hands on your tuhod (knees) and pop
    your back and your arms up and down. Don’t worry if this sounds difficult I’ll teach you the dance when I get
    back.| C-ya later!

    Tags
  • Onliners. You can do almost anything even date. A site, image, some well thought out text, then maybe a date in the flesh.

    09/24/2021 - 11:17 by Anonymous (not verified)
    Original Author
    root
    Original Body

    Online dating, yeah I've
    avoided it as long as I could.

    Text only at first before images.

    "My Ultimate Fear"...

    As a shared 'Vibe toy, passed to other
    women by stealthy online networked fem club.

    by Joe B.

    A few months ago I began a project of self interest.

    After learning some dancing out of City College, learning beginning Yoga.

    But after going to a few club/bars with a friend or two, diligently, bravely asking both young and mature women to dance with many saying gently, politely "no thanks."

    I thought of giving online date – chat line.

    For a long time most of the online dating sites asked for photo’s but reliving what happened past and present putting myself through emotional turmoil each time rejection is voiced was less debilitating though still felt as bad I didn’t need to go through that torture again.

    There are lots of dating and chat room sites I plugged into but with every new site I made up new user names, passwords, and it you have tow email addresses its just makes it more jolly.

    So, with two email addresses, user and password names it became really complex.

    I still don’t know how many online dating sites I placed myself on but I’ll have to find and delete or keep on a few.

    Finally with help I’m able download an image of myself which I’m constantly told is the best way to get more responses than text only.

    For me text is fine it enabled me to communicate better before the obligatory photo.

    I think of the frog prince fable myself feeling like a frog many a lovely princess see’s beyond my physical appearance are good times, conversations, movies, and life affirming activities.

    It surprises me that women and other people wrote me when at different sites.

    Women are refreshingly fair minded even without images of myself some show me theirs which made it seem unfair that I should see them so I voluntarily stopped looking until I have an image.

    It happened near or on my birthday and I’m still self conscious about it hoping not to be rejected again out of hand and for the women I did dance and those I received email from.
    THANKS FROM TOP AND BOTTOM OF MY HEART.

    Before I leave this goes to some of those gracious women (they know who they are mentioned or not).

    Precious, Asian ###, Rosebrit, Heidland, Joanne, Ellia, & Amazonlady.

    Now to find those other sites, place a photo and hope they reply if not that's life.

    Have I mention how I’d like to die?

    Not being morbid it would be after a sweaty bed session, talk to wife or girlfriend in my own home, eat a light healthy meal, walk around the neighborhood three or four times, go back home change into bed clothes, go to sleep and wake up in the pearly gates unless my cryonics plan kicks in.

    I’d reawaken in a few decades by a beautiful nurse or doctor who’s also a sex therapist practitioner.

    Let’s say the return to life will be as life affirming as my death was.

    One of many early physical tests after revival beside functioning mentally, socially, psychologically, is as important for late or newly revived people chose to marry or simply lend their swimming essence to others needing seed when their own are deficient or dead.

    You can tell I do have a long range plan B and other letters besides.

    Must leave, make my plans… Bye.

    Donations C/0
    Poor Magazine

    1448 Pine Street #205

    San Francisco, CA 94103

    For Joe only my
    snail mail:

    Email:
    askjoe@poormagazine.org

    Tags
  • Divided…. NOT Conquered!

    09/24/2021 - 11:17 by Anonymous (not verified)
    Original Author
    root
    Original Body

    PNN investigates the attempted descimation and ongoing resistance of the Bayview Hunters Point community

    by Jasmine Syedullah/PoorNewsNetwork Poverty Studies Intern

    I had first heard about Bayview Hunter’s Point from friends who advised me not to go there. A tremble would come over them as they reported to me that "it’s just too dangerous". Being from the Bronx I was necessarily skeptical of what I perceived as media inspired paranoia. Just because neighborhood’s poor and black doesn’t mean it’s dangerous. So I asked one of the youth I work with in the Tenderloin, "So what’s it like out in BayView?". Vanessa shook her head and said, "it’s crazy out there". She went on to tell me a about a time she had gone there with her cousin for some reason and been aggressively confronted by some girls who, when they realized Vanessa and her cousin were not from BayView were ready to throw down.

    "We are not united… What is the saying? Divide and conquer? They have divided us and we are being conquered ", said Cati Hawkins Okorie in a recent conversation I had with her about her experiences living in the BayView area for the last 55 years. "This community was once united and it felt good… and I was very proud whenever I went wherever in this country, I’d always say, ‘I’m from the village of Hunters Point!’ ".

    I met Ms. Okorie at a Community Meeting called by Charlie Walker, to give the residents of BayView Hunter’s Point (BVHP) the opportunity to collectively discuss the plans the city had for the "cleaning up" of Hunter’s Point, "We have a serious racial problem in this community… in this country… it’s a national goddamn emergency". I arrived at the SouthEast Community Facility, 1800 Oakdale Avenue, Monday June 16th just after 6pm.to hear Charlie Walker’s voice, filled with the fire and brimstone of a Baptist minister, quaking over the heads of 200 or so black men women and children, and burrowing its way into my "inner conflict". I was certainly not the only one in need of this tough love pep talk. This was the first meeting of the BayView Hunters Point (BVHP) community that had been called in a long time.

    Ms. Okorie continued, "They don’t happen very often, they don’t. There used to be established groups that used to meet regularly, and people would come to those meetings and voice their opinions… getting people involved is really hard nowadays, cause now they’re just thinking about surviving and their children surviving. We didn’t have those issues back in the 60s…". Ms. Okorie is the program coordinator for the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT). CIRT operates out of the Department of Public Health on Evans Street. CIRT provides services to families of homicide victims throughout BVHP and Double Rock. This is only the most resent of Cati’s long line of jobs working for social justice in the area.

    I asked Cati what factors most divided the community she’d said used to exist in BayView, "Crack did something to the community that none of the other things that I named, substances, could do. It took away the nurturing that a woman used to give her kids. You could find the drunkest woman but she would take care of her baby. After crack came in that went out the window, no more nurturing. Then there were a lot of children born with this in their system. This was like the early to mid eighties… Everyone was wondering what’s going to happen to these crack babies?… Now we know, these kids are killing each other left and right… They have a feeling of not caring, something that seems to come along with crack.

    Crack seems to desensitize you to the situation whatever it is doesn’t matter…. Crack was the ultimate weapon because it really divided the community. Before the drugs came, the black people in San Francisco had their differences as far as communities go… but basically, on the south side of the city, from Potrero Hill to like Sunnydale was considered one community."

    She told me later how when her mother moved the family to Navy road in Hunter’s Point in 1954 from Double Rock, hers was the only one of two black families in the building. Walking down 3rd street today you’d be hard pressed to see anyone lighter than a brown paper bag chatting it up in front of the barber shop or waiting for the 44 MUNI bus on the corner. The land on which the housing projects now stand used to be covered with navel housing for families during World War II.

    Cati told me that when the war was over, "the government got the housing authority going and the housing authority rented it to black folks who needed places and the more they moved in the more the other races moved out".

    After 50 plus years the face of the neighborhood is scheduled to change again. The last major stronghold for African- Americans in San Francisco is headed towards extermination. In order to resist this housing crisis, Charlie Walker called a community meeting so that folks could be informed of the facts and motivated towards resisting the impending changes to the community. Within a matter of moments of listening to the speakers there in the Southeast Community Facility, it was clear to me that there are many more forces threatening the quality of life in BVHP than potential eviction notices. As one woman at the meeting exclaimed, "we needed to have this meeting a long time ago!".

    Back in the northeast, my experience as a black woman with uncommon education opportunities isolated me from any community with which I could fully identify. The effect was silencing. I was afraid to claim solidarity with other black folks for fear of alienating myself from the mostly upper class mostly white folks who were my friends. And most black folks I met growing up rejected me because I "talked proper" and couldn’t dance.

    This silence filled me like a balloon expanding with time. Last June I was about ready to explode. I could see the same balloon had exploded several times over throughout BayView Hunters Point, manifesting itself in violence, apathy, addiction and ultimately community fragmentation. The internal effects of institutionalized oppression have as great a mal-effect upon the well-being of the individual it effects as the institutions themselves. I would even argue that the effects of internal oppression are even more psychologically devastating, more permanently scaring.

    Willie Ratcliff, publisher of the BayView National Black Newspaper, spoke at the community meeting about our need to "take control over our lives". "We have to make a demand!" He focused on the lack of control we have over our housing contracts, the loans we receive and the jobs we don’t have. He said we have to realize first that "we are not at odds with each other".

    One of the many women who spoke during the meeting outlined how 17,939 families are on the waiting list for public housing and over 30,000 are waiting for section 8 assistance. Meanwhile a large number of houses along West Point on the hill are being boarded up and left abandoned. The irony of these statistics lies in the high level of toxicity that permeates the ground and pollutes the air all around housing projects in BayView Hunter’s Point and nearby Double Rock. Four out of ten of the children born in this community suffer some kind of birth defect. And it also has the highest number of cervical and breast cancer cases in the Bay Area. Living spaces built on top of landfill, next to the PG & E power plant and isolated by thick metal bars are the much needed housing tens of thousands of poor families are desperate to inhabit. I asked Ms. Okorie what she thought we needed to combat the intervention of these oppressive institutions on our lives.

    "We need the power of the creator. We need the power of God… Bible says my people die from a lack of knowledge. They don’t have the knowledge of what is going on and what is happening to them and the what fors. If these kids had the knowledge, they would understand. They wouldn’t do a lot of what they’re doing…"

    At the end of the community meeting, just after the closing benediction, a young man from the crowd who I later learned is an up and coming leader among the youth of the community raged against what he felt was the ageism silencing him from speaking in the meeting. His outburst was that balloon stretched to the limit and exploding with emotion. As he stormed out of the room still shouting his opposition the elders shook their heads in disappointment. They claimed the silencing was not intentional but a matter of limited time. However, it has been my experience that this division between the elders and the youth of the community is one of the most urgent least addressed challenges in our coming together. Without the guidance, affirmation and love of the village parents, our "village" of tomorrow will more likely resemble William Goldman’s Lord of the Flies rather than bell hook’s "Beloved Community".

    "You cannot give up. That’s what the powers that be want us to do, give up. They want us to dislike these kids with the saggy pants. They want us to hate them. They want us to talk about them… But I refuse to do that. I was young myself… and remember - there are still some older people that we love today, they’ve passed on, but they stuck by us… and did not give up on the young".

    I walked away from the community meeting with a feeling of resolve. Though divided, I felt the community is here. Looking for answers and encouraging one another to keep fighting. I had found the community I had come to the bay area to find. But the more I spoke with Ms. Okorie, the more I realized how easily impressed I am by a room full of tough talking black folks, and how far we have yet to go.

    Tags
  • Mi Ultimo Adios... #5

    09/24/2021 - 11:17 by Anonymous (not verified)
    Original Author
    root
    Original Body

    An insider journey to the Philippine Islands

    by Mariluna/PNN Youth in the Media report

    A. The youth court system

    B. Manila’s Juvenile Hall

    C. Youth Representation in Manila City Hall

    D. This past weekend

    A. So, the typhoon passed up the Philippines (thank you to all the emails I received from people making sure I was fine),
    and it did flood here a little bit. There was also a Brownout (we say blackout), so there was no electricity or water for
    a day. In other news, I have moved. I now live in what is known as Metro Manila. I live in La Paz Barrio of Makati City.
    This is known as the “squatter’s area.” This is a very poor area. I live in a house full of other volunteers. But
    on to other news, I visited Manila’s City Hall. In fact I have been here three times already. My first time I visited,
    I attended a juvenile court hearing. The courtroom was tiny. I only got to see one hearing actually though, all of the
    other hearings had to be reset because the Public Attorney (public defender) was not present. In the end the hearing was
    reset. The Public prosecutor was one hour and 5 minutes late. My friend, who is a social worker for the youth cases, told
    me it is very common for the Public Prosecutor, and the Public Attorney to show up late after the judge. Also many of the
    youth or their parents didn’t show up either. There also was no Guard. The court hearing was in English, and Filipino
    was only spoken when it was spoken to the judge first. I also got to talk to the judge after the hearings. She seemed
    very understanding of the youth and the parents. She spoke to everyone in a tone that made a person feel relaxed. She
    told me later on that:We need to be patient, and adjust to their circumstances. She was speaking in reference to
    the youth. That blew me away. She reminded me of a trusting mother. I was told later that she was one of the most
    understanding and fair judges in City Hall.

    B. Next, I went to Manila’s Juvenile Hall. Here it is called MYRC, this stands for Manila Youth Reception Center. It is
    for ages 12-18. In Metro Manila, there are only two detention centers. Many times the youth are locked up in adult jails.
    The language they used blew me away. A Jail cell is called a dormitory. The youth were not called “juveniles” but
    “Children in conflict with the Law.” The every dormitory has house parents. They called MYRC a Shelter not a juvenile
    hall. They also have many volunteers from various higher education institutions. One of their services was called “Home
    Life Services” which deals with the youth’s dorm life. They also have seminars. Some that were scheduled was a
    Parents Effectiveness Seminar, which was for the parents of the children. There was peer group counselling for the youth.
    They also have prayer meetings, and had a huge statue of Jesus Christ. I also got to visit the youth inside the dorms.
    They had one dorm for girls, which had about 10-15 girls inside the room. There were four dorms for boys, which had about
    30 plus youth inside each dorm. The staff person told me that most of the girls locked up have been sexually abused, that
    is why they have the Center for the Protection of Women. The youth in every dorm all greeted us (the staff people I was
    with and I) like a chorus line. “Good Afternoon, Visitors!”

    C. On my last day as a Commissioner, I decided I would visit Manila City Hall and find out what kind youth
    representation they had. I found out there was a Youth Bureau. So I walked in the office, and there was many youth in the
    office (This reminded me of Room 345 in City Hall.) I was directed to one of the head staff people. He was 21 years
    old. In the Philippines they define youth between the ages of 15-35. He told me the way they have youth representation
    in Manila. First during the adult elections there is also the SK elections on the ballot (SK stands for two really long
    Filipino words I couldn’t spell). If a youth is between the ages of 15-17 they have the right to vote provided they
    live in Manila. They register with their department of elections so they can vote in the SK elections. In these
    elections, a youth votes for their SK Chairman (or chairwoman) to represent their district of Manila. The votes are
    tallied, and then there is a SK Chairman. Then all the SK Chairmen elect a President. This President is their
    representative to the City Council, and can introduce legislation, and is also paid. The President is also called the
    Youth Sector Representative. There is also a youth picked to represent to the National Youth Commission. They sit on this
    Commission and are called Commissioner. There are also Youth Councils for every Barangay (this is a small community.)
    There are hundreds of Barangays in Manila. There is also a Child Welfare Code being created, so the Youth Bureau held
    many Public Forums for youth to see what they would what in this code. They run a summer youth job program, which is like
    Youth Works in San Francisco. A youth is placed in a department of the Manila City Government and is paid. They also have
    internship in their office. They run the Manila Youth Games, which had over 10,000 youth participate last time. They do
    many events. I was told that the Mayor believes that the youth must be involved in public service. They also took a
    contingent of 7,000 youth to a pro-peace rally during the time Bush was deciding to go to war or not. I also found out
    that no one in the Youth Bureau was over the age of 35, even the director of the Youth Bureau was 35 years old. I also
    found out that the Mayor’s son, who is 32, is involved in the Youth Bureau. The staff jokingly told me that he is their
    consultant to the Mayor for their Budget.

    D. This past weekend I spent with family and I went to Tagatay. This area is famous for their pineapples and Buko Pie
    (this is coconut). I ate so much food; I swear I ate like seven times a day. It was great. My relative also showed me
    where the People’s Power Revolution happened. This was the revolution that kicked out Marcos. Marcos was more of like
    dictator than a President. He was in charge for over 20 years. There was martial law while he was in charge. I also found
    out that a good friend of Marcos was President Regan. This past Sunday there was also about 200-300 military members who
    stood opposed to the government. The stand-off was here in Makati. They were given till 5pm to submit to the government
    or the government backed military would go in and declare fire. Then they were given a two-hour extension. Then I guess
    settles and talks happened because it ended. In the end, no one was hurtâ€| This happened the day before the President
    gave the State of the Nation Address.

    Wow, so as you can see I have done so much stuff, and next week I will discuss my experience about RAC (Reception Action
    Center), a place where houseless people are forced by cops to stay atâ€| Stay tunedâ€|.

    And as for a Flag for the Philippine Province, it is easily managed. We can have a special one “ our states do it:
    We can have our usual flag, with the white stripes painted black and stars replaced by the skull and cross bones.“
    Mark Twain talking in reference to the United States colonizing the Philippines.

    Tags
  • Insanity As A 'Norm, How Come Police aren't playing gay to entrap these dangerous nuts?

    09/24/2021 - 11:17 by Anonymous (not verified)
    Original Author
    root
    Original Body

    I don't like this hunting gay
    crap.

    Why don't the gay community switch
    tables on these idiots and hunt them?

    by Joe B.

    In San Francisco Examiner, front page bold print.

    Why are they killed? This is about gay’s murdered in the City.

    There is a simple yet complex answer.

    Gay people are killed because a segment of our population have psychological problems with their own sexuality.

    It might be the old projection on to the victim.

    Rainbow, mixed raced folks still go through this negative process of blame-the-victim for the perpetrators own hang-ups.

    Also some males, females are so mentally sick they drive are use bus, or trains to get over to vent their rage.

    I reminds of me excuse the expression "Coon Hunting in the South" a popular sport where whites sometimes arbitrary or for legitimate reasons go after individual blacks usually males to taunt, scare him for fun at times they’d go to far and cruel, torture, and death occurs.

    Many rainbow people of all colors died in this human hunting because the laws of the land protect the hunter not the hunted.

    Is it possible the same also happens in San Francisco?

    In both scenario’s men, women, youths, children, are killed for what they are and cannot change in this case sexual orientation or "S/0."

    As for the serial killers, home grown pathologically minded above and the main headline like anywhere besides the Deep South, Midwest, North, and East it was a tacit understanding that certain people have no rights and there by anything can be done to them without penalty or punishment.

    These killing seems to be "spree or opportunity slaying with only a few planned out.

    Still to kill anyone because of their real or perceived S/O’s shows mental sickness.

    What scares me most is as the slayings continue they become a macabre masquerade as normalcy. Remember
    A.I.D.S.? [Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome]
    is still with us as deadly as ever though H. I. V. or
    [Human Immuno deficiency Virus].
    does not automatically means death sentence for those with the virus inside them.

    It looks like whatever gender orientation one goes by we must make sure relatives, friends, lover’s can be safe from these sick killer’s "going off" when they have a need to do so called "cleansing"; I don’t seen any other people of different S/O going off killing heterosexuals.

    Oh, I forgot we so called "normal" straight folks do that job too. I’ve only been to a few gay bars, 1 lesbian bar and they both are more non threatening to me, it’s the straight bar with to much pent up testosterone that bothers me.

    Being a hopelessly hetero black guy in San Francisco is problem enough I have my own issues with people wanting to kill me for being straight, liking, dating, dominant culture woman[Caucasian].

    I’ve got a sinking feeling these are the same kind of people going after gay people.

    It seems the only language they understand is violence done to them.

    I don’t advocate violence but as Malcolm X said "If they lay a hand on me/you do your best to put them in their grave so they can never harm anyone else again."

    Police, bystanders may not respond fast enough it might be up those being attacked to defend themselves either with self defense, pepper spray, gun, or anything handy.

    Until being different is no longer a big deal my suggestion to those being attacked for no other reason than what’s in the attacker’s own demented brain.

    Travel in groups [too bad women still must do this because of a few mush minded fools make it impossible for them to enjoy a night out by themselves.]

    Since they (women, gay’s) cannot tell who they can trust they must take the above cautions until society grows the hell up and figures what people are and their sexual orientation is no ones business but their own.

    I’ll probably get hate mail email from what I written which is also an oxymoron because if these hate something so much why not move, make love to a mate, fine and date a mate, instead of wasting time writing to me or worse going out and killing innocent people because they have problems with in themselves.

    If readers have any thing offer you know where to write me… Bye…

    Donations C/0 Poor Magazine

    1448 Pine Street #205

    San Francisco, CA 94103


    Email: askjoe@poormagazine.org

    Tags
  • If I didn’t Shower, who would hire me?

    09/24/2021 - 11:17 by Anonymous (not verified)
    Original Author
    root
    Original Body

    The Shower Project is saved from an attack of mindless NIMBYISM by struggle and resistance

    by Tricia Ward/POOR Magazine Poverty Studies Intern

    Christopher’s laughter and shrill yelps of joy echoed down the long hallway in my mother’s house. As he gleefully ran away from the porcelain confines of the bathtub, leaving wet footprints and a trail of suds on floor behind him, I sighed. What should have been a simple act of giving my 3-year-old nephew a bath had turned into a most complicated project. I picked up the tiny plastic boats and purple submarine that had been launched unceremoniously out of the tub, popped the cap back on the sweet-smelling baby shampoo that promised "no more tears", grabbed a fluffy towel from the towel rack and went to find my young charge.

    There are no nautical bath toys or tear-free baby shampoo in the bathrooms at Mission High School where The Shower Project, run by the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), takes place every weekend. Walking down the dim corridor underneath the high school that leads to the gymnasium where the showers are, I’m struck by the realization that a simple concept could have such a huge impact. Some of the clients of the project are homeless, some have jobs, some live in residential hotels, but none of them have ready access to a shower on a regular basis. In the shower room at Mission High School, you won’t find scented bath gels, conditioner that gives fine hair unbelievable volume and control, or stacks of brightly colored, plush bath-sheet sized towels like the kind that fill the linen closet at my mother’s house. What you will find however, a is place where for a few hours each weekend, men and women who don’t have the luxury of being able to take a shower in their own private bathroom can come, and with no questions asked, and get themselves clean.

    I don’t use the word ‘luxury’ lightly. Until I visited the Shower Project one Saturday afternoon, I didn’t realize what an extravagance that Christopher’s bath or even my own daily shower is.
    The facilities at the school are nothing like the bathroom where my nephew holds court in my mother’s house; the lighting is harsh, the tile is ugly, there is no soft bath rug to step on so your feet don’t get cold after you bathe, but the showers work, they are functional, they allow people to be clean, at least one day a week. I stand in the hallway with the peeling brown and yellow paint waiting to speak to someone about the project. As they wait to shower, clients sit, mainly silent, along a row of fold-up chairs that line the hallway, clutching their borrowed towels and coffee cups. Everyone is patiently waiting their turn. After showering, most don’t hang around. Clothes are hurriedly put on, goodbyes are said to acquaintances, thank you’s are given to the volunteers and the men and women leave.

    Most probably don’t feel welcome to linger. The area outside the school is an enclave of yuppie-ness in an otherwise rough Mission neighborhood. It’s bordered by cafes and coffee shops and the picturesque Dolores Park, which on this bright afternoon is filled with children, tennis players and sunbathers. Recently there was opposition from the surrounding community in regards to the shower project. Various neighborhood groups had been working to rid the area of drug dealers that hung around in the park and complained of littering and loitering that the Shower Project supposedly encouraged.

    I asked L.S. Wilson of the Coalition on Homelessness why getting a shower is important to houseless folks, "Being clean is an exit to homelessness,"

    I think about this statement and the opposition to the project as I speak to a young man named Dave who frequently comes to the shower project. "If I didn’t shower, who would hire me to paint?" Dave posed that question to after he had just freshly showered and with his dark hair combed back slick against his head looked like he should be sitting at a table among the families that were enjoying their weekend brunch at the café across the street. Although Dave has a job as a painter, he can’t afford the high rents in the city and lives out of his work van. He’s understanding of the neighbors’ apprehensiveness in having a group of strangers in their neighborhood, but without this project, he’d never be able to clean himself up and be hired to paint. If he didn’t paint, he wouldn’t be able to afford his van and would be completely on the streets. I wonder if the neighbors who object to the project would like it better if they had to step over him sleeping on their doorstep every morning?

    One of the project volunteers, Cassandra, tells me what the MCC did in order to address the community complaints. A private security guard was hired to keep clients from wandering over to the park or lining up outside the school in view of the neighborhood residents while waiting of their turn to shower. A list of strict rules for clients written in both English and Spanish is posted on the double doors that lead to the showers. Clients who break any of the rules such as using profanity or fighting with other clients run the risk of not be able to take part in the program. The Saturday I was there volunteers and clients were patrolling the area outside the school building in search of litter and wayward debris, being careful to keep the place spic and span, probably cleaner than it usually is on an afternoon when school lets out. The volunteers and clients take this very seriously; the project was in danger of being shut down until last Tuesday. Fortunately in a small victory thanks to the lobbying efforts of the MCC, The Coalition On Homelessness and other groups, the project was able to renew its permit for at least one more year. Cassandra summarizes all of this matter-of-factly to me, without a hint of bitterness at the struggle the project has faced. She simply seems relieved that, for now, the project will continue.

    Back I at my mother’s house, I was able to score my own victory as I corralled my protesting nephew and plunked him back into the bubble filled tub. As I finished the task of cleaning the indignant, squirming 3-year old, who would much rather remain dirty than waste precious playtime in the bath. I reflected on the fact he’s too young to even have any concept of what a privilege a bath can be.

    Tags
  • Fighting In The Name Of Freedom

    09/24/2021 - 11:17 by Anonymous (not verified)
    Original Author
    root
    Original Body

    Palestinian Freedom fighters Speak in San Francisco

    by Ace Tafoya/PoorNewsNetwork Community Journalist

    “…beating on a tin drum marching to a sound, what is it I think? Am I beating on a tin drum marching to a cause when I don’t know what it is…” from Tin Drum by Toni Childs/David Rickets.

    On Friday, July 25 whilewalking to the St. Boniface Church in the Tenderloin to listen to two freedom fighters from Palestine endorsed by POWER (People Organized to Win Employment Rights), St. Peters Housing Committee, The SF Day Labor Program and the Coalition on Homelessness, I asked myself why I chose to do an assignment that I had no knowledge of! I browsed the web, talked to friends, looked through periodicals and even searched through Golden Gate Park for an answer or solution to the Middle East. Why is there no peace? Why do people kill? Is it for piece of land? Piece of freedom? Piece of mind? Peace?

    “Palestinian’s don’t have a right to move inside our own country,” proclaimed Maha Nassar, a national heroine of the Union of Palestinian Women Committees, an organization that’s a leading role on the Palestinian freedom struggle. “Our basic rights, our schools are being destroyed by the occupation!”

    The Union of Palestian Women Committees works actively towards building a Palestine civil, progressive and democratic society regarding all kinds of discrimination and able to raise the situation of women and empower them to assure the real quality between man and woman and all the sectors of society, according to the press release. Some of the activities produced by the committee are Intro duce refugee women to rights they were deprived of, Supporting women political prisoners in their struggle against jail’s administration, Establishing Kindergartens and Nurseries to reduce women family worries and reinforce the principles of democracy in decision making.

    “For 53 years people are still living in refugee camps in oppression,” voiced Ala Al Azzeh, a Palestinian refugee and co-founder of Beit Jibrin Cultural Center-Handal. (A progressive educational youth and community center). His dark eyes searched the room, he continued. “Racism is here, Racism in Palestine is the same. Israel is a white European country in the Middle East!”

    Both Maha Nassar and Ala Al Azzeh had just completed a 6 city grassroots tour across the nation. San Francisco was their final destination. Still I had no answer to why can’t we all live in peace. Maybe if we follow their ideas we can come up with an answer. Love and acceptance of a god is something we’re looking for. Why can’t more love go out to the Middle East? And here as well.

    Tags
  • Tech Trek PLEH! Its sort of a column but not quite, just read on citizens.

    09/24/2021 - 11:17 by Anonymous (not verified)
    Original Author
    root
    Original Body

    Lugging servers upstairs with
    no elevators, not my favorite thing.

    Well, if POOR gets some it'll
    be worth a tug upstairs.

    Oh, yeah money and I-dates for Joe helps
    too 'uh look up date sites for what (I) means.

    by Joe B.

    My topic was to be about the perfect man and how women day dream of having one or a few in their lives.

    With a hypothetical (for now)immortal male or lucky mortal male growing up with the correct lessons too can be some blessed woman’s perfect man.

    But that’s for another time today on Friday the 13th I have an urgent message for all readers and tech-heads.

    ’Ya know about servers, those machines that keep PC’s running and programs from getting scrambled by minor human error glitches.

    We at POOR Magazine have a server only its way in ‘Freakin Washington D.C.!

    When glitches happen here or over there it takes hours and days getting answers by phone then getting a programmer to fix the system which may take more hours because of backtracking a problem or two from its origin.

    Folks, we need a sever. Me, I’d like to be state-of-the-art as can be barring that it can be second hand as long as it works.

    We may need 2 or 3 or more of them because constant
    mechanical ticks, program upgrades, and electromagnetic flare ups from our mutual star that at times acts up so we know not to ignore old shiny.

    We need video camera’s – persons willing to record monthly our community newsroom meeting(which can be comedy relief at times).

    Streaming Video to Broadcast PNN Newsroom at POOR Magazine/PNN [POOR NEWS NETWORK].

    A radical Community-Based News making process focused or issues of poverty, race, sex, age, and all the other "ism’s all Poor folks constantly battle, suffer through.

    Readers, Tech folks, anyone with spare servers lying around collecting dust that works but haven’t been hooked up because they may still be in their box or packed in foam padding and plastic; please send it or ask us to carry it over.
    [we’ll use carts, wheel ‘em over, getting ‘em up a flight of stairs will be a chore.

    Joe needs some exercise."

    "Thanks for ‘nothin Tiny." Anyway that’s it and as always
    donations would also be greatly appreciated.

    Donations C/0 Poor Magazine
    1448 Pine Street #205


    San Francisco, CA 94103


    Email:
    askjoe@poormagazine.org

    Tags
  • $6.75 No Es Suficiente !! ($6.75 is Not Enough!!)

    09/24/2021 - 11:17 by Anonymous (not verified)
    Original Author
    root
    Original Body

    A living wage campaign to raise the minimum wage to 8.50 per hour is launched in San Francisco

    by Tiny/PNN

    "For generations the owning class has been stealing from poor people, paying us wages that don’t afford rent, food, child care and healthcare…. A cool San Francisco breeze blew words around like leaves. My pen danced frantically on my notepad to capture each one of Steve Williams’ revolutionary utterances to my question on why he, Executive Director of POWER ( People Organized to Win Employment Rights,) a grassroots organization dedicated to getting rights for low and no wage workers was one of the sponsors of an attempt to raise San Francisco’s living wage from $$6.75 to 8.50 per hour

    "This is a first step to stop that theft", he continued slower in deference to my snail –like shorthand, "and that theft has been perpetrated by downtown corporate interests whereas this effort was spearheaded by working class people of color in communities such as The Bayview, The Mission and Chinatown." I wondered as he spoke, his eyes igniting unseen sparks on the warm pavement in front of City Hall, if my endless string of low and no-wage jobs would have been affected by this legislation…

    "Hey you, yeah you, we’re going to have cut the workforce in half and cause you’re new here, it will most likely be you that receives the ax" I had only been toiling at the bed factory placing the coils inside the second layer of each bed-to-be for two short months, counting up my meager almost salary,(6.00 per hour) when they found a reason to fire me. At first they tried to say I wasn’t productive enough, then they changed that to the old workforce problem, but none of these were really the issue. The only females who got to keep their jobs were the ones who agreed to date the oil-haired boss. I refused – so me and my sad self were out.

    I took it all very personally and felt so hopeless, that I could barely drag myself, to the welfare office the next day only to be met with a sixteen page "work assessment test that asked me the same question about my career interests at least 50 times, after barely scanning my test my newly appointed worker gave me my career results, "Ms. Garcia, you need to think about a more serious career than journalism – that’s just not a viable job for someone like you.." I wasn’t sure why she insisted on shouting each time she said the word "job" and "you" but it was probably aimed at making me feel horrible, which I already did, so at least she was successful in her chosen vocation.

    "Hey you, yeah you" It was two weeks later and this time I supposed I was hard at work at a more "viable" job for someone like me, collecting trash from the sidewalks of Oakland for my welfare check, "you’re not moving fast enough, we have to get out of here in ten" my workfare site supervisor didn’t like me very much, looking at me with that – "why are you such a bum?" look each time he spoke to me, or rather, at me.

    After several more months of humiliation at the hands of welfare bosses and minimum wage jobs – I became a member of POWER which was one of the interventions that changed my life – helping me to understand the disempowerment of the low wage worker by the Capitalist system and the urgent necessity to resist it through organizing and struggle. The education I received at POWER and other grassroots organizations even encouraged my pursuit to do the so-named "unviable" journalism career.

    "$6.75 is Not Enough !" The slogan for the minimum wage initiative which has collected over 20,000 signatures since its kickoff campaign two weeks ago is sponsored by a broad worker and community alliance base including such diverse organizations as The Young Workers Project, Mission Agenda, Acorn and Chinese Progressive Association and is part of a national movement for higher wages which has led to the passing of similar legislations in cities from New Mexico to New York and effectively works to send the message to the big bosses and corporations, that if you work you shouldn’t be poor. When employers are allowed to pay their workers less than a living wage, tax payers end up footing the bill, through food stamps, medi-cal and other emergency social services, and on the other hand, higher wages leads to lower absenteeism and higher productivity and when workers make more money they have more to spend on local small businesses.

    "I know that 8.75 won’t be enough in San Francisco", James Collins, member of Mission Agenda was explaining his reasons for supporting the legislation in front of city Hall last week at the press conference announcing the submission of the signatures, "but it will help me with basic needs such as affording my rent and still being able to get a fast pass"

    As Mr. Collins spoke, I remembered the last words uttered at me by my oily haired mattress boss before I left the building, " You know kid, you were lucky, we paid you ten cents more than most of the workers, and that’s only cause we thought you were cute" I said nothing at the time feeling truly powerless, now, as I left the living wage rally i yelled into the sky at his imaginary form " $6.75 is NOT enough...so there!"

    Tags
  • The right to reasonable safety....

    09/24/2021 - 11:17 by Anonymous (not verified)
    Original Author
    root
    Original Body

    The State of New Jersey Smacked with a Federal Lawsuit

    by Leroy Moore/Illin and Chillin’

    I’ve some bad news! The state of New Jersey could be
    smack with a federal lawsuit if federal investigators
    find that the allegations of inadequate care,
    dangerous conditions, abuse and deaths of
    developmental disabled and mentally ill residents in
    New Lisbon and Woodbridge Developmental Centers are
    true.

    According to a federal report involving New Lisbon
    Developmental Center, sited that there have been 4,400
    incidents, 242 classified as major including broken
    limbs and overmedicating etc.. For example, on
    February 9, 2002 a staff member intentionally smeared
    glue on Wilson’s face, and then rip it off when it
    dried. And on January 25, 2002 another staff member
    slapped Paula in the face, and pinched her “because
    she is a dark-skinned Black person’ and bruises don’t
    show up on her.”

    Many advocacy groups say that the New Jersey
    Developmental Disability Centers has a long history of
    being run down, overcrowded, understaffed and having
    creaky and dirty equipment i.e. wheelchairs. Governor
    James E. McGreevey has inherited this eye swore when
    he took office. Under federal law, individuals in
    public run nursing homes, jails and
    developmental-disability centers have the right to
    live in reasonable safety, receive adequate health
    care and be free from unreasonable restraint.
    These rights were violated at New Lisbon and
    Woodbridge Developmental Center, federal investigators
    concluded. There have been many plans on the table
    from hiring new staff to closing the centers down. If
    the negotiations between the state and federal
    government fail to produce a satisfactory remedial
    plan, the federal government could sue New Jersey.
    For more on New Jersey and California DEVELOPMENTAL
    Disability system click on Budget Crisis &
    Prosperity: SAME STORY and then Call Governor James E.
    McGreevey of New Jersey to advocate for our disabled
    brothers and sisters.

    By DAMO & New Jersey Minorities with Disabilities
    Coalition taken from a federal report.

    Tags
  • In One's Own Way.

    09/24/2021 - 11:17 by Anonymous (not verified)
    Original Author
    root
    Original Body

    Just want to warn you.

    If you could live as long as
    you wanted would you allow limits?

    Want a few thousand years of life
    before you die or never?

    by Joe B.

    Hard to get out of one’s own way difficult, frustrating, and futile if you are to close to notice you are your own enemy.

    Last Saturday I’m in a Filmore festival in the.

    I was told about it and decided to check it out.

    After three serving of lunch in St. Anthony’s.

    Its before Oakland’s Juneteenth on the 17th.

    The 38 Geary bus took me there in no time though it is less crowded.

    It’s a sun gorgeous day full of lovely women young, old, and mature of various ages and a men which I don’t notice since men don’t turn me on.

    After circling the area, listening to both Rap and Jazz enjoying exposed cleavage and backs of ladies.

    There are books, video’s, clothes, people selling their wares, and all kinds of olfactory seductive foods.

    Succumbing to wafting cooking odors I buy a peach cobbler for $4.50 taking a Geary bus home placing still warm food in my mini fridge.

    At home doodling, reading and old Toffler book I came across a paper on cryonics, a sub-science of Cryogenics involving the use of very low temperatures.

    It gets me thinking of The Flood Building that has a Cryonics address there.

    I go inside, sign my name, time, and take the elevator up.

    Frosted glass, polished wooden doors, and wall-to-floor white-gray marble made place quiet and creepy like walking in a mausoleum.

    I find the number but no words.

    Using the stairs is quicker. The guard explains how new clients moved in and some haven’t stenciled in their names on the doors.

    Recently I’ve joined a church, museum, and thinking of being a Common Wealth Club member as well.

    I figure between those and Life Extension, Elimination-Of-Death, Anti Aging Association, and Immortalist Organizations would encompass spiritual, cultural, social-intellectual and possibly after death revival.

    The last ones are organizations I’m almost too late for.

    Its said humanity has free will.

    Ultimately how long we chose to live should be up to us and not to Governments,

    Quasi religious oligarchies or false dynastic empire something like father and son Presidents with deeply held religious bent.

    A Bush bioethicist Leon Kass wants an end to life extension efforts, he too has his reasons too.

    From a column originally written Tues. Dec. 2, 2002.
    [Killing Immortality by Simon Smith/Forward Thinking – www. Better Humans.com].

    I read some of Mr. Simon’s column feeling slightly ill this Kass is a dangerous individual because being part of Selected President Bush’s Council on Bioethics with similar
    if not exact religious views on the subject.

    Remember President of the 1980’s 10 year ban on Bio technology and what has happened to him now?

    Well I don’t like this Mr. Kass holding up life saving technologies because he has problems with how far it will go.

    Hasn’t he heard of space habitats, platforms, asteroids and that we have the technology to train people and since age really isn’t a factor as 70 year Senator John Glen proved to the world.

    We’ve had people wanting to (for our own good) protect us from ourselves.

    Radiation from nuclear fallout, disease epidemics, sociopath, psychopathic, child molesters, rapists, murderer’s by law is vastly different from keeping is one thing.

    On the other hand folks saving their own or loved ones from needless suffering and deaths is different.

    Two oil men and a bio ethicist with similar view both slowing up new technologies have enough money for dead Dino flesh but want to ring every last drop while at the same time keeps converging life extension science under wraps.

    Maybe I’m wrong I hope I am.

    A revolution is brewing, bubbling, for all of and our choices in how long we live is in a the balance.

    We may need all life revival, anti aging doctors and other organizations to form new political parties because the main two or a few alternative here now isn’t seeing the new paradigm.

    It seems the only way to shake the country of its death culture is to prove there is an alternative to death to delay, slow, retard, reverse, and otherwise stop Grim in his/her tracks.

    The renegade want not only to live as long as they wish but have others do the same and it will be a global battle.

    It just may be the last most silent battle humanity ever has and its not about race, sex, age, religion, its about the ultimate battle for life itself.

    Everyone alive now, in the near or far future may not have a choice if our generation and others near us don’t fight for our own longer, healthier, lives.

    Life, Illness, sickness, disease, or Extended, prolonged life span is fleet as Mercury’s winged feet.

    It is easy to let our lives slip away but much harder to stay alive, see what the future holds and keep fighting.

    I know what I’ll be doing.

    What will be your choice? Bye…

    Donations C/0 Poor Magazine


    1448 Pine Street #205

    San Francisco, CA 94103


    Email: askjoe@poormagazine.org

    Tags
  • Mi Ultimo Adios…1,2.&3

    09/24/2021 - 11:17 by Anonymous (not verified)
    Original Author
    root
    Original Body

    An insider journey to the Philippine Islands

    by Mariluna/PNN Youth in the Media report

    My first 72 horas.

    Tue, 24 Jun 2003.

    Wow!!!! Is the word of the moment…. I am living in Manila City in the district of Makati…. I stay in the Elizabeth home (which happens to be my sister name). This is a home for girls between the ages of 12-22 years old who have a common history of sexual exploitation, drugs, and physical, emotional, and sexual abuse… These girls are so sweet and beautiful and friendly. They are so respectful and all call me Ate Marissa (Ate means older sister) They have truly welcomed me into their family. During the day I work at SIBUHI, which is a rehabilitative arts center. They teach origami, Tae Kwondo, drawing, and other activities. I am going to be starting up the preschool there. I will be working on curriculum, lesson plans, designing the space, and training the other volunteers… It will open in mid july… I have already attended a Filipino University Baseball game. They had music while the whole game was playing, and the announcer was more like a DJ… I have spent much time with the youth and trying to learn more about them. The latest songs over here is called the "Spaghetti Song", which once you hear you will not be able to get out of your head. The radio over here plays Filipino music as well as American artists, and get all the latest songs.
    Like Sean Paul, Jennifer Lopez, and other mainstream artists.

    Things that are hard is eating. Since I am a vegetarian, I am constantly filling myself up with rice…I don’t know if this is good…. Also I miss you all…. It is very hard not being able to see anyone of you… I hold each of you deep in a special place in my heart, and cannot wait to see you all when I get back…. 55 days to go.

    Week #1 in the Philippines

    Wow, a week already passed by it feels like two weeks. I have done so much so far| I am getting to know the girls at Elizabeth home more and more| We joke and laugh, and they are constantly amazed that I am not married, engaged, or
    basically attached to anyone. I tell them I am not worried about things of that nature, that I have my whole life to be with someone I wanna be with. Actually the majority of people here are surprised when I tell them No, I do not have a
    boyfriend._* These girls have truly consumed my heart and soul. It will be so weird to leave when I have too. So, I have been to the shoe capital of the world. I took a picture of the worlds biggest shoe, which looks like a platform boot.

    I also have visited Rizal Park. This is home to Jose Rizal’s body, and where he was killed off by the Spanish. (Side Note: Today is Philippine-Spanish Friendship day.) He is the most remembered national hero of the Philippines. I read the letter
    he wrote before his death, Mi Ultimo Adios. It is very heart-jerking. I started shedding tears. I stood where he was shot by the Spaniards. I also rode a kalesa, which is a one-horse buggy. I rode this around Rizal park. If anyone one of you come to
    the Philippines, you must go to Rizal Park.

    I have also seen the Manila Hotel, former president Clinton stay here twice. I have also gone to the biggest mall in Las Filipinas. It is called Mega Mall. This mall closes everyday at Midnight. I have
    been to four malls already since last Saturday. The Malls out here are way better than the states. Not only cuz it is usually cheaper, but there is so much to chose from. I have already met two relatives, and thank goodness one of them is a
    vegetarian! So I got to eat more than just rice.

    I notice that I am barely hungry over here, I am just always thirsty. My favorite thing to eat over here is pancit canton. It is like ramen noodles. I still miss everyone, and cant wait to see, talk, or
    just plain email you all when I get back. Please keep sending me emails so what is going on over there, and what is going on with your lives. I love reading each one of them.

    Well, I hope you recognize me when I do get back. Just look for the
    girl with all the mosquito bites on her legs

    Now I must go because I am at the cyber cafe and can spend only so much for internet|.but before this letra ends I will leave you with Jose Rizals last farewell, first the way he wrote it, and the translation in English..
    Goodbye..for now!

    Rain

    Week #2

    Wow, so its been two weeks already_|. So that means my vaccine shots are working, no more jet lag, and my body is basically adjusting to the weather. I can even stand the heat sometimes without a fan. Over here, its not summer, its basically
    the rainy season_| It rains off and on_|. One thing I notice that is a difference between Filipinos and Americans is that we are scared of rain_|. How many times you see people running in the streets to get away from the rain_| How many times have you ran from the rain? It is not like that here in Manila_| People are playing basketball, taking showers in the rain, playing tag in streets, selling food, riding bikes_|. And also they are wearing sandals_|.

    While this was happening I was
    trying to get the girls inside the homes, but they were laughing at me because I was scared to get wet_|. In other news, I went to Patayas, which is in Quezon City, which is in Metro Manila_|. Patayas is a landfill dumping ground, basically a
    mountain full of trash, and a whole community live on this trash their houses are made of trash and they walk on trash. They get their source of living from the trash. Their clothes, shoes, toys, whatever all comes from the landfill. I have never
    seen poverty live this before_| It was crazy_| I feel very blessed for what I have_| The kids I worked with were the sweetest and also hungry. I helped served lunch and I never served like 30 to 40 kids in less than a few minutes_| I had to keep
    repeating to the kids â_œla mesa_* (which means the table in Filipino), because they kept on getting up from their seats_|. I must have had said la mesa like fifty times_

    |So I just happen to walk into a mall the other day, see I was getting off
    the LRT (imagine a subway) and the train stop is at a mall, which is called Metropoint Mall (this is in Pasay City), go figure_|. Also on the LRT, they have a car that is designated only for women. The women can sit in the manas section
    but the men cant sit in the womens’ section_|. I also have attended my first despedida party in the Philippines. This party celebrates someone leaving. One of our volunteers is leaving to China, so we had a despedida party in their honor.
    It was lots of fun. There was lots of food, Karaoke, and dancing. We danced hip-hop and the cha-cha. The youth and kids all know how to C Walk (a dance in the states), they can actually dance better than most people I see at the clubs in the
    States. Right now, the most popular American song is â_œIgnitionâ_* by R. Kelly. I am also getting to know Malate, Manila better;

    I am taking more jeepneys (one of the main forms of public transportation here), walking around more, and speaking Filipino moreâ_|. Don’t worry though even though I am getting more comfortable with Manila, I still miss each one of you dearly. Even though it seems I am so far away from everyone, just look up at the sky and think of me,
    because I always look up at the sky and think of all of you well until next week_|.

    Don t ever give up. Pray. It works_" painted on the side of an overpass in Quezon City, while I was going to Payatas.

    Tags
  • Fantastic Time Scapes, Thinking About Time, Our Future And The Powers Of Love.

    09/24/2021 - 11:17 by Anonymous (not verified)
    Original Author
    root
    Original Body

    When we have nothing but
    time and able to travel in it
    what will we do?

    Couple Lost Love with
    Time Travel and it can be Heaven
    or Hell for those who are the
    objects of timeless desire.

    by Joe B.

    Time, we either have to little or too much on our hands.

    Travels in time is an exciting concept many science fiction and the science of physics says the possibilities are there we just don’t have enough controlled energies for its control.

    For those who’ve have lost loved ones in wars, by tragic accident, or through disease must daily haunt the living showing them the raw, bare, reality that death is real and nothing can withstand its shroud covering all humanity living eventually in a unified gray sheet of the lifeless.

    But besides old Grim’s grip what if humankind became so technically, scientifically, enable humans to become pure energy an in this form as temporally incorporeal.

    In this incorporeal form one can race back or forwards in time.

    In this near invisible ghostly form one can enter just dead bodies of infants, older children, young teens, or adults.

    The second body within the one taken over expands adding to strengthen this outer body of flesh that would’ve and did die in another timeline.

    What if a suffering human that has lost his or her best friend, lover, husband, wife, or sibling was able to keep traveling over and over into various scenarios trying to prevent whatever cause the ceasing of life in the first place.

    Imagine a grieving wife revisiting her husband and able to take up bodies for physical contact in his timeline.

    A husband revisiting his wife learning everything about her he never could know when she was living and they were together.

    Or an ex boy/girlfriend either good to help them throughout their lives or cause endless extreme pain not that they are ex lovers.

    Imagine the hell ex friends can cause the other by systematically destroying their future at younger and younger ages.

    Someone they never knew now has the power with the expertise "Ghosting" into many bodies possessing physical forms of then supposedly dead people literally and physically haunting them!

    What could any man or woman do if the boy, girlfriends, or same sexed lovers do when they couldn’t know that every future lover they’ve been with is the same lover over and over again.

    How many times can these "living ghosts" intersect with a past love?

    To the traveler he or she has probably made physical love many times but to their unknowing loved it may always be the first, second, or seem like a new love they’ve run into.

    I thought of that and fairness goes out the window, it wasn’t fair to have a loved one taken suddenly by accident or slow disease and aging.

    If I could do those things without being caught there would be many lover’s I’d be keeping track of while possessing bodies about to die, stopping, reversing, necrosis of what was one a cadaver now a vehicle for a living ghost that haunts two or three lover’s in similar timelines.

    The only problem is time returning whole from an energy form or being trapped unable to change.

    It would be a form of accidental immortality but would it be really be alive, could one be called living when that can only be slightly sensed as a wraith of vapor or a breeze?

    Its just hypothetical blue sky spit balling but it would be interesting to be able to do that and return without any adverse reactions.

    Tell me reader’s, what would you do?"

    Donations C/0 Poor Magazine


    1448 Pine Street #205

    San Francisco, CA 94103


    Email: askjoe@poormagazine.org

    Tags
  • A MOTHER'S DAY. Mother's and Father's day is done, I'm just honoring my own a second time is all.

    09/24/2021 - 11:17 by Anonymous (not verified)
    Original Author
    root
    Original Body

    If I have caused you any pain
    I am deeply sorry, if I've cause
    great joy...

    I am humbled, honored to have done so.

    If I've turned into a good and noble son.

    It is a Mother's gift for the Wife
    who will have me.

    by Joe B.

    Today is a special day, my first, love, argument, kiss, slap, joy, fun, hurt, painful truths.

    My Mother’s birthday is today she remains 21+ that’s all I’ll ever know.

    Its said she was born with a veil over face especially her eyes which meant to many second sight. Years later she proved it true and maybe her first and second son also might have the gift passed on genetically.

    She had two miscarriages both males before having me and Solomon.

    Married twice, Graduating from Nursing school as a full fledged Registered Nurse.

    Some trouble happens in New York, between catching me throwing dice, learning to play craps near my apartment, and my father veiled threat to take us away made Mom move us 3,100 miles to California.

    For years I was angry at her for that but over time when both my father and step father didn’t call or visit.

    For me the complexity and inexplicable vagaries of life and I no longer blame anyone because they did what had to all of them loved us enough for that.

    My younger smarter brother follows my footsteps into the medical field becoming a cell researcher while I let my C.N.A./H.H.A, Dietary Aide [Certified Nurse Assistant, Home Health Aide].

    Before those jobs my work was as a custodian, food service assistance or cooks helper, Local 6 Warehouse Worker, Security Guard, Library Aide, and Lab Aide.

    I should’ve directed my scientific bent to be a lab technician or pharmacist since I loved looking at diseased ridden test tube’s, having them sterilized for reuse.

    Dates, mistakes, hitchhiking across the country, working with a kind family, visiting mama but not staying because there’s lingering anger, and finally returned to the bay area.

    Early displays of that veil power came to me when I said "I don’t trust that man, and don’t put your house up as collateral."

    As with most person with psychically inclined they can see other people’s problems but not their own. Both my brother and me are correct about the new boyfriend whether it was colored by our mother being with men other than our father I don’t know but we both had an inkling this jack-of-all-trades-master-of-some we didn’t trust the guy at all.

    In 1979 my mother lost her house due to bad business decisions. It’s the first I ever saw this strong, intelligent, psychic woman falter, breakdown and weep.

    All I could say is "The I . R. S. owns our home. She wanted to burn it down too but it is decided instead to take every light bulb from every socket along with everything else and move to San Leandro or Hayward.

    My brother was away in his own apartment, I worked all over in and out of the bay area like a displaced Gypsy.

    Mother, in her wisdom and strength gather what monies she had saved and decides to take a trip to Mexico.

    By that time I’m homeless I left Oakland became homeless in San Francisco my mind in a constant fog, writing short stories losing ‘em, moving from place to place living on G.A. [General Assistance] looking, finding short term jobs until I’m able to get into case management to safe money for an S.R.O.(Single Room Occupancy).

    My Mother’s resilient made me do better and as for women they’ve always been a problem and mystery but always helping with a word, physical, mental comfort, and kindness.

    Happy Birthday Mother for everything you’ve taught me through example, and when you thought I was not listening.

    I still need to get her a nice home where her dogs can run free in a large backyard. [Someone else will clean dog mess from the yard not me].

    Well, this is my personal salute to my mother and I going to give to her this day on her birthday since my money is funny for now and between my girlfriend and mom today is my mom’s day; so I miss some bed time I don’t get a lot as it is anyway that’s why I’m on a few date-for-sex-sites not (sorry mama) but you raised me and my brother very well. Remember, you said "If I ever EVEN think you’re take drugs I’ll set you up to be in jail.

    "Well, mom both your son’s don’t do any drugs unless its medical and we have the flu.

    Thank You for your touch, eternal love.

    Like my brother I want to be married someday too if I find my perfect or near match it’d be wonderful for the so called near end of my life.

    Happy Birthday Mommy.
    From your eldest son Joseph O. Bolden.

    Donations C/0 Poor Magazine
    1448 Pine Street #205

    San Francisco, CA 94103


    Email: askjoe@poormagazine.org

    Tags
  • MI ULTIMO ADIOS - The Poem

    09/24/2021 - 11:17 by Anonymous (not verified)
    Original Author
    root
    Original Body

    by Mariluna/PNN Youth in the Media report


    Por Jose Rizal (1896)

    AdiÃ3s, Patria adorada, regiÃ3n del sol querida,

    Perla del Mar de oriente, ¡nuestro perdido Edén!

    A darte voy alegre la triste mustia vida,

    Y fuera más brillante, más fresca, más florida,

    También por ti la diera, la diera por tu bien.

    En campos de batalla, luchando con delirio

    Otros te dan sus vidas sin dudas, sin pesar;

    El sitio nada importa, ciprés, laurel o lirio,

    Cadalso o campo abierto, combate o cruel martirio,

    Lo mismo es si lo piden la Patria y el hogar.

    Yo muero cuando veo que el cielo se colora

    Y al fin anuncia el dÖa, tras lÃ3brego capuz;

    Si grana necesitas para teñir tu aurora,

    Vierte la sangre mÖa, derrámala en buen hora

    Y dÃ3rela un reflejo de su naciente luz.

    Mis sueños cuando apenas muchacho adolescente,

    Mis sueños cuando joven ya lleno de vigor,

    Fueron el verte un dÖa, joya del Mar de oriente,

    Secos los negros ojos, alta la tersa frente,

    Sin ceño, sin arrugas, sin manchas de rubor.

    Ensueño de mi vida, mi ardiente vivo anhelo,

    ¡Salud! te grita el alma que pronto va a partir;

    ¡Salud! ah, que es hermoso caer por darte vuelo,

    Morir por darte vida, morir bajo tu cielo,

    Y en tu encantada tierra la Eternidad dormir.

    Si sobre mi sepulcro vieres brotar un dÖa

    Entre la espesa yerba sencilla, humilde flor,

    Acércala a tus labios y besa al alma mÖa,

    Y sienta yo en mi frente, bajo la tumba frÖa,

    De tu ternura el soplo, de tu hálito el calor.

    Deja a la luna verme con luz tranquila y suave,

    Deja que el alba envÖe su resplandor fugaz,

    Deja gemir al viento con su murmullo grave,

    Y si desciende y posa sobre mi cruz un ave,

    Deja que el ave entone su cántico de paz.

    Deja que el sol, ardiendo, las lluvias evapore

    Y al cielo tomen puras, con mi clamor en pos;

    Deja que un ser amigo mi fin temprano llore

    Y en las serenas tardes, cuando por mÖ alguien ore

    Ora también, ¡oh, Patria, por mi descanso a Dios!

    Ora por todos cuantos murieron sin ventura,

    Por cuantos padecieron tormentos sin igual,

    Por nuestras pobres madres, que gimen su amargura;

    Por huérfanos y viudas, por presos en tortura

    Y ora por ti, que veas tu redenciÃ3n final.

    Y cuando, en noche oscura, se envuelva el cementerio

    Y solos sÃ3lo muertos queden velando allÖ,

    No turbes su reposo, no turbes el misterio,

    Tal vez acordes oigas de cÖtara o salterio,

    Soy yo, querida Patria, yo que te canto a ti.

    Y cuando ya mi tumba de todos olvidada

    No tenga cruz ni piedra que marquen su lugar,

    Deja que la are el hombre, la esparza con la azada,

    Y mis cenizas, antes que vuelvan a la nada,

    El polvo de tu alfombra que vayan a formar.

    Entonces nada importa me pongas en olvido.

    Tu atmÃ3sfera, tu espacio, tus valles cruzaré.

    Vibrante y limpia nota sera para tu o–do,

    Aroma, luz, colores, rumor, canto, gemido

    Constante repitiendo la esencia de mi fe.

    Mi Patria idolatrada, dolor de mis dolores,

    Querida Filipinas, oye el postrer adiÃ3s.

    AhÖ te dejo todo, mis padres, mis amores.

    Voy donde no hay esclavos, verdugos ni opresores;

    Donde la fe no mata, donde el que reina es Dios.

    AdiÃ3s, padres y hermanos, trozos del alma mÖa,

    Amigos de la infancia, en el perdido hogar;

    Dad gracias que descanso del fatigoso dÖa;

    AdiÒs, dulce extranjera, mi amiga, mi alegrÖa,

    AdiÃ’s, queridos seres. Morir es descansar.

    MY LAST FAREWELL(in English)


    By Jose Rizal

    Farewell, dear Motherland, clime of the sun caressed,

    Pearl of the Orient seas, our Eden lost!

    Gladly now I go to give thee this faded life's best,

    And were it brighter, fresher, or more blest,

    Still would I give it thee, nor count the cost.

    On the field of battle, 'mid the frenzy of light,

    Others have given their lives, without doubt or heed;

    The place matters not - cypress or laurel or lily white,

    Scaffold or open plain, combat or martyrdom's plight,

    'Tis ever the same, to serve our home and country's need.

    I die just when I see the dawn break,

    Throught the gloom of night, to herald the day;

    And if color is lacking my blood thou shalt take,

    Pour'd out at need for thy dear sake,

    To dye with its crimson the waking ray.

    My dreams, when life first opened to me,

    My dreams, when the hopes of youth beat high,

    Were to see thy lov'd face, O gem of the Orient sea.

    From gloom and grief, from care and sorrow free;

    No blush on thy brow, no tear in thine eye.

    Dream of my life, my living and burning desire,

    All hail! cries the soul that is now to take flight;

    All hail! And sweet it is for thee to expire,

    To die for thy sake, that thou mayst aspire,

    And sleep in thy bosom eternity's long night.

    If over my grave some day though seest grow,

    In the grassy sod, a humble flower,

    Draw it to thy lips and kiss my soul so,

    While I may feel on my brow in the cold tomb below

    The touch of thy tenderness, thy breath's warm power.

    Let the moon beam over me soft and serene,

    Let the dawn shed over me its radiant flashes,

    Let the wind with the sad lament over me keen;

    and if on my cross a bird should be seen,

    Let it trill there its hymn of peace to my ashes.

    Let the sun draw the vapors up to the sky,

    And heavenward in purity bear my tardy protest;

    Let some kind soul o'er my untimely fate sigh,

    And in the still evening a prayer be lifted on high

    From thee, O my country, that in God I may rest.

    Pray for all those that hapless have died,


    For all who have suffered the unmeasur'd pain;

    For our mothers that bitterly their woes have cried,

    For widows and orphans, for captives by torture tried;

    And then for thyself that redemption thou mayst gain.

    And when the dark night wraps the graveyard around,

    With only the dead in their vigil to see;

    Break not my repose or the mystery profound,

    And perchance thou mayst hear a sad hymn resound;

    'This I, O my country, raising a song unto thee.

    When even my grave is remembered no more,

    Unmark'd by never a cross or a stone;

    Let the plow sweep through it, the spade turn it o'er

    That my ashes may carpet thy earthy floor,

    Before into nothingness at last they are blown.

    Then will oblivion bring to me no care;

    As over thy vales and plains I sweep;

    Throbbing and cleansed in thy space and air,

    With color and light, with song and lament I fare,

    Ever repeating the faith that I keep.

    My Fatherland ador'd that sadness to my sorrow lends,

    Beloved Filipinas, hear now my last goodbye!

    I give thee all; parents and kindred and friends;

    For I go where no slave before the oppressor bends,

    Where faith can never kill, and God reigns e'er on high!

    Farewell to you all, from my soul torn away,

    Friends of my childhood in home dispossessed!

    Give thanks that I rest from the wearisome day!

    Farewell to thee, too, sweet friend that lightened my way;

    Beloved creatures all, farewell! In death there is rest!

    Tags
  • SFPD - This Time Its <i>Child</i> Abuse

    09/24/2021 - 11:17 by Anonymous (not verified)
    Original Author
    root
    Original Body

    by Alex Cuff, Newsbrief Editor

    by Jaxon Van Derbeken

    San Francisco police officers improperly searched two girls last year and violated the rights of a 14-year-old boy they arrested, according to departmental charges that could cost five officers their jobs. The internal charges -- signed this month by Acting Chief Alex Fagan -- stem from a confrontation between police and three youth in Hunters Point that outraged the city's African American community. The incident occurred on Jan. 21, 2002 -- the national holiday set aside to honor slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. -- and led to an investigation by the Office of Citizen Complaints, resulting in the charges.

    Charged are Officers Marcial Marquez and Adam Choy and Sgts. Sherman Lee and Walter Cuddy. A fifth officer has also been charged but remains unnamed and has not yet been served
    with the complaint. The five officers will face hearings before the San Francisco Police Commission, which must determine what action to take against them.

    According to the internal complaint, police were summoned by a report of a woman screaming as well as word that two African American men were seen taking guns out of a burgundy-colored
    car near the Boys and Girls Club in Hunters Point. The complaint alleges that Marquez and Choy, after arriving at the scene, improperly searched two girls for weapons after ordering them out of the car at gunpoint.

    Marquez searched a 12-year-old girl, who offered no resistance but wondered why she was being searched, according to the charges. During the search, Marquez allegedly groped her with his open hands. Marquez's search violated the department policy that specifies that such searches of girls be done by female officers and was "unnecessarily intrusive, " according to the charges.

    Choy was also charged with being "unnecessarily intrusive" in his search of a 14-year-old girl.
    According to the complaint, Jerome King-Brown, a 14-year-old boy, started to protest the treatment of his 12-year-old cousin. King-Brown, who is 6 feet tall, afterward needed 11 stitches to close a wound received when an officer kneed him into the concrete, the complaint
    alleges. "Several officers descended on the juvenile," the charges state, "forcing him face-first onto the asphalt pavement, and handcuffed him."

    The officers left the boy with a lacerated lip that was bleeding heavily, the complaint states.
    No excessive-force charges were lodged against any officer in the handling of King-Brown.
    The acting lieutenant at the Bayview station that day, Sgt. Lee, is charged with six counts of misconduct related to the follow-up to the confrontation.

    Lee allegedly allowed an unjustified criminal check on
    the
    youths involved. He is also accused of abandoning the
    investigation of the initial report of armed men, of
    failing to
    properly advise King-Brown of his rights under
    questioning at
    the station and of failing to see that King-Brown got
    proper
    medical attention.

    Lee also allegedly did not respond to efforts by the
    boy's father
    to lodge a brutality complaint and did not conduct the
    mandated
    use-of-force investigation after he complained that his
    son had
    been brutalized.

    Sgt. Cuddy is accused in the complaint of neglect of
    duty for
    allegedly failing to follow the department's rules
    governing
    juvenile suspects.

    Witnesses have said -- and one police official has
    confirmed
    -- that someone at the scene asked the fifth unnamed
    officer
    why guns were pointed at kids. The officer allegedly
    replied:
    "As long as you people are here, we will act like this."

    The specifics of the allegations against the fifth
    officer were
    not available.

    A representative of the officers suggested that she
    would
    challenge the charges based on a failure to file them in
    time to
    meet a one-year of statute of limitations, which
    normally
    would have lapsed last January.

    "We'll be looking at all aspects, including whether they
    are in
    compliance with the statute of limitations," said
    Katherine
    Mahoney, attorney for the Police Officers Association.
    "The law
    does provide exceptions, including cases involving
    multiple
    officers as well as for when civil lawsuits have been
    filed. "

    Mahoney declined to comment on the specifics of the
    case,
    saying she had not seen all the allegations against the
    five
    officers.

    Police have said officers were compelled to restrain
    King-Brown because he was shouting and cursing and
    displaying a "violent demeanor" and ignoring repeated
    commands to "get back.''

    Police had cited King-Brown for delaying arrests, but
    juvenile
    authorities said the case had been investigated and the
    citation
    dropped.

    Susie McAllister, the mother of the 14-year-old girl,
    whose
    family has sued the department, says her child still
    fears and
    distrusts police in San Francisco.

    "My child was violated," she said.

    Witnesses have said that during the searches of the
    girls, their
    screaming, crying mothers were ordered by police to stay
    back.

    McAllister said the whole department needed to change.

    "The San Francisco Police Department has a bad
    reputation,"
    McAllister said.

    "It is not going to stop with those officers -- they
    need to redo
    the whole structure of the Police Department and the
    training."

    She said the "few bad apples" reflected negatively on
    the entire
    department.

    "It makes it hard on the community," she said. "Who can
    we
    trust and turn to in the time of need?"

    She criticized the lack of excessive-force charges
    involving the
    handling of King-Brown.

    "That's child abuse. . . . You don't need to use that
    much force on
    anybody's child," McAllister said. "You can't go around
    grabbing, pulling on them, not giving them their rights,
    ignoring their parents."

    She said officers would not respond to the angry parents
    at the
    scene. "The officers refused to communicate with us --
    we
    wanted to know, 'What in the hell is going on here? Why
    are
    you treating our kids like this?'

    "In turn, we got guns pointed to our face; we were told
    if we
    moved, we were going to be shot," she said. "In the
    meantime,
    our kids are screaming. They didn't know what they had
    done
    -- they were treated like animals."

    Ishmael Tarikh, director of Bay Area PoliceWatch,
    lamented
    that officers were not charged with excessive force
    against
    King-Brown.

    "I thought that allegation should have been sustained,"
    Tarikh
    said. "The underlying cause for them to ever interact
    with
    those people was bogus -- they had no right to get
    involved
    with those people that night, let alone taking a
    14-year-old
    and body-slamming him to the pavement.

    "They acted like thugs."

    Tags
  • growing up poor

    09/24/2021 - 11:17 by Anonymous (not verified)
    Original Author
    root
    Original Body

    a first person narrative

    by Jeff/PNN's Southern Ohio Correspondent

    I grew up in what is actually the Appalachian region of southern Ohio. There really wasn't much work, so my father could only get part time work as a hired hand on a farm and wasn't always around and mom couldn't have worked if she wanted to because there wasn't any transportation or healthcare accessible.

    That’s the thing about being out in the country, there isn't any easy access to healthcare unless you have the money for a car or gas which she had neither.

    I had one brother a few years older than myself, we lived in a small older house. It's the kind of house many parents wouldn't want their children staying over for the night. The paint had faded and it had an old leaky roof that had caused the plaster to begin to fall and stained the walls. I wasn't the only kid in the region that was poor, but we had it rougher than most kids I guess.

    When kids are young they really don't always know what being poor is all about. As you grow older there is more difference between the haves and the
    have-nots, especially by the time we went to junior high, kids seem to divide up into different socio-economic groups when they hang out.

    I was
    probably considered white-trash, there was no reason for any of the other kids to spend alot of time with me and all of the guys I hung out with were poor also.

    It didn't bother me as much when I was young but all of our clothes were handed down. I remember especially when I started to really grow always having to
    wear jeans that when I sat down were half way up to my knees. Me and my brother only had one pair of jeans that mom called school-clothes. She washed all
    of our clothes out by hand and they had to hang out to dry and there were times when me and my brother had no choice but stay around the house
    wearing just underpants, which was common when we were younger playing around the yard but more of a problem as we were a little older.

    I would sit in
    the back of the classroom so other boys in class wouldn't notice that my jeans were too short or the fact I had outgrown my undershirt. That’s all we ever wore.
    We never had any shirts like some of the rich kids had. After a while you learn to deal with it.

    I remember one day walking behind some other boys
    down the hall, they were talking about my brother, he was the one always getting into trouble, they said something about him being a redneck and the other
    one said he didn't even have any school-clothes kind of with a sneer.

    Class pictures were always kind of embarrassing too because most of the other kids
    were always cleaned and dressed up, and there I was with long black hair wearing the same old scummy clothes that I wore everyday.

    Other kids can be cruel.
    One reason I am still poor today is because the school system doesn't cater to the poor kids, if you’re having trouble in school, they only work with families that have enough wealth to pay the taxes to support the schools. If you don't have access to wealth then you don't have a fair shot at accumulating wealth as you get older.

    Day to day, life was difficult enough without worrying about homework and studying. It's not like we had
    areas to study. Our bedroom was just two twin size mattresses on the floor and an old dresser which was never used much.

    The problems of rural poverty in
    parts of Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio are not always as apparent as what you may see in cities but in many ways more real than most people know.
    I remember one Saturday morning I had been out early with Dad to pick up some junk and it was in March so it was wet and when I got home mom had to
    wash out my jeans and some other stuff. So I was lying on the couch about 10:00 a.m. watching whatever was on T.V. . About that time a couple
    of boys from school who were in my class came by unexpectantly with their father. They were on their way back from basketball practice and this one kid
    Josh was apparently going to stay overnight at the other kids’ ,Scotts, house. Scotts dad wanted to see if my dad could either do something for him or find an old part or something so they came in for a little bit and of course Scotts dad had to visit for awhile in the kitchen and the boys came into the room where I was.

    I
    could tell from the beginning that Josh, especially, didn't want to be there and wasn't used to being around a house like ours where the wallpaper was peeling off the ceiling and the rug in the room was worn out.

    Anyhow, Scott wanted me to go outside with him to look through some old bike parts that were out back by the shed. I
    didn't know what to do when they walked in, I was lying there covered by a blanket wearing only a pair of underpants and I think they thought I was just
    getting up and wasn't dressed yet. So I said yea in a little bit and I could tell this Josh kid whose father had a lot of money, I think he was a contractor or
    something, would use any excuse to get Scott out of there. He wanted to go out and play football, I could tell. We were all in the seventh grade at the time.

    Then Scott said, “why don’t you get something on and lets go”. I paused but figured it might be better to show them the room me and my brother slept in hoping that they wouldn't find out I couldn't go outside because the only pair of jeans that I had at all was wet hanging on the back porch where they came in. So I took them into the bedroom to the twin size mattresses on the floor the old dresser with a couple of the drawers pulled out.

    I was the only one around, my brother had gone somewhere for a few days. My parents let him kind of run wild, I guess, and he was a few years older than me. Anyhow, Josh said,
    “you guys just share this little room, there isn't even a door it just opens up to the hallway and then you just have to sleep on the floor.”

    I could tell Scott wanted him to settle down a little bit and not say so much. Scott decided the best thing to do was get Josh outside but he didn’t want to leave without me.

    “You know,” he said "get dressed, we don’t have all day, dad will be leaving soon and I want to look through those old motorcycle parts".

    I said, “ I don’t know if there is anything in here to wear or not”

    Scott said, “There must be something in the dresser” and then Josh started nosing through the open drawer.

    I just sat down on the mattress looking up, there wasn’t much I could really say. The house was a mess, I knew all that and they weren't used to living the way we did. Josh said, “I bet there’s something in here someplace as he pulled out another drawer
    which only had a few socks and briefs in it.”

    Scott went on to say, “ You must have a pair of pants here someplace!”

    I said mom just washed our clothes and Josh made a joke about the briefs hanging wet on the back porch. I told them that I may not have anything to put on. Josh went on to say “but theres only one pair of jeans hanging out on the porch, let’s go ask your mom where everything is at so we can get going.”

    I finally said, “I cant, you guys go along I'll be out soon, my mom just washed my jeans and that’s all I got I think.”

    Josh said, “that can’t be right you have something around here besides that pair .

    I finally said, “mom never got us any other pair, that’s all I got and I outgrew all the others I had. I don’t have any clothes anyhow since we’re poor.” Scott acted kind of embarrassed about the situation and didn’t want to say much.

    About that time I could hear Scotts Dad calling for him that it was time to get going. I didn’t know what to do, I walked out with them into kind of between the kitchen and living room door standing there as all of them stood in the kitchen for a bit while my dad and Scotts dad said good byes which took a while. I was glad they were leaving but wondered what they might say at school about my house. They knew I was poor, but the fact that I was, you know, fifteen years old, I had failed the sixth grade, and was held back just wearing nothing but a pair of underpants.

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  • ADVENTURES ON MINIMUM WAGE

    09/24/2021 - 11:17 by Anonymous (not verified)
    Original Author
    root
    Original Body

    by TJ Johnston/PNN Community Journalist

    Part 1

    Some people blithely reminisce of their first job. My memories aren't so wistful. Still, those memories resurface when I signed on as a petitioner for $6.75 Is Not Enough, the latest drive to increase minimum wage in San Francisco. Assuming this ordnance passes in the November election, the minimum will start at $8.50 for all local businesses. For those who scrape by on the current level, it's money gratefully welcome.

    When I was high school, my parents recommended I get a job. They did so with enough edge beyond mere recommendation. My mother knew the manager of the local Howard Johnson's (HoJo’s) and pulled the appropriate strings. I joined the paid workforce as a dishwasher. At least this humble position served as a buffer between home and school.

    If you never set foot under their orange roofs, HoJo's is a family style restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. They became famous for serving milkshakes. I remember Wednesdays there were Clam Fry Days. Before I became a vegetarian, I enjoyed their hamburgers.

    Such, such were the joys of washing dishes at HoJo's. The tasks were drudgery. In addition to bussing and stuffing dinnerware in an automatic washer, I also had to take out the garbage, sweep and mop the floors, inspect the bathrooms hourly; in short, I did all the work that was beneath the waitresses, cooks and managers. As befitted someone in my station, I was paid minimum wage.

    I started working evenings during the week and mornings on weekends. Weekdays were often dead, but business was brisker on those weekends. I had to wait hours for a lull where I needn't perform some busywork. I remember before an inspection, the staff had to scrub the place down. Most of my downtime was spent socializing with the waitresses who were also my classmates (no, I couldn't get a date with them). Sometimes I would chat with one of the cooks whose musical tastes I didn't share. Between that and his obsession with one of the younger waitresses, he didn't seem together.

    Our HoJo's was located right off the town rotary and was open 24 hours. Senior year in high school, my routine changed. As the only dishwasher who was 18, I was assigned to work overnight weekends, often called "bar rush." I had to nap at home before work.

    Between 10pm and midnight, it was busy, but the late night crowd horded in to eat after tying one on. Even if they weren't partying, at least they seemed to have more fun than I was. Whatever a normal teenage-hood was, spending 10pm to 6am working at HoJo's didn't fit in. Occasionally, I'd see some of my peers on their way home from Van Halen.
    I brought a boom box to fill the kitchen air. It was better than the Muzak usually heard weekdays.

    As an adolescent, I knew no better employment option available. I remember actually being paid slightly more for overnights than regular shifts. I had to accept that and having a legitimate excuse to stay out as trade-offs. Then I noticed that a cook who was younger than me and was hired after me earned a higher wage. I brought this objection to my mother. She told me not to complain or else, they'll replace me. So I brought my uniform home for repeated washings through graduation and winter break of my first college year. The next summer, I worked another restaurant nearby that wasn't open 24 hours. That job also sucked (but at least I made salads).

    When I think of working minimum wage, I envision my colleagues as people working an after-school or summer job and still living with their families. It shocks me that people attempt to sustain families on these slave wages paid by the WalMarts and Starbuckses of the world. Factor in an increasing standard of living and diminished buying power of the working class and contrast it with the widening economic chasm, you could see how entire populations are truly being "nickeled and dimed" in the US. When I hear some "expert" proclaim that raising minimum wage spells economic disaster for businesses, I try to picture them in a HoJo dishwasher outfit, complete with silly paper hat. These employees face disaster without a raise. The pundits seem inured from this supposed fallout. If the current campaign to bolster the paychecks of SF minimum wagers succeeds, we could avert financial catastrophe.

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

    Part 2

    Late June 2003--- I got a job petitioning for a San Francisco ballot measure to increase minimum wage: instead of the current $6.75 an hour, a floor of $8.50 is proposed.

    It was fortuitous that I saw Supervisor Matt Gonzalez gathering signatures near a neighborhood Safeway and I asked where to join. Before, I was close to enlisting in a "Recall Governor Davis" effort. Increasing paychecks is something I could stand behind.

    I ran to the headquarters of the petition drive and started the next day.

    Exploring the territory of John and Jane Q. Voter in this town is already daunting. If they take public transportation to and from work, they already turn on a defense mechanism so they could ignore the clipboard brigade. The presence of other petitions further confuse would-be signers. Add language barriers and political disengagement to the mix and you have an idea of the challenges signature gatherers face.

    Unlike others, this drive paid by the shift, not by the signature: it works out to $11.00 an hour and I get reimbursed for public transit. The major caveat, though, was that the boss expected at least 100 signatures of SF registered voters. She said it wasn't fair for her to pay the same to one who gets 100 and another who falls short by about 50 or 60. She said she just flew from Texas for this campaign and I knew she had a lot to learn about local politics.

    In her article, "The World's Largest Gated Community," (Poor News Network, Oct. 22, 2002) Carol Harvey observed how the campaigns of Props N and R were concerted efforts to economically cleanse San Francisco. Gavin Newsom's Prop N, recently overturned by a state court, would have slashed welfare payments to the indigent. Prop R, a losing measure in the last election, would have displaced renters to condo conversion. The underlying intent of those measures' proponents is to evict low- to middle-income voters from the city electoral pools and make SF a wealthy enclave.

    If the initiative makes the ballot, the city's super-wealthy will take the offensive. When I asked suit-and-tie types to sign, they doubt the need to raise the minimum: some espouse Economics 101 lessons, citing how increases drive away business. Despite the talking points I'm supplied with ( a recent UC-Berkeley study figures operating costs increase less than 1 per cent), I can't seem to convince them. Minimum wage to these folks are what their high school kids make folding jeans at the Gap. They're not likely to know anybody struggling to feed, clothe and shelter themselves on a meager paycheck. Their bartenders, maybe…

    When you consider that California politics increasingly caters to older, affluent and whiter voters, it's not hard to imagine it's not a lightning rod issue for them. From these smaller ponds, the Establishment hopes to elevate their own favorite sons who will follow their agendas. A more diverse constituency that includes working class folk, students, retirees, naturalized citizens and others only makes it harder. Is it any wonder why getting so many valid signatures that difficult?

    .

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