by PNN staff

One flyer from Zephyr Realty advises landlords that
they can raise the value of their buildings by 20% if
they sell buildings that are empty of any tenants.
Another flyer lists property bought a few years ago
and then re-sold in the last year at huge profits-the
flyer notes "Come In And Ask About Ellis
Evictions."

These practices, and the involvement of Zephyr
Realtor’s buying buildings, evicting tenants and
converting the apartments to condos was the focus of
a tenant protest and picket at Zephyr Reality in Noe
Valley.

Zephyr is one of the leading players in real
estate speculation in San Francisco leading to
the evictions of tenants for condo
conversions. Their ads for condos often say
"VACANT" or "DELIVERED VACANT."
These condos are being sold empty because
the tenants have been evicted, usually under
the state Ellis Act. Real estate investors are
buying up buildings, evicting tenants under
the Ellis Act, and then using loopholes in the
condo conversion law, the units are sold as
condos-usually for about $425,000 per
apartment (with the real estate speculator
typically getting $500,000 profit per
building).

These evictions-for-condos are the leading
cause of evictions in the city.

Using the state Ellis Act, real estate have evicted
about a thousand tenants in the past year for the
purpose of condo conversion.

Even though the city’s condo conversion law limits
conversions to 200 a year and prohibits senior
evictions for condos, these real estate investors utilize
loopholes in the condo law to convert thousands of
units. The Tenants Union is putting a measure on the
November ballot to bring all types of
"condominium-type" conversions into condo law.
When such a law is passed, all rental units which are
sold as condos will be covered by the condo law,
regardless of how the sale is structured or recorded
on the deed.

INFORMATION:

Ted Gullicken 282-6543

Pager: 791-1528

558 CAAP STREET- SAN FRANCISCO,
CA 94110 - PHONE (415)
282-6543-FAX:(415) 282-6622

Z

by Leroy Moore/PNN & Krip Hop

I like when things come together! I can�t ask for anything better. November 1st 2009 wrapped family, disabled musicians, traveling and my forty-second birthday all into one big present to myself.

After two years of researching about paraplegic street musicians, Staff Benda Bilili (Staff for short), who live around the grounds of the zoo in Kinshasa, Congo; I found out that they released their album and was invited to perform at the annual WOMEX Festival, World Music Expo, who have moved their world music festival to Copenhagen, Denmark. Copenhagen, Denmark is also home to my sister, Pamela Juhl and her lovely two children. I had no excuse not to go and visit with my sister, nephews and at the same time meet and interview the members of Staff Benda Bilili with Copenhagen Voice that my sister started. Yes, both my sister and I are journalists for the people!

WOMEX, an international event that brings together professionals from the worlds of folk, roots, ethnic and traditional music and also includes concerts, conferences and documentary films. It contributes to networking as an effective means of promoting music and culture of all kinds across frontiers. This year WOMEX announced their 2009 awardees, which was Staff Benda Bilili.

After more than eight years, I finally had a chance to see my sister Pamela Juhl. As Pamela�s brother, I was so happy to create media content with her at the WOMEX Festival right in her office located in the center of Copenhagen the day before my fortieth-second birthday November 1st 2009.

CPHVoice agreed to have me on their media crew at the WOMEX Festival covering one of the most incredible bands I ever researched and wrote about - Staff Benda Bilili of the Congo. I had a chance to connect last year with the filmmaker, Florent de La Tullaye, who is shooting a documentary of the band who translated my first online interview with the group when Florent traveled to the Congo to continue shooting the film that will be out early 2010. Florent emailed me the band's replies, pictures and sent a copy of their CD almost a year ago which I am so grateful for. There are many reasons why Staff Benda Bilili caught my attention; one of them was, seeing an all disabled band really singing about real issues of their lives - like poverty, homelessness, disability and street kids � it just blew me away as a Black disabled activist, journalist, poet and lover of music.

So, now the day after meeting and interviewing the members of Staff Benda Bilili, November 2nd (My birthday) I�m still thrilled about the opportunity I had and writing what I have experienced and the interview below. Read on.

I almost didn�t make the WOMEX Festival! I was in Augsburg, Germany doing some Krip-Hop/Mcees With Disabilities, MWD business with Binki Woi when I found out that my credit card was denied after trying to buy an airplane ticket to Copenhagen, Denmark
but my sister, Pamela came to my rescue and bought me a ticket for November 1st to see Staff Benda Bilili's last CPH performance. Although I missed the award ceremony earlier that day where they received the 2009 WOMEX Artist Award. However, I was shocked when I asked my sister what did the group talk about during the award ceremony. Come to found out, the members of Staff Benda Bilili didn�t say anything after winning the award � each member kisses the Award and passed it to the next. The manager of Staff Benda Bilili, Michel Winter of Belgium, spoke to the Womex audience at Bella Center.

The night of November 1st was freezing; walking the dark cold streets of Copenhagen with the crew of CPHVoice and a friend of my sister, Line Mompremier, who is a Haitian-American living in Denmark and thank God she knew French and was down to be our translator on a last minute basis. We were heading over to Global club, where Staff Benda Bilili was about to perform and where the interview was going to take place backstage prior to their concert.

After reading other interviews online by different reporters, I noticed that there was very little written about the political views and the strong activism of the members of Staff, so I chose that to be my interviewer angle. The CPHVoice, Line and I stepped into a dark hall where two middle age people greeted us with some questions. They knew we were there for the interview thanks to CPHVoice prep for it. We were led to the stage that had a portable unstable ramp that pointed us to the backstage. Walking in, I first noticed that the group members of Staff were in regular wheelchairs not in their customize handmade tricycles that they travel the streets of Kinshasa in. You must go online and check out their handmade tricycles! Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZUk7qy_sbA&feature=channel�

The members of Staff Benda Bilili are Ricky Likabu, the bandleader, Coco Ngambali, who sings, plays the guitar and composed many of the band�s songs, Theo Nsituvuidi, the soprano singer, Roger Landu, a 17-year-old young man who was adapted by Ricky many years ago. Roger created his own instrument that is called Satonge: a one-string guitar and sings, Djunana Tanga-Suele is a singer, Zadis Mbulu Nzungu is a singer, Kabamba Kabose Kasungo also sings, Paulin �Cavalier� Kiara-Maigi plays the bass, Cubain Kabeya plays the drums and sings and finally Randy Buda plays percussion. Read more about Roger�s instrument at: http://www.myspace.com/staffbendabilili.

During the interview Ricky and Michel, the manager, answered almost all the questions. Staff Benda Bilili made a song in 2007 which successfully increased voter turnout by 70% in the Congo. This was a collaboration work with UNDP (distributors) and produced by UN Mission (Monuc) in DR Congo 2007. Although, the song was a hit before their album came out with a showering of international fame, they were denied their legal copyright �inalienable rights� for their song and no contracts were offered to secure their rights. They pretty much got stiffed in royalty earnings and a meager one time payment of 50 dollars each per band member. (See BBC article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6612749.stm) Even though they had a lawyer during the time, it was unclear how this issue panned out. Today, the band replied, that with so much time elapsed, since the initial legal dispute with the UN, they had decided to let go of pursuing the case and wanted to simply move forward with more positive music partnerships.

Before this interview, what really made me love Staff was more than their music, it was their political views about life in the Congo as people living in poverty and being disabled. So, when I asked them about their political views and a quote about considering themselves as the real journalist of Kinshasa I was shocked when their manager spoke up, saying, �there was a misunderstanding and some journalist made the quote that Staff Benda Bilili were the real journalists but the group never said that.� - However, this is the quote from my online interview with them in 2008: �Staff Benda Bilili: Coco: We the SBB are like journalist; in our songs we are the true press. We talk about street life, the street kids and their dreams of happiness, we talk about corruption. The press here is a slave to the power. I consider myself as a journalist, my duty as a member of the SBB, is to say things as they are.�

I thought that was strange because if you read the insert of Staff�s CD, it says it right there. I also realized that members Staff were very tired and were dealing with a whole new way of tour living in Europe. The cold weather of Denmark, their new wheelchairs, clothes, getting used to the food, traveling and being managed must be a total new way of life for them now, and I bet they want to make sure that they can live off their music could be why that they may be cautious on what gets out and what should stay in the past. I wonder if I met them on their turf of the Kinshasa�s Zoo in the Congo, would Staff tell me some political stories that my questions were fishing for?

Getting into Staff�s songs and their lyrics that tell the life of poor people in the Congo one of the eleven songs on the CD is the song, Tonkara, track number 8, is a song talking about street kids who sleep on cardboard outside. Ricky said, they live & sing on the streets. The first track of Staff�s CD is entitled Moto Moindo that translate to Black Man. It�s a song warning Black men what is happening in Africa and how their food, the Earth, and nature is being corrupt so they, Black Men, should stand up, come together and take action. On that same theme, Staff used to have a center where they taught street kids how to build instruments, wheelchairs and play music. However, the center was completely destroyed in 2005 by a fire. Currently, local business people in the Congo, some private organizations and others from the US are in the process of building the center back up again.

Staff Benda Bilili is still looking for a US sponsor to facilitate their tour in the USA. Their music manager told me it is hard to get a US sponsor compared to Europe where they have been touring since last month (October). In the US, people with disabilities have held disabilities as a civil rights issue but in recent years, it has now become a cultural lens of insight; where we have our own history, art, music and ifestyle. Disabilities are not something you overcome, it is a part of the person. But I�m surprised when I travel abroad and even sometimes in the US of peoples perspectives of persons with disabilities. I hear a similar reply also heard by Ricky of Staff Benda Bilili, when I asked him to give some advice to Poor and disabled people around the world. The advice Ricky gave was, �disability is all in the head and you, people with disabilities, have to be independent.� I scratched my head and thought at that point, �was that advice too simple, too pull yourself up from your boot stripes kind of advice?� Ummmm!

The members of Staff Benda Bilili are hoping that after the tour and the release of their film documentary that they can afford to buy their own house. Noticing that Staff Benda Bilili is an all men group, of course, my last question was have they sung with disabled women? Coco, once again, answered �Yes, they do.�

After the interview was the concert. To see Black talented disabled musicians singing about their lives with my sister the day before my birthday was a dream come true. It truly doesn�t get any better than this!

Thanks for the friendship of Florent da Tullays who helped me connect with Staff Benda Bilili almost a year ago and last but not least thanks to the members of Staff Benda Bilili for being you, your political lyrics and reppin' people who live in poverty and who are disabled!

Here is a link to my first interview with Staff Benda Bilili http://www.poormagazine.org/index.cfm?L1=news&category=2&story=2003

Question for the reader. What happens to people who goes from living on the streets, poor but speaking their minds about their situation to people who are managed by others who have the means to bring wealth and fame? What happens when people from outside your world can take you out of your struggle but at the same time you hold back your politics aka voice so you can make a living? These are the questions I have after reading both interviews of Staff Benda Bilili and meeting them live.

by Leroy Moore, Darla Lennox, Maria Palacios, Zilwood, Tiny

Silent Night

like every night

lonesome halls

empty walls

no one to talk to

that would really care

to know the sadness

that breathes in the air.

There's no heavenly peace.

There

is no

heavenly peace.

Silent Night

Lonesome Night

Nursing Homes

are not homes

Let us remember

the ones we forget

Let us remember the ones who were left.

There's no heavenly peace.

There is

no

heavenly

peace.

(Maria R. Palacios -Christmas 2009)

by Staff Writer

We, the people, the oppressed need to be heard.

We are at the bottom of the pyramid.

The have nots of society.

Who are falsely accused of being the minority when we're really the majority, criminals, free, failures, immigrants, gang bangers.

These are just labels, ways to classify us, they're all lies.

Sons and daughters of the oppressed.

Who dream of a better future.

Who feel unheard, yet powerful.

Who need freedom, your help, and your voice to fix our community.

Who fear becoming another statistic.

Who gives a damn no matter what color, gender, or race.

Who would like to see a government that cares, people treated like human beings, and the people united, so stop labeling us.

Who will fight for what's right, be successful, stop ignorance, and prove them wrong.

Learn to survive.

We are the social justice academy, we fight for hope, justice, and freedom for generations to come, we are the people, the majority, the world.

We are not going to be judged by our race, but judged by the things we have done.

We did not get to choose, we were born as we were meant to be.

We will not be the pawns of society.

The people, united, will never be defeated because the people, united, can never be divided.

by Muteado Silencio/PNN Voces de inmigrantes en resistencia

For English Scroll Down

Hace ya muchos años,y aun en mi mente sigue vivo lo dicifil que es dejar todo una vida, una familia, dejar a una esposa y lo dificil que esdejar a una madre llorando,", Sergio Guerrero es unos de los muchos In/migrante sabios autores del libro Los Viajes una antologia leteraria producidad por Poor Magazine.

Diciembre 18 es reconozido como “Dia Internacional del Migrante” en el mundo, Hay 200 millones de In/migrantes viviendo fuera de su lugar de origen en el presente.

Muchos In/migrantes tienen la necesidad the abandonar su lugar nativo por la escases de trabajo en sus comunidades. Con la crisis economica en el mundo muchos mas seran forsados a emigrar en busca de trabajo para sostener sus familias.

Era un acontecimiento multicultural y lei a los niños- niños con las caras Africanas, caras Filipinas, caras Mexicanas, cara Laosianas- caras hermosas- cada cara era una senilla de la esperanza, una flor, Un extracto por Tony Robles, Filipino Americano del libro Los Viajes.

Migracion es un fenomeno global, como la migracion de los hermanos y hermanas de Africa quien estan emigrando para Europa, y el Sur de America al Norte, como tambien la gente rural quienes estan emigrando a las cuidades en busca de mejores oportunidades.

Este “Dia Internacional del Migrante” nosotros como In/migrantes no solo celebramos, tambien tomamos responsabilidad en mostrar el poder que tenemos como In/migrantes.

La Liga Global, La Liga de sustentadores de la comunidad global es un ejemplo de como podemos mostrar nuestro poder como comunidades transnacionales. La Liga Global promueve, la participacion de In/migrantes remitentes y nuestras familiias como impulsores activos de la economia global, con el poder de decidir sobre nuestras vidas. Creando un futuro donde la migración sea una opción, no una necesidad.

La formación de una democracia económica donde los miembros de la comunidad tiene acceso general a los bienes communes: cooperatives, comercio justo, renta básica universal o crédito social; y promoción de desarrollo a través de iniciativas a nivel local o regional.

Para aprender mas detalles visite www.laligaglobal.org

Al transcurso del tiempo no importa la situación , sea la economia o lo que sea, la gente inducumentada y In/migrantes lo usan como excusa, con la excepción de los Nativos Americanos y Afro-Americanos, quien fueron traido ala fuerza, todos somos In/migrantes en este pais. Nosotros cruzamos la frontera, pero los Europeos cruzaron un Oceanó. Tenemos que crear una nueva conciencia y estrategias para trabajar más allá de nuestra clase y division de razas para construir un mundo major par alas proximas generaciones.

http://www.laligaglobal.org/multimedia/video/

Engles Sigue:

After many years, the thought of having to leave everything is still alive in my mind; leaving my life, my family, my wife, and the hardest, leaving a crying mother.
Excerpt by Sergio Guerrero, who is one of many In/migrant scholars featured in the book Los Viajes, The Journeys, a literary anthology on In/migrants.

December 18th is recognized as International Migrants Day. In the world, they are presently 200 million In/migrants living outside their place of origin.

Many In/migrants need to leave their native land for the lack of work in their communities. With the economic crisis consuming the world, many more will be forced to migrate and look for work to sustain their families.

It was a multicultural event, and I read to children with African faces, Filipino faces, Mexican faces, Laotian faces—beautiful faces—each face a seed of hope, a flower.
~An excerpt by Tony Robles from Los Viajes, The Journeys.

Migration is a global phenomenon that includes brothers and sisters migrating from Africa to Europe, from the global south to the global north, and people from rural areas moving to cities in search of better opportunities.

This International Migrants Day we as migrants do not only celebrate, we take a stand together to exercise the power we hold as In/migrants.

La Liga Global, the Global League of Community Sustainers, is an example of how we can use the power we hold as a transnational community. La Liga Global recognizes that migrants and their families are sustainers of the global economy and promotes transnational humanity instead of corporate-driven globalization from above, and gives us the power to decide our own lives by encouraging us to use our collective voice and economic power to build a future in which migration is an option, not a necessity.

In an economic democracy community members have access to the commons—co-operatives, fair trade, universal basic income or social credit, and the promotion of development through initiatives at local and regional levels.

Over the years no matter what is going on, be it the economy or whatever, undocumented workers and In/migrants are the scapegoats. With the exception of Native Americans and African-Americans, who were brought here by force, we are all In/migrants. We might have crossed the border, but Europeans crossed an Ocean. We need to build a new conscioucness and new strategies to work beyond class and race divisions to build a better world for future generations in a nation of In/migrants.

To learn more details on La Liga Global visit www.laligaglobal.org
http://www.laligaglobal.org/multimedia/video/

by Joe B.

Words,Women,And Men

Last time I explained what metrosexual meant and how to me its like an elaborate economic scam.

Before KPFA's radio show in Berkeley I had cleaned,bathed myself in a comfortable shower get properly spruced up for the outside.

The first order of business is withdrawing money from the bank for travel to Berkeley.

While the radio script I hear a young females voice say "I hope they don’t shoot him."

My reaction was to ignoring it because most times except for a few women in my life I’m not praised much then it occurs to me maybe they were talking and loudly about me!

For what? Being clean, intent on something other than leering a young girls and older women? I know the woman speaking is a young black woman.

Women in general don’t praise men it takes time and getting to know them before they say anything positive or negative.

I’ve been on sixth street for a long time going about by business, minding my own business and many people congregate so I like they are like fixtures here.

They must have seen me so many times say a polite though respectful no to those selling weed,crack, or other drugs on the street no use making enemies its like a game they ask I say no and its alright.

Do women know how powerful their voices of praise and derision are?

Some time ago I was with a woman in Berkeley before I had become homeless I tried keeping it from her but eventually told her even before that she offered me the key to her house but I didn’t take it I wasn’t raised that way my mother warned me to always have your own space.

I didn’t know the slang words for what we were doing except "shacking up and booty call" and later from a "Girlfriend’s", a t.v. sit-comedy another not so nice term ending in "friends or buddies"

Men are called lumbering slow witted ox’s,dogs,dumb sticks, generic,and excess fleshly with mostly small weapons attached.

If our ego’s were all that fragile men would’ve stayed hermits or turned mostly gay.

We may laugh publicly and things said to us, water,wine,hot soup,meat, and fish dishes in our faces,heads,on our shirts, and pants but it’s a public display hiding inner turmoil just as you do.

Women have taken a lot of stuff off men and visa versa but women have support system of friends men are diametrically opposite having no such support few men see others as shoulder’s to cry on, sounding boards,but as potential rivals for girlfriends or spouses affections.

What you say to us do impacts us greatly we try not letting it show bottling it up inside us.

We cry differently where as women shed tears, throw objects,scream and really let their emotions range out in healthy bursts – men rage with fists,go in bars, pick fights,or leave for days on end until anger subsides to a hoarse roar.

Personally for me if I’m praised I keep it close inside because there so many more negatives aspects are pointed out that good aspects are kept like brilliant diamond drops of gold.

Now for a friend who suffered much,given more to help others let those who can help you in their capacities.

Its Payback time from them to you,you are beloved by many,never forget that!

I cannot say love but extremely well liked but they you are a very likeable person I hope you are flooded with love –love bombed by those near and dear to you.

Rest,be calm,regroup, relax,deep dreamy sleep, and eat healthy troubles may still lay ahead but for now take time out and reassess where you are and pause before getting up and running; you don’t want fall scrape knees, hands,or head.

Take time for grief, cry,bawl,wail,don’t be dammed up whatever is there no matter how small or insignificant
identify it,see it,face it,and then let it go.

In the past year lots of obstacles have been placed in my way many of them from being stubborn, not listening,talking when mouth shut should’ve been tacit and understood.

Men’s saving grace is we keep striving to understand but sometimes act like dumb hulks when we’re really not.

Women deep down know why men are slow to change its not cowardice or limited one-track brains its when we finally do some of us go to far in either being sensitive, hard core with nothing in-between.

We’ve changed many times over the decades but the basic nature of males is to love the opposite sex at least that’s how I see it.

But after hearing so many negative portrayals no matter what we do many of us who are not homosexual,BI,trans- gendered or having sex changes and are biologically,if not socially conditioned to like,love,and marry women from other countries or emigrate to other countries for that express purpose.

Some if not most women say good riddance however I believe they are a loud minority hurting their sister’s who are as biologically,if not socially conditioned to like and love,and marry men.

It’s the same sin of men crippling their girlfriend’s,wives lives to feel empowered themselves.

Women,like men must close ranks,fight their sister if their sister’s mild or deep seated hatred not only blinds them to female/male relationships but goes to the radical step of fatherless daughter’s,son’s because its technically feasible.

Worlds without Women or Men are possible and people do adopt but would really be living or a long,slow,dreary half life limbo.

If most men wanted to live without women it would be a living hell I’d rather not live to survive in and I am sure most women giving true answers would agree and for those who wish it so let them build their woman-less/ anti male only starship separating themselves from we who like and love women and men don’t want to join their crusade.

What do you think reader’s think?


Donations C/0 Poor Magazine

1448 Pine Street #205

San Francisco, CA 94103

Email: askjoe@poormagazine.org

Trying to find a way readers can write(talk back)with comments (please no nude photo's,video or DVD clips here. When I get a postbox then load it up.

kidding ladies (yes,women only-not that I'll find any in said box only wishful thinkin on my part. But readers please continue to write I need all your input.

Tell Joe:

Tell Joe:

by Jasmine Hain, Youth Poverty Scholar/PNN

"I am my father's daughter", said Georgia Congressperson Cynthia McKinney to a standing room only crowd on a warm Sunday in August. She was at the theatre below POOR Magazine's offices in the Redstone building to speak as part of a benefit tour organized by POCC Block report radio in support of the Bay View Newspaper. She spoke on a wide range of topics from Hurricane Katrina, the murder of Oscar Grant and her struggles with the Israeli government in support of Palestine to her early life as the daughter of a another Georgia politician who spoke the truth, her father, and how he inspired her to begin her political journey.

There were many parts of her speech that evoked strong feelings of agreement and understanding in me.

When the interviewer Marcel Diallo, from Black New World asked her what or who had inspired her to venture into the world of Public Policy and Social Justice through Politics, she said that her father, ex-Georgia House member, was her driving force. When she mentioned this I couldn't help but make the connection between my mother and I. I have fought along side my mother in the political field around Welfare reform and social justice for welfare families and children. She mentioned that her many attempts to reach out to white farmers communities in Georgia were difficult if not impossible to get through due to racial tension, Cynthia McKinney being of African decent. This reminded me of when my mother and I spoke in legislative meetings in the state capitol where republican legislatures would try to avoid our topic or try to control how many representatives spoke on welfare policy from the non-profit organizations that came to speak. It reminded me of the struggles of trying to get through to another party of people who are on the other side of the spectrum and how at times both my mother and I felt very outnumbered. Later in her speech as I was thinking this, she said, "Politics changing Public Policy changes those statistics," By this point in the speech she had fully captured my attention.

She also spoke on the struggles she had faced in Gaza and the controversy and opposition she has faced with the Israeli Government. Her thoughts on the bombing ordered by George Herbert Walker Bush in Gaza are "For me this was just another example of the U.S. bombing another country where the people look like me," She had addressed the fear of conflict the government possesses pertaining to the Israeli Government and how ultimately this fear is costing peoples' lives. She stated, "Many congressmen live by fear. They are afraid of the pro Israel lobby and wait for the people to counteract them," She was able to speak from the perspective of a person who was formerly incarcerated in Gaza due to the Israeli influence and negative impact in Gaza. Her opinion on the government's neglect to change was it's impossible to turn a blind eye to murder and genocide that we are paying for and the Government is responsible for. She had, in my opinion, addressed a problem that isn't just international, but local. This is one of the main problems with public policy we deal with nationally, as well as internationally. People in office are afraid of change and conflict and sacrifice the well-being of the people in order to preserve this peace among the higher-ups.

This idea also played into the section of her interview that touched on the subject of Hurricane Katrina. She was asked what she thinks the people should do to address the neglect in New Orleans. Her response was to let the people tell their stories and struggles from their own mouths and to expose the hardship for what it really is. She said we can tell the story of what happened and we can recommend policy. This idea comes from the so-called radical idea that the people that are directly affected by public policy should be the ones creating that policy, for who would be a better representative in this case, then the victims of the hurricane. I thought that she had put a very new and revolutionary idea across to people, especially people in the political field.

Cynthia McKinney was asked about her opinion on the Murder of Oscar Grant and what her feelings were on how it was being handled by the youth, who are the primary leaders of the movement against police brutality. She said, "I can't thank the youth enough for bringing to life the murder of Oscar Grant." She spoke about how important it is for youth to rise up and take a stand up and create social change.

The most effective way to change policy is to become an elected official and create policy. When Cynthia McKinney made this comment, I felt it hit very close to home. As a youth activist, I find that it is integral for youth to create positions within the government and within the community that can create change. We need to bring back the roots of our communities as youth and create more grass roots originated policy and change. "We have to find a point of commonality", Cynthia said when the topic of non-native organizations out numbering native-run organizations in Oakland and throughout the Bay Area is addressed. I feel that the youth movement and the efforts to generate more of a community effort can be combined. Cynthia's words on her struggle with creating political change with her father, and her opinions on what is wrong with policy change today and how the youth can change those problems struck me profoundly and I hope that she continues being a revolutionary thinker in the political field.

by Joe B.

To all Editor’s, Publisher’s, Literary Agents, and hard working industry people. I, Joseph Bolden, a POOR Magazine’s columnist appreciate comments on on PM’s-website. If time permits read and respond by email or snail me.
Please Do At.

askjoe@poormagazine.org or snail

P.O. Box #645 1230 Market St.

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

Whatever help you can to a struggling scribbler is priceless.

Thank You for reading past and present works.

On an early Thursday, March, 20, 2002. After a thorough wash, teeth brushing, clothed and half ready for the day.

A free oatmeal breakfast before work.

I heard about a KRON 4 telvisised event based on that homeless special report except the very people talked about were not informed so they can have their input stated too since they live “the problem“ everyday.

Its currious that the big hubbub buzz about Newsome and friends are getting yet its not about them but homeless and working poor.

Three servings later I’m walking towards my worksite.

The food is filling, nutritious, and as its liquidy contents slides through me I pick up the pace to be at work where a bathroom is waiting to empty the excess of oatmeal, raisin, and honey cereal.

Inside my workspace,upstairs so if I sensed the internal movement release an hour later before working on my column.

While sitting on the white oval porcelain bowl feeling waste empty out of me the face of Sup. Gavin Newsome pops into my mind and the Arthurian legend.

I haven’t read much about it except Arthur, hidden son of dead king Uthr as a child pulls the Excaliber Sword from a stone becoming a young boy-king, there’s Merlin, the magician and Arthur’s teacher/friend, Morgan Le Fay, Evil half sister and witch or wizardress, Knights of the round table, a sacret quest for the Holy Grail and more lessons before a last fatefull battle and a promice of King Arthur’s return.

Heady stuff, why it happened while taking a dump is a mystery to me.

I also think of the late John F. Kennedy, scion of a powerful Catholic family giving their blood, resources, before, during and after World War II.

Groomed for a future in politics, Joe Kennedy and his crew died while airborne delivering an unstable explosive compound.

Younger brother John Kennedy by proxy is next in line, His PT Boat Patrol Torpedo Boat 109 when his boat was rammed and sunk by a Japanese destroyer, Kennedy, despite grave injuries, led the survivors through perilous waters to safety. Further information can be found on www.pt-309.org
Ok, discount wars, most people statistically don’t go.

I think of Excaliber as Mr. Gavin’s 23 or 30 odd New York's Model homeless plan, Newsome’s Kennedyesque/Arthur role to help the hapless, poor, downtrodden folk. Mayor Former Sup. Amos Brown and W. Brown as Co-wizards in the cast of Merlin as wise teachers of lofty politics.

A new character introduced is Paublo Stuart a paid Psychiatrist as spellbinder Warlock Morgan Le Fay, using his arcane knowlege of human psychology, using hynotic tell-u-vision to lull both live and unseen audiance into believing Arthur and his followers are the hope of working poor and homeless folks using incarceration, spy camera’s, and centralized systems from a differnt city as an ultimate self help plan.

Paul Boden, a Knight of shining truth hopefully with his own paid Psychiatrist or volunteered on what working poor, homeless folk both need and what’s not.
I thought a bit after wiping my butt a few times. “Nah, He dosen’t think he’s has the mantle of Kennedy.

But like Authur he could go amongst the people disguised as a homeless person or working poor, over hear conversations, talk to folks for a week or 3 months and learn what really going on. His plan might change because of realities he see’s first hand not from some house on a mythical hill.
Camelot is no more though many people await its rebirth.

Time for me to work not imagine human alchemy for a changed heart with knowledge newly found. A dream maybe, but who knows...

Reincarnation could be possible, Arthur, the fallen Kennedy’s, and other hero, heroin’s may return in different guises but for now we frail mortals must do the job with souls, saints, and Gods watching from above... Bye.

by NJ WOLLMAN

We are continuing our battle to get the TIAA-CREF (TC) higher education
pension system to do "positive investing" with a small portion of its
socially responsible "Social Choice Account" (SCA). It can mean up to $300
million going toward such things as loans for low-income area housing and
business start-ups, and venture capital for companies championing a new
socially/environmentally responsible product. Companies thus supported can
become stronger models for other new companies and the very prominent TC
could become a model for other institutional investors. A survey taken by
T-C revealed that 81% of SCA participants want this proactive, positive
approach for the fund.

TC does token low-income housing investment in a different fund of theirs,
and are using that as an excuse for not doing so in the SCA. But, first of
all, the Social Investment Forum (trade association) recommends putting 1%
of a fund's assets in such investment, while the Methodist pension fund
puts in 3-5%. TC's investment in low-income housing is pitifully below such
levels and you might ask them why. And there is no reason they can't do
such investing in the SCA, where it certainly belongs. Additionally, there
are other things we propose that are not being done at all in any of their
funds. A number of socially responsible funds are already doing what we
suggest, so why can't TIAA-CREF. ASK THEM WHY THEY REFUSE TO CONTACT THOSE
IN THE SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT FIELD WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO TALK
TO THEM..

Our original effort to get the SCA started took five years, so, after four
years, "We have just begun to fight." We have a long list of prominent
group/individual endorsers and media stories keep coming--Wall Street
Journal, L.A. Times, etc.. But with a group as large as TC ($300 billion in
assets; 2 million participants, etc.), the inertia and paternalism is
strong. We started a tactic that takes a few minutes weekly-- and your
involvement could really help. THANKS, Neil (mark your calendar or ask if
you want brief bi-weekly campaign updates and reminders about
calls--njwollman@manchester.edu)

PLEASE TAKE THREE MINUTES A WEEK TO LEND YOUR VOICE in support of the
proposal for "Positive Investing" for the Social Choice Account: (a)
positive screening looking for more socially responsible companies, such as
those with good labor practices (b) low-income area housing and business
startups, and (c) venture capital for companies championing a new
socially/environmentally responsible product. And ask them to dramatically
increase investment in low-income housing in their TIAA Account, where they
now do a token amount out of $100 billion.

Call John Biggs, their CEO, at.1-800-TIA-CREF (842-2733), ext. 4280.; or
212-490-9000. You'll likely have to leave a message with his secretary, but
do ask for a response if you can. We are creating a weekly "presence" that
will continually remind him of our concerns! And email Mr. Biggs, as well,
or instead of, if you can't make a call:(WWW.TIAA-CREF.ORG, then click
"Contact TIAA-CREF", then "General Information")

If you are interested in getting further involved in the effort, we do
everything from gather signatures for petitions, to "visiting" TC trustees
around the country, to demonstrating at TC headquarters in NYC or at their
local offices around the country. Contact us if you want to get further
involved at your local level or in national strategizing and organizing
(219-982-5346).

--more info:
http://ARES.manchester.edu/department/PeaceStudies/njw/disclaim.html
-PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD