2003

by SouthPole/Youth in the media contributor

"All the Superintendent was trying to do was insure that the students had a second
chance"-Staff to Superintendent Ackerman.

Dr. Ackerman is in dire need of Politics 101. A
word of advice for any aspiring politicians: A politician or their staff should never make
a subjective statement about themselves or their boss. The fact is you cannot sign away
your rights, especially, without legal council present.

His Honor the Mayor Willie L.
Brown, Jr., Superintendent of Schools Dr. Arlene Ackerman, and several San Francisco
Unified School District lawyers met with students and parents of students facing
disciplinary action by the school district, in result of the October Eleventh riot, without
legal council representing the students, and offered them a deal. If the students promised
not to sue, they would have all charges removed from their record. Keep in mind "All the
Superintendent was trying to do was insure that the students had a second chance". It is
not likely that public officials would intimidate high school students, using titles,
numbers, and law degrees, to "insure that the students had a second chance". Not being
there, it is not right to say that this is a rat, but it smells like one, looks like one,
and certainly tastes like one.

__________

You may contact me at 'SouthPole@journalist.com'.

Is there deal over school brawl?

BY NICK DRIVER Of The Examiner Staff (originally printed on 12/09/2002)

Three of The City's most prominent political leaders intervened after October's cathartic Thurgood Marshall
High School police-student clash, offering to drop charges against four teenagers if they agreed not to sue the
Police Department, sources say.

Mayor Willie Brown, school Superintendent Arlene Ackerman and Police Chief Earl Sanders and their
representatives met with the four students and their parents at least twice.

"At one closed meeting, hosted by Mayor Willie Brown, possible agreement options were discussed," said
district spokesperson Lorna Ho.

"Dr. Ackerman felt compelled to find a compromise which would hopefully allow for the students, who were
facing possible charges, to get a second chance, since based on her inquiries, none of the students had any prior
offenses before Oct. 11," said Ho.

More than 200 students were involved in the fracas.

That morning, 70 police, many in riot gear, stormed the campus after a fight broke out and school
administrators panicked.

The resulting clash sent dozens of students to the hospital and caused the principal to resign.

"The Police Department, along with the African American Community Relations Board, is working with the
students' parents and the Board of Education to come up with a plan to benefit the students," Sanders said in a
statement Friday.

The meetings were held in a bid to convince the four students to avoid further public allegations of police
brutality concerning the melee at the heavily black high school in Silver Terrace.

One parent, a Spanish-only speaker with little knowledge of the law, may have already signed on to an
informal plan to sign the deal, defense attorneys said.

But the school district bristled at suggestions The City was trying to muscle through a deal to get the police off
the hook, with spokespersons saying everyone present knew this was no secret deal and was strongly in the
interest of students.

"It was the superintendent's goal for the students to move forward with their futures without blemishes on
their records," Ho said in a statement.

"It was made clear by verbal instruction that families should consult legal counsel before making any
decisions."

But early drafts of the Memorandum of Understanding, which were labeled drafts, not final agreements,
contained no legal warnings.

Ackerman and her legal staff are drawing up the final version "as we speak," Ho said.

The students' defense lawyers say whatever happened in the meetings should not have happened without them
present. Brown, a lawyer, should have known better, one said.

Another accused the police of arresting students to strengthen the department's position should the threat of
lawsuits arise.

"There is a lot we still don't know, but it certainly appears that the mayor, the superintendent and the Police
Department met with these students and their parents without their attorneys," said Whitney Leigh, an attorney
for the law firm of Keker and Van Nest, which is defending one student.

"They attempted to persuade them to waive their rights to sue in return for a dropping of charges, and that is
inappropriate on so many levels," Leigh said.

by Joe B.

Back to back storms hammering San Francisco last night and early today is another warning to get my act together.

Starting with dripping water on my bed and rug.

Living up four flights up is great when fleet week's Blue Angels fly high making sonic booms but other than that when it rains I always worry about leaks in my room above me is the roof.

Enough about that how about food and sex?

At this late date I’m learning do with less while the other I’m literally starved for.

Food and Sex are equated in different ways to me.

When eating I like the slow anticipation, smells, hint, and faint taste of the food.

To savor flavors taking time to sample each plate.

With sex its surpasses food because if correctly done it can be repeated, varied, each partner resting as the other gathers strength, stamina, endurance for longer slow heated session.

I don’t go bars unless they have a café too.

I’m a very quiet, tend to sit in a corner and write things, don't dance guess I can relearn that again.

Then there’s the lazy eye problem which throws women off meaning I’m counted out as date material.

Food is substance and learning to eat healthy is the best I can do while trying ease or break out of my shell of constant feminine rejection.

After a few women did take a chance on me I feel finally I am not an Ogre, troll, or frog that will never be taken home.

Still I’m starved, hungry, parched to be touched and touch sometimes just staying in afterglow in wordless communication or with words is worth it for a lover’s peace of mind that she's there for him, him for her or whichever lover that stays long after sex is done.

Since I don’t smoke, drink, or take drugs it seems my endurance is notched way up.
And I don’t mean that long march from 24th and Mission Street to City Hall.

I dislike looking at sports all day and porn flicks pale in the face of fleshy reality.

For me there are quieter, slower, more pleasant ways to spend lazy Saturday or Sunday mornings - endurance helps with that too.

My aging process isn’t sped up as many of my contemporaries and I’d like outwit entropy more in future.

Because of earlier experiences with cars,(got hit by 'em) girls,
(got beaten especially if they like you but express it with punches in the face, mouth, and stomach) it could've be worse,
and sports(hit in my good eye by yellow indoor hockey puck).

Later in high school (getting speared, gored in the neck by a guy using a shopping cart as ramming device,because weeks before he pulled down my red gym shorts had regular shorts on in public outside in gym class.

For that I rabbit punched him twice in the face busting his lip open.

Like everyone else growing up I go through stuff get over most of it except the lazy eye thing.

I didn’t listen and kept taking the patch off.

So I either scare children or they now tell me "You should’ve listened to your mother like I did."

I guess I’ll ware a black patch so women won’t automatically do a zoom in zoom out seeing my minor vision flaw.

Recently I was reading the back of a S.F. Guardian, you know all the dating section for people getting together or mixed signals.

I see the "Safe Sex Get Paid" Men!

Usually after reading the paper I give it to someone else to read or don’t pick it up refusing to place an ad out of fear of rejection and self loathing.

Then there’s the no-car-SRO kiss of death.

I’ve even thought of going to one of those men’s club like Hustler’s, Crazy Horse, or Big Al’s.

But even if I dressed well, saved money and enjoy the food and conversations with a few lovely ladies.

Still the women working there or there with or without dates have scoped the place, men/women out and already unless I ware a patch will certainly be passed, overlooked, or talked to as a joke, I know its happened before and need not be repeated.

Back to the Safe Sex Get Paid Ad.

I thought why the hell not, ware a damn patch, make a call, check it out and if something happens and I’m paid too that’s enough revenge for me.

women are blameless for rejection it was my error as a child causing a visceral physical revulsion they have seeing a less than perfect man we all do it to some degree.

I do have someone across the bay and when I go it is heaven for a few days and hours I just cannot go everyday and both our work schedules do not coincide.

Then I return to San Francisco and purgatory now you know why I feel empty, starved, parched, always hungry.

There is sexual addiction, hyper sex drives, low to no sex drive.

My problem:I don’t get enough of it its like breathing in half breaths, or being half asleep the whole you were sleep you really didn’t get enough sleep and you wake up groggy and still tired.

Am I being more practical in receiving sexual gratification and getting paid for it, giving up regular girl friend(s).

I’m like many guys in that if marriage, family is not in the cards I might as well be as good as I can to all the stray women not necessary into commitment.

Until I find one that is.
One poor slobs sad story granted but I’m gonna check this Safe Sex Pay thing out and if something or someone comes out of that’s fine but will I expose this?

Hell no, if I’m having sex getting, paid for it I’ll say nothing about it.

I’ll be more happy, less on edge, feeling less pressure, and more release and free.

As you can see and hear I’m a nerd about sex to the point like food I know it should be savored, enjoyed not rushed and one should improve upon.

As for Yoga, Transcendental Medication, Karma Sutra, and Tantric, Tantric arts since I’ve been starved and like any child of light I’d like to make as many female people as a few have made me.

Women, got any ideas how I can improve my odds of meeting some of you without being dorkish?

In San Francisco. I’m a nice, timid, horny but not horn dog guy.

Any help will be appreciated.

PS If guys or ladies tried the ad, got into it.
Could you folks tell me good and bad stuff about your experience.

You folks know what happens I'd like to be warned what I'm getting into... Bye.

Please send donations to

Poor Magazine or in C/0

Ask Joe at 1448 Pine Street St. Street,

San Francisco, CA. 94103 USA

For Joe only my snail mail:
PO Box 1230 #645

Market St. San Francisco, CA 94102

415- 626-4405

Email: askjoe@poormagazine.org

by By Leroy Moore/Illin and Chillin and DAMO

From New Jersey to Cali there has been an ongoing funding crisis for community services and support for people with developmental disabilities. This year’s additional budget cuts and even more massive cuts next year means the entire system could be eliminated. The New Jersey Minorities with Disability Coalition forward DAMO an article in a local newspaper entitled ‘Unkept promises to the state disabled.’ New Jersey’s Governor, McGreey inherited the problem of the underfunded, crowded, aging, understaffed of developmental centers and services. Federal inspectors found a bushel of problems and threaten to cut off $73 million in federal funds to the already starving system. California is in the same situation. The state Bureau Audits reported that California’s obligation to people with developmental disabilities can’t be met because of inadequate funds once again.

The California Legislative Analyst Office projects massive budget shortfall of over $20 Billion; predicts current year deficit at 6 billion. According to Marty Omoto, Legislative Director for United Cerebral Palsy Association, Gray Davis administration is reportedly considering the possibility of closing down a least one of the five state owned Developmental Centers for the purpose of saving. The same reason is now used by the LA County Supervisors who are trying to shut down Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center in Downey saying that it is too costly. The implication of this decision on people with disabilities, especially those of color are drastic. Rancho is dedicated solely to the treatment of disabling condition and is the only source of quality rehabilitation services for southern Californians who are impoverished and on Med-Cal many are Latino and Black. Rancho also treats pediatric conditions, which makes it an important link in the Developmental Disabilities system of care. The Supervisor final vote will be made in Jan.

Although this is drastic times, DAMO and disabled people of color are still not benefiting from the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Individual Disability Education Act of 1975 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. On top of that our neighborhoods have been gentrified leaving a huge number of poor disabled people of color homeless. Many of us can’t afford institutional care or can’t understand and move in the red tap bureaucracy that wraps around developmental centers and other institutional settings leaving us and our family outside in the cold. The National Council on Disability has reported that over 70% of people with disabilities live under the poverty line. However if you add race to the picture it rises to over 90%. In communities of color there are a lack of organizations serving people with disabilities whose fault is this?

I do believe we need to come together in this budget crisis time but we also need to make some fundamental changes to the disability services system. For one we need to look at the funding stream that funnels into traditional disability organizations and leave our new organizations of and for disabled people of color struggling to serve our own community on shoestring budgets. The key problem of the constant lack of funding for our services and implementation of our laws is that there is no radical grassroots activism on a large scale with diverse players inside and outside the traditional disabled movement. Thus giving states the red carpet to walk on our needs. We need an organizing leadership school to train our disabled youth about advocacy on a local and state level to increase new leaders with revolutionary ideas.

The disabled community has never really dealt with race or poverty and the unmet needs of disabled people of color and poor disabled people thus not keeping to the vision of the disability rights movement. So if the states are not keeping their promises to its disabled whose fault is it? Is it time for new leaders? Is it time for local advocates to pull down our leaders in our states and show them reality in our neighborhoods? Is it time for the disability rights movement to splinter into women, race and homosexual sectors to educate our leaders and political leaders. I know one thing it’s time for a change not only because we are in budget crisis because if we don’t let other voices speak than we will continue to be underfunded limiting our growth.

Now there is a call for a statewide advocacy network to do grassroots organizing and advocacy to save our disability services, programs and benefites in the California budget crisis this year and next year. In the early part of December, 02, DAMO will be in Sacramento to make sure the voice of people of color with disabilities and our families are heard. This is only the beginning!

Please contact Marty Omoto
(916) 446-3204 email: martyomoto@crip.com
or DAMO at:
(415) 346-3740 Or (510) 649-8438 or sfdamo@Yahoo.com

Stay tuned for more info!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Leroy F. Moore Jr.
Executive Director of DAMO

by Father Louis Vitale (A STREET SHEET exclusive)

Greetings from the Nellis Federal Prison Camp in North Las Vegas, Nevada. I
am spending three months here for protesting at Fort Benning, Georgia last
year. The protest was to bring a closing to the School of the Americas
located there. The graduates of that school are notorious for torture and
assassination of thousands of people in Latin America. These include such
notables as: Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador; four American nuns who
were raped and killed; seven Jesuits and their female associates from the
University of El Salvador; numerous other bishops, clergy and religious
leaders; and union and social workers in Latin American countries.

My short sentence of three months is almost a joke within the federal prison
system. Most of the 600 men here are here for many years. Federal mandatory
sentencing guidelines have given most of these inmates as many as ten years
or more for non-violent crimes -- mostly drug activity and some business
crimes. There is also no parole from the federal prison system.

Most of the men here are young, typically in their twenties. Most are also
fathers. Thus, this system robs young men of a great part of their young
manhood. It also robs children of their fathers during childhood and teenage
years.

Further, there are almost no vocational or educational programs here. What
future will these men have when they leave this system? A recent article in
the (November 26th) Los Angeles Times about homelessness pointed to the very
large numbers of those released from prison who end up on skid row in Los
Angeles. Surely this is true in every city. What other options are there?

One might not dispute that there are criminal laws for drug dealing. But
when one hears of these very long sentences -- basically taking the best
years of someone's life and the years needed by their children, for activity
that might in other places or times be legal, something seems out of kilter.
As I first heard of some of the sentences here in Las Vegas they were
holding elections, and one of the ballot issues was legalizing possession of
marijuana. It didn't pass, but might next time. What impact would that have
on the man with a ten-year sentence for growing marijuana in Humboldt
County? Someone will be creating the supply. These are some of the questions
I ponder.

The camp here is located on Nellis Air Force Base. Each day we see planes --
B-2 bombers, Stealths -- preparing for war in Iraq. The cost of these
weapons and the military runs into the many billions. The prison system is
also a billion dollar industry. I think of our homeless in Las Vegas and
elsewhere. The numbers are becoming astronomical.

The major problem is a lack of housing. If only we could put the money used
for military and prisons into housing, what a difference it would make. We
could be saving lives instead of destroying or wasting them. Surely that
should be in our thoughts as we celebrate the Christmas season and begin a
New Year.

I miss very much being in San Francisco and the Tenderloin. I miss the
people at Saint Boniface and in our shelter. I miss being with the many
activists who are trying to make a better community and world.

My fellow inmates ask me if I'll be back. That is... back in the criminal
system. They look at me and say, "I don't think you are going to give up on
the causes about which you are so concerned." I don't know how to answer
that question. I know I will not quit speaking and acting for justice, in
San Francisco and other places. Hopefully we will have more opportunities to
have a voice. But if it is necessary for me to risk prison again, then we
will have to consider that.

For now I look forward to my return. Some ask me if I'll be going to a
halfway house first (the usual end of a federal prison sentence). Actually,
there is one at 111 Taylor Street, right around the corner from Saint
Boniface. But my sentence is too short for that. Besides, I already have a
place to live and work after prison.

On January 12th I will be released and will work my way back to San
Francisco, the Tenderloin and all the people I miss so much. I do give
thanks for the numberless people who have supported me in so many ways.
Especially I am grateful to continue to work for justice and compassion for
those in need.

I know I will be adding to my list more activity for prison reform, joining
with such groups as Families Against Mandatory Minimums -- the mandatory
minimums that force judges to give such very long sentences. We also need to
find the way to reinstate parole at the federal level. Perhaps Congresswoman
Nancy Pelosi can help to reintroduce that at the next congress. These
actions can come to the rescue of so many spending much of their lives in
prison and away from their families. I am reluctant to leave Nellis Prison
Camp, and leave so many of my new friends behind, without doing something to
help them return to normal and productive life.

Originally Published in STREET SHEET
A Publication of the Coalition on Homelessness, San Francisco
468 Turk Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
415 / 346.3740-voice o 415 / 775.5639-fax
streetsheet@sf-homeless-coalition.org
http://www.sf-homeless-coalition.org

by Staff Writer

Dear Indigent litigant: I was in a San Francisco Walgreen's. The employees followed me around. I put my things down and left. The employees surrounded me and pushed me to the back room. I was searched. When they found nothing one of their employees got batteries from the floor said I damaged store property. One called me a racial slur and tried to stab me with an envelope opener. I left the property called the police and got arrested for theft. The police said I was not welcomed back there. What should I do?

Sincerely, Mr. Shopping while Black.

Dear Mr. Black: it is my opinion that in this case I would have done the following. First I would have made the police department charge me with the petty theft. I would have demanded a jury trial (invoking the Duran test -fair racial cross section) and forced the police to show proof that I had actually taken any property by ordering the public defender to subpoena copies of all videotapes of surveillance security from the store. I also would have made the District Attorney press charges against the employees for assault-240pc, battery-242pc, False imprisonment-236pc, lying to a police officer, filing a false police report148.5pc. And a few other charges to make it more interesting. I would have also notified the corporate office of the incident and pressed charges against the store "entity" for violations of my civil rights. (There are federal criminal charges for civil rights violations). I would do this only as a last resort if the store refused to remedy me for the actions of their employees.

Sincerely,

I.L

by Joe B.

As Axis America or –Ameri-corp with Jr. Bush as
‘Prez , Commander and Chief bangs silverware for a dead oil based Middle East War.

I worry about a X-Mas, New Years date.

Just bringing things to a manageable, scale down
situation.

I hope people are wising up quickly and know that America cannot go rogue to long.

For all our superpowers its been proven we’re as vulnerable as any nation.

Which should make one
pause, think, and grow up, mature and have wisdom wielding power balanced with mercy, justice and love.

That’s it for me.. Bye.

Please send donations to

Poor Magazine or in C/0

Ask Joe at 1448 Pine Street St. Street,

San Francisco, CA. 94103 USA

For Joe only my snail mail:
PO Box 1230 #645

Market St. San Francisco, CA 94102

415- 626-4405

Email: askjoe@poormagazine.org

by Valerie Schwartz/PoorNewsNetwork Community Journalist

I remember living in an old International Harvester Moving Van. It was a 1948 that had been painted purple and converted into a R-V. I t had wooden planks for the floor and the walls were made of plywood. We had a sink, cutting board/counter adjacent to it, there was an old claw-foot bathtub and a wood burning stove. There were little porthole windows that had been salvaged from old washing machines, and a stained glass window. Even the roof above the bed opened up as a bed-sized skylight, a window to the heavens. No one, who lived and traveled in the truck was on any kind of assistance; we worked and bartered for everything we needed. Anyone could live in the truck, there was only one catch: you could not use money. I considered it a great learning experience... to live without using money and survive. Since then I have lived in my van , cars, and trucks through various times that I haven't had housing. I have lost all of my possessions because of being towed: all of the things I had left that were truly important to me... and things that could not be replaced. Unfortunately, there are folks out there right now, still trying to survive that are being harassed, having their homes ransacked and towed by the police for being homeless and accused of bogus charges that supposedly justify the means of the officers actions.

"There were officers in full fledged riot gear, shields and full faced helmets and shotguns. There were officers sporting snipers rifles with bullet proof vests...they even had a S.W.A.T. team deployed in addition to all the officers in uniform. Add to those plainclothes officers, detectives, inspectors and the like. I believe we can safely place the number of officers somewhere upwards of fifty." Frank Ryan, self employed metal recycler and vehicularly housed citizen of San Francisco.

"As a vehicularly housed person, I have the right to live in my vehicle, including: the right to sleep, eat, and rest in my vehicle." Vehicularly Housed/Towed Person's Bill of Rights, Coalition on Homelessness.

Frank P. Ryan and Bill Payne are partners in metal recycling. Frank and his girlfriend Trish had been living in a lot on Selby and Innes, that they oversaw, kept clean for the owners (Cor-o-van) and also kept their yards/lots secure and free of people who tried to stay on the property for extended lengths of time. In return for their work they were allowed to live on the lot and keep their vehicles that they lived in, worked out of, and kept their tools for work stored and parked in the Cor-o-van lot. Bill kept his motor home parked across the street from Frank and Trish on Selby St. Having been homeless and living in their own legally registered vehicles for several years; these friends forged a partnership in the recycling business. A business that many people depend on for their incomes. Let's call them an unrecognized workforce that is larger than one would imagine...

You can easily recognize them as very hard workers. Their hands are calloused and blacked from grease, dirt and metal. Their clothes also have the dirt of labor, the odor of grease and oil, and their faces wear the expression of disheartened, weary warriors tired of battle. These are definitely not men who do not idle their time away, it is easy to see that they work very hard for what little they have.

"They towed and impounded my vehicle for being eighteen-inches away from a non-existent curb." Bill Payne, vehicularly housed metal recycler and victim of harassment.

For the last year more so than the previous two, Frank and Bill have had ongoing problems with harassment and having their vehicles and property taken away by City Tow via the SFPD. Their bane has been Officer Swatco and his partner from the Bay View Police Station who according to Bill and Frank, have been harassing them and other vehicularly housed people in the area for quite a while now.. I believe this because I have spoken with other vehicualrly housed persons who have told me of their harassment by the same officers in the Bay View area. Frank and Bill both recounted numerous incidents to tell us at POOR, about the hostility and discrimination they have experienced at the hands of Officer Swatco and his co-workers.

"All lawful owners, possessors, or operators of vehicles shall be free from discriminatory enforcement of the law and shall enjoy freedom from harassment and discrimination in towing." Vehicularly Housed/Towed Persons Bill of Rights, Coalition on Homelessness.

On September 30, 2002 a search warrant, was said to have been served at Frank's home/lot. He was not present at the time and to date still has not seen the warrant. The first time he was aware of it was on October 2, 2002 when he had been released from county jail on a different warrant that he had been picked up and detained on September 29, 2002. This was the day before the warrant was to said to have been served along with the raid.

What happened was that SFPD in a commando style raid on September 30, seized the lot under the guise of bringing an "International Ring of Tool Thieves" under arrest and confiscating the alleged cache of tools. The way Frank and Bill described the scenario as it unfolded sounded like a war zone and rang of so many unnecessary police actions that in the end, after investigation: turn out to be no more than hype, but nonetheless frightening, cruel and without merit. There were no gangsters, thieves, Viet Cong, or terrorists: just homeless folk trying to stay off the dole. "We work for every dollar we get." -Frank Ryan

What happened to Frank and Trish's motor home and possessions was happening to Bill's at the same time across the street. The same kinds of damage and disregard. I wonder how much it cost the city to pay all those specialized forces for a humbug? Bill was present at the time and taken to jail along with his neighbor Trish, his dog impounded, and his vehicular home towed. Bill and Frank have both told me of how the officers were verbally abusive, sarcastic, and unprofessional in their behavior to Trish and Bill. The police kept making innuendo's and remarks that referred that they, the people whose lives they were razing didn't have anything coming because they were "tool thieves." The warrant was dismissed and all charges dropped. Except now they had to pay to get their vehicles back, repair the damage, and try to get their property back. This meant to once again start from the bottom, with next to nothing.

Yes , you may want to draw a parallel here because I am speaking of the same Bay View police station that was responsible for the police action that took place at Thurgood Marshall School not long ago. One might ask, who is terrorizing whom?

When Frank returned home, all he found was the aftermath of the unnecessary damage, and the indifference to his life, business. Bill and Trish were now in jail. All of their dogs were impounded too. According to Frank... although the keys were given to the police upon demand for all of the vehicles and locking compartments when asked for them: the doors were pried open, tool boxes on the truck were pried open, his motor home damaged that he used to repair computer systems and store tools, their trailer door was ripped down and folded in half and the other entry ways broke down and the floor torn up. His truck was damaged : the hood, fenders, doors, tool carriers, and both bumpers. After doing all of the aforementioned damage and finding nothing there, no 'International Ring of Tool Thieves" the police then towed and impounded his truck.

Frank said about his truck, " I have no explanation as to why they wanted it, there wasn't any stolen merchandise in it, it hasn't been used in illegal activities, it was legally parked, no tickets have been issued on it, but tow it they did."

"We are not thieves, we don't steal tools", Bill and Frank stressed while telling us of the ordeal that they have been through. They both explained that they have bought, traded and bartered to help get the tools they need for their work and to keep a back up in case one broke. Many of the tools that were taken in the raid were hand tools and their bicycles: the warrant was for power tools. The police also combine d Frank and Bill's tools into one pile without making note of what came from where.

I spoke to Mara Rader at the Coalition on Homelessness about the vehicularly housed folk in the city, and in particular the Bay View area. I asked Mara, "Have you seen a noticeable increase in the harassment, towing of the vehicularly housed recently?"

Mara said, "No, there has been pretty consistent harassment of people living in their vehicles since they moved them out of China Basin." Mara then relayed, " There is a particular focus in the Bay View neighborhood."

"Do you feel that Prop N has anything to do with this?" I asked.

Mara says, " I think Prop N added to a nasty growing sentiment of the citizens of San Francisco against the homeless."

While listening to the rain outside I was thinking of Bill and Frank and I empathized. I thought about when my van was towed with all my tools, ladders and everything else I owned. I had been a house painter/building maintenance for a long time and was temporarily houseless but not without work. I lost everything I had in that van. Without transportation, my tools, and a place to sleep...I couldn't work. It was only a matter of time before my life eddied into the gutter.

I remembered how I myself had worked until I was speckled like an Easter egg with paint, plaster, dust, and sweat. I paid for some, bartered for some and worked for many of the tools I had gotten for work which were not stolen. I knew the people I bought, traded , or worked for to get them (just as I believe Frank and Bill did). The tools were always used, but in good shape from people who upgraded by buying new ones for themselves. This enabled me to be more efficient and productive on my jobs.

I feel a smoke screen is being blown in the whirlwind disguise of catching crooks when all that is going down is an exacerbation of the war against the poor , homeless, vehicularly housed, people of color, and immigrants in San Francisco. The economy is faltering, jobs are hard to obtain, housing is simply not adequate, affordable, or accessible in San Francisco. Many people in the Bay Area are what we at POOR refer to as "vehicularly housed." Many of these people are self employed, or recyclers. They are living in vans, motor homes, old buses, trucks and cars so they may have a space. This adds to a persons margin of safety, not to mention keeps them out of the elements thus upgrading the odds against ill health and gives them access to self employment as a means of survival.

IF YOU ARE VEHICULARLY HOUSED AND ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TICKETS, TOWING OR HARASSMENT: PLEASE CALL THE COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS
AT 468 TURK....(415) 346-3740 ...ASK FOR MARA OR JIM.

Update: five days after Frank and Bill came to newsroom at POOR: On Wednesday December 11, 2002 the DPW, Cal-Trans, and the SFPD arrived on Selby St. and razed the camps, tents, shelters, and towed vehicles of the homeless who have been camped under the 280 Freeway. There were even bulldozers and alot of manpower to ensure this action took place. Frank and Bill where there and now literally have no where to go. People were ticketed for being homeless, and also for living in their vehicles... those who had vehicles left. The City Council is meeting this afternoon at City Hall to discuss making some kind of legislation to protect the rights of the vehicularly housed in S. F. 12-16-02.

by Mike vizcarra/PoorNewsNetwork Community Journalist

Looking at Willie Warren, I find it hard to imagine anybody
wanting to start a fight with this man. He stands over 6 feet tall and
weighs around 250 lbs. This is a big and intimidating looking man. But
after speaking with him, I realized he1s one of the nicest men I1ve ever
met. But this past Labor Day September 2, 2002, Willie Warren, with his
imposing figure, was beaten by two men, two white men, in the Tenderloin.
What was Willie doing? Nothing. He was just walking down the street.

It was around 8 o1clock at night and Willie was walking east on
Turk from Van Ness. He turned onto Polk and was heading for Kentucky Fried
Chicken to get something to eat. But he never made it there. As he passed
the Wooden Horse Bar near Polk and Eddy, two men started harassing him.

"They were two white guys in their mid 20s to late 30s with
well-groomed haircuts," said Willie, "and they were both about my size with
one guy taller than me."

Willie tried ignoring their taunts and continued walking up
Polk. But one of them looked at him and yelled, "Hey nigger mother fucker!
Hey nigger, I1m talking to you punk!" This made Willie stop momentarily.

He asked them, "Why are you saying this when I don1t even know
you?"

Their response? "Fuck you."

The two men started to approach Willie, with one of the men
blocking his way. Willie walked around the man and continued up Polk. But
the two men started to follow him. Sensing some kind of danger, Willie let
the men pass while he turned around and started heading back towards the
bar. This time the men were upon him again. One of the men got in front of
him while the other stood behind him.

"What problem do you have with me?" asked Willie. "I'm a
Homeless Advocate and work around the corner."

This made the man blocking Willie's path even angrier. 'You
represent those sorry ass people. You should agree with Newsome and his
plan, you fuck," said the man.

This response surprised Willie. "Do you work for Newsome or
something?" he asked.

But the man was already in some kind of boxing stance. Willie
started taking off his backpack but the man behind him grabbed his pack.
Willie pushed him away and as he turned to face the other man, he was
greeted with a club-like object (about a foot long and 2-3 inches in
diameter) to his head. As Willie fell to the ground his head hit another
hard object that was lying on the ground. Blood was rushing down his face.
He turned to look up and another blow of the club came crashing down on his
head. Willie blacked-out after that, knocked unconscious from the repeated
blows.

When he finally gained consciousness, he was looking into a
paramedic's face. He was inside an ambulance heading for General Hospital.
Once again, Willie blacked out. He regained consciousness once he was at
the hospital. A doctor had thoroughly examined him and Willie was able to
remember what had happened that night. Thankfully, he did not sustain a
concussion, although he would have headaches the next few days. He was
released from General Hospital at around 3 A.M.

When Willie was explaining to a nurse what had happened, he got
an interesting response. "Since the introduction of Care Not Cash and other
policies," said the nurse, "there has been an increase in violence." This
prompted Willie to write about his experience and to increase awareness of
these senseless acts of violence.

"Hate crimes" are exactly what that term states, crimes of hate.
It does not matter whether it is motivated by race or gender or social
status or otherwise. It is a crime. Willie Warren was walking down the
street minding his own business. But he was targeted for two reasons: first
and foremost because he is an African-American, and second, because he is a
homeless advocate.

"This is part of the behavior that we see on the streets, on the
bus, or in the shelters in response to the fear from both sides on
Proposition N," he says.

It is bad enough that hate crimes happen, but it gets worse when
people are motivated to do such crimes because of a Proposition. Willie
Warren was minding his own business and was violently attacked by two white
men because he was black and for what he stood for. The same thing happens
and goes unnoticed everyday in this city to people of color, of low-income,
to poor folks, and to the homeless. With the passing of Proposition N, I
wonder how many more attacks will occur.

Read Willies first person account and poem ( willie is a Po Poet) "You represent those sorry ass people" on this PNN column -

by Alex Cuff/PNNews Brief Editor

Elders in a Pakistani town told the founders of a school for girls that they were ‘opening the gates of hell.’ Graduates are now breadwinners.

20 years ago the Jalal family went door-to-door impelling reluctant parents in Mand, Pakistan, to send their daughters to a new school for girls. Initially the town elders rebutted the idea of girls getting an education which might for example empower them to write letters to their boyfriends. Some parents, mostly those working as servants, enrolled their daughters in the Zobaida Jalal School.

When the school began, the Jalal family guest house doubled as the classroom. Today there are over 30 classrooms and over 140 girls have graduated. The school has brought jobs to Mand and is bringing economic independence to its graduates some of who hold the best paying jobs in town. The girls learn English, Urdu, and Arabic, science, and social sciences. The also learn about Islam, women’s rights under the Koran, and they keep current event journals. They also learn that they can refuse to marry undesired partners proposed by their fathers.

What does this mean for the town once the graduates pursue college and careers outside of Mand? It isn’t evident that the girls are permanently moving away, abandoning family and mimicking the ways of the west where many leave home after gaining an education (not benefiting the home town in which they were given the opportunity). 20 years later some of the elders lament not sending their children to school.

Many of the graduates are employed as health workers at a maternity hospital who travel to outlying villages to teach health, hygiene, and birth control and provide sterilization kits to traditional midwives. This staff accompanies doctors to the homes of 300 women each month facilitating the communication between the families and the doctors. A dozen new schools have opened in surrounding villages because graduates are now available to teach.

by Ace Tafoya/PoorNewsNetwork Community Journalist

Andre Rucker waits patiently for the rally at the Human Services Commission organized by members and staff of POWER, (People Organized to Win Employment Rights) POOR Magazine and Coalition on Homelessness on Thursday, December 12 to demand from Trent Rhorer, the head of San Francisco Department of Human Services, affordable housing, living wage jobs and protest the installation of a fingerprinting scanner in shelters. "The issue of fingerprinting, it violates the 4th amendment and what it says is that it creates an aristocracy," Andre said to me as more people gathered outside the offices of POWER. The implementations of the board are to have a Fingerprint Image Machine for everyone residing in shelters by June 1st. "People who are poor are of color are losing their rights as citizens of the United States," he stresses to me while waiting for the #14 Mission bus to take him and about 25 other folks to the rally.

Jason Negron-Gonzales, one of POWER’s organizers is all pumped up and ready to face Trent Rhorer. They want to add pressure about the implementations of Proposition N, "We’re keeping the fight going on (over Prop. N). The Department’s are taking a disgraceful approach of trying to implement Prop N. through forcing the people into shelters," he said to me as the bus approached. "It’s great to be out here fighting for justice in the morning!"

POWER and other organizations want to face Trent Rhorer and other politicians about the truth over Proposition N. They want to meet with Trent Rhorer in January 2003 to discuss in length the effects of this proposition. This initiative was passed by voters in San Francisco in early November 2002. It cuts GA payments of $390 to about $59 a month.

Larry Lattimore, from POWER led the outburst on Mr. Rhorer during his update to the board of what was to be discussed and put into plan. "Trent Rhorer we heard enough and we’re tired of your lies! We just found out that you’re going to buy some fingerprinting equipment and force us into shelters and we know that’s not right!" Larry Lattimore shouted. As Trent Rhoehr stumbled and fumbled and looked embarrassed, shifting papers, he couldn’t look in our direction. Mr. Lattimore continued with his tirade, "We’re not criminals and we don’t need poor shelter beds and fingerprinting!"

In a display of courage and faith, the members of POWER chanted:
"DHS can’t you see
What fingerprinting will do to me
You say you wanted to give us care
But we all know the CARE’S NOT THERE.

…and in Spanish:
DHS no puedes ver
Que sus mentiras me van hacer
Nuestras huellas quieres tomar
De esta ciudad no nos van a hechari.

Both Julie Browne, POWER organizer and Andre Rucker wanted to confirm with Trent Rhoehr the importance of a meeting in the Tenderloin for January 2003 to discuss better ways of implementing Prop. N. Trent Rhoehr said this was not the proper time to set up a meeting. He couldn’t commit to a date at that point and wanted us to call his secretary. What is he afraid of?

Upon exiting from the Department we we’re still chanting loudly and proudly:
"Trent Rhoehr – Trent Rhoehr
We’ll be back
We won’t forget
Your last attack!"

Indeed, Mr. Rhoehr hasn’t heard the end of us yet. This is just our fightback and it’s time for him and other elected city officials to listen to what the poor people of this city want. It’s time for a change!

by Alexandra Cuff/PNN Community Journalist

Every time I step into a high school I am brushed with the nostalgia which loosens a vague emotional response. I think of silence and the sound of my feet on hard floors and that generic school smell which all schools seem to house. I was met with a different feeling when I rushed into McClymonds High School in West Oakland for the annual Upset the Setup conference. Rather than a sense of school pride and restlessness for the close of the day, I was met with a bustling of both high school students, organizers and other comrades that were there to teach and to learn about issues that just aren’t included in the standard high school curriculum.

After Joe and I dropped off the box of magazines and flyers with Tiny and Mari who were womaning the POOR Magazine table, I wandered into the auditorium where folks were gathered for the opening session of the conference. Following Raymundo, a talented youth rapper whose act I caught the tail of, Luis from United Playaz, climbed on stage wearing a "Who’s got your back?" tee shirt.

"The schools are set up. This whole thing is a set up" spoke Luis with a conviction that called us to look up and wait for more. He went on, "We’re losing the war. We’re dying. My father got murdered, my brothers are lifeless. If you don’t represent the real shit you are part of the set up. We’re losing the war! If you don’t believe that, go to prison. It’s an industry. Our schools are 45th in the country, our prisons are 1st. I’m not above being square, this is about survival."

The seeds for Upset the Setup, now in its 4th year, were sown in September 1998 at the Critical Resistance: Beyond the Prison Industrial Complex conference. During the youth strategy sessions over 250 young folk got together to discuss what type of movement would be possible to improve the lives and chances of young people. It was agreed upon that in a country with a growing prison industry, what youth needed was not more incarceration but more support in the form of education, community programs, and decent employment. Now the Youth Force Coalition (YFC) is comprised of over 20 youth organizations which are building youth leadership and mobilizing young people to create a collective strategy for social change.

While primarily focusing on the prison industrial complex, the YFC and the Upset the Setup conference also address the issues that are inter-related including: irrelevant education, racial profiling, lack of living wage jobs, police brutality, environmental injustice, inadequate healthcare and homelessness. When I checked out the agenda for the conference, I was overwhelmed. There were so many cool workshops to choose from. To name a few: Know Justice – How to advocate for yourself in the Juvenile Justice System; Revolutionary Communist Youth Brigade, Not In Our Name, The Beat Within, Poor Magazine, and the  Prison Activist Resource Center.

The second workshop I attended was called "Schools Not Jails - Education Is A Human Right" It was facilitated by four members of YOC (Youth from Youth Organizing Communities). Again we began by discussing what is wrong with high schools today and again I was impressed by the insight of the youth at the conference.  My response to the question of what problems there were in my high school (if asked at the time) would have been that I had to take 3 years of math or that winter break wasnít long enough. The list that compiled Saturday afternoon looked more like this: negative environment in schools, no critical thinking on studentís part in regards to the mediaís effect on youth or the peer pressure around gang violence, teachers and administrative staff having low expectations for some students, no ethnic studies, putting non-native English speakers into ESL and special ed classes, more police in school than counselors, books from 1973.

One woman who had gone to high school in Oakland talked about assumptions that were made about students based on their dress or race. Because of the presumption that all Latinas/Latinos were gang members, she wasnít permitted to wear red or blue belts to school (while other races could). She was also pulled aside freshman year in high school to have her tattoos photographed ñ she was 14 years old! A current high school student told us that a teacher of hers has said repeatedly, ìEven if you learn nothing, I still get paid.î Most of the students agreed that it wasnít chiefly a problem with the teachers but with the Setup - young people just aren't a priority in our country.

We then talked about the correlation between the defective education system and the high disappearance rate among inner city schools in California. Out of a class of 900 in a high school near LA, only 600 graduated and only 43 were eligible for University of California system schools. There is a 40-60% disappearance rate for California inner city schools. We didnít use the much used term "drop out rate" because it is misleading in that it doesn't acknowledge the youth that are shouldered out of the race.

What happens to the youth that are pushed out of school? Some get low wage jobs, some go to jail. Then there is the military. What we canít find in our hoods, the military offers: job training, $75,000 for college and believe it or not, help with papers for non-citizens. When we look at the lack of living wage work and the inadequate funding for education or human resources in general compared to the monstrous amount of tax money spent on the military, the rising incarceration rate begins to look less like an enigma. I was never very good at fathoming the worth of numbers in the billions so I was blown away with this fact: For each $1 of income tax 50 cents is spent on the military and 3 cents goes to schools. There are over 2 million people incarcerated in the United States. There are over 2 million people incarcerated in all of Europe, over 50 countries.

How do we challenge these facts and statistics and the state of the system affecting youth today? Towards the end of the "What's Going Down In Our Schools?" workshop, the youth present contributed ideas of their own which included students taking action to speak up about their needs, having counselors who know whatís up, recognition of students with different learning styles by administrators and teachers, and finally youth educating one another. I think that list is just a hint of what was happening on Saturday at McClymonds High School. This conference is part of a growing movement that is providing a space for youth to organize, to discuss issues negatively affecting the world, and the need for education that will inspire respect and knowledge of different histories and cultures.

Rocio, who has organized the conference for the past 3 years, got involved with youth advocating when she was 11 years old through friends who started an after school program. They later started UNITE, a youth component of BOSS (Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency), with which Rocio was involved for 3 years and then became the program manager.  From there she became involved with YWUFO (Young Women United for Oakland) which was part of the Youth Force Coalition and was later recruited to YFC. "It's kind of ironic that weíre educating them on what they really should be educated about in school, but being able to get into the schools has helped us. There are a lot of teachers that aren't involved with anything but that have good politics so we started to pull them towards our side to help out with the conference as well as knowing about other schools that are progressive."

Under 5 feet tall, Rocio stood glowing, herself an example of the power, intelligence and self-respect that was demonstrated by all the youth at the conference. While we were driving back over the bridge I was thinking about what Luis was saying during the opening session: "We are losing the war."  I was in the car with Mari, a Youth in the Media - Poor Magazine community member. Once again in the presence of a beautiful, strong, young woman, I couldnít help to think we must be winning.

by Joe B.

Rules ‘n’ Other Junk Pt. 2

I recently finished reading Ms. Nancy Friday’s 1991’s book "Women On Top."

Now when I walk down the street I’m aware they also watch men’s bodies as I see women’s and the fantasy’s.

Whew, if that was over ten years ago I‘ve no idea what they’re thinking, I never know what’s on their minds.

Aside from that and other books I’m taking time to really read.

I, like most men are always confused about women’s verbal and mental motives but equally they really don’t know us especially when we leave our mother’s wombs for the great unknown of adult exploration and what happens to us.

Some of our experiences before we get to try and know, and be with them.

Men are always somewhat caught off balance when women say that they hate us, love us, are indifferent, say we’re dogs, and in turn angels and devils all at once.

They are the Bitch Goddesses, Earth Mother, Virgin/Sinner, and the old Madonna/Whore complex.

You know that Meredith Brooks song "I'm a little bit of everything all rolled into one, I do not feel ashamed.

I'm nothing in between. You know you wouldn't want it any other way.

Yes, women have always been faster, quicker, emotionally, stronger than men just because it’s true now does not mean it will always be so.

Women have and are changing men too are changing albeit slower but you know how we are; Oh, wait, you don’t it’s a

Transubstansive Error

But women catch on like quicksilver they make learning curves obsolete.

But isn’t it strange how as men learn to be more themselves if not like women but balanced in their own lives.

Having platonic female friends without women having to turn to homosexual men to feel safe without sexual tensions rising.

Yet if a heterosexual guy is a true friend to a woman and asks nothing but continued friendship why does the woman then want to jeopardize by wanting more – it ‘kinda defeats or short circuits the whole equalization the sexes process?

I heard this from a few guys.

Unless their quicksilver brain tells them they’ve found a male who has become more than her friend, emotional sounding board and now knows if he finds another girlfriend with sex included she may not only lose a good steadfast friend but also a future husband and father of her children as well.
[Guys, being a girl's or woman’s best friend is not necessarily the kiss of death we once thought.


We just cultivate more girlfriends.
Even if most are platonic (non sexual)

When women speak to each other and they will
about men, find they count you as a good one.

The R, C. and M. words will be spoken and a few will plan removing you from both your and their good female friends.

Oh,Relationship, Commitment, and Marriage are the words spoken in whispers.]

If your pissed off at my column… please explain.

I’m a dumb-stick after all, I always seem to be in a dark cave where women are concerned. No pun intended.

Guess who edit’s my work, two women.

And, Thanks to Ms. Meredith Brooks’ song "Bitch" …… Bye.

Please send donations to

Poor Magazine or in C/0

Ask Joe at 1448 Pine Street St. Street,

San Francisco, CA. 94103 USA

For Joe only my snail mail:
PO Box 1230 #645

Market St. San Francisco, CA 94102

415- 626-4405

Email: askjoe@poormagazine.org

by TJ Johnston/PNN

Widely proclaimed as a "compassionate solution," Prop N exploits the profound
desire for solutions to homelessness in the heart of every San Franciscan.
The leadership of Religious Witness with Homeless People has thoroughly
studied Prop N and consulted with experts in the field. We have concluded
that Prop N is neither compassionate nor a solution.

Prop N is based on the media-promoted stereotypical image of all homeless
people as alcoholics or drug addicts who abuse taxpayers' money. The truth is
ONLY about one-third of the homeless population have substance abuse issues.
Like all stereotypes, this one appeals to our worst side, the side that
judges, condemns and rejects our sisters and brothers who have no homes.

Significantly, many of these individuals have already been begging the city
for treatment but are forced by the inadequate number of treatment slots to
wait for six to twelve months for help. Everyday in our city, 1,000 to 1,400
people are still addicted because they are on a waiting list.

The city's neglect in producing truly affordable housing over the years, even
in the years when the budget surplus exceeded $100 million, has resulted in
our current crises in housing and homelessness. We believe it is morally
wrong to force the burden of "fixing" these crises on the backs of the very
poorest members of our community. Prop N would do precisely that.

Through slick ads on TV, radio, huge billboards, mass phone calls, etc.,
Supervisor Gavin Newsom (Prop N's author) and the restaurant and hotel
industry promote Prop N as an effective solution to homelessness. The truth
is that Prop N will deduct all but "up to" $59 monthly from the very poorest
members of our community and sink it into a program that offers no hope of
alleviating San Francisco's homelessness crisis. Prop N is fraught with
promises and loopholes but holds no guarantees for housing and services.

Prop N does not guarantee housing.

Given the current crisis in housing, it seems a stretch of the imagination
that the city can quickly come up with "real" housing units for the 2,700 GA
recipients.

A clue to the possible direction of the city in providing housing lies in
Prop N's definition of "housing," which includes a cot or a two-inch mat on
the floor of a crowded shelter. It is more likely that the city will simply
focus on providing more of these shelter cots or mats as the fastest and
cheapest way of satisfying the promises of Prop N for "housing."

Shelters are not a solution to homelessness. There is unanimous agreement
among homeless people, advocates, service providers and other professionals
that exiting homelessness requires stable housing with supportive services,
addiction treatment, adequate mental and physical health care and jobs.

Prop N allows for diversion of cash-deducted "savings" from housing and
services

Prop N specifically allows the city to divert the cash-deducted "savings" to
many different areas, including the administration of the system: "The
funding may be used to support, but not limited to, some or all of the
following: hotel master lease programs, permanent supportive housing,
improvement of conditions in existing shelters, expansion of shelter
capacity, mental health and substance abuse treatment, outreach, a fund for rental deposits, SSI advocacy
programs, rep-payee services, case management and meals for the homeless
population through direct services and/or contracts." (Emphasis added.)

In fact, the majority of the estimated $6-9 million yearly "savings" could
simply be used on administration and personnel and not on actual services.

Again, Prop N promises but fails to ensure that expansion of housing or
services will occur.

Prop N makes vouchers for housing and meals available.

From the beginning, the complexities and costliness of the voucher system
equal added frustration and significant suffering for the homeless recipient.

Vouchers would mean increased administrative costs to business people, a
potential avalanche of city forms, even possible liability issues. Thus it
seems unlikely that a sufficient number of landlords and eating
establishments would participate in the voucher system, thereby making it
more difficult for homeless people to use them.

In addition, Prop N vouchers would not cover items like laundry soap,
toothpaste, socks, aspirin, haircuts, telephone calls, etc. All such
necessary items would have to be paid for by the homeless person from the
meager "up to" $59 a month GA cash grant.

GA recipients already work for that money.

The individuals who receive GA are already required to work for their money.
They are WORKERS who clean buses and streetcars, remove trash from parks, and
sweep streets. They work 8 hours a week (32 hours a month) for the city and
are "paid" $10.00 an hour in their $320 GA stipend.

It is unclear if recipients will be required to work these same hours for the
$59 they would receive in cash. If so, they would only be "guaranteed" $1.84
per hour.

Religious Witness with Homeless People urges rejection of Prop N.

Prop N is clearly not a solution to San Francisco's crisis in homelessness.
Furthermore, experts warn that the implementation of Prop N would require far
more of the city's money than the estimated $6-9 million withheld yearly from
GA recipients, perhaps 3-4 times as much. Shall San Francisco embark upon a
road which focuses a vast portion of our money, time, energy and trust in a
policy based on a stereotype and with no guarantees?

In 1993, our elected officials set our city on just such a road. We remember
all to well the great confidence with which this city adopted a
"police-approach" policy (Matrix) as a major response to homelessness. After
nine years and over 135,000 citations or arrests of poor and homeless people
for so-called "quality of life" violations, homelessness is of an even
greater magnitude than ever in this city. Multi-millions of taxpayers' money
was squandered on that futile and inhumane approach.

We are convinced that Prop N would set us on just such a road once again. San
Francisco voters should reject Prop N.

Religious Witness with Homeless People
P.O. Box 420486 San Francisco, CA 94142-0486
Phone: (415) 929-0781 Fax: (415) 929-0783 E-mail: RelWitHome@aol.com

by Joe B.

Before Fiefdom’s, Chieftain’s, knights, squires, Duke’s, Princes, King’s, and the rest of royalty.

Warrior’s were the backbone, first and last defense of principalities and Monarchies.

As always they led rough, lusty usually short lives.

Loyalty meant giving up luxuries of merchants or even the poorest of citizens living in animals tents, huts of straw, mud, and wood or home hewn from solid rock.

War taught warriors that most leaders unless they were once warriors themselves don’t know what real battle and bloodlust fever or bezerker in do or die and in death and dying means in the of white heat of hell killing being killed by enemies.

Friends die by your side, in front of you taking someone else’s club, ax, mace, sword, blade, cannon ball, bullets, grenade, booby traps, tortured as a prisoner, escape and if they survive their physical and mental wounds.

Trying not to remember horrors survived to be Mr. Mrs. Ms. nobody but when he/she is or close friends, relatives are threatened the long buried profession battle weary warrior, soldier, military training returns until the battle is won or lost.

As for today’s military personnel with every kind of multi national co. ,quasi– paramilitary Intel.

Even before intensive training they know more from past, present and near future history.

Women too, a sisterhood so far back before warrior saw father’s, friends, son’s, brother’s, husband’s dead and dying and as nurses, and soldier’s in their own more than earned the right to question war’s cost.

When parent’s, female and male soldier’s question:

"Why The Fuck Are We At War, There Are Few If Any Advantages To It.

Government leader must scramble for excuses for if military men and women logically question all automatic assumptions some are accused of being Un-American.

There is pressure on all soldier’s whatever rank from buck private to five star general to follow orders yet when orders make no sense they do not have to be but iy must be proved in strict military fashion.

This is the genius of the military, now they must protect their country against a more dangerous domestic threat of an out of control President, his cronies, while watching out for real foreign threats within and without in America’s Sphere of influence.

The Military has vast experience fighting on two fronts though this time they may have to not fight, say no to the greatest concentration of civilian power.

Siding with citizen’s they have pledged to protect and not what seems a rogue government rattling sabers for a war not needed.

What can soldier’s do but obey unless like a police officer's blue flu they have a similar tactic of Khaki ooze (an ailment keeps military personnel in barracks, at home or anywhere else so far from frontline fighting that war cannot be waged at all.)

They probably have better plans than an non military type as myself to prevent all out war on another people’s foreign soil.

The full stories of soldiering has not been told and as long war goes on their stories will always be half told with secrets submerged.

American citizen’s need help from men and women at arms, their brother, sisterhood combined.

With citizen’s mobilization against the war could be the only way to stop ‘Prez B’s Juggernaut of
escalating Mass Destructive that will devastate both the Middle East and take both our domestic, foreign and economy to a bottom trashing whatever emerging applied technology to improve the health of all people’s for outdate, obsolete oil preserves.

I could be wrong but I think this is a turning point of our civilization.

Can we turn away from our destructive capabilities and toward creative ones.

Any country can kill from afar with bombs, poison gas, turning cities into rubble, neighborhoods into mass graveyards.

Let’s see countries with all types of planes military and domestic dropping bio and inanimate nano-probes that from blue prints rebuild and improve destroyed buildings with artificial intelligence which are harmless to humans.

the bio parts of nanites enter dead and broken bodies of citizens rebuilding, repairing, tissue inside out until the whole being is alive, well, and free of injuries.

The dead that cannot be helped are rebuild repaired whole so friends, relatives can bury them properly.

Until our country can take back life from death’s grip we are just more efficient killer’s that’s all.

Any questions, answers send them below and thanks for taking precious time to read my humble though mostly unseen work; it helps more you folks will ever know. Bye.

Please send donations to

Poor Magazine or in C/0

Ask Joe at 1448 Pine Street St. Street,

San Francisco, CA. 94103 USA

For Joe only my snail mail:
PO Box 1230 #645

Market St. San Francisco, CA 94102

415- 626-4405

Email: askjoe@poormagazine.org

by Joe B.

Real ‘Illin Pt 1

I am not feeling my usual chipper self these days.

Seems a flu bug is having its way with me giving me a head colds, aches, stuffed up nose, sore throat, and the various time dilation slow motion effects.

One positive side effect is finally able to do Tai Chi really slow except for a slight pant breathing through the mouth like a dog.

I didn't hurt myself when I had a slow uncontrolled fall to the floor.

Falling isn’t so terrible when everything slows to a crawl.

I stay on the floor take a quick nap.

This flu may have been in my system for a few days but last Friday it began to be felt.

Women say men are babies complaining when sick while women are always checking on themselves for the slightest twinge feeling about their bodies.

This makes them healthier in the long run.

Problem: men have been taught to suppress all kinds of pain from twinges, cramps, sprained, to broken bones and having the flu.

Maybe some of us do whine a bit but its better than being stoic and dying in silence.

I guess a balance should be made for those aches and pains.

One must do what we can do being careful not to over stress the body.

I don’t like feeling weak as a kitten, sleeping all day, drinking tea, soup, and sounding like a voice talking in a deep tunnel, underwater, or with marbles in my mouth.

I complain only when my equilibrium gets affected vision gone wobbly, unable to see straight, going through vertigo, and shaking uncontrollably also the damn flu exacerbates my asthma which I’ve kept under control until now.

Women like mothering guys fighting their illness without complaint, rest when they must and don’t ask a lot of their girlfriends or spouses to do things for them that they can do for themselves.

Somewhere a balance must be achieved where a guy is sick but not using it for sympathy and being waited on hand and foot.

And ladies, girlfriends, spouses too you know you do it too its not just guys.

When you’re really ill with the flu, common cold, or the big "P" you know you’ll milk it for all its worth especially being pregnant most men are so wracked with worry and guilt about doing this to her.

How is it the strongest men become weak and faint while average regular man turns into a tough-as-nails-take charge guy for the woman he loves?

Why do most become virtual slaves to their women’s health needs in that wonderous, still mysterious way women are always giving birth?

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by Paul Boden, Executive Director, Coalition on Homelessness

Sandwiched between a recorded address by Mumia Abu-Jamal announcing, “War is not inevitable. No to ‘Blood For Oil’,” and ‘Pentagon
Papers’ Daniel Ellsberg, urging “If the bombing starts, the marching should not stop,” Homeless Coalition Director, Paul Boden delivered this
vigorous address to a an estimated 75,000* strong, enthusiastic, and colorful crowd this sunny Saturday San Francisco afternoon on the
green lawns of Civic Center Plaza stretching out behind City Hall.

“I want to welcome you all to my home. Fifteen years ago I was part of the group of people who have been sleeping out here on our
streets across this country. We are the people that are funding this war that we are all here today to denounce.

Over the past 20 years, $14 billion dollars a year has been cut from the development of affordable housing for poor people in this
country. It has been transferred over to a hundred billion dollars last year in mortgage interest tax credit deductions for households making
$135,000 dollars a year, on average, that is being subsidized by our tax dollars.

That $355 billion dollar a year military budget you were all so disgusted about yesterday --- that is money that is coming directly from the
fact that poor and homeless people are dying in our streets, that poor and homeless people are being cut off of welfare, denied education,
denied treatment, denied mental health / substance abuse treatment, disability treatment. That is being cut.

Seven hundred families in San Francisco alone in December are going to lose either a portion or all of their welfare benefits because the
United States Government wants to put that shit into military spending to kill people in other countries.

Every time we allow the San Francisco Police Department to shoot and kill mentally ill young men in our movie theaters in this town, * we
are promoting George Bush’s agenda to shoot and kill poor people in South American, and Iraq, and throughout the world.

We have to build a connection!

How do you fund a military industrial complex? You fuck over poor people, and you take money from poor people to put it into military
spending run by corporations that are run by filthy rich white dogs.

If we can’t make the connection between Prop N and George Bush, we are living in a delusional world. The only reason that the City and
Country of San Francisco thinks that taking away money from poor people is good for poor people in an initiative being run by a millionaire is
because they have seen the Federal Government get away with it; they have seen the State Government get away with it. They have
watched us not have 80,000 and 100,000 people like we need to have every time they screw any of us.

We should all be here for each other. We should all be here, and we should be strong, and we should tell them, “An Injury to One Is An
Injury to All!” We are going to stop this shit. We are going to fight back, and we are going to win! “

*Crowd estimates vary from SFIndymedia's 200,000 to CNN 75,000.

**Reference to Idress Stelly, 23, fatally shot 27 times by SFPD during a psychiatric crisis at the Metreon Theater complex.

by Joseph Laqua Youth in the Media Intern and Tiny/PNN

Faces….. "This war is not now nor has ever been in our name"

Flow like rivers into Downtown Frisco, LA, Washington and NYC …..

thump..boom taca boom thump…. drum beats for peace in each and every cit-eee

"red paint smeared on unclothed protestors "

this is how war looks like

their faux blood says

And I breathe in resistance…

For I know now it is not only me

Exhaling for one moment

as I am surrounded by the possibility that everyone is not now nor has ever been ok

with an overwritten science fiction story penned by drug store tabloid authors and disgruntled
insurance salesmen by the names of GeeW.Bush and Mr. Chain-eeee

And the lies filter through corporate airwaves – licking the corners of an intentionally numb America –

Certain that oblivious imperialistic perfection will continue unfettered

Untouched - that money and capital will flow through the barren trees

That fish will swim through polluted waters

That humans will live, grow and BUY no matter if they can’t breathe

no matter if they die

Because, like I was told by a salivating capitalist; even in death you are a consumer

even in death

you can buy....

This has never been in our name by Tiny/Po’ Poets Project

Thousands of people swarmed into downtown San Francisco this weekend as part of the Not in our Name resistance movement, in tandem with several thousand folks in Washington DC, New York and Los Angeles. The turnouts in each city were large and powerful. Locally it included the sounds of youth from the Mission district with the amazin’ Loco Bloco, as well as scholars, activists, poets and artists; Rev Cecil Williams, DJ Malik, Yuri Kochiyama, Ismael Manur, Boots from The hip hop group The coup and many more amazin’ folks.

As I walked away from the minions of strong voices resisting this absurd call for"war" I wondered if these thousands of people would ever be properly "heard" through the corporate media filters, I remembered the voice of Davy D who had spoken at the rally, "Watch what the corporate media doesn’t show you..watch and listen"

by Mike Vizcarra/PNN Pilipino Community Journalist

A small, dark room is filled to capacity. People in the front
have the prime seats, sitting on the floor, right in front of the stage. A
few rows of chairs follow. I1m at Bindlestiff Studios. There are probably
50-60 people here; friends, family, and folks interested in the spoken word.
The air is thick with anticipation. This could be a scene from the 60s, as
Beat poets waxed lyrical on social issues. But no, this is now. This is an
urban, hip-hop crowd. This is predominantly a Filipino-American crowd, here
to support their friends and show their love and appreciation for their
poetry and message. The lights dim. 8th Wonder takes the stage.

8th Wonder is an 8-member group made up of 4 Pinays and 4 Pinoys
(Jocie de Leon, Irene Duller, Golda Sargento, Lillian Prijoles, Jason Mateo,
Isagani Pugao, Jeremy Bautista, and Allan Maramag) ranging in age from 22 to
27. On Sunday, though, there were only 7 (Lillian being in New York).
Named after the 8th Wonder of the World, the rice terraces in the
Philippines, the group expresses their experiences and perspectives through
spoken word poetry. This past weekend was their first performance since
April 2001, and they start off with a bang.

From politics to social conditions, from love to the corruption
of mass media (especially television), the members of 8th Wonder spit out
magical, intertwining lyrics that left me captivated and enthralled in their
spell. Each member had their own distinct way of delivering their words,
from the in-your-face rapid-fire style of Allan Maramag to the hypnotic and
melodic songs of Golda Sargento (similar to Telepopmusik1s song, 3Breathe2).
I couldn1t help but get caught in the powerful emotions they evoked. 3I
don1t need a television,2 yelled Allen during one of his pieces, 3I can TELL
a vision!2 Tears flowed down Jocie de Leon1s cheeks as she recited her
moving poem, 3Beautiful Reflection,2 showing the audience her conviction and
passion for the words she spoke. Jason Mateo1s story-telling style in his
poem, 3Big Boulders, Big Brother,2 held the audience as he voiced his
concerns and gave advice about the television and play-station world his
little brother lives in.

One of the most entertaining parts of the evening was a
free-style session, with each member taking turns on the mic or doing a
collaboration with another member. The poetic verses shot through the
microphone with such electricity I1m sure goose bumps ran through everyone
there. The crowd was also very receptive and would often shout words of
encouragement to their poets onstage. It was hard for me to take notes as I
was too engrossed with the messages these poets were delivering.

Formed on July 7th, 2000, this group has come a long way. 3We
organized to come in here, representing the Pilipino community,2 says Jason
Mateo. They1ve performed in Chicago, Seattle, and Los Angeles, to name a
few cities. Asked why they haven1t performed in almost a year and a half,
Jocie replies, 3Some of us are moms or dads, or have families. We1ve got
jobs or school to go to.2

So what1s next for this talented group? Besides going to Los
Angeles to perform in November, the University of Hawaii has invited them to
perform on their campus. The problem is they have to come up with the funds
to go there. Hopefully if they can raise enough money they1ll be able to
spread their message. They1re an amazingly gifted group who should be seen
by everyone, Pilippino or not.

by Connie Lu/PNN Youth in the Media Journalist

It was ten years ago when my cat, Cubby became a part
of my life. I am at home watching T.V. on a cool
autumn night when I unexpectedly hear the doorbell
ring. Feeling uncertain who it could be, I turn on the
light and move the curtain aside to see that it was my
grandma, holding a kitten in her arms. I flung open
the door with excitement, as I hovered over the small
kitten with adoring sounds of, “Aw, how cute!” Her fur
is soft under the palm of my hand, as I gently pet the
narrow white stripe on her head above her pink nose.
The rest of her body is a swirled mix of brown and
black, except for her legs and paws that are white.
Her eyes are a beautiful shade of dark green jade with
widened slits of black pupils.

As soon as my grandma puts Cubby down on the carpet,
my cat quickly darts underneath the closest couch. I
look under the dark couch only to find a pair of
glowing eyes filled with fear of being in an
unfamiliar place. As we wait by the couch for her to
come out, my grandma explains how she found Cubby that
night in a parking lot at church, where my cat eagerly
jumped into my grandma’s car. My grandma said Cubby
wasn’t wearing a collar and looked pretty skinny, so
we concluded that she was homeless.

My family and I were more than happy to have her live
with us. Later that night, I attempt to coax Cubby out
from under the couch with some food. I could sense
that she was still wary, as she cautiously approached
the light. But her hunger eventually overcame her fear
as she quickly swallowed the food on the plate, while
looking up at me with a little more trust.

Her trust in me grew stronger as weeks turned into
months and months became years over time. I would
always look forward to seeing her wait for me next to
the door and play with her right after school. We
shared a close bond with each other. I didn’t just see
her as a pet, but as my friend.

Clyde W. Ford, author of “The Hero with an African
Face” also expresses the strong intimacy that exists
between human and animal spirits through his book
about African folk history and myths. He refers to the
animals as being “master animals” that are deeply
revered and sacred. He also describes the relationship
between humans and animals to be extremely close and
interdependent. “Rather, a mutual relationship is to
exist between the two: the village takes care of him,
[referring to the buffalo] and he takes care of them
by assuring the supply of buffalo for the hunt. The
life of the master animal and the life of humans are
intertwined and dependent on this arrangement” (Ford,
p. 97). The life of the animal is truly valued by the
Africans. There is a certain sense of symbiotic need
between humans and animals for existence.

Through the internship program at POOR Magazine, I
have also learned the importance of depending upon one
another, as opposed to being independent from family
and friends. The American culture emphasizes
individualism and having your own car, house, and
phone. However, POOR has taught me the value in having
a sense of community and empathy for others, instead
of separating yourself from your family as an
independent individual.

The friendship I shared with my cat was also built
upon this same idea of interdependency. My cat depends
upon me to provide her with food and shelter, but we
depend on each other for friendship. I still remember
Cubby gently nudging me with her soft forehead on my
cheek to comfort me after I had fallen down in my
backyard. She would also keep my feet warm in the
winter at the foot of my bed.

These are just a few fond memories out of the many
that I have now of Cubby since she died just a few
weeks ago. The veterinarian said she had nose cancer.
My family and I decided that it would be best to put
her to sleep because the cancer had spread to other
parts of her body already, which would make it
difficult to treat. The morning before the vet came to
put her to sleep was spent on petting her frail, weak
body. I cried seeing her in so much pain, as I said
goodbye to her.

Later that day, my brother and I looked through old
photo albums in search of pictures of Cubby, which
brought on more tears of sadness. But at the same
time, it also gave me a sense of closure in seeing and
remembering what she looked like when she first became
a part of my family as a stray cat without a home.

The previous state of her homelessness and her old age
also reminded me of the elders who can’t afford
medical attention, let alone a place to live. As
their condition worsens, the pain that they endure
becomes harder to bear with each day that passes. I
also recall an article by Valerie Schwartz,
PoorNewsNetwork Community Journalist and Poverty
Scholar, called “A Mama’s Love…”, which was about a
homeless African American elder named Lula Bell
Seymour, aka Mama, who passed away a few weeks ago in
the Tenderloin. Mama did not have much, but she
always shared the little she had and encouraged
everyone around her through prayer.

After Cubby was put to sleep, I felt like there was an
irreplaceable hole of pain in my heart because I had
lost a close friend that I literally grew up with for
over 10 years of my life. But I also felt relief
knowing that she did not have to keep suffering and
enduring the pain. I will always treasure our
memories together and remember her comforting purr
vibrating against my arms around her soft coat of fur.

by Alex Cuff/PNN Community Journalist

When I boarded at the 24th Street/Mission station, the BART was packed with folk decked in everything from jeans and khakis to mohawks and pink braids. The demographic seemed more energetic and possibly younger that the average Saturday morning crowd, and the train more full. As I had optimistically suspected, the train emptied at the Montgomery station as hundreds clogged the escalators, and the more restless of us ascended the endless stairs, to join the thousands of anti-war protesters marching from Justin Herman Plaza to the Civic Center. Once in the street I was surrounded by women, children, and men of all ages and races ñ some holding signs, some singing, some talking with neighboring marchers and some walking, silently, with heads held high ñ all participating in the great act of expressing disgust with the Bush administrationís conceivable war against the people of Iraq.

Among the thousands proceeding down Market Street, we were on bicycles, in wheel chairs, we were elders, we were anarchists, socialists, communists, mainstream liberals, and we represented a diversity of races. Just before reaching the Civic Center I ducked into a coffee shop on McAllister to use the bathroom where I unfortunately shared the idea with 50 others. During my twenty minute wait on line I began speaking with Bombay-born Maribel, a woman with soft features and sad brown eyes, who began our conversation by telling me it was her first rally. She had flown out from Houston despite the wishes of her husband and her circle of ìbourgeoisieî friends. After years as a dentist practicing in a conservative area of Houston, she quit her job and has dedicated herself as an activist against the growing pro-capitalist and militarist trends in the world.

The volume of bodies amassing before the stage on Civic Centerís lawn was astonishing. We poured off the grass into the surrounding parking lots to the front of the library. Being a modest five feet, there were times as I eased my way towards the amplified voices coming from the stage, that I couldnít tell which way was forward. When I finally emerged from the ocean of bodies, I was as close to the stage as I was going to get, I raised my hand over my eyes in a salute against the October sun and joined those around me paying attention to the speakers. At this point, people were still filing in - in fact the last marchers, many carrying ìRegime change begins at homeî signs, were still leaving Justin Herman Plaza as the first arrived at Civic Center.

The speakers included Congresswoman Barbara Lee; Barbara Lubin, Director of the Middle East Childrenís Alliance; Paul Boden, Coalition on Homelessness;  San Francisco Supervisors Tom Ammiano and Mark Leno; Richard Becker, a member of the ANSWER steering committee;  Ron Kovic, Vietnam veteran and author of "Born on the Fourth of July;" Richard Mead, president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union; Ramiz Rafeedie, Free Palestine Alliance; and a youth organizer from A.N.S.W.E.R whose name I didnít catch. Needless to say there was no absence of tax-funded cops surrounding us in case some of the non-violent, antiwar protesters decided to wield weapons of destruction upon one another.

Around 2pm I slid back away from the stage toward the library to use the pay phone in order to track down my sister and brother who I never managed to meet up with earlier in the day. As I was coming out of the Grove Street exit I caught the tale end of what I learned afterwards was a break away march which proceeded back down Market Street to the Embarcadero where the protesters, exercising a more radical action, stopped in front of the Recruiting Center where folks continued to speak out against the war.

When I did catch up with my siblings in front of the falafel place on Grove Street, my brother offered me a piece of paper he had been handed at one of the info tables. ìCan you believe this, Al?î It stated the statistics regarding the amount of Palestinian children murdered in the past year by US-funded Israeli arms. He has just moved to the Bay Area from Long Island where he has not been exposed to, nor has necessarily sought after, non-corporate media coverage. My brother reminded me that although our actions on Saturday are not changing the morals of the Bush administration nor helping them to move away from their profit-and power-based agenda, we are educating those who have a right to know. We are creating, through an organized popular dissent, a voice that canít be ignored by the corporate media, our government, by our politicians, or by those funding our politicians. We are demonstrating that violence is not the only form of power.