Story Archives

by Bruce Allison/PNN

"Be seen, but not heard." These words are often spoken to misbehaving children, yet this is what the Safety Security officer, Keith Troy (badge number 4810), patronizingly said to me and a group of fellow seniors, as we gathered inside the State Capitol in Sacramento. I remember him clearly, a young, tall, white man with blonde hair. He looked like an extra in an advertisement for the highway patrol, as he stood behind a velvet rope in front of the Governor's office, like some sort of dictator out of a cheap movie from my childhood.

About twenty of us, all seniors, met at Saint Mary's Cathedral, nicknamed the Lady of the Washing Machine, early in the morning on September 20th. We represented both Healthcare Action Team (HAT) and California Alliance of Retired Americans (CARA). A charter bus pulled up and we all climbed aboard ready for the journey to Sacramento to meet with the Governor.

On the bus, Jodi Reed, the Director of CARA, reviewed the bills that we wanted the Governor to sign. One bill we were going to petition was to not condodize trailer parks and another bill would require all pharmacies to give out information on medications,

We arrived at the State Capitol around 10:00 a.m. and went to the Eureka Room for some coffee and bagels. There, Jodi announced some good news. The Governor had signed one of our bills. As we walked down the hall towards the elevator we began singing joyfully for senior healthcare. In the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic we sang, "Seniors all united we are standing here right now, we need your help to sign the bill. So we can get good healthcare, and no Ellis Act on trailers."

As we got to the Governor's office I turned around to see two cameras filming us, one from Channel 11, NBC, and the other from a local station, as well as a number of tourists taking pictures of us. At this point two Safety Security Officers approached us. Keith Troy said, "Be seen, but not heard." They fined us for singing in the hallway near the Governor's Office and told us we needed a permit. Jodi had specifically called earlier in the day requesting a permit to sing in the State Capitol. The secretary laughed and said there was no ordinance or permit to give, and we didn't need one.

At the State Capitol we were in fact fined under what the security officers called harassment and interfering with government business. Strangely the officers were part of the Highway Patrol wasting California money on fining a group of seniors for singing and expressing their First Amendment rights.

Jodi and some other people in our group were taken down the hallway and berated like children by several Highway Patrol officers. They said we were not allowed to draw attention to ourselves. They went on and said, "We can take you outside to do your 'Freedom of Speech'." We walked back down to the Eureka room to reconvene. The security officers escorted us downstairs reminding us each step of the way not to make any noise, as if we were back in the first grade. Once in the Eureka room, out of sight from the media, we were told our meeting with Governor was canceled.

We stayed at the Capitol and attended an Assembly meeting where we were invited to perform a play called, "To be discharged on a Friday Night." The purpose was to bring attention to hospital discharge policies and get a bill passed that would make mandatory rules about your rights to appeal discharge.

When did the United States become a dictatorship? As a Veteran, I am now embarrassed that I am a U.S. Citizen. We are living not in the free society the United States preaches of. Our civil liberties are being denied. We are living in an enslaved society.

by Angel Garcia/PNN

"We Latinos and African-Americans have more similarities than trumped up differences," said Sam Drew, as we sat elbow to elbow in the classroom at POOR Magazine’s Race, Poverty and Media Justice Institute. This was a revolutionary discussion because we, a Guatemalteco man and an African-American man, were getting to know one another como personas humanas without the peleas on the calles.

Sam use to be employed como un agente de seguridad. "I think they were messing with me, because I wasn’t going along with the program," said Sam as he began to describir his descend en la probeza. That's why el senor Sam got fired from his job.

El Senor Sam, born in Oakland, California in 1957, talked about la historia Africana and how it was forgotten. He spoke about the connections he sees between our two cultures, which he believes are not so different after all.

After talking to El Senor Sam, it inspired me to do some research en our historias. From 1825 until the end of the Civil War in 1865, Mexico consistently repudiated and forbade the institution of slavery in its territory, while U.S. officials and Texas slave owners continuously sought ways to circumvent Mexican law.

What follows is the little known history of Mexico serving as a refuge for fugitive slaves and a provider of job opportunities for Blacks immigrating from U.S. to Mexico. Mexico was a haven for fugitive slaves.

Today it seems as if the once strong alliance between Blacks and Latinos has been forgotten, lost to the violence on the street. Much of this violence happens because there is a false sense of competition between the two groups according to Angelica Salas executive director of the coalition for humane immigrants rights. She says the problem is that minorities face discrimination directed at anyone who is not considered the traditional American, meaning White and protestant.

In South Central L.A. she says long time Black residents see Latinos as newcomers taking their jobs and giving the community a worse reputation. She blames this misconstrued fact on demagogic politicians. El centro de accion social told EFE that tension generally occurs in poor communities due the lack of work opportunities and low expectations for high school graduation.

According to the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI), "Immigration to the United States is driven by an unjust international economic order that deprives people of the ability to earn a living and raise their families in their home countries…through international trade, lending, aid and investment policies, the United States government and corporations are the main promoters and beneficiaries of this unjust economic order."

The BAJI also writes, that "African Americans, with our history of being economically exploited, marginalized and discriminated against, have much in common with people of color who migrate to the United States, documented and undocumented."

During the past year, Los Angeles has witnessed conflicts between African American and Latino students in its schools and armed clashes between Black and Latino gangs on its streets. Throughout my research, I found many examples of violence between Blacks and Latinos. I became upset as I realized how much the government is benefiting from this false division between our two cultures.

I believe it is time to take the power from the big businesses and corporations, but to do so we need to learn how to communicate with each other and dialogue about unity. We must break the circle of hate and tension between our amazing cultures by realizing the similar pasts we all share.

by Logan High Po' Poets

..................................

I rock Jordan. I rock Nike.

Peer pressure, livin' as a �type beast�

Naw, naw. Not me.

I rock what I want.

Won't give a penny for your thought.

But don't like hearin'

Another battle bein' fought.

Listen to the music.

Dream to the song.

Why can't we be friends?�

Let fighting end, let the gun wounds mend.

Don't make me pretend

To be something you want.

-Jasmine Ventocilla

.................................

I am a yellow person, I feel the same at Logan. But Logan is a school of minorities. I hear "nigga this, nigga that" but they don't know where the word comes from. The struggle many people have fought for culture has been raped. I truly am an American in the melting pot.

The Bay Area is home. It is home because it is the home of minorities. If I moved to the South, I'd be dead.

New World Order. All them seek it. America has been stolen from our eyes. The figureheads like Bush. All they do, they strive for a facist government. Instead of the pledge of allegiance, it will be the pledge of death.

-Vinh Thai

....................................

I'm Shawn, oldest son of Mike and Val.

People think of me as bitten but I�ve been through hell.

I do ok, my parents love me, but I've got a flaw.

Autism made me dumsy, not the strongest guy.

Then there was last year's PE class, the popular crowd dubbed me a Nazi.

I moved across the states when I was small.

I write stories and have many dreams.

I am German, French and who knows what else.

My life has been loud, but at times calm.

-Shawn Perry

......................................

I am one who sees violence in the streets.

The one who hears nothin' but lies behind the deepest fears.

I feel the pain to all that's in danger.

Can't we all get along as if we weren't strangers.

It's hard to believe now what we do impacts

the actions we do tomorrow.

If I can share the peace within my dreams.

I'll let you borrow.

Once we the people see all race as one equal community.

Humans is what we are in need of equality.

We needa accept each other.

Before we go back to being ashes.

-Krisandra Santa-Isabel

.......................................

Sight. How I look around people is a person who is like everyone else, just going where I need to be going, just walking by, nobody knowing you with just a blank mind.

Smell Things I smell would be freedom, freedom to walk, freedom to see, freedom to do something, something great for society or just fooling with it. The smell of life passing by seems to be slow but actually going fast.

Struggle We all have struggle, one may be easy, just like going to bed, or hard like someone hammering you right on the head. Life comes in fast like a bullet, most people get hit and that's when it hurts, deep wound that never recover unless you do something before it gets to you. That�s what I think about life- it's an unexpected thing but I guess that is life's meaning- life and dream.

Dream. Dream is what you do everyday whether its nothing or something. Dreaming something great or what's your fate. Dream to do anything, wishing that is reality. Dream is something u earn and get.

-Anthony Villegas
................................

by Sam Drew/PNN

"The family of Oakland is bleeding the blood of unrighteousness, stolen lives and police brutality," Keith Shanklin from the Executive Board Ship Clerks Association, said somberly to a justice minded audience huddled in front of Oakland City Hall on the National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation on October 22.

Shanklin spoke about the killing of Gary King Jr., who was shot in the back in Oakland on September 20,2007 by Oakland Police Department's Patrick Gonzales. Gonzales "took from us one of Oakland’s finest sons," Shanklin strongly declared.

The scope of this rally, however, spread far beyond the local level, as faces of police brutality victims from all across the country were placed on the stage with their names and details of their killings. The rally and march to stop police brutality was simultaneously being held in various cities across the country to show how each victim's story is intertwined with other victims' stories no matter what state they reside in.

One of the most recent stories of police brutality and misconduct occurred in Chicago, where two videotapes surfaced showing off duty police officers beating a female bartender. Before the videotapes surfaced there was the usual denial and foot-dragging. After the two videotapes surfaced, Chicago's police superintendent said he would change the way the department responds to allegations of misconduct including moving faster to get officers accused of misconduct off the street.

Seven months later the Chicago Police Departments elite Special Operations Section, was disbanded amid much scandal, including charges that the S.O.S. officers robbed and kidnapped people, and one that accused an officer of plotting to murder another. Adding to the Chicago Police Departments woes is word from federal prosecutors that they are investigating claims that homicide detectives, tortured suspects into confessing to murders that landed them on death row in the 1970s and 1980s.

This gathering in the heart of Downtown Oakland is the continuation of a crusade to fight back against the nationwide epidemic of police brutality and repression rampant in poor and oppressed neighborhoods. Family members of police brutality victims lent their courageous voices and indefatigable spirit to this momentous movement of resistance against the encroaching police state.

The family of Gary King, Meshra Irrizary, mother of Idriss Stelley who was killed by San Francisco Police Department, Danny Garcia, brother of Mark Garcia who was killed by SFPD, Frank Rosenberg, father of Richard who was killed by Fremont Police and Mirna and Julio Ayala, parents of Julio who was killed by South SF Police spoke to the crowd and led the powerful march through the active streets of Oaktown ending at the steps of the Oakland Police Headquarters.

As we marched and chanted, "Stop the Killing, Stop the Lies No More Stolen Lives," citizens on the sidewalks shouted words of approval and raised fists in solidarity, while others joined the march swelling our numbers and strengthening our voices.

Once we arrived at the refurbished police headquarters speakers declared their unwavering demand of justice for all the families who have lost ones to the escalating tide of police brutality and corruption. We chanted,"Peace For Gary," at the top of our collective lungs letting everyone inside OPD headquarters know our desire is for peace for everyone on the streets of Oakland. But without justice there can be no peace. We then shouted, "Justice For Gary." This let elected officials in Oakland and statewide know that the police officers committing these deadly crimes can’t hide behind the blue code of silence. They will be held accountable for their actions.

Mesha Irrizary, Director of Idriss Stelley Foundation, Police Accountability Direct Services, told everyone to, "Protest the code of silence and corruption." She also informed all about the origins of the modern day police departments by stating,"The original police were the slave catchers…the plantation is alive today. We’re going to put him (Gonzales) behind bars. We will be back. We will petition congress and start a class action suit statewide. We will see the end of the plantation in Oakland and country wide."

Revolutionary poet and POOR Magazine writer, Dee Allen told the crowd filled with dozens of receptive high school students. "Cops like Patrick Gonzales they follow an unwritten law. Subdue your target by any means necessary." Allen also read his uncompromising poem, Unwritten Law, for the families of all those police brutality victims.

Keith Shanklin, returned and reminded all that the fight to take back our streets will not be silenced as he steadfastly proclaimed, "We will meet in front of Oakland’s City Hall every Thursday at 3 p.m. from now on."

At the conclusion of the uplifting rally and march a shy young man spoke to the crowd directly from his heart about the criminalization of a generation and police brutality.

Brian simply said while looking at the many photos of police brutality victims, "I don’t know anyone in these pictures, but when someone gets shot 50 times (Sean Bell New York City, a 23 year old unarmed man shot 50 times, killed on his wedding day) how is that necessary? Enough is enough!"

For more info or to get involved call 415.336.2801

by Joanna Letz/PNN

"Another four years of Newsom will have devastating effects on the people most vulnerable in the city, the homeless, poor, and drug addicted. This is ethically unconscionable in a city whose Patron is Saint Francis of Assisi…We are going in the wrong direction." Ahimsa Porter's voice reverberated within the small meeting room inside the Unitarian center on one of the first rainy days this fall.

I had been enticed to attend the Gray Panther-sponsored event, entitled, "Gentrification, Redevelopment, and the Future of San Francisco," by the chance to hear Mayoral Candidate Ahimsa Sumchai speak and to report and support for POOR Magazine.

I walked down the hallway of the Unitarian Center; its walls covered with children's colorful artwork, and opened the door to the Fireside room where the Gray Panther meeting had already begun. The group was in the middle of discussing the upcoming elections.

Ahimsa Porter Sumchai arrived amidst an already heated discussion around redevelopment and gentrification. Sumchai jumped right in, saying, "Gentrification occurs when you cite increases in market rate housing. Replacing people with a calculator as opposed to a bulldozer."

Sumchai went onto say that San Francisco needs a moratorium on market-rate and above market-rate housing. She also said, "There is an investment foreclosure seminar this month (called) ‘How to capitalize and make money off of foreclosures." Now it seems that there are even seminars teaching people how to make money off the displacement of poor people.

Sumchai said, "For whom is this city destined…. we must oppose the privatization of San Francisco…like a Dunkin Donuts sign on the Golden Gate Bridge, and Lennar's poisoning of children at school; the reality of San Francisco's future if the mayor is re-elected is a city of the upper rich." She continued, "As a physician, as a person who cares for people, I have a commitment and mandate to protect people…who are most vulnerable and being most threatened."

She discussed the extreme criminalization of poverty in the City, citing the recent dramatic increase in arrests and incarcerations. "The criminalization of the homeless in this city has resulted in 46,000 citations, in an effort to try and sweep them out of the city… We need to redistribute our wealth and our priorities," Sumchai added.

Many people it seems feel that Newsom will be elected again despite opposition against him. Although Newsom's re-election would have little effect on many middle and upper class people in San Francisco, as Sumchai points out, for those most in need in San Francisco another term of Newsom could be a matter of life and death.

Throughout her talk, Sumchai delved into numerous topics that Mayor Newsom's administration has remained quiet about, such as the debate raging in the Bay View/Hunter's Point on the devastating redevelopment tearing a community apart and harming the health of children and adults. Her own father worked as a longshoreman and died as a result of exposure to asbestos.

"Twenty-three percent of the time asbestos levels exceeded the point that required shut down... Lennar may have to pay $2,500 for everyday they were out of compliance for not notifying the Nation of Islam School," she stated powerfully to the room full of nodding heads.

Sumchai also voiced her support for more city-provided care for the disabled, mentally ill and elders residing in San Francisco, as well as for a single payer healthcare plan.

"We cannot cut mental health services. We need a single payer health care plan. We need universal child-care and pre-school, we can't optimize employment without this," she said.

Sumchai also called violence and substance abuse an epidemic and called for a look at the rooted problems causing this growing problem. "We need to look at why people are fundamentally addicted [and why] people self-treat for underlying disorders."

Sumchai courageously and eloquently spoke to numerous problems our City is facing. From cuts in Muni services and rampant gentrification to the health of the City's children, Sumchai offered innovative solutions and ideas to the problems that the current administration seems to ignore.

After listening to Ahimsa Sumchai speak I realized with greater clarity the need for change in San Francisco. Many of the issues Sumchai spoke passionately about are issues that are of life and death for people on the streets, for elders and youth, poor people in San Francisco, and/or for folks living with a mental or physical disability, folks that we consider poverty, race, disability and youth scholars at POOR Magazine.

San Francisco thinks of itself as a Mecca for liberal thinking and activism, yet San Francisco continues increase the criminalization of poor communities and communities of color. San Francisco and Mayor Gavin Newsom have not addressed the economic and environmental injustice taking place in the Bayview /Hunters Point at the hands of Lennar and the Redevelopment Agency, which is an issue that Sumchai speaks openly and actively about.

At the end of the talk Sumchai was asked what kind of alliances are being made between the candidates opposing Mayor Newsom. Sumchai responded, "Ahimsa for mayor [is a] vehicle to build a foundation of future political activities…Alignment is happening, people are looking for alternatives."

Ahimsa Sumchai is running under the Peace and Freedom Party.
To learn more about Ahimsa Sumchai you can visit her website at:
www.ahimsa4mayor.com or visit her myspace page at: www.myspace.com/Ahimsas300
Also you can check out the SF Bay Guardian's article at: http://www.sfbg.com/entry.php?entry_id=4645
and the SF Gate's Article at:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/10/22/MN1FSFN93.DTL

by Joseph Bolden

Email/Phone Woes

I’m no early adapter my ancestors may have seen the bad side of trying and failing to spear a rhino,roping a horse,or pulling cow utters for milk.

Problem is seeing the negative failures of missing rhino and the luckless guy or guys getting gored up their anus’s,neck,belly,

or loosing pieces, half,or all their scrotum dying or living in agony of that fateful day.

I’m a slow to no adapter from a long line of wait and see folk.

Getting kicked, stomped in places with varying thresholds of pain and beyond.

Cow’s to giving their share of head,toe,to low blows to those too slow or unwary.

You know them as ”Darwin Award Winners”

Those most likely not to succeed in reproduce.

A few of my illustrious ancestors decided not to participate so actively.

Millennia’s come and go I think by the time of slaves many of my people house or field slaves decided to exist, survive, and thrive secretly learning to read, write, and white-red-yellow-black-and brown women side/back door men reproducing using wits and
opportunity keeping our mouths shut as other of our kind bragged or were bragged apon.

Found them selves at the height of embarrassment running naked through the streets while mobs of sexually repressed white folk played “PICKNIC” which could have been [excuse the term readers]pick-a-nigger to kill for the fun watching him, her,young,old,scream, ooze blood and die.

That notthe end.

Then dig up the cadaver,string it up,and watch it burn again.

Fun Times!

A hunted people with no protection in a then foreign land learns fast, survivors, passing knowledge on to descendents or the whole race dies in genocidal acts of defiance.

Obviously it took time for many of our people to learn many are still recipients of these 'Darwin Awards', butnot as many as before.

In the computer or pc age some of us have yet to adapt.

Dot Matrix,Laser Printers,Laptops,PDA’s, Cell Phones,Mp3’s,GPS, Xbox,game boys, Sidekicks,I-pods,and now I-Phones.

Its dizzying how teched up we’ve become from the mid 1970’s to the early 21st century with nearly no way of turning back.

Most of us had to a little adapting even if some of us have slosky’s turtle genes keeping us from lemming ourselves over a cliff.

My problem to date is email:Its fast, efficient,and sending is a easy unless you write something hurtful neglecting to press delete instead on send and no way to take what said in haste and anger back.

Right now I’ve got a chance for a dream job where you can literally sit on your rusty dusty, look at cable,troll the net except for porn but look a movies download some all from the comfort of someone else’s house.

That’s right House-sitting.

Pet-sit while watching a house one job seeming like two but really not.

Since pets are part of households you show them respect as you would the owners children.

Here’s what’s egging me.

I’ve had a land phone but haven’t paid for in months or years (I forget which?)

I can use the desk clerk phone incase someone calls me for a potential job,a message phone,same thing, or my mom’s phone in another city,and recently a cell phone which I’m not use to but bought from someone else.

(yes,job related but said phone re-charger is left at her house so I cannot re-charge it)

I said I’m a slow to no adapter from a long line of wait and see folk.

With all these optional phone numbers you’d think I could use an alternative one…

BUT NNOOOOOooooooo.” I understand not being able to use mama’s from another city.

But I have three viable numbers unless that message phone is still on the blink?

I get online,join this house sit as an independent contractor, get a debit credit card so money can taken from card (out of my saving/checking account?) but they list my non working number but since its inactive I cannot get and neither can they send/receive emails of housesit jobs.

General place of homes,pets,but no exact address.

Yes,understand protection of client/housesit from fraud or criminal harm.

But how to conduct business with email phone crud fudging it all up?

When one email won’t work we set up another account how come our phone system isn’t as nimble.

Mama offers to pay phone bill.

Well that gets me out of land phone purgatory.

Now,if I can get a few hundred business cards together that helps loads.

No online print shop tried it once,sent money, waited,never received and cards or money back.

When you get burned like that you tend not do the same thing again so its back to a physical print shop I can walk to.

As for debit card its strictly for the house sit business,maybe health care products like vitamins,Q-10 and omega fish oil or stuff to cleanse your system of excess toxins and waste products built over time.

I’m already in debt don’t need anymore do my American thing.

Now if the smart genius set can figure a way having printers built into pc’s and laptops we wouldn’t need to by so much toner,black or color ink also the pc would tell us when more ink is needed.

Maybe its way past time to make pc-printer combo.

If the tv and other devices can be hooked up why not this combo as well?

Reminds to by VCR/DVD combo for slightly used bigger screen tv.

See why I’m a slow adapter?

I adapt but like having choices.

Choosing from bad to worse does not sound like a choice to me.

by Vivian Hain/PNN

On November 5, 2007, two groups of low-income children in California from LIFETIME (Low-Income Families Empowerment Through Education), the California Association of Food Banks, California Partnership and H.A.L.A. delivered home-baked pumpkin pies and handwritten invitations to the Offices of both California Senator Barbara Boxer in Los Angeles and Senator Feinstein in San Francisco to encourage the senators to support full funding for the Food Stamp Program in the 2007 Farm Bill, which will be voted on this week.

The children delivered handwritten invitations for thanksgiving dinner, along with homemade pumpkin pies that were cut up as "pie charts," depicting the percentage of a modest thanksgiving meal that the current average food stamp benefit of $1.09 per person per meal can purchase (8.9%). POOR Magazine youth elder Jasmine Hain demonstrated to Senator Feinstein's office that the small single slice of pie represented the very small amount of food subsidy low-income families like her own are forced to manage with, despite the drastic increase in the cost of food over the past 30 years since the food stamp increase in 1977.

Monday marks the beginning of a week in which the Farm Bill will reach the Senate floor to fund a variety of programs, including food stamps for the next 5 years. At this point, neither of California's Senators has guaranteed that they would vote yes on a funding increase for the Food Stamp Program. The children, representing thousands of low-income children throughout California who are 80% of those receiving food stamps wanted to send a message to both Senators that all California's children deserve equal access to healthy, organic and affordable nutritious food.

With the average food stamp benefit totaling just $1 a meal, setting even a modest holiday table is a monumental challenge. The price of a Thanksgiving meal for a California family of four has risen by over 300% since the Food Stamp Program's inception in 1977. The minimum monthly benefit has remained frozen at just $10, yet the cost of food has gone up. An increase in funding would not only benefit California families suffering from food insecurity, but California's economy as well. It is about $50.00 to afford a Thanksgiving meal, yet low-income families in California who receive food stamps have to try and create a nutritious family meal on just $4.86- what is provided for a Thanksgiving meal with the food stamp subsidy given today.

Here's just a few examples of the increase in food costs since 1977, yet the amount of food stamps has not changed since then.

A Thanksgiving meal for four:

10 pound turkey $4.39 (1977) $14.90 (today)

14 oz package of cubed stuffing $1.17 (1977) $3.97 (today)

1 gallon whole milk$0.94 (1977) $3.19 (today)

2 lbs sweet potatoes 1.04 (1977)$3.54 (today)

12-oz. package of brown-and-serve rolls $0.68 (1977) $2.31 (today)

1 can of cranberry dressing�$0.26 (1977)�$1.00 (today)

1 combined lb. of celery, carrots, garlic and onions $0.86 (1977)$2.93 (today)

10 oz can of pumpkin pie mix $0.64 (1977)$2.16 (today)

1 nine-inch pie shell$0.60 (1977) $2.03 (today)

1 pound fresh green beans $1.06 (1977) $3.59 (today)

1 can cream of mushroom soup $0.34 (1977)$1.14 (today)

Misc. items (butter, flour, eggs, etc.)$2.49 (1977) $8.43 (today)

Total cost for a family of four $14.51 (1977) $49.20 (today)

METHODOLOGY: Research regarding current costs of Thanksgiving Meal market basket items was done on Safeway.com using five California cities (Sacramento, Fresno, Oakland, Humboldt and Los Angeles). The consumer price index was used to generate a ratio of inflation from 1977 to 2007. This ratio was then used to calculate an estimate of how much Thanksgiving dinner would have cost in 1977.

For more information, go to: www.cafoodbanks.org

For information on the research, go to:
http://woodrow.mpls.frb.fed.us/research/data/us/calc/hist1913.cfm.

Contributing Writers: J. Bartolow: www.cafoodbanks.org

by Leroy Moore/PNN

Leroy Moore: Keith you are many things Hip-Hop artist, advocate, father and now you are going into politics. Tell us your recent goals and projects.

Keith Jones: Well, my goals are quite simple at this stage of my life. The goals are to continue to strive to be a good father and to continue to work on issues that are important to me. As far as projects, I have begun to really focus on putting together a solid team and running an effective and successful campaign for the U.S. Senate.

LM: How many CDs have you put out and what is your latest?

KJ: Well, in my illustrious career (tongue firmly in cheek), I have recorded two cds and the latest one, which will be my last, is called "Vocal Tai Chi." Two of the tracks off of the cd have been featured on Krip-Hop Volumes 1 and 2.

LM: Where does the name Fezo and your other names you use come from?

KJ: The name has been around for almost as long as I have been into hip-hop. It is actually an acronym from "back in the day" and I came up with it after visiting my grandparents in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. After listening to Mr. Magic's Rap Attack and Cool DJ Red Alert, I decided I wanted to be an emcee. I felt I needed a name that was different from everybody else that also represented how "dope" I was. Hence FEZO, (F*ckin’ EZ to Obliterate suckers). I've had that name for almost three decades –that’s a long time.

LM: What is your response to the hip-hop industry when it comes to artists with disabilities?

KJ: I don't have one. The industry much like society in general has a schism towards people with disabilities. The reason I am and have remained unsigned is because they "didn’t know how to market me." This is indicative of a larger issue – there is uneasiness around disability and what talents and contributions the individual has to offer. So in that sense, I don't think the industry will "take a chance" on a hip-hop artist who is a person with a disability until and unless their attitudes change.

LM: We met face to face at the DNC in 2004 and now you are exploring a political run for the Senate why? And as a Black disabled man what do you bring to the political arena?

KJ: Why run? Because as a person concerned about the state and the future of the country. I believe that there has been a systematic consolidation of power and at the same time an ignoring of the really critical issues facing us as a country. For example, the recent report from the IRS that nearly 30% of the nations wealth is controlled by 1% of the nation's population. The fact that there is virtually no parity in quality or access to health-care, and that as a country this will be the first time that the succeeding generation has the prospect of doing worse than generation before it. And this on top of a war that needs to and should end.

And as a Black man with a disability I am under no illusions about what this journey will entail. The only thing I can anticipate is that I am intent on affecting change. I know that people may look at this endeavor as a lofty goal to obtain. I can’t help their impression of what a candidate should or must look like. I do believe however, that I could either complain about those making the decision or participate in the democracy as it's advertised. Or I can wait for the repercussions. What I bring to the race is a perspective that no other candidate has. A perspective on the "promise of America" and its "reality."

The promise that America has and offers for some is everything they could have imagined. For others it’s like an "Old wives tale," Yet for others its almost but not quite. I am not convinced that a candidate speaking focused group tested ideas is the answer this time. People want the truth this time – I know I do. I want that promise to be kept.

LM: Your state, Massachusetts, elected the first Black Governor. Have you followed his action and what do you think about his policies?

KJ: I pay attention to the policies along with the philosophy that guides him. I think he has a unique challenge before him. He has to for better or worst do what he said he intended to do as well as, be forever vigilant that he is governing for all. Do I agree with everything? No. Do I believe he is governing for the entire Commonwealth? Yes.

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LMDiscuss your political platform and the people that make up your supporters.

KJThe platform of "Fulfilling America's Promise," is centered on promoting along developing policies and legislation that support the workers of the Commonwealth and the country to earn a "living wage." This is done with a goal of stimulating a much fairer approach to equitable sustained economic growth.

Support equal and fair access to affordable health care, regardless of urban or rural dwelling, in the Commonwealth and the nation as a whole. Also, for those who have a need for governmental assistance; particularly seniors veterans children persons with disabilities and, families and individuals who are under insured.

Support the funding of public education in order to close the achievement gap, modernizing schools, recruiting and retaining talented people to the profession. All to guarantee our publicly educated students are some of the best prepared in the world.

Ensure that ALL citizens of the Commonwealth and the nation are afforded their constitutional rights and protections, including the right to vote, to choose, and to marry.

As for supporters, they aren't what one would consider typical for this type of candidacy.. The supporters cut across all demographics and, that at this point is a very good indication that people still believe in the promise of America.

LM: Last Congressional election there were many disabled candidates running but few got media attention. What would you do in your campaign to have the media cover you?

KJ: I have a very talented team who are committed to executing in every phase of the campaign – including attracting media coverage. But as I stated earlier, I am under no illusions. However, this is an era where user generated content sites and non-traditional outlets can be an entree to larger media outlets. Also, I know if this campaign appears to be even slightly "not ready for prime-time." It will be very difficult if not impossible to be seen as having a viable campaign – especially due to the unorthodox nature of me as a candidate. So, I am going to focus in the campaign on controlling what we can control and if we do that we will be right were we should be on November 5th 2008.

LM: What party are you running under and what is your view on political parties when it comes to race, poverty, people with disabilities and gays and lesbians?

KJ: I am running as an Independent/third party. In terms of the political parties and their stances related to race, poverty, people with disabilities and gays and lesbians, the answers lie in their actions towards these groups. America as well as the political parties have yet to engage in real and earnest dialog about the existence of racism, homophobia, classism or ableism. If you don’t engage or at least acknowledge that there are people in this country for whom those isms are all too real. That being the case, how can they understand or address the effects policy or, the effects socio-economic upward mobility. As a person who is among and advocate for these groups, I would say neither party has, really tackle the issues that have led to and perpetuate disparities for minorities, the poor, people with disabilities and gays and lesbians. Which is why I am running outside the two party system.

LM: Will you continue to do your cultural work if you win?

KJ: Of course, the only thing I probably won't do is shop for a record deal. But then again you never know.

LM: What are the top ten concerns of people in Mass?

KJ: At this stage there are a lot of issues facing the Commonwealth much like the rest of country. Some of the more pressing issues: affordable housing, the economy, healthcare, home foreclosures, taxes and, education. This includes highly charged issues like what to do about the undocumented residents ending the Iraq War, making communities safer, environmental concerns as well as, the dealing with the state's nearly $1 billion budget deficit. Also, there are issues that are very particular to each region of the state for example the proposed "Cape Wind" project in Nantucket Sound. The commonwealth has its own unique challenges and its own way of developing solutions to those challenges.

LM: You were in a documentary. Tell us more.

KJ: The documentary is called "Including Samuel." The film was done by Dan Habib whose son has a disability. When he asked me if I would like to be involved he said he wanted to show how he and his family include Samuel in all facets of school and community. What I found even more important was his desire to paint an accurate picture of life as a family. And what that a family faces when confronted with society's reactions to the family member with a disability. The film, "Including Samuel" also features other families, teachers, young people, parents and disability rights experts.

LM: I saw you make music with your feet in the studio please tell our readers how do you do that.

KJ: Well, it is a result of my disability limiting the dexterity of my hands. So, when your hands fail you use your feet and that's what I do. There’s no special equipment needed. I put the MPC on the floor and go for what I know. I use my feet not only to make music but also to write type draw and cook, if I'm hungry enough. I cant say when or how I started to do things in that way. My grandmother said that I "just started doing it." There were no classes. No training – I just did it.

LM: As a Black disabled advocate what is your view on the aftermath of Katrina?

KJ: Honestly, as disturbed and upset as I was and still am – I can’t say I was surprised. Whether its perception or reality, the facts speak for themselves. It was the poorest of the poor who were neglected and this was in a city where poverty among its disabled and African-American population ran well above the nation average. So, if you take that and compound it with non-existent emergency planning and what to me was and is a complete disregard of those who are in need how can you be surprised at the ongoing issues around Katrina and Rita and Gulf Coast recovery? I do however think that as a Senator I can and will deal with the apparent anemic efforts placed on disaster response and recovery. Around that same time there were flooding issues that struck parts of Massachusetts that had an equally devastating effect. And some of those same issues arose. Like how do you evacuate the elderly and disabled citizens who require assistance? How can we continue to allow insurance companies to not honor their policies? And, what is the role of government in help people rebuild their lives and communities?

LM: Where can people go to keep up with your campaign?

KJ: People will have a chance to follow the campaign via our website

http://KJ-08.COM/.Com We will also have a youtube channel that allows people to submit homemade ads that may get used during the campaign along with telling us what are the issues that they want to hear discussed. As much as it is about the candidate it really is about the people it has always been about the people.

LM: Any last words?

KJ: People need to retake the power of their government. Get involved. Be active. Vote for the candidate based on the issues. And if you live in Massachusetts and you want to hear and learn more about me and the issues I care about go to the website to set up town hall meetings, house parties, or other events.

by Marlon Crump/PNN

"There is nothing more frightening, more scary, more terrifying than someone opening and coming through your door..........unannounced."

Last year the San Francisco Chronicle ran a month long series entitled "Use of Force" in which they chronicled past events of misconduct by the San Francisco Police Department. At the time, my case was still being investigated by the police oversight agency, the Office of Citizens Complaints (O.C.C) so nothing was written regarding my own brutal encounter with S.F.P.D members.

Just last month, the two-year anniversary of my worst police encounter occurred. On October 7th 2005 a dozen members of the S.F.P.D. stormed the AllStar Hotel, single room occupancy on 16th/Folsom Streets, where I still live.

It was almost midnight. I was in my room, preparing to leave to pick up some food from the store with my food stamp card when suddenly my door lock clicked opened The next thing I knew, I was starring down the barrels of numerous guns carried by a squad of officers yelling obscenities at me. This is an image that will be forever seared into my memory and one that still haunts me to this day.

One of the officers was a young short Filipino man, with a receding hairline named Officer Angel G. Lozano, I would later learn he had falsely prompted his assisting fellow officers and their commanding personnel of his "possible location of a black male armed robbery suspect, wearing a long black leather coat" at the AllStar. Prior to his "capture" of me, he was with another fellow officer, a short Chinese man with a dark crew-cut named Raymond Lee.

Both officers swore to the AllStar Hotel Resident Manager, Robert Williams that I was a suspect in a robbery and that they needed a spare room key for my unit. By this time, nearly a dozen officers had arrived onto the premises. Despite the protests by Mr. Williams, he finally relented and relinquished my spare room key to the officers. All of this was occurring as I sat inside my room preparing to go to the supermarket, unaware of the near-death experience that awaited me and forever changed my life.

After a negative identification by the witnesses and victims of the armed robbery incident that took place in the area, Officer Angel Lozano was ordered on his walkie-talkie to let me go, and he gave me back my spare room key.

The very moment the police stormed my SRO, I knew that every single police procedural protocol, was shattered along with my own humility, civil and privacy rights. Everything in my life was torn apart in that instance just like the rip inside of my long leather black trench coat.

I needed to seek retribution from a legal perspective, as I wasn't the type to always march with a picket sign, or violently fight back. Justice doesn't ultimately mean having to resort to illegal or violent means. I would speak out against the injustices I endured by speaking truth, even if it meant a long hard struggle.

After making a complaint with the Office of Citizen's Complaints, I filed a California Government Tort Claim against the City and County of San Francisco, on October 14th, 2005. An investigator named Sandra Garcia was assigned to my claim and about two months after the initial filing and the incident, it was denied.

"I spoke to a sergeant of the Mission District Station and they stated there was probable cause to detain you and no officer did any damage to your coat. He recommended that your claim be denied, Mr. Crump."

I really wasn’t surprised by this initial denial. Throughout my ordeal, I’ve learned that just about any city government agency and police department will go through any lengths, even if it's a violation of state or even federal law to conceal any of it's member's wrongdoings, and ultimately to discourage a complainant from demanding accountability.

I began attending a weekly meeting at San Francisco City Hall held every Wednesday by seven members of the Board of San Francisco Police Commissioners, which governs the SFPD and the Office of Citizen's Complaints. I also learned that unwarranted intrusions into an S.R.O tenant's room happened frequently and I decided to raise this issue to the police commissioners.

During the near two years I frequently attended, my case of unwarranted action by S.F.P.D members was sustained last year, and I pursued a civil action against San Francisco as a pro se litigant this year. I was also anticipating some sort of disciplinary action to be brought towards Lozano, Lee, and the rest of the officers of the Mission District Station that took part in that course of action.

Unfortunately, because of last year's right-winged/patriotic U.S. Supreme Court ruling of Copley Press in San Diego, a ruling that prevents a citizen from accessing a police officer's complaint history, or being present at a police review hearing during an intended disciplinary action upon an officer accused of misconduct; I may never know what discipline, if any was ever imposed upon Officer Lozano and his assisting personnel officers. This very ruling still causes a great controversy.

I did, however, discover that Officer Angel G. Lozano has a past history of misconduct. After viewing an old archive last year on S.F.GOV website, I found out that there was possibly disciplinary action against him in May and December of 2001, but of course, with Copley Press and certain provisions in State Law and the Peace Officer's Bill of Rights, I was able to access very little.

It took me nearly seven months to even obtain a police report regarding the officer's conduct upon me. I got received the practiced responses over and over again. "Oh it's a slow process, or it might be privileged information” or “your case is still being investigated.” It was only after constant complaining at the police commission hearings that I finally received a copy of the original from Hall of Justice.

After examining the document, I was even more certain of Officers Lozano and Lee’s lying. A huge paragraph in the "Narrative" section of the report, regarding the dialogue between Lee, Lozano, and resident manager Robert Williams was blackened out. Why? Because there was something of an improper procedural protocol and of an incriminatory nature they tried to desperately conceal, and this was confirmed after I received another copy of the same police incident report before the year 2006 ended.

This particular report showed the paragraph in which the "sworn" statements by Lozano and Lee were that the suspect was wearing a brown jacket, tan pants, he stood about 5'7-5'8 tall with a baseball cap, which was completely different of my description as I stand 6'3 wore a long black leather coat, white dress shirt and black slacks. The report also failed to mention that the key was demanded repeatedly from Mr. Robert Williams.

The common denominator between myself, and this robbery suspect was only the color of our skin.

Officer Angel G. Lozano apparently has a history of brutality and misconduct according to insider sources. Lozano's lack of proper procedural protocols is a potentially dangerous threat towards every citizen, but particularly for those living in an S.R.O Hotel, or in a community that is considered “poor” or “of color.”

The brutality I endured at the hands of a poorly trained, highly unprofessional, and possibly violent police officer could have happened to anybody and with fatal results. That is why I continue to fight against this injustice by representing myself. I cannot risk turning over my case and my humility to the City, state or some unconcerned lawyer.

I urge all of those who have suffered a similar fate in our criminal injustice system to speak out and fight their own battle. We cannot continue to allow our safety, humility and well being to be threatened at the hands of law enforcement officials.

by Queenanndi/PNN

"I believe the children are the future... Teach them well and let them lead the way"

After a refreshing visit with the students at Logan high school in Union City, this age-old saying proves far too true.

In the cooling month of October Tiny, aka Lisa Gray-Garcia, poverty scholar in residence at POOR Magazine and author of Criminal of Poverty: Growing up Homeless in America was invited by esteemed poet and indigenous Philipino scholar Oscar Penaranda, who is a teacher of Tagolog (one of several indigenous languages from the Philipines) to James Logan High School. Because Tiny does not practice individualism in ANYthing she does, including her readings and speaking tours, she invited fellow poverty scholars Ruyate, author of Not Even in Therapy/Recovering Poetically and myself, Queenanndi, POOR Press author of Life, Struggle and Reflection, to join her in one of POOR Magazine's revolutionary Youth in Media workshops with over 300 high school students and to hear their scholarship, thoughts and experiences.

There it was, all these youngstas from all different backgrounds, cultures and colors, with two things in common, same enemy, same struggle. When given the opportunity to shine with their heart felt "slam bioz," the whole REGION brightened as the heavy stone slab of pain and oppression lifted off the children through spoken word, and indeed, they did their thang.

As I looked into the audience, I asked a question, "If you had the chance to do the world over to make it a better place-how would you make change?" The responses ranged from feeding and housing the poor, to ending bloodshed, greed and war. Again, proven that if you are taught-early awareness through peace what I call "seed planting" the seed will grow into maturity with awareness in mind, and peace at heart. There will always be opposition, whether you do the wrong, or right thing.

The students' dreams of a better amerikkka were totally different from our country's present condition. I told the students that just because this country's foundation is bloody and violent, doesn't mean that our mentality and way of life has to be. Many kids had a puzzled look on their faces when I stated the fact that this country was founded on violence. But when I referred to President Bush as a "gangsta" in his merciless disregard and extermination of people here, and in Iraq and said, "Children, gangstas DO make the world go round," the children's nodding heads told me they fully understood.

As Tiny, Ruyata, and myself continued to awaken the revolutionary spirits within the Logan masses, we were overwhelmed by how in-tune the kids were to the ways of the world, and how brilliantly they expressed it. Not one child said that slaughter, scapegoating, or sadistic sacrifices were on their menu...If the world was theirs to do over.

For a sample of the work produced in this youth in media workshop click on po' poets project or paste http://poormagazine.org/index.cfm?L1=news&category=8&story=1871 into your browser.