2003

by Leroy Moore PNN/DAMO

Michael Manning is free at last! "Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed!" Martin Luther King Jr. once wrote. This statement can be once again used today in the Michael Manning case in Pennsylvania. Although on December 26th 2002 Michael Manning was finally released from prison, after almost four years, Diana & the whole Manning family has demanded justice and freedom for Michael since 1989. Michael was convicted by a jury not of his peers for third-degree murder of Harry Bureley on September 15th, 1998 and was sentenced on November 13, 1998 to for 12-30 year in what many have seen as a clear case self-defense.

Michael served almost five years for what comes down to as a self-defense case and was tried by an all white Jury and an insensitive, racist, disabled, white, Judge, Ronald E. Vican who used Michael’s name and race in another case of a Black man. In 1998 the DA convinced the Jury that Michael was faking his disability and was the aggressor in the attack although Michael demonstrated how difficult it is to walk without his cane and showed cuts on his hands that he received trying to defend himself. To put the icing on the cake, the only witness the DA had was a well known lying drug dealer. Michael Manning had a clean record and never been in trouble with the law. Matter-a-fact in his younger days, Michael volunteered on a neighborhood youth police watch helping to deter crime and theft in his New York, Bronx community. For almost two years I have wrote about this case of self-defense of a Black disabled young man. Read Fighting to Stay Alive and Oh My Brother

After more than four years of building their campaign, almost single handedly, the truth of Michael’s attack and how he was treated in Judge Ronald E. Vican courtroom of Stroudsburg, Penn. was finally uncovered and Michael conviction was overturned in his appeal to the Supreme Court. Although Michael’s case was overturned nearly four months ago, on Christmas Eve he was still locked up because his bail and lawyer fees equaled over fifty thousand dollars. In a November 14th 2002 email from Michael Manning mother, pinpointed the issue. She wrote, "its sad to think that in this country a man’s freedom is measured by the almighty dollar sign." $50,000 for freedom of an innocent man! It doesn’t make sense!
In September I had the opportunity to visit Michael and his family. After seeing and talking to him and visiting his family, I knew our work would bring freedom in 2003. I knew two years ago when DAMO & Poor Magazine got involved with the Manning campaign that Michael will be sleeping in his own bed. On December 27th, 2002 Michael had a goodnight sleep in his own bed and rang in a New Year with his family.
Although Michael is free, the DA, Mark Pazuhanich, has threatened to take Michael back to court. Occurring to Michael’s mother and his lawyers, the DA has petitioned Supreme Court however they were told the chances of him granted his request is slim. Michael’s conviction was overturned by a majority vote of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the DA hasn’t been successful in his efforts because when he petitioned Superior Court for retrial he was denied. Plus Michael had an outstanding record as a role model to other inmates with shinning recommendation from prison administrators, guards and other inmates. All of the above elements point that this nightmare is over. When I finally heard Michael’s voice on my voicemail the day after Christmas, I looked over to the cover of Martin Luther King’s book, Why We Can’t Wait and realized that the Manning family and supporters demanded freedom and we finally got it!

For more than two years, I kept Michael’s letters and articles I wrote about his case and it taught me, if you really believe in something and stick with it you will see the fruits of your labor. As we enter a New Year the story of Michael Manning should encourage you like it did for me to dedicate yourself to the work of real progressive causes, organizations and be the voice of buried voices that are demanding freedom, justice, equality and to be respected!

Stay tuned for the words and wisdom of Michael Manning, himself! IT IS A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

by Joe B.

As a columnist at POOR Magazine going on 6 years she maybe right, most of the time either my address was written wrong, glitches in programs, electromagnetic storms or server mishaps, plus my own incompetence in this highly technical arena prevented many readers from responding in positive or negative ways.

[not one racy though demure pinup of a feminine fan.]

I truly don’t know if readers like, hate, or laugh at my work?

I’m just a guy doing what I can with words but some–times my written work shock its been called odd, crazy, experimental, Erotic garbage, to downright Pornographic.

I try not to offend anyone but as my 3 editors say I’m dialoging with myself.

As an intern at POOR Magazine, a year ago or more her name: Marissa Villaluna, at the time I don’t know if she’s a Youth Commissioner, was sworn in, or what.

I didn’t even know she was in college at the time.

She’s had a life of drama, abuse, former soldier, (She knows 10 way to kill barehanded!)

I’d like to learn those techniques before she away from my small orbit into the wider world.

She lived in Germany, Texas, other places, and visited Taiwan.

When her internship was up I thought I wouldn’t see her for awhile little did I know she lived closer to my bosses than to me but I was able to walk to her apartment when I found out where she lived.

As a platonic friend she taught me about some of her
Spanish/Filipino (Philippines) Heritage, food, and cultural esthetics, club dancing, and bars. (I don't drink and not a good dancer but now taking classes in Latin Ameri Folk Dance other dances and later tap I'm thinking of learning also.)

Its one of her outlets of a busy, hetic, stressful life full of political events, travel, dinners, and meetings through out the week.(The Woman Has To Have Some Fun After All The Dedication To Improve The Lives Of Younger and Elder Folks of all genders and Orientations).

I’ve said she lives her life at warp speed and that’s and me I’m trying to live as slow as possible.

Sometimes she sleep in her apartment or mine and I’ve had to wake her up because leaving without tell her really panicked her.

Because of a serious life threatening incident in Feb. of 2002.

To trust me, another male completely made me feel really special.

All that combat knowledge and she is caught by surprise by a battering boyfriend didn’t matter.

I told her once that I deeply appreciate her trust in me, it meant a lot to me.

She shrugged it off as no big deal so I wait until I'm home behind closed doors to let the flood overrun my eyelids.

There is respect, humor, friendship, deep gratitude, for her trust.

I gripe, groan, make an ass of myself sometimes she’s use to that.

She’s no perfect young miss herself even when she’s bored she’s a "Thick, Stunning young, woman who's already a political leader among the youth.

Like she says "She’s no leader of the future she’s one now."

I can only see her ‘Pol Star continue to rise.

"Mari has told me her friends don’t read my columns, that it’s a "B.S. Column."

Oh, well everyone has an opinion and as third editor she has squashed many a budding column by looking only at the title.

She has a habit of coming up with statistics to back up whatever she’s saying while pick out junk from the air and not deep research.

"You have no evidence, so your argument is a load of crap."

I fix that by not talking politics, sexism, racism, or any other ism’s for that matter because I’m not looking up stuff all over the world to back up every little detail.

That’s why I’m not into politics because it all changes everyday, month, and year and I won’t spend time tracking all the minutia down to make a point as she does.

I guess I’ll look for evidence and for once win an argument just as she used them against me.

I hope Mari’s friends tell her about this column that is about her.

I’ll write another if she’s not satisfied but she’s must write some of it herself… Bye.

Please send donations to

Poor Magazine or in C/0

Ask Joe at 1448 Pine Street,

San Francisco, CA. 94109 USA

For Joe only my snail mail:

1230 PO Box

#645

Market St. San Francisco, CA 94102

Email: askjoe@poormagazine.org

by Joe B.

Sunday, Feb. 23, 2003 is the last hectic day.

Earlier Ms. M. called about rehearsal of the play which I still say is a skit but don’t tell Lisa that since she made it up and constantly complex it up with help from other ‘PO poets.

Its not participating in the play that’s the problem its adding extras like words, props, and not letting the basic thing be what it is.

This is why I didn’t have my script with me I had been practicing for two weeks then stopped because I see more directions, props, changes, more tweaking of the script until one page becomes five.

I’ve learned to reduce my work to its essence so I don’t have to work any harder than needed and I always warn new POOR Magazine Interns, ‘PO Poet’s to start reducing work because if you write a six or seven page short story; guess who’ll be reading it or sharing with others and don’t share too much personal stuff because its all "grist for the mill" in POOR’s way of working.

Few people listen and then when they come up with 4 to 8 pages and begin to read the poor snooks look at me sideways finally getting it but too late so I’ve learn to warn once then keep my mouth shut.

Again, Sunday I planned to sleep because I know tonight will be full of drama, nervousness, angst, and feeling of "What Can Go Wrong Will Go Wrong"

I help Lisa again but not as much this time because most of the butcher paper, drawings and lighting are already set and I race back home to sleep.

Calling Ms. M. at 2:30 pm I said I’d be there by 3 and we’d be at the old 9th street I.L.W.U.(International Local Warehouse Union) local 6.

After taking a shower I leave later and when I get to Ms. M’s home she’s just finished taking a shower, hair, face wet.

Letting me in while she stays in her bathroom emerging only when her white bathrobe is tight and secure on her.

"I race over here thinking you’d be mad at me for being late but your not dressed."

"I’m mad at you Joe, really mad just plain mad she joked as I wait in another area while she changes into her clothes.

By 3:35 we both know we’ll be late and using her cell phone Ms. M. calls Lisa and of course she pissed "Where are you Joe?"

"We’ll be a little late, be there at 4:30."
"That’s not alright, why are you…?

I wasn’t going to argue while walking down the street on a cell phone.

"We’re going be there by 4:30, We’re On Our Way Now, we will be late.

"Lisa’s began getting loud but stopped going off the phone."

"Joe, you don’t talk to Lisa that way" M. says.

At when thinking of the late night Tuesdays when I had to double back after work and continue to work beside on the book because I wanted to get published too.

Then realizing what I’m writing is totally different what everyone is writing had nothing to do with the main theme of Diaspora, housing, but had to with life extension, android/flesh women, other worlds and sexually graphic material that I’m constantly told won’t do for POOR’s Publication so I save it somewhere else because I’m ‘thinkin really "S" Graphic Novel for another publication.

The book was done at least text wise but added to it is graphics and it nearly made me let the book go because there is more and more extra junk to do.

Later I found out people have to see pretty pictures then look at the text.

I concede but under duress.

Now the "being late thing I guess I wasn’t ‘feelin the book release party all that well even though I Lisa, Connie Lu, Willie, our ‘tech guy is working to wire the place for the stage and projector for Dee’s "Hands & Lester" ‘PO Cat’s speak back books.
my pigeon character’s Dee had graphics made of her cat’s with my pigeons in their mouths I decide not to compete with her cats even though my pigeons are more than they seem.(immortal, mind readers who gained other unique powers being in the home of a successful Alchemist who achieved) "The Great Work." better known as the "PHILOSOPHER’S
STONE"

Dee, Mother of Lisa, Co Owner of POOR Magazine’s likes cat’s better than pigeons as do I.

Its another concept but I won’t place my character’s to be constantly on the losing end because she’s my boss, editor and like cats more than pigeons.

I’ll have them recreated somewhere else where they can develop and shine in their own books.

I call my mother before meeting Ms. M. and she’ll be in if possible my brother and his wife had to go back to Chicago or somewhere else.

It’s a world wind kind of event with an author’s panel talking, reading from and about their works, Dee’s Cat story, vegetarian, meat, ice cream, soda’s a "The ‘Houzin Project Play" and upstairs live reading of stories by authors of the work.

And lots of mingling, selling of books, and afterwards I leave with my mother because I know the clean up will take all night and I’ve done that twice but not this night as me and mama head for bart and parts unknown.

On the same train our tech guy Willie and fellow author, poet, and D A M O
(Disability Advocates of Minorities Organization)

As soon as I’m in my mother’s, we talked, I cooked some eggs and tomatoes together for a late dinner, kissed mama good night going to that comfortable backroom foldable bed and instantly fell into a comfortable deep restful sleep.

Please send donations to

Poor Magazine or in C/0

Ask Joe at 1448 Pine Street,

San Francisco, CA. 94103 USA

For Joe only my snail mail:

1230 Market St.

PO Box #645

San Francisco, CA 94102

Email: askjoe@poormagazine.org

by Ed Willard/PNN and POWER

On Tuesday, October 22 POWER staged it's 6th and final pre-election protest against Gavin Newsom and his ballot initiative, Proposition N. Prop N, if it passes, will rob GA workers of most of their money and increase
homelessness in San Francisco. Meanwhile Newsom, who has been touring the city for the last few months making lying,
empty promises about "care" for homeless GA recipients, (all of whom, according to Newsom, are drug addicts), will
have made a name for himself at the expense of the poor.

For this action POWER chose the GA welfare office as it's target, (and as a result of this, head of DHS, Trent Rhorer
has forbidden POWER from doing outreach at the city shelters. Hah!) At 10:30 AM 50 POWER members gathered outside
the POWER offices at 32 7th St. for the short march over to GA on Mission St. Anyone still sleeping in the
neighborhood was roused up by the sound of our gutsy sound system as we marched and chanted: They say go away!
We say........NO WAY!!

When we got there we performed the POWER guerilla theatre piece which exposes the connection between Newsom, his
funders, the lying local media and slimeball, bought-and-paid-for by downtown interests, cheap bureaucrat Trent
Rhorer, director of the Department of Human Services. Then we marched down Mission to 6th Street, up 6th, crossing
Market and through the Tenderloin neighboorhood, past the food line at St Anthonys. We picked up more supporters
along the way. Even so our group was still small but, by design, we spread out and marched 5 abreast through the
middle of the streets until we reached city hall. There we picked a contingent to go up to Newsom's office. This
was headed up by POWER spokesperson Travis Bard. Newsom had got wind of us coming so, of course, his office was
closed and locked. On a large piece of butcher paper, we had documented the moneys the city had stolen from GA
workfare workers over the past year, (the descrepency between workfare folks wages and city workers pay, totaling
thirty million dollars). We were demanding reparations and tried to post the document on the wall outside of
Newsom's office at which point three members of security took it and crumbled it up. Unruffled, Travis voiced POWERs
demands of reparations to the security team.

As stated at the beginning of this story, the protest today was the last of POWER's pre-election actions but there is
a general concensus among POWER members that, even if our efforts against Prop N are successful and it goes down in
defeat, our fighting group certainly won't be disbanding. POWER is committed to continuing the fight to get real
affordable housing and living wage jobs for all. One thing, I think, should be clear to Newsom and his cronies and
that is that San Francisco's poor and working class will not be swept out of town or forced en masse into the rotten
shelter system. We're united and we're committed to taking our city back!

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

In Honor of Theresa Guerra- a companera who will be missed

A week ago, on Friday in the morning our sister Theresa Guerra passed away. All of the circumstances surrounding her death have yet to be revealed. So this story is meant to be only a preliminary report.

Theresa first became involved with People Organized to Win Employment Rights (POWER) only about three months ago. In such a short span of time it’s hard to believe that someone could have become such an important part of the organization as Theresa did. My own impressions of her are from the times I worked together with her on the No on Proposition N campaign and I’d like to try to record a few of those here.

Since earlier this year POWER has been engaged in a battle with Supervisor Gavin Newsom to stop his Counterfeit Care initiative, Proposition N. Sometime in the summer Theresa came on board and lent her help in the fight. The first time I recall seeing her was when POWER organized an action against Harrington’s Bar and Grill. The owner, Kathleen Harrington, is also president of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association (GGRA). GGRA has been a major funder of Newsom’s Prop. N campaign. We wanted to expose Newsom’s connection with downtown business.

For this action POWER and POWER’s allies made a strong showing with 100 people, a few of whom were designated to present Kathleen Harrington with a list of demands. Theresa volunteered to take the lead and be the spokesperson for the group, stepping forward as someone who was currently homeless, staying at the Next Door shelter, 1001 Polk Street. Physically, Theresa was a large woman, solid looking and she carried herself well, I remember her at the point of this group, speaking in a loud, sure tone as she voiced the demand that Harrington stop funding a proposition that, contrary to what it pretended, was no solution to homelessness and would indeed cause more homelessness.

The message we gave to Harrington that day was that, if things didn’t change "we’d be back". True to our word, months later we did come back, this time "armed " with a guerilla theater piece, written and acted out by POWER members. Now, Theresa was taking a lead role, her part being a GA workfare street sweeper who was sweeping out corrupt politician, Gavin Newsom and his cronies, funder Harrington, lying SF Examiner columnist, Frank Gallagher and head of the San Francisco welfare programs, Trent Rhorer. On that day our main audience was a group of unappreciative patrons of Harrington’s sidewalk café (some of whose lunches could well have amounted to GA folks entire check if Prop. N passes). Later we marched down Market Street, stopped and performed again in front of the Gap, another financial contributor to Prop N.

Totaled up, POWER has performed its skit four times, the last being in front of the GA welfare office this past Tuesday. Sadly, Theresa was no longer with us and though POWER member Donna did a fine job filling in, it just didn’t seem the same without Theresa, whose courageous fighting spirit will be sorely missed. She will be missed in the movement overall and missed more specifically for the last part of our No on N campaign.

There’s one very striking irony in this story that’s worth mentioning and that has to do with the location of Theresa’s death. She was found unconscious in her bed at Next Door shelter (formerly MSC North) early last Friday morning. The coroner’s office has not released a full report as to what the cause of death was. There are many versions and stories as to the details surrounding Theresa’s death. But what we do know for sure is that this all happened in the daytime and hours passed before emergency medical technicians were called. This all happened in a "care facility" with staff on hand, and at a time of day when surely there was lots of activity. By the time the ambulance got to Next Door, it was too late to save Theresa. It’s said that the emergency technicians complained they could’ve saved her had they been called just half an hour sooner.

The bitter irony is that Next Door shelter is the very place that Gavin Newsom chose to kick off his Care not Cash campaign back in February of this year. The reason he chose Next Door is that this shelter is the shining star of the city shelter system, it is the most modern and cleanest of shelters, but we have to wonder about the "care." This is significant too because the more we examine social programs legislation from Newsom and those like him, the more we see that there is a broader agenda at hand. The objective of this agenda is to economically and racially "cleanse" San Francisco. It’s a war against the poor, and those who stay are forced into shelters or "care facilities" that look more like prisons than housing. The gravity of these attacks is seen in the casualties of its effects.

People have been willing to stand up and fight against this agenda to kick us out of San Francisco. Back in February, Newsom was met by an angry contingent of community activists who were determined not to take his crap sitting down. On that day our group of 40 some odd angry folks put Gavin on the run, (literally he was escorted out of the place and back to city hall by the police). And our sister, Theresa Guerra’s tireless and courageous efforts over the coming months contributed to keeping him on the run. She will be sorely missed, yet we know that her fighting spirit will accompany us as we continue on with the struggle for justice, fighting to build a world where precious lives like Theresa’s are not lost in vain.

POOR will do an in-depth investigation of Theresa’s death within the next two weeks- please stay tuned.

by Pastor Niemoeller (a victim of the Nazis)

"First they came for the Jews,

and I did not speak out

because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Communists,

and I did not speak out

because I was not a communist.

And then they came for the trade unionists,

and I did not speak out

because I was not a trade unionist.

And then they came for me,

and there was no one left

to speak out for me."

…..Pastor Niemoeller (a victim of the Nazis)

by Leroy Moore Jr./ Illin and Chillin

The life, art, and writings of Horace Pippin can shed some light in our times of the so—called ‘War on Terrorism’ that we are forced to live in today. The strength and dedication of Mr. Pippin is a light from the past that follows our brothers and sisters onto the battlefields and in the airwaves of today. Horace Pippin was born in 1888 in West Chester, PA. but moved to New York as a child. At a very early age Pippin had a passion to draw, but had to leave school to help his family. The long, hard hours didn’t leave much time for drawing. He was known for his bold narrative paintings of war experiences etc. Horace Pippin’s paintings displayed the horror, pain, struggles of war and the life of African Americans during his time. His first major work, ‘The End of the War: Starting Home’ showed the horror he had seen in World War I. and at the beginning of WWII Pippin continued to stressed peace. “There was war then, but there would be peace again” was the message in Pippin’s painting, “The Holly Mountain,” which showed rows of white crosses marking the dead of WWI.

Horace Pippin was a corporal in the 369-Colored Infantry Regiment, which fought on the front lines of WWI in the Argonne Forest under French command. These were the first African American soldiers to fight overseas for the United States on the front lines. “As a boy I loved to make pictures, but it was World War I that brought out the art in me… I can never forget suffering and I will never forget the sunset… so I came home with all of it in my mind and I paint from it today.” Horace Pippin explained in his book about his life and art, Starting Home: The Story of Horace Pippin Painter and his papers.

Diving into a hole to escape a German sniper but he was unsuccessful. The sniper shot him in the shoulder with an exploding dumdum bullet. Every time Pippin tried to climb out, the sniper fired again. He remembered a French solider looking down at him and ten seconds later the solider was shot and fell on top of him in the whole. Pippin was not rescued from the hole until the next day. The doctors operated, attaching the shattered right shoulder to his upper arm with a steel plate. After the operation, Pippin couldn’t lift his right hand above shoulder level. He returned home and lived off his disability pension.

Horace picked up his drawing after the war as therapy for not only his arm but also his battle with depression. He used his left hand to support his weak right hand to paint. Although Pippin loved painting, it was painful for him. This could be one reason why most of his paintings were small pictures and took him hours and days to complete one painting. He didn’t paint for fame he lived an honest life. His later paintings dealt with how African Americans were treated poorly after they returned home as you can see in his painting, Mr. Prejudice, that he painted after WWII because he saw more discrimination against the next generation of young African Americans soldiers. Please look at these painting and get to know the art and life of Mr. Horace Pippin and ask yourself have we learned from the messages in Pippin's paintings

A little bite of history for our so-called President and the disabled & general public!!
By Leroy Franklin Moore Jr. Executive Director of DAMO
sfdamo@Yahoo.com

by Joe B.

On Thursday, Oct. 31, 2002.

I’ve lived in San Francisco nearly a decade or more Halloween or Day Of The Dead celebrations were not on my top ten list.

I was houseless and on G. A.[General Assistance and later work-fare].

Plus I’m basically a homebody with a messy room.

A younger friend accused me of doing so because she might even though illness made her think otherwise.

Just because I want to go this Castro thing now does not mean its because of her.

I wanted to go because I never experienced it before.

After work I rush home take a nap before take a shower then left with mint candy from Supervisor Chris Daly ‘s campaign of last night (they are left in my small refrigerator freezer to stay fresh).

I was going to eat them as snacks but decided instead to hand them out to children trick or treating.

By 8:58 I’m clean, dressed in a white Beverly Hills Polo shirt, [I didn't know that busty woman owned so much stuff!

You know the one with the polo player on the horse?

A lazy eyed rich guy is my disguise plus mints and tape recorder if I am to write about this night.

The night sizzled, people walk, drive, on busses towards the Castro District conversely coming from the opposite direction are streams of people going toward Market Street.

Traffic, people stop, voices of cheer and leers make their sounds mostly a younger crowd are walking steady upwards as others were heading up to Castro.

"There are video camera’s filming" a young black women says talking her group friends.

The crowds increases on the way there is live music of funk and singing by known or unknown artists.

I’m glad I have endurance it works for me now.

At the bar / café called The Mint, I gave three mint candies away because I cannot find children the two young girls and guy thanked me as I moved on up to Castro.

As the migration continued it begins to be more dense as the crowd and I passed Safeway.

I saw port potties which is a lode in case of urination.

Quickly I go up the hill to Castro and States to watch the multitudes below.

There is lots of "Oh, My God" from other people as well as myself when looking back down the hill in the gaping mouth of undulating bodies some who began celebration early.

Costumes are inventive, genius, and full of fun I just worried about death walking around in plain sight without a costume.

A few rowdy people, arguments of pissed off girl and boy friends with cops and new vans also near the bottom or riding up the hill.

Some grounded fireworks and by twelve I start down the hill.

In an apartment complex a young women display their upper body parts and on street level I get a cheap thrill from a young miss dressed as Marilyn Monroe.

Decked out in the famous classic white dress scene in "The Seven Year Itch '1955, a stepping over a subway grate as an updraft blows her dress up. This scene turned her into a star and icon. (Thank You, Hollywood.Com).

This Marilyn is petite proudly showing her breasts for the crowd saying.

"Want to see real breasts I have real tits."

She’s one proud and pretty woman.

While I entered the crowed again for a bathroom break one realizes that in a crowd your still warm.

The streets are jammed packed as I trudge back to Market Street.

Mounted police, helicopters, cycle cops, NBC 11, KRON, and 5 with satellites up to view the part atmosphere.

I’m down the hill, walking trough crowds, almost getting hit by two cars coming at from two opposite directions on Van Ness trying to an alternate room home.

All I can say of this night is the Castro Halloween Party is an Absolutely Fabulous Event.

The next time if I’m here I’ll have a date and a video camera.

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/PNN Community Journalist and Poverty Scholar

I wrote the following letter to the editor of the S. F. Examiner after reading an article called "Change--not spare change" by Bruce Bellingham on 11-22-02.

The article disturbed me not only as a person who has experienced poverty, homelessness, and a former addict. Its content was underlying with Newsom as Saint and political promotional statement in his behalf, while talking about how people need to have a "change of heart "and stop putting the "blame" on Gavin (even before Prop N will prove itself to be his political bane). I urge you readers of POOR to read this article. With all its gobbledygook I believe that it still tries to place "blame" on the poor/homeless for their poverty... and once again in true Examiner fashion tries very overtly to have people believe that almost all of our cities homeless are addicts.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR S.F. EXAMINER
IN RE TO: "CHANGE--NOT SPARE CHANGE" BY BRUCE BELLINGHAM

I am having a very hard time trying to ingest the misinformation, bias, and the promotion-job for Gavin Newsom in his pursuit for the Mayoral throne, in today's article by Bruce Bellingham "Change--not spare change."

Trying to paint Mr. Newsom in the light of a martyr--and compare him to John F. Kennedy--for social change is repugnant and extremely misleading. Alas the poor hotel, restaurant, and big business owners, ---boo hoo -- which he is a part of, are losing big bucks? I mean: are you trying to have your readers believe that people's suffering, poverty, and lives are less valid than those who have jobs, homes, healthcare, and more than a living wage?

"I do know this. To feed an addiction is to kill. We might as well offer rat poison to the addict. I know some might think that is a good idea. But it could be your daughter." Bruce Bellingham 'Change--not spare change' S. F. Examiner 11-22-02

If you wanted to get real... Mr. Newsom sells drugs that people abuse. Yes that being alcohol. In essence, he feeds the addiction of many and by your article that makes him a "killer." Perhaps society thinks it is okay. More than likely the people who can afford to eat and drink at his cafe's, winery, and wine stores all named "Plump Jack" in San Francisco, Squaw Valley, and Napa (not to mention the "Matrix" a bar in the Fillmore) can go to their houses to sleep it off unnoticed in the sanctity of their homes where they aren't under the scrutiny of the public eye... or maybe they'll just run over a homeless person, or someone who just "could be your daughter" on the way to their next drink.

So...what about the people who abuse substances who have homes? Are they believed to be better than homeless addicts are? What is the message you are trying to convey? Substance Abuse is a worldwide plague that has no class discrimination. To belie that homelessness is caused by addiction is not correct. Homelessness is caused by different degrees of numerous problems. Yes, there are addicts who are homeless, just as there are far more who practice their addiction indoors and unseen..

Once again your paper states that " the homeless might go somewhere else if they can't get the money here" and the statement that "most of the poverty and homelessness is caused by addiction" are deeply wrong. It is only a small piece of a monolithic puzzle. People do not choose where to live in poverty. It is not that simple. You give the impression that homeless people will always gravitate to wherever it is easier, where they can get a free ride. Have you considered how much crime is going to go up when these people's benefits are almost entirely cut off? Desperation will motivate one to do things that they normally would not.

I agree that it would be nice if people would have a "change of heart." that people become aware of real issues such as poverty, healthcare, mental health, discrimination, and the hate of the people, who mainstream society considers different from themselves, would be a start. I also agree with Bruce Bellingham when he says that people shouldn't place blame... Please stop blaming the poor for their poverty.

If the money spent on the advertising for Prop N alone would have been funneled into the community for housing, more adequate shelters, or vocational programs of some sort:: wouldn't that have been a "change of heart?" Instead, you continue to put articles in your paper that short-change the poor and homeless. I ask you, is this the kind of "change" your paper is speaking of?

Thank-you,

Valerie Schwartz Community Journalist @

by TJ Johnston/Community Journalist

On a drizzly Friday evening, I ambled my way to another antiwar demonstration, this one on scenic Sixth and Market
Street. Of course, not only did the venue of protest differ from the expected gatherings on Union Square or the Civic Center
Plaza, but the method was also atypical. Over 70 artists displayed their dissidence against the US's impending war on Iraq.
This resistance took form of paintings, illustrations, scultures, photos and video instillations. On December 6, the Luggage
Store gallery hosted an opening reception of "No War." The exhibit wil run until January 11.

Among the featured artists were Rigo '02, Rupert Garcia, Fernanda Steinmann, Claire Rojas, TWDCD, and Nome Edonna. The
reception's attendance easily numbered in the dozens: one could say everybody who was somebody was present.

Rather than critique individual works, I think it's better to show select samples. The Luggage Store is located on 1007 Market St.
in San Francisco and open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 12pm to 5pm (gallery closed Dec. 25 to 27 and Jan. 1). Many of the
exhibited items are for sale. Call (415) 255-5971 to make an inquiry. If you have antiwar art you'd like to be shown, fax a copy to
(415) 863-5509.

by Joe P.

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

A warrior was the backbone, first and last defense of principalities and Monarchies.

As always they led rough, lusty usually short lives.

They were first-on-point scouts, guards, and early spies of emerging and fallen empire.

Loyalty meant giving up luxuries of merchants, owning land.

Even the poorest citizen living in animals tents, huts of straw, mud, wood or homes hewn from solid rock could sneak away on food or on a horse, steal one if they had the nerve disappearing to parts unknown.

War taught warriors that most leaders unless they were once warriors themselves don’t know what real battle and bloodlust fever, going berserk in do or die situations unless they were in wars themselves.

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 as nurses, and soldier’s in their own rite earning the right to question war’s cost.

When parent’s, female and male soldier’s question
"Why The Fuck Are We At War, There Is Few If An Advantage 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 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 the America’s Sphere of influence.

They are pledged to protect U. S. citizens not rogue government rattling sabers for a war not needed.

What can a soldier’s do but obey unless like the 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.)

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 has devastated both the Middle East and make 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 from our destructive capabilities and toward creative ones.

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

Let’s see countries military and domestic drop from planes bio and inanimate nano-probes from blue prints to rebuild and improve destroyed buildings with artificial intelligence harmless to humans.

the bio parts of nanites enter dead, 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.

Oh, VOTE PEOPLE


If YOU DON’T VOTE DON’T BITCH ‘N’ MOAN.

DON’T SAY SHIT, GRIPE ‘N’ GROAN, IF YOU DON’T WANT OUR EVER SHRINKING FREEDOMS LIKE VOTING TO GO ALSO.- V O T E.

FOLKS, WOMEN, MEN, YOUTH, YOUNG ADULTS, AND CHILDREN TOO; DO YOU WANT THIS TO CONTINUE? - I THINK NOT.

We must get up off our collective rusty dusty asses and VOTE on mass for what we want PEOPLE!!

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 Dee

Remember when I was called the Red Whore by my Hungarian boyfriend. He
said because of the way I looked when i was wearing my very long red dyed hair and my extremely short skirts – and that i must be a whore to go around looking like that – and the color of my hair was red hence "the red whore" title –

I met him outside a club in LA that catered to Eastern European and some third and fourth world folks. I became attracted to him because he whistled so loud at me when i was running from the club to my car.
The whole time i knew him he would think of insulting names for people – for example, my aunt had a high forehead so he called her Bumper forehead. A friend of mine had a small overbite and he described her as being able to bite a spider out of the corner.

He was extremely jealous and possessive – not like american men i knew. Maybe i wanted to know what it felt like to feel submissive.. Men were the boss where he came from and he said if a woman got "fresh" she needed to be slapped and all his friends with names like Pishquota and Lotsy passionately agreed. He also said he came to this country to be a criminal – crime was better and easier here, he said.

He would spend hours insisting that i had cheated on him and saying that if he found out what he already knew i would get slapped. He loved opera and would create operatic scenes with arguments in which i was always wrong and supposed to beg his forgiveness and promise to always be faithful.

After a while i became tired of the drama and the threats about slapping me – very likely he did too. One day i got "fresh" and said a sarcastic comment to him and he got all red faced and stomped over to where i was standing – i was alot taller than him. He had his hand perched way above his head cause this time i was really going to get it – of course, i never wanted to be slapped only to pretend i was part of the opera fantasy also.

He hovered under me ready to teach me a lesson for being "fresh" – rather than looking afraid i glared at him and said enough of this drama, don’t you dare threaten me, put your hand down and go sit down and tie your shoes. Much to my surprise he walked away, sat down and tied his shoes, with quite and embarrassed look as he did it.

That was it – no more threats – no more jealousy, no more drama – and i wish i could say we lived happily ever after.

by Joseph Bolden

Artists With A Heart

On Saturday, Dec. 8th B. O. S. S. [Building
Opportunity For Self- Sufficiency ] had an art show, the proceeds will help house families and individuals in need.

There may be enough to buy and turn buildings into real affordable low income housing,the farce of affordable housing.

Artists With A Heart began with Ms. Stephanie Wilger, a sculptor using all kinds of materials in her creations. She wanted to help by placing her work in an art gallery where part of the proceeds go to clients of B.O.S.S. attempting to create real affordable housing for people needing to be housed or sheltered, other artists joined in the effort.

From the cute “Red Rover” Dog by Karen Mason, Nudes of Gilda Waldman, Mary Glasson’s Landscape, Geraldine Krieger’s Yellow Plunge, Rising by Steven Rothenber. Tansy Mattingly Jazz Dance, to Stephanie Wilger’s Seeds of Intimacy, Dove Of Light, Big Heart, Love Glove and Silk Canoe.

All show me the power of woman’s ultimate Vagina power and vagina’s of various sizes, shapes, color, and textures.

All I as a male could do is be mesmerized, subtlety seduced by these formally intimate and private females areas shown full force blazing, glowing, inviting yet comforting if I let it wash over me. So much art, little time to absorb. There are artists I’ve not mentioned because of time constraints I do not want to slight any of them. Go see for yourselves -where to go or call:BOSS, 2065 Kittredge, Ste. E, Berkeley, CA. 94704. Email: www.self-sufficiency.org

by tiny and Mike Vizcarra/PNN

We aren’t goin down now or anytime soon...

by Tiny

"Broke, To’ up, beat-down and …Po’ ….Yeah, we’re all that… but we’re also, strong, mad, smart, and fierce and we’re aren’t going down now or any time soon, certainly not cause some privileged white folks want us out of town…. Clive Whistle, PoorNewsNetwork staff.writer and poverty scholar

The sun shone on the red bricks surrounding the BART station at 24th and Mission Streets in San Francisco on Saturday, November 1st for the Poor People’s March for justice. The people gathered – standing together in unison against economic apartheid - Feet piled on top of more feet – feet covered in payless athletic shoes, paid for by mothers struggling to care for their children on a $450.00 per month welfare check, feet belonging to working poor mothers struggling to pay their rent on $6.75 an hour job in a city that allows landlords to evict those same women and children if they can’t afford a rent increase –feet belonging to workfare workers at-risk of losing their meager wage due to racist, classist legislations, day laborers trying to work and being harassed for being poor and other than white, Asian immigrant elders trying to be housed and not evicted, children and youth of color trying to be educated rather than incarcerated, disabled folks, and houseless folks, all fighting to be heard, to have their stories told as they really are… fighting for justice….. for housing…. for life.

I was among them, my feet had been on those food stamp lines, welfare lines, unemployment lines, free lunch lines and shelter lines – I was one of the poor people in the poor people’s march and it wasn’t often that I felt strong – or happy or filled with power. I usually felt tired and beat-down and ready to give up – cause the corporate media and the politicians were always telling my story and talkin’ bout me and callin’ me and mines names we weren’t – and sometimes they won – but today was different…

"We aren’t going anywhere" Geena Douglas was speaking into the mike at the rally held before the march. Geena was a long-time member of People Organized to Win Employment Rights (POWER) "I will never forget the first day I joined POWER, 5 years ago, when it was called General Assistance Rights Union – and when I did it was the first time that I as a welfare recipient didn’t feel like I was a lesser person, " she continued, head held high into the air, " I am a poor person, I am a welfare recipient, I am a worker and I am a resident off San Francisco and I am not going anywhere.

The feet continued to gather…. worn-down-soles-feet….. slightly slower feet. The feet were ready to fight – the feet were ready to win…

"Proposition N and R are created by people in this city who don’t want us in this town", Cindy Weisner from POWER began educating the crowd on the racist, classist legislations that were on the ballot in this election and inspired the poor people’s march, "people with so much money they can waste it. Proposition N will lower our General Assistance check to $59.00 a month which is less than 1.84 per hour – slave wages – do we want that?"

The swelling crowd roared, "Nooooo…."

"Proposition R would take up to 85,000 apartments off the rental market, exempt them from rent control and convert those units to condominiums for more rich people….do we want that?" Cindy called out again.

Again we responded "Nooooo"

"Let’s show this city who has the POWER", Renee Suacedo from La Raza Centro Legal grabbed a bullhorn and climbed atop a truck covered in a mock-up of a San Francisco jail cell with the words: SF’s Homeless new shelter painted in red. Under proposition N and R the city jails will be the only place poor folks of San Francisco can afford to live. In this city alone 40% of the people in SF city jails are there from homeless related citations, from 1993 to 2001, 30 million dollars have been spent incarcerating homeless people, I guess after we have been redlined, evicted and choked out of our real housing, that’s where the Gavin Newsomes and Diane Feinsteins aka rich folks who back Props N and R want us all to go.

Renee launched the march with the chant,

"Whose got the power?

We have the power

What kind of power?

People power…"

A thousand people strong – we began, signs waving in the sun-kissed sky. We, the poor people, the brown, black and beautiful people, POOR Magazine/PoorNewsNetwork, Coalition on Homelessness, POWER, Homeless Prenatal Program, The San Francisco Day Labor Program, The Chinese Progressive Association, and so many more, were there to protest Proposition N and R – two legislations aimed at harming low and no income people in San Francisco. But we were also there to demand truth, respect and justice from the corporate media, who lie about us, the police who abuse us, the legislators who harm us, the social workers who take our children from us, the judges who adjudicate against us cause we don’t have the money for equal "justice" the banks who redline us, and the landlords who evict us, that we are here and we aren’t leaving any time soon…

The Poor March

By Mike Vizcarra/PNN

Poor people do not have the money the supporters of Proposition N and R have. We do not have the 2 million dollars they spent to promote these Propositions. But what we do have is power. People power. We can march with our feet and we can vote. And we can beat them with numbers, not money. This is what hundreds people did on Saturday, November 2, 2002.

On a beautifully warm, sunny afternoon, protestors met on the corner of 24th and Mission. People, representing everyone from all walks of life, showed up in tremendous numbers to protest Proposition N and Proposition R. From the young to the old, from African Americans to Asians to Latinos and everything in between, a great crowd had formed to show San Francisco their power. Our power. The people’s power. There were speakers talking of the injustices Proposition N and R would have on the people of San Francisco. Proposition N, as everyone should know, is the latest attempt by the local elite to blame their policy failures on poor and homeless people, slashing money earned by working people and replacing it with empty promises. The bottom line: Prop N will take money away from the people who really need it.

Proposition R, on the other hand, is a landlord backed condo conversion measure that would replace rent control with phony “lifetime lease” promises. It increases condo conversions from 400 to 3,400 a year. The Proposition also enables apartment buildings of ANY size to be converted and it repeals rent control from 3,400 apartments a year (State law lets landlords repeal rent control from rented condominiums). It also allows just 25% of people in a building to decide if apartments can be converted to condominiums – an unfair and undemocratic process.

“Every time the rich get richer,” says Geena Douglass from P.O.W.E.R., “the poor get poorer.”

“Where’s the care? Where’s the compassion? Where’s the common sense?” she asks the crowd.

There were also interpreters in Spanish and Chinese to translate what was being spoken to the crowd.

We started marching around 12:30, going down Mission Street towards Van Ness, with the crowd holding up signs saying, Real Jobs Not Workfare Slavery, or No On N & R. Our own Ace Tafoya and Richard Midget were dressed in an orange vest and carrying brooms representing the street workers of San Francisco. The streets echoed with chants of, “Who’s got the power? We got the power! What kind of power? People power!” Passersby and people in cars yelled and honked their horns in support, respectively. Curious onlookers, from this predominantly Hispanic neighborhood, looked out their apartment windows and waved their support. The loudspeakers from the truck we were following blared chants in Spanish, English, and Chinese. As I turned to look at the crowd behind me, I was amazed to see this huge mass of people, acting as one, march down the street. It was truly an amazing site. This was a protest.

The march lasted almost two and a half hours, going down Mission to 6th Street, and then crossing Market and up Turk to Polk Street, all the while the crowd chanting and holding up their signs relentlessly. When we finally arrived at City Hall everyone erupted in cheers. Our very own Tiny was one of the first to address the gathered crowd. She introduced Mari, a Po’ Poet, who read a poem to the masses. Cindy Wiesner, from P.O.W.E.R., was hoarse from screaming all day but continued her duties as M.C. and provided energy to the crowd. Chris Daly was also present to show his support.

“Proposition N is a trial balloon for Newsome for Mayor,” he told me.

“He’s trying to climb up to a higher office on the backs of the people,” he continued, “Of course we need care, but the care is not there.”

Asked what he thought of the march, he said, “It’s good that this is happening. People need to organize. We need to stop the war on poor people in San Francisco.”

I thanked Chris for his time and he responded, “I’m glad someone is covering this,” as he looked at the KPIX and KRON vans parked in front of City Hall, obviously not there to report on the march but on the reaction of City Officials as to whether San Francisco or New York would get the bid for the Summer Olympics in 2012.

Businesses and rich individuals have spent almost 2 million dollars trying to get these Propositions to pass. They spend all this money when that money could go elsewhere. We may not have that money to promote our cause, but we have the vote, we have the numbers. As the famous chant goes, they can buy the election, they can buy the media, they can buy commercials, they can buy buildings, BUT THEY CAN’T BUY THE PEOPLE! Vote no on Proposition N & R!

by Alexandra Cuff/PNN

My feet seemed to trail behind the rest of my body as I walked up the bike lane on Polk Street this past
Wednesday. The November afternoon was overwhelmingly dull and Polk was a series of black and white still
photos. Bright colorless days suggested nostalgia of…something but I wasn’t able to place it. I turned
onto Grove Street and walked up toward the imposing figure of a building where I spotted a couple dozen or
so bobbing signs. I approached the gathering of people, which filled the ramp leading up to the federal
building - which is always more welcoming with a group of protesters outside.

…get up, get down, there’s a housing crisis in this town…get up, get down

Wednesday, November 20th celebrated the North American Day of Housing. People in cities from San Francisco
to D.C. are demanding an end to HUD Secretary Mel Martinez’s obstruction of the National Affordable
Housing Trust Fund. Here in SF, in a courageous act of direct resistance, a sit-in took place outside the
HUD office on the 9th floor of the Federal Building. The six who put themselves on the line so that our
voice could be heard, were arrested for trespassing federal property – they were cited and released within
two hours. They were demanding a teleconference with Mel Martinez who told Congress not to fund housing
because it is a "local problem."

The National Housing Trust Fund proposes to produce, rehabilitate, and preserve 1,500,000 units of housing
by 2010. The Trust Fund would allocate at least 75% of funds to those with incomes under 30% of the area
median. Within that, 30% of total Trust Fund dollars would be used for housing that is affordable to
households that earn less than $10,701 a year - equivalent to a year of full time minimum wage earnings.
The remaining funds would be used for low income households with incomes up to 80% of the area median. All
of these funds are restricted to housing production, preservation, or rehabilitation in low income
neighborhoods.

The increase of homeless and poor folk including families, youth, seniors and mentally and physically
disabled persons is directly related to the decline of HUD and low income housing in the past 25 years.
Welfare reform, specifically the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act that was passed with TANF in
1998, prohibits immigrants from receiving public housing and reserves 60% of all project-based housing for
households making between 30% and 80% of the median income. Full time workers at minimum wage make between
10% and 13% of the area median income. According to SF DHS and the National Low Income Housing Coalition
in 2000, you would have to earn $28.06 per hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment in San Francisco. With
families timing off of TANF and entering the workforce where wages have been decreasing for the past 30
years, the housing crisis should be seen for what it is – a national emergency. Now imagine these
conditions without the help of General Assistance which has just been slashed to $59 a month with the
passing of the heart-warming Care Not Cash/Proposition N.

While the six brave folk sat up on the 9th floor waiting confrontation from Martinez, a score of us stood
close together outside speaking and singing about our personal experiences and the punitive approach
current policy has toward poverty and homelessness. George Jones talked about the 450 families living in
SROs – single room occupancies. SROs which are sometimes as small at 5x5 feet and are intended for a
single person, are known to house families with up to 7 people. Anita, a seemingly shy recent immigrant
came up and spoke passionately about how fortunate she was to be in an SRO because of all the people she
sees on the street and in the shelters…because she is housed, she can do what she wants in life…go to
college. The Po’ Poets of POOR Magazine rolled up and we heard spoken word resistance from Dharma and
Charles.

Randal, COH volunteer, who is "formerly homeless – yet technically still homeless" because he’s not yet
stayed 30 days in an SRO, doesn’t consider an SRO to be housing: "I think of housing with a kitchen,
bathroom, a place I can have friends over." (Getting kicked out hotels just before you reach a 30-day stay
is common practice referred to as "musical chairs," which ensures tenants will not be eligible for
protection under the Rental Code.) Randal went on: "I did not go to college to be homeless, poor, to
pretend not to see things I see." James Sherman, of COH, has been homeless for 8 years. He spent, "100
years in the military and 200 years raising kids. Homelessness is not fun." He spoke about the "homeless
anger, police anger, public anger, and political anger" you experience when you are on the street. He
pointed out that folks on SSI, SSD, and seniors have all earned the right to a house. "Not everyone knows
how to get it but everyone deserves it."

Wednesday’s proactive response to our ongoing housing emergency was organized by Right to a Roof, a
housing workgroup of the Coalition on Homelessness, which organizes around federal housing programs,
budget cuts, and their impact on the housing crisis in San Francisco. Their advocacy for the creation and
preservation of affordable housing includes advocacy for cooperative housing in the City’s housing
strategy. They are a founding organization in the SF Land Trust Collaborative which is working to
establish a network of local community land trusts set up in the Haight Ashbury, Bay View/Hunter's Point,
Mission, Excelsior, Tenderloin, and South of Market with the goal of having at least one functioning
community land trust established by the end of the year.

In addition to the strain put on the poor from welfare reform, federal housing budget cuts, and an absence
of living wage jobs, our access to consistent, affordable housing is hindered by contracts that HUD has
entered into with private landlords. In these cases, our tax dollars cover the cost of renovating units
that landlords are committed to rent to Section 8 tenants. The catch is that the contracts expire! After
which the lord of the land (!) will naturally rent out the units at market rate or above market rate
rents. This further lowers the number of low-cost units available to an increasingly low and no income
population. With a functioning community land trust, affordable housing can exist independent of the
for-profit market.
As persons employed at the federal building left work that evening, many averted their eyes to our signs.
"Housing: Build it, Preserve it, Take it back!"

Without recognition of and advocacy for housing as a basic human right, homelessness will continue to
result from local, state, and federal public policy. The housing crisis does not only affect those born
into poverty. I grew up middle class in a predominantly white neighborhood on Long Island. My parents lost
their home in 1998 but they are not homeless today. They had a safety net – a safety net not provided by
government assistance but by a more natural system called community. My mother, father, and 2 younger
brothers moved into the three bedroom house of their best friends. During this time, with support
extending beyond my immediate family, my father was able to seek treatment for alcohol addiction. Living
communally, the addiction could no longer be hidden and my mother was given the emotional support to
continue to work and care for herself and my brothers while living displaced and no doubt feeling ashamed
– society dictates that poverty and homelessness are shameful states.

Most folk, especially those living in cities – where space and resources are extremely limited (except for
a small wealthy percentage) and for immigrants – who do not always have family in town – do not have this
safety net my parents were fortunate to have. We, as a community, are responsible for the role that my
parents’ friends played during our housing crisis. The role does not necessarily have to be taking
houseless families into your home (I can’t see that happening in such an individuated culture) nor should
it necessarily mean voting to pour money into shelters or transitional housing. Housing, not a mat on a
shelter floor, is a basic human right.

We need to ensure that a family’s needs and the consequent natural support of a caring community dictate
the assistance that should be provided by our government. Until policy addresses the need for a radical
new federal affordable housing program for ALL in need, we need to work in our communities to educate,
organize, advocate, and as we say at Poor, "report and support" to ensure habitable housing within healthy
neighborhoods for everyone.

This gathering of resistance was just one of many steps to push for the passing of the National Affordable
Housing Trust Fund Legislation which was defeated by only one vote in November. It’s going to be
reintroduced in January. All conscious folk welcome to the next Right to a Roof planning meeting held on
Wednesday at 5pm at COH. For more information call 415-346-3740 x314.

To learn more about the SF Land Trust Collaborative, go to www.sflandtrust.org.

by Joe B.

We’ve heard of people while living their lives discover by accident, change, or desperation finds another call other than what they’ve been taught or trained for?

It must be psychologically terrifying to have your life change because something inside clicks and suddenly you cannot be satisfied with what was a so called normal life.

I’m beginning to understand because its happening to me!

I find out about "The Hotel Utah" by a ‘PO Poet named Pitts.

Eventually, inside the combo bar, resturant and Live Performance place.

It’s different, calming, relaxing, and I’ve performed poetry and performed "Blood Bonded" a 3 part short story that’s a cross between science fiction, romance
so erotic and explicit it reads like a graphic adult comic/novel without the penciled or ink colored illustrated pictures on nearly every page.

Legs shaking, sputtering, making mistakes but getting through it is slow torture but worth going through.

I couldn’t finish my 2nd and 3rd parts finally over I’ve thought about songwriting but letting someone else sing.

Problem writer of song should at least interpreted their way before someone else and if they cannot convey it with their voice then others can help in that process.

As a high school kid I was literally speared in my throat by a guy using a grocery cart with steel poll vault.

I’ve never sung because I don’t believe that part of me felt severely damaged.

Recently wisps of music, melody, lyrics, are in my ears and I have no idea why its happening now!

I bought my brother’s electric piano for $200.

I hope to learn how to read, write, compose music and maybe sing.

Its absolutely odd how things happen.how does reciting poems, prose turn into and urge to write, compose, sing songs?

What scares me is not publicly failing on stage because at least I tried; my worry is that the incident that happened to me so long ago changed my vocal cords to sound other than a raspy or that there was no damage at all.

What if my voice has a quality others hear and love and I don’t realize its effect on people.

Don’t think I’ll get fame, fortune, over this because of my age.

Doing learning to do this younger folks would ignore me, others may listen and learn but if planets and stars are aligned and it happens it would scare me all to hell that somewhere some teeny bop girl/guy swoons or faints from my voice, lyrics, and song(s) I sing, or sung.

As for the groupie thing having tender flesh could cause all manner of paternity suit problems.

That won’t happen, I’ll sing a song I’ve written hope not to embarrass myself too badly.

Of course if a "So Weird" episode happens in my life I’ll ride it out so my mother and I can have homes close to each other and maybe a few others.

Don’t know if I have any talent in those areas, if this is a new career move or a false start.

May I ask the people young or older who are, were singer songwriters, or written songs for other people to sing.

How did they know their paths or what led them to it and how hard to follow once on it?

One thing for sure as the late Mr. Joseph Campbell said " Follow Your Bliss and doors will open where you never expected them."

Something’s calling me almost forcing me into this and I’ve learned to listen, flow, not fight what’s pulling at me.

As scary as this is for me if I do not follow this my life could be less full than it can be… Bye

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by Alexandra Cuff/PNN community Journalist

On Tuesday night I biked over to the Commonwealth club on Market Street to attend the Care Not Cash (Proposition N) debate between Supervisor Gavin Newsom and Sister Bernie Galvin, Executive Director of Religious Witness With Homeless People. Newsom is the main proponent of Prop. N whereas Galvin is opposing the proposition which would slash government assistance to $59 a month and replace it with an empty promise of services. Disheveled, I rushed in the east side of the building the same time the wind carried Newsom, quite polished, in from the west. On the single file escalator I was sandwiched between Gavin and a woman with ìYes on Nî door hangers peaking out of her Coach bag.

Unlike both campaign rallies and campaign protests, the attendance seemed a solid mix of both supporters and opponents of Prop. N. Each side was given 3 minutes to introduce their arguments. Newsom began by stating that homelessness is an issue that ìtranscends political ideology.î  With the admittance that homelessness is a complex social problem he was suggesting, with confidence, that we have reached a point where no discussions beyond a black and white ballot measure can create an effective and comprehensive homeless program. This opening statement struck me. If there is no room for political idealism regarding the ìissueî of homelessness, then why are we being asked to accept a solution that will serve a very specific political agenda of individuals seeking power?

He went on to point out that the number of "homeless deaths are symbolic of the problem" and that "whether we like it or not, the leading cause of death is drug use" and that the drug of choice to overuse is heroin. So as an introduction, Newsom identified homelessness as a problem in San Francisco and most of those homeless are heroin users. Even if there was proof that most of the folks who will be affected by this initiative are drug users (which there isnít), it wouldnít change the fact that Prop. N doesnít even address addiction or provide treatment. A common misconception of those leaning in support of Care Not Cash is that folks who are opposing CNC do not agree that homelessness is not being addressed. We know the system is broken, we just donít want to replace it with one that doesnít work.

Sister Bernie began resolutely, ìWe are frustrated.î She debated that Care Not Cash was not an answer to homelessness and declared that it ìplays on the fears instilled in us by the media.î She went on to debate that the supporters of Prop. N want to take money from the poor to cure the social ills of this city. She called Prop. N ìthe most egregious piece of legislation on homelessnessî she has ever seen.

Over the past few months of following the Care Not Cash dialogue in a variety of media sources, Iíve been asking myself a question: How and why are the folks who are working to create a compassionate, effective solution to homelessness not being taken seriously?  Scores of community leaders, elected officials, community organizations, labor groups, and political clubs formed the Committee Against Increased Homelessness and are opposed to Prop. N. Is it not an insult that the work that organizations and individuals, many whom are formerly homeless and still at risk, whose mission is to confront poverty, are discounted when it comes to creating policy that will create permanent solutions to homelessness? It was like I handed the script of this question to Newsom and Galvin on Tuesday evening. We have a piece of legislation proposed to help homelessness and we have poverty scholars saying it will not work.

Sister Bernie closed her opening statement with 3 points: The welfare check is a life line to people. Slashing the amount of the check will lead to more deaths. Treatment is the answer. This is only the second time that Iíve seen Newsom speak ñ the first was at a CNC campaign rally. Without a Q&A session, there was no opportunity for folks to publicly ask him questions which would address the contradictions in Prop. N. When I heard that he and Sister Bernie would be discussing CNC, in the formal style of a debate, I was curious because I know that he has a scripted answer for everything. Well a mixture of relief and frustration came over me this evening. Sure, Newsom remained unruffled but at the same time, he wasnít saying anything! He never addressed the meat of the argument which is that CNC does not provide the services it guarantees.

Newsom crossed and uncrossed his legs and through smiling teeth exuding stutters of sound bites and statistics. ìSan Francisco has more homeless deaths than any other county ñ this is simply wrong.î He went on talk about how other cities, including Chicago and New York, have addressed homelessness by cutting down the welfare check. He assured us that CNC does indeed provide Care because the role of government, under legal mandate, is to provide care or cash and it would be illegal not to.  He referred to the fact that the case the Religious Witness With Homeless People brought against CNC was rejected twice in court because contrary to what those who were suing said, the care is there! When Sister Bernie pointed out that all other cash reduction programs have resulted in increased homelessness and that Chicago sees over 120,000 new homeless people each year due to no cash aid, Newsom replied that Chicago took all cash aid away and that our plan isnít so austere. $59 a month! Not austere?

The moderator of this dialectic was Scott Shafer, host of KQEDís ìThe California Report.î He was handed a stack of questions passed up by members in the audience. The first question was for Gavin: ìAre you concerned about an increase in drug use and crime if the cash is taken away?î Newsom: ìNo, they will turn to treatment, not crime.î Shafer, ìwhy then do they not seek treatment now?î Newsom confidently assured us that they donít seek help now because by providing cash, we are enabling their addictions. Well Iíve never been addicted to heroin but I have friends that have and Iím now assuming that Gavin never has been either if he thinks that the want for heroin is going to fade with no money to buy it. But the main problem with this statement is again, the assumption that all the folks who will be affected by the cash cut are drug users.

Newsom went on to point out that San Francisco is a magnet for homeless people because of the cash aid provided. Again, he was not addressing the intrinsic issue that poverty is a social ill but was revealing the interest of the ìwell offî to keep the poor from being able to live in our city. Sister Bernie asked us to not only consider how many homeless there are living here but how many San Franciscans have become homeless while living in San Francisco. She said we ìhave to realize that people are effectively using this moneyî for renting SROs and pooling money for a room with other low and no income persons. The housing which is referred in Prop. N  is ìa 2-inch mat on a shelter floor.î If Prop. N passes, people will be paying $300 a month to sleep on a floor of a shelter.

Gavin chuckled and in being ìas respectfulî as he could toward Sister Bernie, emphasized that housed and marginally housed persons will not be affected. As if he felt like a broken record, he stressed that if the City cannot provide services to homeless people, then individuals seeking these services will receive their original cash payment, leaving the homeless population no worse off. Sister Bernie nodded with no sign of returning Newsomís smile: ìIn 12 places in this proposition it says the money wonít be taken if services arenít available.î What the proposition doesnít say is that if the proposition is passed, a homeless individual must prove to that he or she has checked out all available services and found none available in the entire City before that individual receives payment.

I wonder if Gavin or anyone else who thinks this is a great idea, has ever waited in any line at DHS or has spent an evening checking every shelter in the City, each night tired for sleep, for a bed. If there is a one bed available in the City shelter system and the homeless individual has no means to get there, then he or she loses her benefit. I wonder which proponents of this solution have ever been harassed at a shelter to the point where they would rather sleep on the street. If a homeless person has been harassed at a shelter and that shelter has the only bed left in the City, he or she must sleep there. Otherwise, that person will have his or her benefits cut.

One of the issues that, due to the 30 minute time constraint of the debate, was not discussed, was the fact that unless they are disabled or in job training,welfare recipients already work for the monthly welfare (pay)check (read: wages). Under Prop. N welfare recipients will be paid 27% of the minimum wage: $1.84 an hour!!!!  We can not lose sight of what is happening here. This proposition is an all out attack on the already impoverished. It is an extension and a local version of the criminalization of the poor which is affecting folk all over the world.

Hundredís of thousands are speaking out around the world in protest of Bushís maniacal threat of war in Iraq, people are gathering around the globe to demonstrate against the FTAA. The cognizance of this oppression and the resistance to it, are apparent wherever we look. The example of what the Bechtel Corporation is doing in Bolivia is revelatory. Bechtel is suing the Bolivian government for $25 million after having to withdraw a contract for the privatization of this poor countryís water due to civic demonstrations which said, no, you will not own our water. The people spoke up, the government heard, and now the corporation is punishing both for a lost projected profit.

Here in San Francisco, hundreds of activists assembled on Sunday for the Poor Peopleís March in objection to ballot propositions N (Care Not Cash) and R (HOPE). Contrary to what the plutocracy think, who are trying to enforce their inane political agendas around the world, people know what is best for themselves and their families. This goes for the homeless and poor population living here in San Francisco. Sister Bernie pointed out Prop N's definition of "housing" as including a mat on the floor of a "shelter." In light of that inclusion, she warned that Prop N was
dangerous in that it would take us down the path of "shelters" --not real housing -- as a solution to homelessness simply because that
(shelter) direction
would be the "cheapest, easiest and fastest way" for the city to go. She
insisted that shelters are not a solution; they are a deadend."

by Leroy Moore/Illin and Chillin/ Executive Director of Disability Advocates of Minorities, DAMO

No, this is not a game of hide-n-seek! It’s a real life of MTV’s show, Big Brother, where the hidden video camera is on us catching all of our dirty deeds that Big Brother have been trying to sweep away. However the catch 22 is that only Big Brother has the right to use this camera. Big Brother has passed down these video cameras down to its royal family member’s i.e. the mainstream media, police departments and corporate America etc.

The video camera that caught the beating of Rodney King, unlocked one the closets of Big Brother loyal family member. More important this video set off a new tool for the average person to gain control, justice and to help balance the one-sided scale of the US Justice System. Big Brother has learned and also using this new avenue to implement their programs, to sway public opinion, to sweep certain people out of existence and to win elections. However lately the public’s video cameras have been confiscated, is illegal, viewed as obstructing justice and seen as stepping on the right to privacy. Is there privacy on the streets, in prison and for people with mental illness? When Big Brother teams up with one of his family members, it is almost impossible to fight back. Right here in the Bay Area we have witness this tag-team approach time and time again.

People with mental illness, their families, and advocates put up a good fight for almost four years to get read of the notion and eagerness of passing and implementing Force Treatment on people with mental illness. Although the public put up a good fight, the tag-team approach, media and political leaders, used their cameras to shape the public’s view about people with mental illness and helped to passed bill, AB1422 this year, 2002. For almost five years local mainstream media has chipped away at the image of people with mental illness and many times videotaping them against their will or in secrecy. A couple of years ago San Francisco Chronicle reporters followed a Black woman with mental illness home to her studio. They wanted to come into her room to interview her but she refused so they stayed in the hallway and took pictures of her against her will. When the opinion has swayed than some politicians and legislators swoops in with their propositions and laws that advocates have fought against. That is how this tag team approach works.

This tag-team is really important during election time as we saw in San Francisco with Gavin Newson’s Proposition N, Care not Cash, and how his money reached the Chronicle and all other mainstream media outlets limiting avenues to get the message from other sectors around this issue. During this last election, KPIX news reporters followed around people who were homeless and had mental illness but took their comments and actions out of context by putting words in their mouths. Also the reporters followed them back to their sleeping sites, showing illegal drugs all helping the campaign for Care Not Cash to shape public opinion and ultimate goal to get Prostitution N pass at the ballot.

Thanks for this new so-called war on terrorism there has been a roll back on privacy for certain people. Because of this new “war” certain people don’t have a right to privacy. For example, Uncle Sam can bud into a visit between lawyers and their clients in prison by video and audio recording. Now Uncle Sam wants high school student’s records for their arm forces and they are blackmailing the schools to do it by threatening to cut off their federal money if they don’t hand over student’s records.

Although Big Brother and his family members are using their cameras, our video cameras are taken away or we end up doing time because we obstruct justice? Recently there have been cases where the public has tried to use video cameras to turn the lens on the crimes of Big Brother. Remember the Donovan Jackson case of police brutality where Mitchell Crooks was arrested and his video was confiscated in Inglewood, LA? Almost the same story happened at Thurshgood Marshall School in San Francisco where a teacher was arrested and his video camera he used to record the over reactionary and brutality of police officers towards students was taken away and was booked for questioning. In both cases people have been stripped of their rights and cameras.

We have all seen COPS and America Most Wanted on television, where everything is on camera. Well now the evening news have picked up on this new wave of riding with police to catch “news worthy stories”. This has been recently used in San Francisco and Oakland. In both cities the mainstream television news-reporters has carpooled with police to catch drug users, prostitution and other urban nightly activities. Another common trait in all the cases above are the people and communities that are getting video taped and are witnessing their right to privacy disappearing are communities and people of color. They two communities that the tag team, police and media, focused their news cameras on were the Mission districts in San Francisco and West Oakland during the month of November, 2002. How funny there were no cameras on in the Mirna district where recently two off duty police officer got into a fight outside of a neighborhood bar.

And it is not only in the political, media and police’s arenas that we’ve seen the public video cameras being snatched away. Even in the Halls of Academia, students have tried to use video cameras to balance the power between administration and students. For example recently at St. Marys’ College in Oakland, students have and are trying to get some notice and reaction from the administration about the increasing rates of rap on campus. After many fail tactics a student decided to take her video camera in an open forum on this issue but was stop from entering because of her video camera. In all the above cases the individuals’ video camera were taken away and the individual were written up on charges although it was clear that they just wanted to help their victims.

How can we take back our cameras and get mainstream media and US Justice System to take on our videos of injustice? Remember you hold all the cards especially if Big Brother and his family members are threatening and blackmailing you or offering money for that tape. Make them do right in reporting and handing down justice but if they don’t then tell your side in progressive media outlets, advocacy organizations and in the political arena especially during elections. If no one wants to listen, then have a community viewing of the tape at your home. Unfortunately many times Big Brother can silence us by incarceration, money or changing public opinion about the incident. In this situation team up with other advocates and organizations etc. who have power in numbers and can take your issue to the next level respectfully.

We must keep our cameras on especially now as our rights, social programs and benefits disappear. The iron fist of Big Brother and his monopoly on mainstream media has helped create a violent environment. The most serious, fundamental and altering changes to the system has helped increase crimes are handed down by the swift pen of Big Brother at the ballot and in our legislative branch. His ink that wrote proposition N, destroyed the welfare system, has brought us into war and now produced legislation that will target our youth by allowing the arm forces to view their high school records to see who can be the best he/she can is the ultimate violence. Big Brother’s black ink has already and will continue to turn into red blood that is now flowing on our streets causing it to rise into an emergency flood alter. The question is who will turn the video camera on the ones who are really to blame for crimes, homelessness, war, brutality and our slushy economy?

By Leroy Moore Jr.
Executive Director of Disability Advocates of Minorities, DAMO
Sfdamo@Yahoo.com

by Rick M./PoorNewsNetwork Community Journalist

It was a windy Saturday morning in Oakland, I was here to cover a story worthy of as much coverage as it could get. Former prisoners and community activists, aware of the devastating effects that incarceration has on the African American community, have organized a bike give-away that was held on Saturday, December 14 at 11:00 A.M. at Park Chapel, A.M.E Church. This annual gift give-away, organized by Timers Organization, focuses on the particular needs of children who celebrate the holidays away from their parents, children whose needs often go unmet.

It is a beautiful church. The high ceilings and stain glass windows. This church was different from the ones I had gone to as a child. The service area is upstairs, not directly in front, as you would enter most churches. After climbing the lengthy red carpeted chairs you truly entered an area of god's kingdom. The large cross adorning the front of the church with a large sky blue circle stating god is love, and all those brand new bikes!

I felt as much of a child as any kid in that church. The display of bikes and toys was reminiscent of any Macys display window. It truly was a magnificent sight to see all of these bike and toys that were either purchased from donations or handle built by some of the many volunteers. As Robert Moody had stated " caring for other brothers and sisters", this was a beautiful sight for me to see.

The Reverend Donna Allen heads the Parks Chapel. Who reminded the children and parents of the many programs and services offered here, including a wonderful after school program offered to youth in 1st through 8th grades called homework-helpers. This program provides a place for youth to gather as well as provides a light snack for participants and study time with homework from 4 to 6 P.M. Monday through Thursdays and will even pick-up the children.

Before the bikes were given out the local church youth gave a small but well orchestrated
Presentation on bike safety for the younger children. I was pleased to see this important bit of information given to these little people but more than that was it was presented by their own peers which I think re-enforces the safety message better than an adult telling you. (This is part of the "cool " factor).

After much controlled restraint by the children it begins, Ticket # 419256! The commentator yells out. "DO I HAVE A WINNER!" … yes he does have a winner, today they were all winners. Thanks to a Timers organization and Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, caring for other brothers and sisters.

by Staff Writer

Hey Folks, I am JohnX, the Indigent Litigant, I have been homeless for the past nine months, between spending most of my day circling through the literal viscous cycle of poverty, i.e., food lines, general assistance workshops, case manglement and shelter schedules, I manage to make my way to the four law libraries around downtown San Francisco. Along with my thorough advocacy work on your behalf, I am currently investigating my unlawful eviction by a central California police department, which is the original cause of my homelessness.

Email your questions and comments to me at: johnX@poormagazine.org Or snail mail me at:JohnX, POOR Magazine 1448 Pine Street #205 SF 94109

Case #1 Investigating the investigators (The Alex Fagen Jr.Travesty)

I have been following the story of Alex Fagan Jr. poster boy for the San Francisco Police Department on what a police officer should not be. I read Captain Corrlaes of Mission Station in a column the other day make the comment; he had made some errors but " what criminal act was that". Well Captain, the criminal act was this. California penal code 153 (Compounding or concealing a crime). Specifically abstaining from prosecution of these officer by specifically "compounding the crime" in the initial stages of the investigation by failure to properly collect evidence at the crime scene from the officers involved in the altercation. That sir is " the criminal act". Of which you so eloquently state has not been committed.

I have spoken to several divisions of the police department regarding the criminal prosecution o f these officers only to be referred back to public affairs where they are not quite sure were the department stands at this point. There are some important points to remember here. The Office of Citizens Complaints is investigating the responding officers and Management Control (or internal affairs) is investigating the officers involved in the incident. Jean Fields attorney with the O.C.C told me that " we will apply general orders and all applicable state and federal laws".

However, it has been this reporters experience that although investigators at the O.C.C mean well, very few understand the concept or fact that the San Francisco Police General Order's very foundation is based on penal (criminal) law. What this means then is if an officer is found guilty of a general order of most types he/she has also broken a state law and has by all standards committed a criminal offense and should be punished no differently than any other "citizen".

However, what comes out of the department as well as O.C.C and the Police Commission is this. " The officer committed a policy infraction and though subject to internal review he/she would not face termination as again ,it is a policy infraction. What these agencies do not tell the general public is how these policies are actually created. So in not knowing, nothing is questioned. I ask my readers to ask themselves this question: why is it the one profession that is responsible for criminal offenses can not, or is never subject to criminal charges for their actions? The truth is they are! . When the O.C.C investigates an officer for a violation they should as a matter of course include the penal law violation as well but the do not. I can only speculate that they are specifically trained based on The General Orders. However, they are doing San Francisco a disservice.

Any good investigator should and would use all resources available to them including criminal law. This is unfortunately not the case in San Francisco. Nobody has made a clear statement of a criminal investigation into the actions of either the on-duty or off-duty officers and the unfortunate things is there is a sea of charges that could be applied in this incident and they are not .If they are, nobody is saying anything.

It is my suggestion to this readership that someone initiate action with the United States Attorney General's Office. My reasoning is this: the city was supposed to begin an oversight committee to look into the practices of the San Francisco Police Department only to continuously delay the implementation and formation of this much needed committee. If local government is refusing to take action then the Federal Government has an obligation to protect the civil rights of all of those who have been repeatedly harassed and threatened with criminal charges, while watching police officers go free and continue their rampage on a vulnerable public.

#2 The Wonderful (Frightening and illegal) World of Proposition N

"Number 46" , This day begins with my booking number. Sitting, waiting, with my paperwork in hand,charge slip. I watch the activity of security,-bailiffs. The chaotic movements of the clients, inmates, we’re all waiting for our turn. Everyone is in a sort of daze as they move about the facility. "Number 46!! " I hear from an office area. I step inside directed to a chair where I am to sit and wait to be instructed in the next activity. I notice a large sign on the desk " NOTHING ON THIS DESK IS OF ANY INTEREST TO YOU SO DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING HERE!. The person behind the desk is talking with a friend on the phone about a boyfriend problem, never once looking up to acknowledge my presence.

I continue to sit and wait for what seemed like 15 minutes or more, But I am just a number to be inputted into the computer that is all, not a person, just a number.

" Stand here and face this way". I comply with the order and a photo is taken, then I am fingerprinted . I am told only "that is all" and ":you may leave now". San Francisco County Jail? No, Department of Human Services when I applied for my General Assistance.

I have spent the last week in several meetings focused on the post proposition N reality for poor folks in the "city". To my non-surprise I have found out some interesting information. San Francisco has already spent the benefits stolen from General Assistance recipients ( ie the five million dollars Gavin Newsome was always talking about) on a fingerprinting system soon to be installed in all shelters in the city. This is very important in the scheme of current events, homeland security, and categorizing and monitoring the activities of poor people and specifically people of color.

The unfortunate truth is more people of color have had their fair share of run-ins with local law enforcement and have in one way or another been placed in "the system" .

This Finger printing system though stated for categorizing and better allocating of services, is not going to be used for just that purpose. This categorizing of services list all of your personnel information in a system that can be hacked or in other ways exploited by the personnel who are assigned to use it , but not properly trained in it's operations. It is also my opinion that within a short period of time under some homeland security measure this database will eventually be connected to the state database to " routinely" check prospective clients for " violations" as well as immigrants for " alien status updates". Both of these are law enforcement agencies. The state database is called C.L.E.T.S ( California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System) and the other is I.N.S (Immigration and Naturalization services). Both agencies to be folded into the office of Homeland Security.

Now although you could "protest" against unreasonable search and seizure, the way around that is to issue a disclaimer upon entry to any shelter property indicating passage of this point implies that you consent to search/fingerprinting.

In order to receive any services from the city you are subject to random checks and continuos fingerprinting or "processing" all over the city. It is like walking through a revolving door at 850 Bryant Street.

The reality of this fingerprinting system in my opinion is clear. To prevent and or deter people from seeking assistance or shelter for fear of "being caught" for something or other. The Care Not Cash Implementation strategy clearly projects and hopes over half of those who receive General Assistance will refuse services thus shoring up this money for other "administrative operations", not any type of real housing.

Real housing is not master-lease S.R.O type environments. It should be noted when I first arrived to San Francisco in 1987 there were about 10 Residence Clubs that included meals in the monthly rental. Now, there are none. One of the last to close that I lived in for a while was The Harcourt on Larkin off Sutter Street. In 1996 a corporation bought it out and the kitchen was immediately dismantled, rent was raised and the tenant was forced to spend extra money at the restaurants in the surrounding community. There was a big issue for years between the local residence hotels and the restaurant association not making enough profits from the tourist community because the residence hotels offered meals.

Eventually the residence hotels gave in and began to close their kitchens all over town usually one or two per year hoping nobody would notice.

This is the same now with this prop N revenue. People are hoping others will not take notice in their actions. I intend to cover this issue as much as possible in the coming months leading to implementation so you, the community can see what a lot of people have stated all along that the " care was not there" to begin with.

by John Colagrande Jr./PNN Miami Correspondent

About a week ago I’m sitting at a traffic light at 59th street Biscayne Blvd in Little Haiti, Miami, and the sound of thunder snaps me out of my daydream. It’s about four o’clock and the sky is real dark. You could tell a storm is coming. It is just a question of time. The streets are empty. The Miami hotels flash vacancy.

I’d been thinking about my father again.

I drive past Martin Luther King Blvd. and put my headlights on. Traffic is backed up by 79th street and the rain starts to fall like tears from the sky. The rain is soft. I don’t need my wipers.

I used to call my father Pop but when he left my mom and me I didn’t call him Pop anymore I called him Sam because that’s what my mom called him. Yeah, Sam’s still a ghost.

On 79th street and Biscayne lies the INS building. The Immigration and Naturalization Service building stands out in Little Haiti because of its size and color. The building is seven stories high and its ugly tan is in contrast with a neighborhood that is scattered with vibrant tropical colors.

Outside the INS is an ocean of protest. There are about 200 protesters and they’re making noise. In the twilight stormy sky all I see as I drive by is a dark silhouette united against the building they stand across from. I know the protest is about the Haitian refugees. I park my car to join in the resistance.

On Oct. 29 about 220 Haitian migrants were detained when their tiny wooden freighter ran aground southeast of downtown Miami. It was broadcast on television around the country. But there are no television screens showing the conditions of the Krome detention center where many of the refugees sit right now like criminals awaiting deportation. And there were no television screens highlighting families being split apart and refugees being denied legal counsel. And there are definitely no television screens right now showing the Cuban refugees happily sipping their café con leches in Hialeah.

I live in Miami now but I grew up in Oakland. One time when I was fourteen Sam took me to San Francisco and we went to visit Alcatraz. He was already Sam and I think he wanted to be Pop again but it don’t work like that. He made me feel like I’m not wanted and that feeling just don’t go away. Anyway, I didn’t like that old jail. It smelled weird. In the isolation cells it smelled weird and was dark and I felt alone even though I knew it would all be over shortly and then I’d get to go back home. Except I didn’t want to go back home because home, like Alcatraz, was like an abandoned jail. I always thought the idea was to stay out of jail. I don’t know why Sam took me there. All I know is that I know what it feels like not to be wanted.

For a while the Bush administration has been holding all illegal Haitian aliens while releasing other nationalities into the community pending deportation. This is straight up racism.
At the protest I link up with a brethren named Jean-Pierre. He speaks English.

Non inite nan kominate, chants the crowd.

What is the chant, I ask.

No unity in community, says Jean-Pierre.

Jean-Pierre helps translate a couple of signs that people raise in the air.

Fo fanmi nan Zetazini; false family in United States;

Youn imigran es bata pitit, an immigrant is a bastard child.

Every now and then a car beeps their horn in solidarity. It would be better if everyone beeps. Is it too much to beep your horn? If everyone beeps their horn, a constant beep, beep, beep, then maybe someone will act, act, act, if for no other reason then to shut the BEEP up.

It starts to rain harder. The night sky lets out a roar. Thunders. The chant increases in volume: non inite nan kominate, no unity in community, non inite nan kominate, no unity in community…