Story Archives 2002

by Joe B./PNN staff writer

On Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2002 Power People Organized To Win Employment Rights (POWER) held their 5th year anniversary celebration, which also acted as a POWER-ful fundraiser for the cause, held in the Women’s building at 18th and Valencia in the Mission.

From its start in 1998 to 2002 Power has pissed off many a politician; the rich and powerful embarrassed and made to give a damn about poor folks and growing problems that are created from rabid business models’ blockhead, bloodless, bottom line ethic.

In their five short years members from all walks of life have joined including a few individuals with money, in control of their own hearts and minds.

POOR's editor, a former welfare recipient and myself are both former POWER members and alumni, knowing the truth the people of POWER speak.

I had lunch earlier and would not have eaten, until I saw long lines forming for the excellent meal they provided to the capacity crowd of over a 150 people.

There were powerful speeches by Steve Williams, Cindy Weisner and more. There was also a very-corporate-ish slide show of P O W E R’s history, written and narrated by Ed Willard and Libby, as well as a well-done financial requisition by Van Jones and others.

Poetry, music, dancing and freedom fighter award presentations were among the many parts of a party to celebrate the ultimate power poor folks have if they band together in the common cause of need of resistance and survival.

I am glad as a humble office manager and columnist of P O O R, to be part of this cavalcade of brave, courageous, savvy men, women and children in this honored organization.

When people have worked so hard, so long, for almost no recognition, at first laughed at and then taken seriously; well its long past due for a party.

POWER made up for it this night before heading back to work to give those so called powers-that-be more headaches by exposing their crass, greed obsessed money grubbing ways of cheating honest working people out of their hard earned pay.

As long as there are fools bleeding silver, gold or green out of their asses, POWER will ride their backs and minds like the ax-swinging fighters they are,
like barbarians gone berserk.

Happy 5th P O W E R, may you pick up more speed, members, and honors as the years roll on. Bye.

by Joe B.

Two days from America’s waking Technicolor 3 dimensional nightmare reality caught on tape, two day for family, friends of all nations to again morn citizen’s and rescuers as the two World Trade Centers Twin Towers fell.

The War on Terrorism is still on, in anger, frustration, fear, and revenge "The Patriot Act" quickly passes into law as "Home Land Security" is formed.

at airports a bomber with hidden explosives in his shoes, and a child’s brightly colored toy gun in confiscated as "possible weapon"

Also native and foreign born American’s are profiled as always forgetting their own home grown terrorists like the KKK, extreme Evangelical Right; those that bomb abortion clinics, or target doctor’s, nurses, and staff in clinics on a popular if not infamous web-sites.

I just they’re not on an invisible site bouncing signals off servers and satellites to stay hidden yet remaining open for that deadly business.

We find that indeed in the 2000 elections there may have been purposeful disenfranchisement of more than 90,000 og Florida’s overwhelmingly of African decent, most of whom would’ve voted democratic.

More and more American’s of all nationalities are speaking out, showing proof of America’s peculiar "back to the good old days" syndrome and how it effects today’s generation.

The good is more of us are learning about the world and that we are just a part even as a "Super Power."

We too can still be wounded by others willing to give their lives to hurt us badly."

I’m waiting for all the new and old patriotic songs, on VHS, DVD, CD’s, video’s and/or books to be on sale.

I can buy them all at once.

Between the Enron scandal Vice Pres. Cheney and President G. W. Bush Jr’s involvement’s in it and Bush’s hard-on for continued bombing of Iraq.

Whew, what a year of tears ‘n’ fears as all of us redefine what being an American is.

Besides parades, parties, waving Old Glory and honoring both the dead and stars and stripes what else will mark this national day of both morning and celebration?

My choice is after going to church to visit the South of Market’s Museum of Modern Art and again be silent and as I did in church hold or let go tears in prayer for the many souls lost on September, 11th 2001.

I wore no patriotic shirt last year to show my patriotism maybe now I can do it because inside and out beside being a African descended I’m an American, no matter my personal love-hate with this country has been in nightmare and pleasant dreams I will where the symbol on my shirt on 9/11 and 12/02.

But don’t expect a radical change in my views because above all American’s are freedom lovers not just for themselves but for all people’s as all freedom nations naturally are.

I’d like to visit other countries, live abroad for a time expanding my knowledge of the world maybe have duel citizen- ship.

Someday I may and I’d like to be alive and healthy for another two centuries to see how America has changed and what September, 11th 2001 did to alter her/him.

That’s another thing Amber’s do dream, scheme seemingly impossible things but with our many people’s hunger what is seemingly impossible takes a bit longer we’ve been doing impossible things for over 200 and some odd years and will continue to do so or until a huge asteroid hits our world…

Even that is preventable if we can destroy it, mine it, make it an observation base, or a floating platform for training astronauts.

Other nations did dream those dreams, have fabulous thoughts but American’s might be the only folks crazy, bold, gutsy, and maybe smart enough to actually do it.

How has this year in America affected us and other people from foreign lands visiting or in their own lands?

And how all of us of every nation changed?

Don’t know what I’ll be saying on 9/11/2002 but I know what I’ll be doing. To everyone celebrate, pray, be aware of living, being alive, it all can go in a blink of an eye… Bye

Please send donations to


Poor Magazine or in C/0

Ask Joe at 255 9th 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 PNN staff

When I am at my best I make people laugh until they cry. I am the
first up to dance and I drag all the rest of my friends out onto
the floor with me. I decide in an instant where we will go next,
and pick the perfect place. I am the one who calls all my friends
and spills interesting stories into their ears. At these times I
live with a winning smile on my face. At these times I'm all my
friends' best friend.

But some days I have to drag myself out of bed in order to get up.
These are times when nothing I put on looks good. I'm even
embarrassed to go dancing because I'm afraid of awkward dance
movements that look as though I'm trying to get the music off my
body instead of dance to it. These are times when I don't call
anyone and feel alienated when no one calls me. This is when I
feel that I don't have anything to say to anybody, when looking at
the paintings on my walls becomes oppressive because they seem to
be caving in on me to prevent me from leaving my room. At these
times the only thing I have the courage to do is lie on the
Bishop's Bed in my living room and watch the movie Woman On The
Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown over and over again. These times
welcome Bessie Smith's scratchy voice as she sings, "It's mighty
strange that nobody knows you when you're down and out."

It does seem that many friends are only around when there is fun to
be had, but once their help is needed, they stay away so as not to
be sucked into my depression. However in my case, my extended
family, whether they are related to me or not are the ones that act
as my friends when I feel that I have none.

When I'm depressed, I can always depend on my editor Dee's voice
leaving ten minute messages on my voicemail telling me to get it
together and get my next story started. I can depend on my
mother, my roomate and their friends converging after their days at
work. Even though I sulk and say I don‚t feel like talking they
refuse to close their mouths and continue probing me with questions
and trying to make me laugh. They fill the house with warm smells
of lamb curry or lemon and garlic salmon. They pass out the wine
and pile on top of the bishop's bed, with me squeezed in the
middle, to drown out the movie with their talk about men, Turkey,
museums, Cuba, politics, pending trips, food and on and on and on
until my bad mood finally gives up.

by PNN staff

Isabella, She is off to see the Wizards!

The Wizards of Columbia "U"

Where minds are formed

Intelligence not scorned

Creativity born

She is Four kinds of Cool, Our fair Isabella!

Compassionate

Competitive

Considerate & Courageous

Secure in this knowledge

She is travelling Columbia "U"

Yeah, with a Capital "C"

Yeah she is a Cutie

She helps people who are in a "Sea of Despair’


GOT a whole Lot of Wisdom up there!

She writes with an excitable Curve!

She got a whole lot of Nerve!

So congratulations with a Capital "C"

It’s a Celebration

Fare "de" Well!

Fair Isabell

A. Faye Hicks

August 2002

by Michael Vizcarra/PoorNewsNetwork Community Journalist

Redlining. I had never heard of this term before I received this
assignment to write an article regarding the practice of redlining in San
Francisco and the Bay Area, even though as a Filipino-American, my community has experienced this type of economic profiling for many years.

Broadly defined, racial redlining is the direct refusal of banks and lenders to lend money in minority and low-income neighborhoods. It is the practice where banks and lenders figuratively draw a red line around communities of color and low-income neighborhoods and refuse to make loans available inside the red lined area. Redlining is practiced by all banks and is against the law.

The Community Reinvestment Act was enacted by Congress in 1977
and is intended to “encourage depository institutions to help meet the
credit needs of the communities in which they operate, including low- and
moderate income neighborhoods, consistent with safe and sound banking
operations.” (www.ffiec.gov/cra/history.htm
) But even after searching through
this website I did not find any details as to the criteria the four federal
bank supervisory agencies, the Office of the Controller of the Currency
(OCC), Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FRB), Office of
Thrift Supervision, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) used to
rate banks in their database.//www.ffiec.gov/cra/history.htm>

What is disturbing to note is the ratings these agencies gave to
banks here in the Bay Area regarding their fair lending practices as
described by the Community Reinvestment Act to low- and moderate-income
families. Bank of America, who the city of San Francisco banks with,
received an “Outstanding” rating, despite Bank of America’s horrific lending
practices. Bay View Bank received a “Satisfactory” rating. This data might
look good on paper and to the casual observer, but this does not reflect
what is really happening to everyday people of low-income who are in the
day-to-day struggle. For us, the reality is much different. Also, there
are ways for banks to get around the parameters set by the CRA. While Bay
View Bank may have received that “Satisfactory” rating, in reality they have
a redlining policy that does not allow them to make business loans of less
than $500,000. In low-income neighborhoods, asking for a loan of that
amount would be ridiculous. Most stores and businesses in these
neighborhoods would not be able to borrow that much money nor would they
want to.

Banks can also relocate to another part of a city as a way to get around the
CRA. A few years ago, Wells Fargo Bank moved out of their Bay View/Hunter’s
Point location taking with it 20 million dollars in assets to an affluent
downtown location. The main depositors were senior citizens and homeowners
in the Bay View/Hunter’s Point district with a steady flow of income that
not only relied on the bank’s location for its convenience but also for its
personal/human customer service. But this did not matter to Wells Fargo
Bank. As a result of this move, Safeway, on Williams off 3rd Street, also
moved out, which left a void in the community. This leads to a problem
called “retail leakage” where very few of the industries within a
neighborhood consist of retail good. Thus, basic needs such as food,
supplies and clothing are not available since businesses go elsewhere. But
Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Bay View Bank are indifferent to
merchants. Small businesses in low-income neighborhoods cannot sustain
themselves when banks practice racial redlining.

Such is the case with Willie Ratcliff and the San Francisco Bay View
Newspaper, a Bay View Bank customer for many years. He and his newspaper
were declined a line of credit for $50,000 to cover expenses while they
waited for money from advertisements. He was given a $5,000 overdraft
protection while the paperwork went through. But nothing happened for
several months. The San Francisco Bay View Newspaper almost went out of
business two weeks ago had it not been for donations and private loans from
the community. Bay View Bank did not do anything for its community or for
Willie Ratcliff. All they did was raise his overdraft protection another
$5,000. That’s all.

I spoke with Kevin Williams, Senior Contracts Compliance Officer
for Human Rights Committee for the city of San Francisco. Mr. Williams is
not new to racial redlining. He has worked many years for the city fighting
for equal lending practices for minorities and people of low-income. “San
Francisco is diverse, cultural, and has many different lifestyles, but it is
very conservative in regards to lending,” he says, “and poor neighborhoods
are the targets.” There are three criteria you must meet known as the 3
C’s: credit, collateral and character. Most small businesses
(predominantly African-Americans) are denied loans because they are
considered a high risk for not meeting all three criteria. One negative
credit “glitch” will get you denied, Williams says.

Williams was also a co-founder of the former Greenlining Coalition. This
coalition, made up of a diverse group of people (African-Americans, Latinos,
Asians, Women’s groups), worked to agitate banks into recognizing their
illegal practice of racial redlining. Their grassroots tactics of
protesting made a difference and had some small success. They would file
documents opposing bank mergers and raise issues of minority inclusion in
lending decisions (since there were no people of color who had
decision-making power within the banking system; the people who had that
power were predominantly white males). Some banks agreed to “broad”
greenlining agreements in which they had to make a long-term commitment to
invest in minority communities. But in reality, the money would not reach
the small businesses that needed the chance.

Racial redlining has a deeper effect than just affecting businesses. It
contributes to joblessness and to homelessness. Redlining stops businesses
owned by people of color from hiring employees. Thus, young folks do not get
the chance to work. Also, in direct economic terms, racial redlining reduces
housing finance options for borrowers in minority neighborhoods and weakens
competition in the mortgage market. This often results in higher mortgage
costs and less favorable mortgage loan terms. More subtly, racial redlining
discourages minorities from pursuing home ownership opportunities and in the
broadest sense further entrenches the debilitating sociological effects of
racial discrimination
(plsc.uark.edu/plsc3253/Classnotes/racial_redlining.htm).

This is the first in a PNN/Bayview series on racial redlining. If you have
experienced or have a story you would like to report regarding racial redlining please contact us at POOR Magazine (415) 863-6306

by Andrew DellaRocca/PNN Community Journalist

"Where hunting was the way of life, the master animal was revered. Salmon,
buffalo, lion, bear, whale, antelope - all these master animals represented
a sacred, informing presence to those societies for whom they were also the
master source of food. The relationship between human beings and these
master animals was not simply one of predator and prey, for in traditional
hunting societies it was believed that the animal appeared and offered
itself willingly. By killing it, the hunter assisted the spiritual journey
of the animal so it could once again return to become nourishment for
humankind. This was the sacred covenant between a divine presence that died
and was resurrected, and humanity, which partook of its body and blood - a
covenant strengthened by the traditional sentiment that there was ultimately
only one Life, though expressed in myriad forms. In other words, the life
of the hunter and that of the animal were not separate but alternate
reflections of the same life source. And because the master animals were
seen to travel so regularly between the world of the living and the world of
the spirit, they were venerated as 'bridges' between these two worlds, to be
used by shamans and priests who ventured into the realm of the spirit for
the health and well-being of individuals and the group.".... excerpt from The Hero with an African Face by Clyde W. Ford

It was the duality of the atmosphere that struck me most on Saturday
afternoon. The parking lot of Cow Palace was practically barren of life,
save for a few souls wandering for whatever reasons between the empty cars
that dotted the asphalt. I had arrived later than expected, having not
taken into account the vastness of the territory covered by the No. 9 San
Bruno. The circus had already begun, everybody was inside, and I was
greeted only by a torn piece of paper that blew against my foot pleadingly.
Memories of a circus long past, when I was a child and went to see the
Moscow Circus at the Knickerbaker Arena in Albany, New York, invaded my
mind, and I held onto a vision of bright lights and ringing sounds, men and
women flying and somersaulting through the air, exotic animals, and cotton
candy. I could not reconcile the contrast of that memory with where I
stood, amidst the industrial gray exterior decor of the Cow Palace, with its
soldiers in equally gray blazers, there to ensure that nobody snuck into the
show through a side door, or hopped over one of the fences to see the
animals who awaited their turn in the ring.

I had never before explored the issues surrounding animal rights, and was
unsure of whether or not it truly was a story for POOR magazine, an
organization that focuses primarily on issues of poverty and race. Ringling
Brothers and Barnum and Bailey's Circus. The greatest show on Earth.
Distraught elephants. Where does it fit?

I crossed through the parking lot, angry that I had missed the
demonstrations, but eager to speak with one of the activists. A man in a
tiger costume with the head removed walked toward me. He carried a picket
sign, and dragged his feet wearily. Again, the contrasts were unavoidable.
I thought of my cousin, who at one point in her adolescence worked in a
restaurant as the restaurant's mascot. She had to wear a bear costume, and
would play with the children as they walked through the door. The tiger
before me, on the other hand, did not wear a costume to entertain children,
or to play. He wore his costume as an act of resistance.

"Excuse me, have you been out here demonstrating?" I asked him. He told me
yes, and that they were taking a break while the show was on. I told him
that I was press, and asked him who it would be best to interview. He
pointed me to his colleague.

Pat Cuviello, from Citizens for Cruelty Free Circuses, walked toward me,
with a slight grin on his face and eager to talk. We stood by a fence. The
trees surrounding it blocked the wind from my tape recorder. I asked him
why he demonstrated against the circus's treatment of its animals.

"The conditions that the animals are living in and are trained in are
conditions of deprivation and infliction," said Pat. "What happens is that
the animals tend to check out, they go crazy. You'll see them bobbing their
head or swaying back and forth, the tigers you'll see them pacing back and
forth, because it's so frustrating in these conditions. So that's the main
reason we don't like it... these animals become a grotesque version of who
they really are."

I asked Pat why, in his opinion, animal acts continue to draw spectators.
He told me, "I think that we are taught to look at animals in a certain way,
growing up in our culture here. We're taught to look at them as objects,
and something to be used. We really don't know much about animals, we've
just been learning about them in the last forty to fifty years."

He continued by speaking about Jane Goodall and Diane Fossey, two famous
researchers who studied the behavior of gorillas and chimpanzees. Before
their work in the jungles, the only things known about gorillas were what
had been learned in the zoos and in the circuses.

"They'd throw water on them and jab them so that they'd be upset. So Dian
Fossey and Jane Goodall go out there, and now we know who these animals are.
We now think of gorillas as gentle giants. You'd never see them in the
circus anymore. Now that people know who they are, they don't want to see
them in these conditions. So, the more we're learning about them,
especially now with nature films and stuff, people are more and more finding
this distasteful, which I'm glad about."

"What I'm advocating is respect, respect for everyone," continued Pat.
"Just because they're a different species, doesn't mean we shouldn't respect
them. Just because someone is a different race, or has different eyes or
hair or whatever, doesn't mean I shouldn't respect them. I think it's a
whole inclusive thing. The environmental movement is also about that,
respecting the planet. It's who we are, it's where we come from, it's why
we're here."

After Pat's interview, I tried desperately to get a look at the animals in
their living conditions. I was denied access, not having the sufficient
funds to get through the gate. But I did catch a few of the animals coming
out of the circus and heading towards their cages. It was a brief glimpse.
The area where they were kept was shut off by fencing, which was covered by
colorful Barnum and Bailey banners. Lamas passed, and horses, and then the
elephants. The elephants' feet lethargically pounded the pavement in unison
as they passed. Their trunks grasped the tails of the preceding elephants,
and they moved forward bound together like a chain gang, heads drooping,
their eyes wandering. The circus employees escorted these "master" animals
into their cages, and that was the last I saw.

by Joe B.

Originally begun on September, 11th 2002. But because of PC and server problems folks get it today on the 12th.

However I’ll place another piece here if time permits so folks will have a two for one deal just to be fair.

Sept. 11, 2002. One Year Later.

3:43 am September, 11, 2002 the day before at10 pmt.

I was enjoying an action packed show about good vs. evil and evil is having a ball.

Someone tells me about lost pet ads and one ad in particular taped to a poll saying "Have you seen my lost pet?

Next to the words is a photo insert with no photo inside.

Below said photo is the breed of animal whether dog, cat, bird, fish, or other animals then sex-age, color, and date posted, also a contact phone number in case pets are found.

It comes to mind that if one values their pet’s life; a photo or freeze frame video either black and white or color should be in the empty photo insert along with a description.

The dog, cat, bird composite shadows is only a representation but real pictures are what’s needed.

Its as dopey as having parks without water fountains and bathrooms in them.

That’s as serious as I want to be about an obvious mistake in logical thinking then my phone rings an at 10:43 pmt answering is dead last on my thing-to-do-list.

The phone which I don’t answer most of the time but felt just in case its important pick it up.

Well this ruins my TV viewing for the night as an invitation to The Mayor of San Francisco’s, New York’s Memorial, Book Signing in City Hall to write our names in a commemorating 9-11-2001.

It will be happening throughout the day.

I’m thinking from now on every Sept. 11th that day will be honored globally.

But I hope the anger is balanced with mercy and wisdom, to think long why it happened as home grown American domestic terrorism happened in our past and present.

Waking up earlier than I should the first thing to do is gather up clothes, toiletries before taking a thorough hot shower, drying, oiling, wiping off excess, then checking nails on hands, feet before flossing and brushing teeth, warring clean clothes for this special anniversary.

Hurriedly I called the person to wake them up its 3:46 am after fumbling a bit I quickly walk to a neighbor’s apartment.

Other folks also have their early morning errands.

"Everything cool ‘bro., buddy."

Across the street a youngster walks parallel to me, a transvestite fun-one watches or waits.

Probably this early in the morning I look very suspicious walking, talking in a tape recorder like a nark, 5-0, or a guy on a mission.
[Narcotic Undercover Cop, or Drug Addict]

There are lots of people out today some legitimate as I some not - I’ve no time worrying which is which; if not for a kindhearted friend I’d still be in sand-land z-ing out [A favor, to participate in book writing memorial 5 am or sometime later today]

"To early" I’m told by my still sleepy friend.

I wait as sleep took hold again on both of us.

Both of us are out the door by 5:08 am.

The early day has a chill to it glad someone told to ware a coat.

In bed clothes still bleary with sleep my friend grumbled about the hour as I try to explain about a 3-hour difference we both have bad feelings this tragic occasion.

See low floating fog maybe the sun will burn most of it as daylight begins.

But the anniversary maybe cloud cover is needed, something somber, quiet, cloudy, misty, and shrouded.

My friend and I hear Scottish Bagpipes and dread weighs heavy on our shoulders.

Police in their best dressed blues, Fireman and the same for every citizen inside City Hall.

I’m glad I am clean smelling.

As I placed items in plastic trays and stood for the now normal pat down procedures I knew my friend is getting more agitated by the second.

As for me I did want to write in the book going to New York but compared to someone else’s feeling it becomes a non priority.

The biggest flag we’ve ever seen streaming in the middle of City Hall surrounded by all sorts of officials.

Mayor Willie Brown eloquent, dignified, solemn, pledge of allegiance, Pat Austin singing. Its all a blur being pulled into an elevator going to the second floor didn’t help me at all.

On a bench near my friend did not like this setup. "Didn’t you know that this will be with us for a long time."

We go by the backstairs, an elderly black lady handed us buttons with American Flag with stars and stripes and blue skies.

We talked as I walked my friend safely home before going to my own.

I’m still conflicted as a descendent of Africa in America and knowing our history it feels as if America is going backward or trying to and only scaring us into war.

I’ll ware my flag shirt but it does not make me question my countries sanity at this moment.

Meanwhile I’m told that a refrigerator will be delivered an I’ll not have to install it to make sure it works.

That didn’t work, as a regular sized guy came by with a fridge on a flatbed truck.

The paper I signed said "Only Curbside Delivery Service.

Up two flights of stairs where it now sits out of its box in a small kitchen.

Its grand knowing America still has its sense of humor.

I don’t fix, repair, or install kitchen appliances.



Please send donations to

Poor Magazine or in C/0
Ask Joe at 255 9th St.

Street,
San Francisco, CA.
94103 USA

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

Market St. San
Francisco, CA 94102

415- 626-4405
Email:
askjoe@poormagazine.org

by Joe B.

I’ve been selfish, oh, not about helping people, lending money or having friendly chats with people stressed out, been there myself.

It’s the old body/spirit/mind connection that’s been neglected with all my writing on life extension, living longer healthier lives, and awaiting breakthroughs for those long life therapies to become reality a few already are.

Intellectually I know what must be done implementing them is another thing altogether.

I have to do what I’ve preached which means eating less junk food, redmeat, concentrating on healthy nutritious eating habits until its second nature to me.

Thank God for good genes born to me without them the sugary stuff I’ve eaten over the years would’ve made me diabetic and rotted out all my teeth.

Its time to help my genes until they are improved, replaced, or have super artificial ones.

I haven’t totally been a fraud I do not smoke, drink alcohol, or party crazy.

A slow, sane settled life is my highest goal and of course routine health maintenance.
Good friends, sex, pet(s) not in that order which is the real ultimate love that dosen't speak its name.

To have hobbies for both hands and brain stimulation.

If I have no control of my body [minus anorexia nervosa and bulimia’s negative absolute control].
careful improvement then maintaining its overall health then I am unworthy of life extension and eventual immortality.

What is spooky for me is if I do get myself into shape and what I’ve said comes true some accident, illness, old age comes and death takes anyway is not my worry.

Dying would end the striving and eternal rest is my reward.

However if I become one of the lucky few to become an immortal I’d be a freak to many, hated, and to a few maybe some kind of hero.

I’ll always have learn, relearn new and old technologies.

Move a lot or have central living area as TV and movie stars must when shooting films on location and children in their families must have stable environments to grow up as normal as possible in.

After decades of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, taking improved gene engineered materials that constantly make us better, stronger, more intelligent humanity… yeah right.

Either way if I don’t want to live longer the best way is to continue as I am overweight, eating unhealthy food, and no exercise.

One thing I won’t worry about is the coed women in the gym.

I have no time to ogle ‘em and if I gain a female partner young or older that’s stronger good I need all the incentive I can get.

I did notice when I was in a gym years ago they [women] were serious and any guy going for a pick up, well; lets say they had to prove themselves.

Meanwhile poor slob guys really trying were being helped and nurtured by these stronger, healthier females.

I don’t know if that’s still true I’ll just have to go in, get started and ignore all the shapely except if they or I ask for each other’s help.

A bunch of sweaty guys and women after awhile is not appealing to either sex.

All I really want is the benefits of exercise but if I'm picked up by an alluring, aggressive, hormonally charged lady with to much energy than she knows what to do with; I won’t question it.

If I’m her object of exercise, desire and release who am I to say that its not also part of the life extension ethic, to give and receive joy to and from others.

I know, yeah right, Joe.

One thing about this ongoing quest of tricking if not beaing death; anyone can enter this personal quest.

We all can give in or face a future where time really is on our side and everyone goes at their own pace there's no in-out group or individual(s) or fashion staying alive, healty, and vital is the ultimate in all the rest is circle jerk crap.

Being alive, the best cool and anyone alive is ultimate hipsters enough.

Well, see in the gym, pool, or yoga class. Bye.

Please send donations to


Poor Magazine or in C/0

Ask Joe at 255 9th 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 Connie Lu/ PNN Youth in the media Intern

The warmth of the sun is unable to penetrate the
thick, heavy blanket of gray clouds overhead this
morning. But the intensity of the sun's powerful
light is still able to permeate past the barrier of
water vapor, which causes my eyes to squint slightly
as I sit in front of the Richmond Library to meet the
other volunteers from the Committee to Save Rent
Control, part of POOR's effort to not just re-port (the news and other issues related to poverty and racism like rent control and housing advocacy ) but "sup-port" .As I attempt to look for the volunteers,
anxious thoughts of going door to door to pass out
information on rent control fill my mind because I am
not usually comfortable with talking to people that I
don't know.

Then I notice a group of about seven people gathered
on the green grass. I am handed a thick stack of
lemon yellow pamphlets explaining the dangers of
Proposition R, which is a drastic measure that will
convert as many as 85,000 apartments to condominiums.
Large apartment complexes are subject to this measure
as well. Proposition R will result in radical rent
increases and eviction because residents will not be
able to afford to pay the extreme amount of rent.
However, the most detrimental effect of Proposition R
is that it will allow landlords to remove rent control
completely from entire buildings because state law
prohibits any form of rent control on almost all
condominiums.

I am assigned to cover several areas in San Francisco
and instructed to simply place the pamphlets
in front of the door, which brought on great relief to
me since I was worried about having to interact with
the residents. As I refer to the map I am given today I
notice a bright pink box that marks my assigned area
from Balboa to Geary between 4th and 8th Avenue.

In regards to my lack of good sense of direction, I
make an extra effort to carefully follow the map.
However, I soon start to notice the block I was
walking down had already been littered with the same
pamphlets that were in my hand. I come across one of
the other volunteers, who kindly guided me towards the
right direction, which was of course the opposite way
that I had initially been walking in.

Now that I am on the right track, I begin placing the
pamphlets by the doors of the apartments. Later, I
came to the realization of a more strategic method of
placing the pamphlets either with the newspaper or
placing it through the door handle, which would
encourage visibility and result in the reality behind
Proposition R being exposed.

As I make my way back the Richmond Library after
handing out the last few pamphlets, I hear a man's
voice call out, "Excuse me, can I have one?" He was
an elderly Asian man, who seemed eager to know about
the information I had been passing around. I didn't
expect to be asked for a pamphlet, but I was glad he
did because I had the opportunity to both verbalize
and give him information about the harsh consequences
of Proposition R. I think he was able to get the
basic idea even though we were faced with somewhat of
a language barrier. But it was only after I had
finished talking to him when I realized that my
initial fear of talking to people about this measure
was somehow forgotten during my conversation with him.

When I finally made my way back to the library, I was
completely exhausted but thankful for the cool breeze
that rewarded the strenuous spreading of information
about Proposition R, which will help residents become
more aware of its dangerous and threatening
consequences.

For more information on Proposition R or if you want

to help with getting the word out about this dangerous legislation call SF tenants Union at
(415) 282-5525 or go on-line to

www.saverentcontrol.org

For more work from POOR's youth in the media interns go on-line to
www.poornewsnetwork.org

by D. Bluzemann/special to PNN

What started out as a beautiful respite for the homeless and hungry individuals on Jennings and Van Dyke Streets in San Francisco has become more and more like the rest of the disrespectful, oppressive facilities funded with city money, and in some cases, perhaps even worse. Just how many bad ideas are they coming up with as they go? These are some of them:

Mother Brown’s shelter and kitchen has taken the bull by the horns as far as getting out front of the pack in the way of humiliating clients. Not only are you forced to wash your hands, ( but I have seen members of the staff, who are not kitchen help constantly helping themselves to food remove your hat and pray (suppose I don’t want to pray? )you also, in order to have a liquid with a meal, have to present ID to receive a four ounce plastic cup. Where did they come up with that repressive idea? Do any of the other organizations that feed people require ID for services, for a cup? Is this a city-mandated requirement? If it is not, then all of these self-serving edicts need to cease and desist, pronto!

It seems that someone wants too much power over individuals at any and all costs. The idea of hand washing is not so bad. But the level of sanitation falls off sharply when the clients have to traipse out of the bathroom and through the dining room with hands dripping water to retrieve paper towels. Then there is the risk of something unsavory falling into someone’s food and possibly causing a health hazard..

Is this what the city had in mind when it gave a grant to Mother Brown’s organization for feeding and sheltering the needy? Is prayer a pre-requisite to dining?. Does the city uphold these humiliating, subjective, draconian requirements?
Are there any other organizations making up rules as they go that can’t be enforced, if challenged?
Particularly the one about the separation of church and state. If prayer is not even allowed in the schools, how can individuals make it a requirement in a soup kitchen where you must wait until everyone has washed their hands at one sink, whether or not someone had to use the bathroom and hold up the line. Nevertheless, the management does not permit the use of the two sinks which are just through another door for persons to wash , regardless to the length of the line, or the rate at which it moves. one at a time Then, you must pray.
Is this a violation of an individual’s right, or, can these taxpaying citizens receive a meal when they need it without being put upon by those who would proselytize.

Upstairs in the shelter has gone to the dogs as well. Clients have always had to sleep in a chair or two, that was before the rules changed. Now, a client is allowed one plastic chair, regardless of how many there are that are not being used. Ever try sleeping upright in a chair that is not even sturdy? Clients are not allowed to lean their heads against the wall because if they do, they get written up and are a candidates for Denial of Services ( DOS). As a matter of fact, a person with a cup went to the juice dispenser for a second cup,( each is only 4 oz). and was told if he took it he would get DOS’ed.

And all of this is done by people who are supposed to be good Christians. I don’t know what God they serve, but if this is the kind things He teaches to them, then I certainly don’t want any part of it.

( Note: e-mail your responses, observations and input to deebluzemann@yahoo.com