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Volume XII, Issue 3

FDA Adds Strong Warning to Blood Thinner Plavix

We Need Your Help!

Marrecca Fiore

Today!

$10.00

COSAC Ten dollars

Homeless

Emergency Plea: The Cities are removing newspaper vendors off the streets and we need monthly partners. Please send in your $10 check per month. We need you now, more than ever. COSAC P.O. Box 292-577 Davie , Florida 33329

Minimum Payment Warning

We need your help...to keep our doors open!

Staff Writer

I

am happy to say I can thank each and every one of you for the help you have given us over the years. I am sad to say that prejudice by city commissioners who hate the homeless are going out of their way to destroy our agency and many more who do street side solicitation. Now cities like North Miami Beach have passed a new city ordinance that is an attack on poor and homeless people.

They claim it is about safety; however their own research they used on traffic accidents plainly indicated

* Ed Giampietro * Kristian Perez * Tommy & Joe * Geralyn * Little Ryan * Earnest Bowens & Family * Ed & Ruth * Rudy * Lisa * John McLean * Darren * Jan Cerrito * Rev. Patrick O’Shen * Angela Forrest & Family * Angelo * Maria Dragon * Blanch Lake * Dave Nerau * Megan * Theresa

that about 99% more accidents occur with pedestrians and bicycles riders than street side solicitation. Again claiming safety yet their comments had really nothing to do about safety. Our argument is that if it was about safety you should be outlawing pedestrian traffic and riding bicycles in their city. Of course we would not want them to outlaw this behavior because a lot of people don’t have cars, however citing safety would surely include getting rid of pedestrians and bikers.

In the audience of the city commission there were three or four people in favor of getting rid of the street vendors- safety was not really a concern however just because it is a homeless person asking for money it should be outlawed. It is okay for a fireman to ask me for money but a homeless person, forget about it according to some of the comments.

Then of course we had those who are for God, who are for Jesus Christ therefore they are for the homeless. To you I thank you because you stood up for basic human needs. I can’t tell you how sad I was when I found out that North Miami Beach was going to remove our vendors, the homeless from the streets, and other hard working individuals who sold their fruit and water from the medians. I explained this to the commission that last week I was on the tarmac in Port-au-Prince, Haiti unload-

Sean Cononie

You now see all kinds of new words and paragraphs on your new credit card statement that comes to you each and every month. The newest phrases come to you because of new Federal Law that is to protect the smaller fish.

Who is that smaller fish? It is you and every other consumer that racks up all kinds of big balances that seem to never go away or to make it worse just get bigger. The new law protects you, so please read the phrases each month as a reminder.

“Minimum Payment Warning” is simply words of wisdom and it goes like this.

“If you make only the minimum payment each period (month) you will pay more in interest and it will take you longer to pay off your balance.”

For Example let’s say you owe $18,410.18 and on your credit card statement and it says a minimum payment of $432.00 is required and you only send in that amount it will take you a total of 33 years and you will pay a total of $37,965.88. However, let me give you a better way of paying down your debt. If you paid $620.83 instead of the minimum payment of $432.00 you will only have to pay that payment for a total of 3 years. So by paying an extra $189.00 a month you just saved 30 years worth of payments and you also saved $15,616.10 in interest. There is a reason why

(Continued on pg 6)

(Continued on pg 6)

How many paychecks are you away from becoming homeless?

Cathy’s Prayer List To add a name please call 954-410-6275, no monetary donations needed

To vote: Text a KEYWORD to 27138 ONE = one paycheck TWO = two paychecks THREE = three paychecks FOUR = four or more

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday it is adding its strongest warning to the anti-blood clotting drug Plavix.

The FDA is alerting patients and health care professionals that the drug can be less effective in people with a rare disorder that prevents them from metabolizing the drug and converting it to its active form.

Plavix is a blood thinner used to reduce the risk of heart attack, unstable angina, stroke, and cardiovascular death in patients with cardiovascular disease by making platelets less likely to form blood clots. But Plavix’s anti-platelet effect does not kick-in until it is metabolized into its active form by the liver enzyme, CYP2C19, and people who have reduced functioning of this enzyme cannot effectively convert Plavix to its active form.

Patients with this disorder may not receive the full benefit of Plavix treatment and may remain at risk for heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death, the FDA said in a news release posted on its Web site.

“We want to highlight this warning to make sure health care professionals use the best information possible to treat their patients,” said Mary Ross Southworth, Pharm.D., a clinical analyst in the Division of Cardiovascular and Renal Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

The FDA added this warning to the drug’s label in May 2009, but decided to issue its strongest “black box” warning to the drug after reviewing more data.

The FDA estimates that 2 percent to 14 percent of the U.S. population are unable to metabolize the drug and recommends that these patients use alternative blood thinners such as aspirin or Plavix competitor, Effient. Tests are available to assess CYP2C19 genotype to determine if a patient is a poor metabolizer.

Patients should not stop taking Plavix unless told to do so by their health care professional, the FDA added. Plavix is marketed by BristolMyers Squibb and Sanofi Pharmaceuticals.

Attacks against homeless classified as hate crimes by Florida House committee Josh Hafenbrack

The Florida House appears poised to make prejudice-driven attacks against the homeless a hate crime, prompted by the caught-on-video 2006 beating of three homeless men in Fort Lauderdale that made national news.

The measure is controversial – even drawing opposition from antidiscrimination advocates – but it appears to have strong support in the Legislature, thanks in part to backing from Broward County’s Republican sheriff, Al Lamberti.

If approved, the bill (HB11) would make violent attacks against the homeless a hate crime that carries enhanced penalties. Currently, hatecrime categories include race, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation.

The House Criminal and Civil Jus-

Our Purpose: To Help the Homeless Learn How to Help Themselves

(Continued on pg 5)

The Voice of the Homeless

Page 2

Friends of the Homeless For just $15 a month you can keep a homeless family off the streets for a day 1st Continental Mortgage Adam Staler Adriana Fernandez Adriana N. Quila† Adrienne and Mike Al & Barbara Liebmann Al and Annie Albert J. Hamilton Ph D Albert J. Taragowski Alfred C. Scuderi Jr. Alice Ford and Melvin MawHinney Allen Yancy Amanda Reynolds Amber Rowan American Express Charitable Fund Amparo L. Korey Amy Curic Andre Johnson Andrea Brown Andrew N. Daly Ann M. Hamilton Ann-Marie White Anna Marye Levier Anthony Gallo Anthony Ralph Anthony Rhodes Antione Collins Antonieta G. Bohill Anzalone Santa & Vincenzo Armando Reyes Arnold Reemer Atkinson and Bartley Barbara Desanto Barbara Robinson Barbara Strong Baumann Family Beatriz C Perez Beth Farans Bill and Priscilla La Gasse Bob Hall Bobby Neal Bonita L Akinji Brad and Krystal Kelly Brian Herrmann & Aura Herrmann Bruce Wethersoon C.R. Gallagher Calvary Chapel of Doral Carl L Miller Carlo Harrison Carol Lockette Carol Murray Carolyn and Family Casandra Thomas Cathy and Kids Charlene Bugnacki & Paul Bugnacki Charles J. Youngman Charles K. Wilson Chris Sanchez Christine M Wilson Christine McAuliffe Clark Rogers Claudia K. Tapolow††† Collectron of Atlanta Comet Couriev† † Connie & Ginger Murphy Constance Lessoff Constance M Fast Corinne James Covenant of Goddess, Elibet Hanson Crime Watch Cynthia Ann Guardia & Paulo Emilio Guardia Dalal Hammoud Almeida Dallan Michele King Dan Gilcert Danbareli Holdings Inc. Daniel Harrison Danny and George Darla King

Darren Nolf David Thawley David V Torlone Dawn Monfries Dawn Sinka Deborah F. Immormino Deborah H Green Delores B Mordon Demetrius D Rodriguez Dena Harrison Denis and Bertha Arenstein Diane Friedman Dolores R. Cerra Donna Marie Jesudowich Dorothy Griffith Family Dorothy Kay Garbutt Dorríe Terry Doug Boucher Family † Douglas Boucher Dr Mary Michaela Farren Dr. Burch B Stewart Eduardo Hernandez Elaine Snaith Elizabeth Hunsberger Elizabeth Marsh Elizabeth P. Sublett Elks Lodge # 2407 Eric Harrison Erica Fulton Erica Sanclair Escrow Account Essential Oil Healthline Eva & George Gorzkowski Evan V Jones Everglades Moon, Florida Auto Insurance Inc. Ferguson Family Floyd and Luana Coats Freddy Alvarado Fred S Kolm & Rena Duncan Fred T Verny†† JR†††† Gabrielle Ello G.R. and J.D. Falbey G.S. Lybrand George & Carmen Gulisano Giankarlo Squicemari Gladstone Beckford Gladys Gonzalez Glenda Sainsbury God Bless Florence Menard Gordon Whitehead Gottlieb & Blair Family Grace Marth Graham R. Mitchell Guillermo D Galindo Hartford Property

Connection, Inc. Heather A Salt & Terrence C Salt Holly J. Andrus Huarte and Vidaillet Hugo DeCarpintini Hurricane Prevention Inc Ignacio Huarte In Loving Memory of Christina A. Tegerides In Loving Memory of Florence & Nat Popkin In Loving Memory of

Frances Klein In Loving Memory of Isabel Grimany In Loving Memory of Jose A. Estruch, Jr. In Loving Memory of Kris Soltan In Loving Memory of Martin E. Grey In Loving Memory of My Daughter Melissa Lurz

Mail check to: COSAC Foundation P.O. Box 292-577 Davie, FL 33329 Please include on memo what name should appear in paper.

In Memory of Mertedes De Pinto In Loving Memory of Peter Sullivan In Loving Memory of Rex Lichtenberger In Loving Memory of Thomas Gasbarro In Memory of Steven Maderman In Memory of Martha Hughes In Memory of Bill Sledge In Memory of Billy Corwin In Memory of Brian Groleau In Memory of C.T.R. In Memory of Charles Horton In Memory of Chief

George J. Hodges In Memory of Dan Holland In Memory of George Ericson In Memory of Gertrude Chong In Memory of Irene Grady Johnson In Memory of Martin Grey In Memory of Maxima† In Memory of Melba DeSanto In Memory of My Good Friend Pat Gibson In Memory of My Mother Pearl McCann In Memory of Scott Paul Cooper In Memory of Stanley Smolen In memory of Wesley H. Woodall† In Memory of William F. Judge Intercontinental Management Consulting Group, Inc. Isabelle J. Henry Ivonne Fernandez J. Coffee Jackie Johnson Jacqueline M. McCarty Jacqueline McCarty James & K. Heather Molans James Black James D. Potter JR Jamie F. Flores Janet Campbell Janho Group, Inc DBA

POSH Jason Emrik Jason T Korose & Marie D Plett Javier Perez Jeffrey and Veronica Bujold Jennifer Hicky Jennifer S. Nickel Jenny Curic Jessica Padilla Jessica Rachel Duff Jesus Diaz Jim Johnson Jim Lentz Jimmy Daniels Joan Futscher & Kids Johanna T Law Revocable Intervivous Trust John & Ruth Mautino John C. Burt John Criasia John Dinielli John Evans & Family John Gaeta Johnís Plumbing Service

Jonathan Burger Joseph Raymund Joseph Soares Joseph Yagbes Josh Searles Joyce Abrams Lybrand & G.S Lybrand Joyce Johnstone Juan and Antonieta Bofill Juan Galindo Judith Kelly Judith Temple Judith Vidal Judy B. Pascarella Juliet Iler Julio A. Izquierdo Julio Fernandez June Jones Justin Rowan K.J. Williams Karen B Povlock Kaveh Vassal Keith Yude Kellie Jones Kenneth Gesel Kenny Angela Kevin Britt Kevin ìKJî Jones Kevin Jones Kristian Perez Laura & Bill Fash Laura Flash Lavances Wright-Rolle Leah and Ray Leonard R Snyder Linda Evans Lisa Cebrat Lisa Jackson Lord of the Harvest

Ministries Lorraine A Coll Love, Teresa Luis Delacruz M. Smith Madeline Butera Magan Narduzzi Marcia A Kessler Margaret B. Reese Margaret D. Neverdousky Margaret Melendez Margie Jones & Friends Maria and James Mulligan Maria Bacallao Maria M. Riveiro Maria Nieto Marie Sutera Marilyn R. Smith Marilyn Vokish Mario Yuio Marjorie G. Rhines Mark E. Johnson † Mark Faber Mark Targett Marlene S Warner Marshal Bugin Martha Roman Marvin Shatze Mary and Klaus Nitsche Mary Green Mary Lepage & Laurence P. Lepage Mary Sue Ellis Maryann Springer Maureen Barry Mauro Boraby Jr McAvoy Family Mel Blount Merav & Ezra Alexander Michael & Michale Rhett Michael R. Prokop, Jr. Michelle M. Touriz & Albert W. Touriz Mike Cross Mohammed Ziauddin Mona B Staub &

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Ruth C Grey Morris Grazi Mr. and Mrs. Bocanegra Mr. and Mrs. Carson Mrs. Jenkins Ms. Evelyn Salerno Ms. Marilyn Smith Mustafa Mehmet Gokoglu Mynona J Thompson Myriam Goris Nancy Keil Nancy Schuler Nancy T Ciaramitar Naomi Ross Nestor Martin Nichole Faber Nicole Lee Nelson Norman Grad Norman L Lieberman Norman Scott Oakland Park† Omnia and Rene Perez On Behalf of Matthew Lambert OTD Messenger, Inc Otto Garcia Pakita Price Paola C Mollica Papadopoulos Family Trust Patricia and Shurland George Patricia Lee Russ† Paula King Philip Oviasogie Purification Oviasogie Philip S. Lafresnaye & Janet Lafresnaye Phyllis R. Bebko Pioneer Middle School Youth PJ Carter Polly Zaldivar Proietto Family Rafa Advertising Corp Raine Dyer Rainer Hansen Raul Cardenas MD PA Raymund Joseph Real Breakthrough Solutions Regla J Ferrer Renato & Malika Vasconez Rhenals-Mei Family Richard & Margaret Martin Richard E. Rehrer & Doris Rehrer Richard Friedman Richard Gomez Richard M. and Bettie B Buss Richard Rios Ricky Cambell Robert A Jenkins & Joanne T Jenkins Robert and Betty Short Robert and Ruth Baal Robert Comfort Robert Jesus Llanes Robert Sapia Robert T. Henshaw Roger and Veronica Valencillos Ronald & Cathy Walker Ronald Prescia Ronald Shafer Rosemary & Mark Zenobia Roxane Kesselhon Roxanne S. Cobuzio R.N. Roy T. Bruno, Jr. Russell J. Ferguson Ruth Faison Ruth C Grey S. & Georgia Gaynor Sabrina Thorton, Former

Ms. Ft. Lauderdale Saks Jewelry Designer Sally Lister Salvador Melendez & Wilma J. Melendez Samual Manery Samuel R Halpern PA Sandra K Stevens Sandra L. Wilhelm Sarah R Currin Savoia Sweig Scott Aguiar Sebastian Parks Sergio Cobo Sheila Holder Sheldon Jones Sherline Cyriaque Shirley Ullman Southern Financial Title Services Inc. Steinhardt Family Steve Dillan Steve Goolsby Surfiní Seniors Inc Susan C Humeston Susan P Brady Suzanne Matsurra Suzette M. Rodriguez Tailored Advertising, Inc Tamara Southard Tara Hunter Temple Aron Hakodesh Temple Beautiful Thank you so much Sean & Lois for all your help.

Thank You Winn Dixie The Baldwin Family The Baptista Family The Chilsons The Davis Family The Geise Family The Herrmann Family The Herrmann Family The Kunicki Family The Ladueís The Maione Family The Martinez Family The Matsuura Family The Monserrate Family† The Morabito Family The Nicaraguaís The Ramos Family The Rionís Family The Savir Family The Schneider Family The Strikowski family The Swartout’s†† The Verny & Stewart Families The Watsons Thomas A Kramer Thomas Rua Thye Rencurrellís Timothy and Barbara Wilson Timothy L. Whitelaw Timothy Lukehard Todd Palgon Tom Thumb Food Stores, Inc. Tressie W. Osborne Triana M. Resto & Frank Gomez Una Gota De Vida, Inc Uylna Quadrino Vance Gunn Victoria J. Arasim Virginia H. Bailey Wendy Bryan Wynona A Thompson Yorick and Bonita † Yvonne Fischer Zlata and Alfredo Jr Salazar

Volume XII, Issue 3

Page 3

Our Homeless Voice readers: THANK YOU AGAIN LORD FOR SUCH A WEAK FLU!

I

know we have emergency plans were thrown down and some people were for all kinds of disasters, such as killed. hurricanes, tornados, fires, floods The next tremor to be felt by Floridians and even lately for pandemics such also centered outside the State. It was the as a Bird Flu plan. But, do you have famous Charleston, South Carolina, shock a plan at your home or work place in August 1886. The shock was felt throughfor an earthquake? I know some out northern Florida, ringing church bells of you may be saying, “we don’t at St. Augustine and severely jolting other have earthquakes in Florida.” So I towns along that section of Florida’s east thought I would start off by giving coast. Jacksonville residents felt many of you a little summary of Florida’s the strong aftershocks that occurred in Sepearthquake history. Hold on for tember, October, and November 1886. a bumpy ride because I think you On June 20, 1893, Jacksonville experiwill be shocked and then after the enced another slight shock, apparently local, initial shock we will give you the that lasted about 10 seconds. Another minor latest shock that just occurred just earthquake shook Jacksonville at 11:15 a.m., a few years ago. In fact there was October 31, 1900. It caused no damage. concern if they needed to raise the A sudden jar caused doors and windows “tsunami alert” from that Earthto rattle at Captiva in November 1948. The quake. apparent earthquake was accompanied by Florida Earthquake History: sounds like distant heavy explosions. CapUSGS Science for a changing tiva is located on Captiva Island, in the Gulf World west of Fort Myers.

Although Florida is not usually On November 18, 1952, a slight tremor considered to be a state subject to was felt by many at Quincy, a small town earthquakes, several minor shocks about 20 miles northwest have occurred of Tallahassee. Windows there. Only one of and doors rattled, but no “three Florida shocks serious effects were noted. these caused damage. Additional One source notes, “The of doubtful seismic shocks of doubtorigin rumbled through shock interfered with writful seismic origin ing of a parking ticket.” It the Everglades” also are listed in didn’t say in what way. earthquake docuThe three Florida shocks ments. of doubtful seismic origin A shock occurred near St. Aurumbled through the Everglades - La Belle gustine, in the northeast part of the Fort Myers area in July 1930, Tampa in DeState, in January 1879. The Nacember 1940, and the Miami - Everglades tion’s oldest permanent settlement, - Fort Myers area in January 1942. Most aufounded by Spain in 1565, reported thorities attribute these incidents to blasting, that heavy shaking knocked plasbut a few contend they were seismic. ter from walls and articles from Then the September 10, 2006 quake ocshelves. Similar effects were noted curred. The quake was powerful but did not at Daytona Beach, 50 miles south. trigger a tsunami warning. People from as At Tampa, the southernmost point far away as Atlanta, 530 miles, felt some of the felt area, the trembling was of the tremors. As soon as an hour after the preceded by a rumbling sound at quake, people from 904 different zip codes 11:30 p.m. Two shocks were rehad filed reports of feeling the quake with ported in other areas, at 11:45 p.m. the United States Geological Survey, USGS. and 11:55 p.m. The tremor was felt So while many may not think of Florida and through north and central Florida, earthquakes going hand-in-hand, history and in Savannah, Georgia. does show the area has had a few tremors.

In January 1880, Cuba was the So with all this info would it be wise for center of two strong earthquakes you today to develop a family or work site that sent severe shock waves plan to cover earthquakes? through the town of Key West, Please go to our web site for a link for Florida. The tremors occurred at 11 earthquake evacuation. p.m. on January 22 and at 4 a.m. on

-Sean Anthony Cononie the 23rd. At Buelta Abajo and San Christobal, Cuba, many buildings

Publisher (middle) Sean Cononie meeting with Rain Wilson and his wife discussing poverty in America and the continued world hunger problems and the efforts the Homeless Voice is making in Haiti.

Members of the Florida based band Creed with Homeless Voice Staff Mark and Sara Targett

Homeless Voice Newspaper Staff Publisher

Editor in Chief

Executive Editor

Mark Targett

Sara Targett

Sean Cononie

Assistant Editor Lois Cross

Photos Christopher Bombery

Contributing Editors

Margo Poulson Jamie Kisner www.HomelessVoice.org/contact

COSAC’S CHURCH Come to the church that is a Church of Service and Charity Learn of Jesus & How to put God‛s words into action.

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Page 4

The Voice of the Homeless

Home of the Brave?

By John Steinsvold to use money. Yes, we will still need to use Economists concede that ecomoney when dealing with other countries. nomics is an inexact science. What There is no question that a way of life withdoes that mean? Perhaps it means out money will alleviate if not completely their economic forecast is beteliminate all of the previously mentioned ter than yours or mine. Recently, problems. Yet, we scoff at the idea. We are economic indicators have been totally convinced that money is a necessity. rising and people have their finWe cannot imagine life without money. Pergers crossed. Economists have haps the time has come to think otherwise. It given us reason to hope that the is completely obvious our present economy job market will improve and that no longer satisfies our present day needs. the stock market will continue on As individuals, we will gain complete a steady climb. Yet, the newspaeconomic freedom. In return, a way pers continue to report more layof life without money demands only offs and more jobs going overseas. that we, as individuals, do the work we Meanwhile, our economy is getlove to do. It is a win/win situation. Let ting more and more complex. We us consider the following arguments: associate complexity with progress Can we learn to distribute our goods and for some ungodly services according to need reason. The fol(on an ongoing basis) lowing problems, “The Human Race rather than by the ability however, have beto pay? Why not? Poverty has improved come inherent in and materialism will be our economy. What everything except eliminated! Our sense of does that mean? It the Human Race .“ value will change. Wealth means they will be will no longer be a staaround for a while: tus symbol. A man will be Needless poverty, unemployjudged by what he is; not by what he has. ment, inflation, the threat of deHe will be judged by his achievements, pression, taxes, crimes related to leadership, ideas, artistic endeavours or athprofit (sale of illicit drugs, stolen letic prowess; not by the size of his wallet.

IDs, muggings, bribery, con artYes, everything will be free accordists, etc.), conflict of interest, ending to need. All the necessities and comless red tape, a staggering national mon luxuries will be available on a help debt plus a widening budget deficit, yourself basis at the local store. Surely, 48 out of 50 states in debt, cities in this country is capable of supplying the debt, counties in debt, skyrocketnecessities and common luxuries for eving personal debts, 50% of Amerieryone in this country many times over. cans unhappy at their work, saving The more "expensive" items, such as housfor retirement and our children's ing, cars, boats, etc. would be provided for education, health being a matter of on a priority basis. For example, the homewealth, competing in the "rat race", less would be given housing ahead of those the need for insurance, being a naliving in crowded quarters. How will this tion of litigation, being subject to priority be established? Perhaps a local the tremors on Wall Street, fear of board elected by the people in the neighdownsizing and automation, fear of borhood such as a school board. Or perhaps more Enrons, outsourcing, bankthe school boards could absorb this responruptcies, crippling strikes, materialsibility in addition to their present duties. ism, corruption, welfare, social seSince cooperation will replace competicurity, sacrificing quality and safety tion, can government, industry and the in our products for the sake of profpeople learn to it, the social problem of the "haves" work together as vs. the "havenots" and the inevia team to meet the table family quarrels over money. economic needs of Have we become gluttons for our nation as well punishment? My college profesas each individual? sor once said, "You can get used to Again, why not? hanging if you live long enough!"

Yes, competition is We Americans love our freedom; great; but cooperayet, we have allowed the use of tion is even better. money to completely dominate Cooperation avoids duplication of effort. our way of life. Indeed, we are no Wouldn't it be more efficient to have everylonger a free people. We are 7.4 body freely working together, sharing ideas, trillion dollars in debt. We live in thoughts and technical knowledge? Patents fear of depression, inflation, inadand industrial secrets would be a thing of equate medical coverage and losing the past. Competition, however, will still our jobs. Our freedom is at stake if be around. Individuals will still compete not our very survival. Yet, we put with their co-workers in ideas, achieveour collective heads in the sand. ments, leadership and getting promotions.

Yes, there is something we can do.

For example, Ford, Chrysler & GM would We can look into ourselves for an work together to build automobiles that are answer. We may find that we have truly safe and efficient and environmentally the strength to carry out our internal friendly. Perhaps, with everyone working economic affairs without the need together, we can invent a car engine that

would eliminate the need to import oil from economically feasible in our presthe Middle East. (Note: Ford, Chrysler & ent economy such as cleaning our GM would gradually become one entity.) environment (land, sea & air), conUnfortunately, what immediately jumps servation, recycling, humanitarian into the minds of most people is: "It simply work, research in medicine, eduwon't work!" The idea of a way of life withcation, science & space and now out money is then dismissed without further we can include national security. thought. After all, what motivation is there Perhaps the most difficult probfor people to work if there is no paycheck? lem is in the administration of a How can we possibly satisfy the labor needs way of life without money. Can we of our nation? The following reasons are oflearn to determine our economic fered why people would be completely hapneeds, allocate our resources from py working in a way of life without money: the federal on down to the neighToday, only 50% of Ameriborhood levels? cans enjoy their work. That Perhaps some sort A man will be will change. In a way of life of economic bodies without money, we will all judged by what must be created to be free to do the work we coordinate, monihe is; not by want to do or even love to tor and carryout our what he has do without any economic economic needs. fear. We will be free to purThese economic sue our passion or as Joseph bodies would exCampbell suggests we "follow our bliss". ist similar to our governments, Cooperation will replace wasteful compeone for the federal, one for each tition. We will all work together as a team. state and one for each local level.

Work will become a way to help people, to Yes, in order to administrate a way meet people or to be part of something meanof life without money, economic ingful. It is a proven fact that people like to bodies, boards or councils or whathelp one another. An esprit de corps will ever you wish to call them would naturally build up and make work more enbe created to absorb economic rejoyable. Even the most menial task becomes sponsibility from our various goveasier when people ernments. They will interact and work together. Yes, cooperate with one another to meet work will become the economic needs of our counmore of a "totry and of each individual. They getherness" thing. will be empowered by Congress The profit moto tend to the economic needs of tive will no longer its constituents. Thus, a balance of be a hindrance to power will be safely maintained. efficiency.

There Our federal needs, which would will be no need be similar to the federal budget we to sacrifice quality and safety in our prodhave today, will be resolved by an ucts for the sake of profit. We will, like economic body comprised of reprein the olden days, take pride in our work. sentatives of the various branches Yes, there is very likely to be a shortage of government, our industrial & of people volunteering to do the more melabor resources, research (in medinial tasks. One option is to offer "perks". A cine, education, science & space), perk can be of various forms such as front our environment, conservation, row season tickets to the opera or to his or importing & exporting, and now, her favorite sports team. Can you imagine national security and whatever an NBA basketball game where the celebfacet of our way of life should be rities are sitting in the back rows while the represented. This economic body dishwashers and janitors are at courtside? will arrange for the labor and ma(My apologies to Spike Lee & Jack Nicholterial resources necessary to meet son!) Or the perk could be the latest model the economic needs of our nation. boat or sports car which would not be imSimilarly, the same will occur mediately available to the public. Another at the state and local levels. The option is to draft everyone once in their economic body at the local levlifetime, to do a half year or so stint at a els will be responsible for providmenial task. Perhaps a humbling experiing services to the people in the ence is in order for all of us. It might serve neighborhood. If the labor needs us well in the area of character building. cannot be met with volunteer Also, consider the fact that perhaps milworkers, "perks" must be offered. lions of people will be freed from jobs assoAlso, the economic body at the lociated with the use of money. Millions more cal levels will be responsible for that are now unemployed or on welfare will keeping the stores stocked with also be available to help fill the labor needs food, clothing and the common of our country. Thus, we will have the work luxuries which will be available force necessary to do the work which is not free. Thus, the economic needs

Volume XII, Issue 3

Page 5

Attacks against homeless classified as hate crimes by Florida House committee

(Continued from pg 1)

The issue is more pressing “as the economic chateristic like other hate crimes categories, tice Policy Council approved the crisis and the foreclosure crisis has been forcsaid general counsel David Barkley. The fear: idea on a 14-1 vote Tuesday, setting ing more and more people to become homethe more groups that are added to the hate up the first-ever floor vote on the isless,” said Arthur Rosenberg, an attorney crimes law, the less impact it has. sue. The Senate is advancing identiwith Florida Legal Services in Miami-Dade Palm Beach County attorney and homeless cal legislation.

County. “We think it’s time to send a mesrights activist Barry Silver, however, believes Prompting the push to add homesage that you can’t harass and attack homeless the homeless deserve to be protected through lessness to the list: the 2006 incident people because they don’t have a place to go enhanced penalties. in which a group of teenagers brutalat night.”

“Based on recent events, I’d say yes,” Silver ly attacked three homeless men with If approved, homeless beatings driven by said. “Ten years ago, maybe not. It doesn’t baseball bats, killing one – 45-yearprejudice would get stiffer penalties in Florhave the same long history of being targeted, old Norris Gaynor. One of the teenida. For example, a second-degree felony but we’ve seen enough. Is agers convicted in would get bumped to a first-degree felony – the attack got a life you can’t harass and attack this a group of people who with the maximum prison sentence enhanced are vulnerable and need sentence. homeless people from 15 to 30 years. to be protected? Certainly.

“Foolish, meanbecause they don’t have a They are sleeping in the The hate-crimes issue has been debated for spirited young place to go at night the last few years, but it is open with men have gone out gaining bipartisan traction no protecfor sport and have this spring. Most importive roof over their head.” beaten and on one occasion killed tantly, Republicans are linBut showing that someone our most vulnerable,” said Rep. Ari ing up in support. knew a person was homeless Porth, D-Coral Springs, a Broward The bill is “not a politicould prove challenging, acprosecutor who is pushing the bill. cal statement,” said Rep. cording to Silver.

“I find it sickening. I find it appallEric Eisnaugle, R-Orlando.

“It doesn’t fit as neatly as ing. And we need to protect our most “It appears to be a genuine some other [hate crime] catvulnerable.” problem with people who egories do, like sex, race or Not everyone is on board. Broward are at a heightened risk for sexual orientation,” he said.

Public Defender Howard Finkelstein being attacked.”

“Homelessness is something said the bill is “nothing more than Lamberti, the sheriff, said people fall in and out of.” political chest pounding.” He noted people attack the homeless Florida led the nation in that the Legislature has cut funding “for kicks and for sport 2009 with 30 attacks against to social-service programs, which – and because they can the homeless, according to affect the homeless. And, he added, get away with it.” He said the National Coalition for most homeless attacks are committhe Homeless. There were Norris Gaynor, who was senselessly killed many attacks against the ted by other homeless people. homeless go unreported, so 106 such attacks nationwide.

“If law enforcement really wants to by a few teens in 2006 the problem is worse than Maryland, Maine and Washhelp the homeless, feed them, shelter the statistics indicate. ington, D.C., already have given hate-crimes them,” Finkelstein said. “This will “I hope this acts as a deterrent,” he said. status to the homeless, said Neil Donovan, the do nothing to protect the homeless.”

“When Florida leads the nation in homeless coalition director. Other states, including VirThe Anti-Defamation League also violence, we need to take the extra step to proginia and Rhode Island, are considering simiopposes the bill on the grounds that tect them.” lar measures. homelessness isn’t an “immutable”

Social Security expands compassionate allowances

Tom Barlow Most people think of Social Security as a program that helps retirees pay their bills, but there is another important aspect to it; disability income. The SSA pays out benefits to those who have earned enough to be eligible for Social Security but are not yet old enough to claim it, when they can’t work for a year or more due to a physical or mental condition.

Unfortunately, the program has been under fire for quite a while due to the backlog in claims resulting in months and months of agonizing waiting for claimants. This is why your TV carries so many ads for ‘Disability Advocates’; they make their living off of this government inefficiency.

To address this problem, the SSA came up with a four-step process in 2007, one of which is the compassionate allowance conditions list.

This is essentially a list of maladies that are fast-tracked through the system, avoiding the long delays and common rejections of the initial application. Now, this list of 50 maladies has been expanded by another 38 maladies. This is particularly good news to those suffering from Cri du Chat Syndrome, Leigh’s Disease, Maple Syrup Urine Disease, or Zellweger Syndrome.

The new additions to the compassionate allowance list are: 1. Alstrom Syndrome 2. Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenia 3. Ataxia Spinocerebellar 4. Ataxia Telangiectasia 5. Batten Disease 6. Bilateral Retinoblastoma (Continued on pg 8)

Scientist Has Plan to Eliminate AIDS

RIA MISRA The Holy Grail of AIDS research has long been the development of a vaccine to halt the spread of the virus.

But what if, using only the medicines we already have right now, we could eliminate AIDS within the next 40 years? According to Dr. Brian Williams, an AIDS researcher for the South African Center for Epidemiological Modeling and Analysis, it is possible -- we just need to think bigger.

On the surface, the strategy is disarmingly simple: New antiretroviral HIV/AIDS drugs aim to slow the spread of the disease by keeping the concentration levels of the virus in the body low, which also decreases the likelihood of HIV/AIDS transmission. So, the theory goes, have voluntary HIV/AIDS tests for every person at least once a year, and start anyone who tests positive on antiretroviral drugs before viral loads increase.

Then, repeat. And repeat again, and again, and again.

If all goes according to plan, Williams estimates that in five to 10 years, transmission of the virus will have essentially stopped and, by 40 years, HIV/AIDS would be eliminated.

Williams presented the plan at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections last week in San Francisco and then again -- to considerably more public fanfare this time -at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in San Diego over the week(Continued on pg 11)

Ignore “Use By” Dates?

Nicki Gostin

We’ve all been there: You open the fridge, reach for the milk, and notice the date on the carton says it expired yesterday. You gingerly sniff the carton, fully expecting to be overwhelmed by noxious fumes but instead all you can smell is . . . milk.

According to University of Minnesota food scientist Ted Labuza, perishables like milk and meat have a three- to seven-day grace period after the expiration date, assuming you are a normal person and store said perishables in the fridge and not, say, the sauna.

The fact is, the “sell by” date that appears on that questionable gallon of milk serves as a guideline for stores on when they should pull products from their shelves -- not when you should indulge in a last sip. Rather than being an indicator of the product’s safety span, mined minimum. the date implies when a food’s quality -- its New York City is notoriously the only city taste, aroma and appearance -- would be at which contains its own regulation on milk peak conditions. dating; there are no requirements for the What’s even more confusing is the lack of state at large. The debate rages as to whether consistency in “open dating” descriptors and this separate date is due to longer unloading regulations on labeling. In addition to “sell times during delivery or improper store storby,” certain products contain “best if used by age temperatures. But if you’ve ever tried to (or before),” to indicate peak quality, “use move into an apartment building in Manhatby,” to establish a finite don’t-ingest-aftertan at 4:30pm on a weekday, you’d probably this-date or simply the jumble of numbers guess it’s the former. that is a “closed date,” for those long-living With all this talk about milk, you’re shelved goods. probably wondering how to The U.S. Food & Drug Adfactor in expiration dates ministration requires that Pay close all those other perishan expiration date appear attention to meat, which on able foods you buy? Pay on only infant formula, should be cooked or frozen close attention to meat, which must contain the which should be cooked quantity of nutrients dewithin two days of or frozen within two days scribed on its label. Milk purchase of purchase. If you freeze that -- so widely known for its ground beef or rack of lamb, be sure to spoiling -- is not uniformly regulated, but cook them within 3 months or 12 months, is handled on a state by state basis. Manurespectively. Cold cuts, which can contain an facturers perform stress tests on milk to deorganism called listeria, should be consumed termine an expiration date, ranging from 15 by their use by dates. to 21 days post-pasteurization. Only certain Other foods offer some more wiggle room, states, indicated in the chart below, mandate though. You’ll get a few weeks out of hard a specific “sell by” date, with a handful fallcheeses -- which is good to know, considering short of that 15-day manufacturer-deter-

ing how stinky they can be outright.

Interestingly, the United States Department of Agriculture found that eggs refrigerated at an optimal 27 degrees are safe for up to four to five weeks past their expiration. As you’d expect, you’ll have the most leeway with dry goods. Pasta and rice is fine for a year. Unopened packages of cookies are good for a few months (though we wonder who has packets of cookies that sit around unopened for months?) and canned goods are safe for at least five years: perfect if there’s a major catastrophe that keeps you housebound for . . . years. But beware of cans that are dented or rusted, as rust signifies tiny pin holes that can provide an entrance point for bacteria.

In the end, the best “use by” detector is planted firmly in the middle of your face. If it smells suspicious, it’s best to chuck it; if it smells okay then it’s usually fine.

The Voice of the Homeless

Page 6

Spotlight on... Chanel Emmanuelle Lallouz BILLY ELLIOT Billy Elliot lived in a town that was chilly and gray Certainly not a place where he was coaxed to dance ballet!

But he wanted the chance to move and sway So with utter simplicity His veins filled with electricity No matter who thought it was an eccentricity ‘Always be yourself’ His mother once wrote in a letter Now wouldn’t you agree?

It couldn’t have been said any better Painting details: “BILLY ELLIOT” by Chanel Emmanuelle Lallouz © 2010. Galleria Lallouz. All rights reserved.

BIO: Chanel Emmanuelle Lallouz is the Junior Copy Editress for LALLOUZ INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE. She is an Art Prodigy, Writer, Teen Philanthropist, Award Winning Student Film Director, and Ambassador for Artists for Charities. Her works can be seen at www.chanellallouz.com Color picture below and send in to COSAC Foundation P.O. Box 292-577 Davie, FL 33329 for your chance to win a gift card to Publix!!

Homeless Man Lives off Frequent Flier Points

By SCOTT MAYEROWITZ

Volume XII, Issue 3

We need your help...to keep our doors open!

The recession has led a lot of Americans to find creative ways to survive. For Jim Kennedy, an unemployed 46-year-old California man, that’s meant using his 1-million-mileplus stockpile of hotel and airline points to keep a roof over his head.

Since being kicked out of his foreclosed home on Jan. 17, the former corporate development manager has relied on all those miles accumulated during years on the road to find a place to stay -- a Holiday Inn Express here, a Hampton Inn there and a Motel 6 in between.

Wherever he can find a room for points, Kennedy stays. He switches hotels, sometimes staying up to a week in one location, depending on the availability of free nights or where he needs to travel for interviews. Hotels often charge different rates, even when paying for points, for different nights and Kennedy shops around for the best bargain.

Finding a hotel that offers a free breakfast is a bonus, though he notes that the free breakfasts can get monotonous. A lot of hotels, regardless of chain, seem to get their food from the same supplier, so even the powdered eggs taste the same.

“You get tired of the same options every day,” said Kennedy, who was at first reluctant to let his identity be known because his 85-year-old mother doesn’t know that he lost his job 19 months ago. He said she has no money to help him and “she worries a lot.”

He searches for hotels with free Internet service so he can send off resumes, and also looks for “a place with a microwave and fridge so I can buy frozen dinners.”

Even the entertainment options are important. Kennedy says he knows which hotels offer HD TV and how many channels they provide.

(Continued on pg 8)

Minimum Payment Warning

(Continued from pg 1)

those banks want you to pay the minimum and that is called greed. If you paid double payments your savings just bought you a very nice expensive car.

Banks do not have to be so greedy, if they helped us pay off the debt faster they would have less people walking out on their debts like we have today. So by them being honest in the first place and giving us good words of wisdom they would have fewer losses and we would have more money. But no, they had to wait until the Feds made it law to post these warnings on our credit card statements.

Another example is seen below on a smaller balance copied from a Credit Card Discover statement.

Also don’t get caught up in late payments because you will have a fee and your interest rate may just go up to 29 percent. Check your interest rate each and every month to make sure they did not raise it and if they did ask them to change it back down. If they don’t do a balance transfer and pay it off with a lower rate. A good way to avoid late payments is to contact your credit card company and have them take the minimum payment out of your checking account. But please remember to

(Continued on pg 8)

(Continued from pg 1)

riding a bike or crossing the street. They ing a commercial jet we rented so we could simply did not care. Even their own city take medicine and MRE, Meals Ready To attorney admitted to me that this was an efEat and I got a call saying “Sean, North fort to get the homeless to move out of their Miami Beach is trying to pass a law to get city by taking them off the busier streets us off the streets.” I felt very sad because they would make less money, then move I looked up at the jet airplane and all the on. What a sad world we live in when the emergency medical equipment and meds city commission unfairly being unloaded from the targets the homeless and airplane. I said to myself We sell between 80,000 to “if it was not for those 100,000 papers per month and the poor. Although their new ordinance is very streets, and the lovely people who give us dona- in the near future we may not hard to understand, it is be allowed in any city our opinion that their new tions this airplane would ordinance will allow them not be here.” I explained to hold a sign at election time asking people to the city commission that because we use to vote for them. Does this seem selective? street corners we were able to bring over Doesn’t seem unfair? Actually I could see about 70 doctors, almost 100,000 doses of their hate coming from their minds. antibiotics, and enough food to feed 5,000 My friends the city of North Miami Beach people for three days. I asked them, why and its commissioners have targeted the would you want to stop this type of solicihomeless and poor. We cannot let them get tation? Again they cited safety, we argued away with this behavior. We soon will be your own research showed and proved that off the streets until we challenge their case selling a newspaper was a lot safer than

(Continued on pg 8)

Page 7

Never lose hope in dealing with your fears and depression Stanley Popovich When your fears and depression have the best of you, it is easy to feel that things will not get any better. This is not true. There is much help available in today’s society and the best way to deal with your fears is to find effective ways to overcome them. As a result, here are some techniques a person can use to help manage their fears and anxieties.

You never know when the answers you are looking for will come to your doorstep.

Even if the thing that you feared does happen, there are circumstances and factors that you can’t predict which can be used to your advantage. These factors can change everything. Remember: we may be ninetynine percent correct in predicting the future, but all it takes is for that one percent to make a world of difference.

Challenge your negative thinking with positive statements and realistic thinking.

When encountering thoughts that make you feel fearful or depressed, challenge those thoughts by asking yourself questions that will maintain objectivity and common sense. For example, you’re afraid that if you do not get that job promotion then you will be stuck at your job forever.

This depresses you, however your thinking in this situation is unrealistic. The fact of the matter is that there are all kinds of jobs available and just because you don’t get this job promotion doesn’t mean that you will never get one. In addition, people change jobs all the time, and you always have that option of going elsewhere if you are unhappy at your present location.

Some people get depressed and have a difficult time getting out of bed in the mornings. When this happens, a person should take a deep breath and try to find something to do to get their mind off of the problem. A person could take a walk, listen to some music, read the newspaper or do an activity that will give them a fresh perspective on things. Doing something will get your mind off of the problem and give you confidence to do other things.

Be smart in how you deal with your fears and anxieties. Do not try to tackle everything all at once. When facing a current or upcoming task that overwhelms you with a lot of anxiety, break the task into a series of smaller steps. Completing these smaller tasks one at a time will make the stress more manageable and increases your chances of success.

Take advantage of the help that is available around you. If possible, talk to a professional who can help you manage your fears and anxieties. They will be able to provide you with additional advice and insights on how to deal with your current problem. By talking to a professional, a person will be helping themselves in the long run because they will become better able to deal with their problems in the future. Managing your fears and anxieties (Continued on pg 10)

Hawaii legislators considering ‘safe zones’ for homeless “There’s not going to be a perfect — and maybe there’s not going to be As the state struggles to address homelessa polite — solution, but we know ness amid a growing budget deficit, lawmakwhat we have right now,” said Browers are supporting what they say is a low-cost, er, vice chairman of the House Huout-of-the-box solution that would create desman Services Committee. ignated “safe zones” for the homeless to set “Right now, we’re saying, you can’t up tents. be here, you have to move on, but No money or land have been set aside for the we’re not providing a place for them zones, and the idea faces strong opposition. to be.”

Russ Saito, state comptroller and the goverMainland models nor’s special adviser on homelessness, said The safe zone proposal before lawthe state would not support the creation of makers is loosely safe zones on state land modeled on simi“because of our concern we’re saying, you can’t be lar designated arfor health and safety and the cost to manage and here, you have to move on, eas on the Mainsome of control such zones, which, but we’re not providing a land, which have direct unfortunately, we have no place for them to be government supfunds for.” port.

But proponents say the Brower said the safe zones wouldn’t resafe zones could quire much in the way of be set up on state land, but could also planning and start-up costs and could be one be formed on private land with the way to help address homelessness at a time help of state funds. when spending for new programs has all but The proposal comes as tent cities stopped. are springing up across the country “We need to come up with innovative ways with increasing frequency, said Joel of dealing with the issues,” said Utu Langi, John Roberts, a national expert on whose nonprofit manages the state’s Next homelessness and chief executive ofStep shelter in Kaka’ako. “If they put forth ficer of People Assisting the Homesuch an idea and it’s managed right, hey, let’s less in Los Angeles. go for it.”

He said tent cities that work are set State Rep. Tom Brower, D-23rd (Waikīkī, up so homeless get intensive help to Ala Moana), who introduced the safe zones move into long-term housing. proposal in the form of a House resolution, Tent cities succeed “if there’s a real said the zones would also help tackle longsense of transition,” he said. “If it’s a standing concerns about the homeless setting destination point, it’s going to fail.” up in parks and beaches.

Mary Vorsino

(Continued on pg 9)

The Voice of the Homeless

Page 8

We need your help...to keep our doors open!

(Continued from pg 7)

in a court of law.

In the meantime I must stress the fact we need your help. I know many of you have blessed us over the years. You the supporters have provided medical outreach teams, swine flu vaccinations, emergency cold weather outreach, you also responded to all the hurricanes on the West Coast by bringing over tens of thousands of gallons of water to them when they got hit with one hurricane after another. city with the help of our attorneys and we are You directly responded to Hurrinow attempting to get the ACLU to assist us. cane Katrina. You brought doctors We will take this to the Supreme Court if necto Haiti for the last seven years; you essary. We have been here for 15 years but we have taken the worms out of kid’s are not allowing the cities to bring us down stomachs in Haiti for the last few based on hatred towards the poor. However years. You saved a little Haitian during this process we want to keep servictoddler just a year or two old when es the same and this is where you come in. she was about to die when we found Again you all have put money in those buckher in Haiti dying of starvation. You ets by buying our newspapers and other perihave provided beds for HIV orphans odicals such as our small cards. You’ve done in the last five years. You have fed all the above miracles and now we need your many hungry families who were just help even more. Some of our vendors will be poor but not homeless in South Florvanishing from your street ida. You have provided emergency Some of our vendors will be corners until we get into the court system. We are now housing to those in vanishing from your street asking that each one of you South Florida who were denied beds corners until we get into the who support us to now help court system us monthly by the below by governmental three ways. We are asking shelters because of for a monthly donation of $10, $15, or $20. severe mental health issues. You diIf you can’t give money, then please pray for rectly rented a jet and brought over us! Please send in your monthly check to: 70 doctors and surgeons as well as COSAC HOMELESS ASSISTANCE CENsaving thousands of lives by getting TER antibiotics on a jet in just a few days P.O. Box 292-577 after the earthquake.

Davie, Florida 33329 I, Sean Cononie have not done this; You can also go to our web site and go to it has been you who allowed us to paypal to donate do these miracles and God’s work.

Donations by Texting from your cellular You have paid for all of this by buyphone. ing our newspaper and now because I do ask each and every one of you to please a few city commissioners have gone come see where your money goes. Please call out of their way to attack the poor 954-924-3571, ask for Ginny to take a tour of and homeless this may all stop. your shelter, the one you created and paid for.

We sell between 80,000 to 100,000 Love as always between all, the world can be papers per month and in the near fugood when she wants to, all we have to do is ture we may not be allowed in any love all. -Sean Anthony Cononie city. Of course we will fight every

On Spirituality

Deacon Bob He is risen! That phrase is ringing out all over the Christian world today. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Easter Joy! The holiest days of the believers of Jesus Christ are the days leading up to Easter and culminating with Easter Sunday. Death is conquered. Salvation is ours.

Sunset on March 29th began Passover, high holy days for the Jewish community.

It was at a Passover meal long ago that Jesus broke bread and shared it among His friends.

Blessed wine and gave it to drink.

And that night He was betrayed by a good friend and arrested.

Innocent of all charges, He is convicted and sentenced to crucifixion. He never complained.

Regardless of our faith, beliefs or lack thereof, can we not draw courage and strength from this example? Life is rarely fair. We may have experienced false gossip or charges made against us that were not true or not truly represented.

It hurts us deeply, and especially, if by a friend. What a wonderful opportunity to forgive!

I pray my brothers and sisters that you are never falsely accused or accuse anyone falsely.

This is the meaning of take up your cross and follow me. To imitate Christ.

When we do this, we enter into death on the cross and resurrection from the tomb.

Hence, Easter Joy! He is risen so we may be risen! Peace and Joy, Deacon Bob thatbrotherbob@aol.com

Minimum Payment Warning

(Continued from pg 6)

also make another payment so you are not paying just the minimum payment. The bank will only take the minimum out if you fail to pay your bill.

Your financial future is in your hands and you control it. So there are many things you can do to not only save you money but to also make your money grow.

Also pattern yourself and say to yourself I am not paying 30 years for my house. Pay one payment extra each year and you can almost cut your length of years to almost in half.

Yes, you can, I promise you.

NYC’s Times Square Down To 1 Homeless Man

Post Chronicle Staff writer

A homeless man known only as “Heavy” is the last habitually homeless man hanging out in New York City’s Times Square, social workers say.

Social agencies and charities have been working years to empty the streets around what is arguably a U.S. symbol of good times. By 2005, they were down to 55 homeless people and the number fell to seven in 2009.

Now there is just Heavy, The New York Times reported Monday. He’s spent decades in Times Square, always passing up offers of housing and declining to reveal anything about himself Those whose paths he crosses describe him as quiet with possible mental health issues, the newspaper said. Some shops give him food and neighbors slip him a little money or clothing. He doesn’t harass anyone and his panhandling is lowkey.

“He is a sweetheart,” said Nanny, an 82-year-old woman who encounters Heavy regularly. “He sees me coming and says, ‘Hi, Mommy,’ and I say, ‘Hi, honey.’ And I give him his quarter, and I go on with my business.”

Rosanne Haggerty, president of the nonprofit organization Common Ground, says she has known Heavy since at least 1990.

“He’s kind of iconic,” Haggerty said.

“He would leave for periods and then return, and some days we would actually succeed in getting him inside. But he has this fascination with the life in Times Square.

“We are continuing to plug away to find the right housing solution for Heavy.”

Homeless Man Lives off Frequent Flier Points (Continued from pg 6)

Sometimes the hotels have an unpleasant and surprising fee tacked on: $10 to park at a hotel near Disneyland, $20 to park at an airport hotel.

“That’s three, four days of my food budget,” Kennedy said.

Before the recession, Kennedy helped a software company acquire a rival, checking over the finances in a job that paid him $120,000 a year.

Today, he gets $450 a week from the state of California.

That money goes for his car’s lease, which he uses to drive up and down the coast for job interviews, his cell phone, gas, car insurance, his storage locker and, of course, food.

Otherwise, he is living off all those loyalty points: about 85,000 with Starwood Preferred Guest, 400,000 with Hilton Honors, 100,000 Delta Sky Miles, 120,000 American AAdvantage, 200,000 United Mileage Plus and 125,000 American Express Membership Rewards points.

On a typical night Kennedy mixes points with cash, hoping to stretch out his cache of points a little longer.

For instance, Starwood’s Sheraton Four Points offers some rooms for 1,600 points and $30.

“So you can see with 90,000 points, you can drag it out for a long time there,” he said. “If you wanted to stay at the Ritz Carlton, it is a lot more points than the Motel 6.”

Kennedy has been doing this for about two months and estimates that he has three left until the points are depleted. He hopes to find a job before then but is being told that employers are getting 300 to 400 applicants for each position.

Kennedy said he never envisioned a lifestyle of constantly checking in and checking out of hotels.

“I kind of did when I was on the road, he said, “but at least I had a place to come home to.”

Volume XII, Issue 3

Page 9

Hawaii legislators considering ‘safe zones’ for homeless

(Continued from pg 7)

areas for everyone.

Brower also said a key component The City Council recently approved two of setting up the zones would be bills proposed by the Hannemann administramaking sure people use them — and tion that ban shopping carts in city parks and not the parks. require permits for all tents. Those measures “If government can provide the come on top of a host of efforts over the past place, then governments need to four years to discourage homeless from setprovide the discipline to make sure ting up encampments in public areas, includpeople go there,” he said. ing closing city parks at night and banning The state has been working for “illegal camping.” years to address homelessness in The two new bills were especially aimed at the Islands, spending tens of miltackling the homeless problem in Waikīkī, lions of dollars on new programs the state’s No. 1 tourist destination, where and new shelters to get hundreds of residents and tourists have increasingly comfamilies off the streets. With the budplained about homeless pitching tents in get crunch, though, no new major Kapi’olani and neighboring parks, taking over spending on homelessness is planned benches, and panhandling. and some programs are seeing cuts The Waikīkī Neighborhood Board supported just as service providers are reportthe City Council bills, and also backed the ing that more people are falling into safe zones proposal. homelessness.

Bob Finley, Waikīkī Neighborhood Board Providers also say only a small porchairman, said he likes the idea of setting tion of the state money that went to aside a specific area for the homeless. But homelessness addressed the chronihe warned that setting up cally homeless a safe zone or tent city — those who have been on setting up a safe zone or tent isn’t as simple as opening the streets for a city isn’t as simple as opening up land and inviting the year or more and up land and inviting the homeless to come.

“You need to provide who make up the homeless to come basic services,” he said. majority of those “You need to provide wawho set up tents ter, comfort stations, meal stations.” in parks. Many chronically homeCurtis Kropar, executive director of Hawailess people have substance abuse or ian Hope, a homeless service agency, also said mental health issues, and some won’t the safe zones would need to have some inframove into shelters. structure.

Advocates point out that though But he added that it wouldn’t take a lot of several homeless shelters on O’ahu money to set up the designated areas, and that are full and have waiting lists, others some agencies would likely step up to provide do have space. management and infrastructure help at a low Worsening problem cost or with the help of government or private The concerns over what appears to grants. be a worsening homeless problem “We have to do something where we can say come as the city is taking more agto people yes, you can lay your head to rest gressive measures to open up public

and nobody’s going to bother you,” Kropar said.

Langi, of Next Step, pointed out that the safe zone proposal isn’t a new idea. And, he added, it has failed before, including in Honolulu in the 1990s, when then-Mayor Frank Fasi set up a tent city in A’ala Park. The area became a haven for drugs and crime and was shut down.

But Langi said that managed well, safe zones could work.

“There has to be rules,” he said. “And they have to feel safe in there.”

Opposition likely Meanwhile, there could be opposition to the plan from residents surrounding whatever designated areas are chosen as homeless safe zones.

A tent city proposal in Wai’anae in 2003 was quashed because of community opposition.

More recently, a city plan to build an affordable housing project for chronically homeless stalled last year after Chinatown merchants and residents came out against it.

And Saito said the state wouldn’t support putting a safe zone on state land. State parks, he said, are intended for “many different uses, but not as campgrounds for the homeless.”

And other state properties have no infrastructure, he said, “and the health and safety issues are a show stopper.”

At Kapi’olani Park recently, a handful of homeless people had mixed reactions to the safe zones proposal.

“That sounds appealing,” said Jason Sampson, 31. Sampson has been homeless for about seven months, after being kicked out of a friend’s apartment, and said constantly being on the move is hard.

One woman in her late 50s, who was raking leaves around her tent, said she would go to a safe zone because it would mean she could get a full night’s sleep.

Under park rules, no one is allowed in Kapi’olani Park at night, so homeless people head out around midnight and return at 5 a.m.

The woman added that she wouldn’t go to a homeless shelter because she’s concerned they’re not sanitary.

A 56-year-old homeless man who identified himself as Daniel said he was skeptical of the safe zones plan, and would still prefer a park.

“They’re going to have rules like you can’t leave (at night) ... and then they’re going to start charging rent,” he said.

Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome (LNS) Liver Cancer Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD) Late Infantile Niemann-Pick Disease (NPD) - Type A Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer - with metastases to or beyond the hilar nodes or inoperable, unresectable or recurrent Ornithine Transcarbamylase (OTC) Deficiency Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) - Type II Ovarian Cancer - with distant metastases or inoperable or unresectable Pancreatic Cancer Peritoneal Mesothelioma Pleural Mesothelioma Pompe Disease - Infantile Rett (RTT) Syndrome Salivary Tumors

Sandhoff Disease Small Cell Cancer (of the Large Intestine, Ovary, Prostate, or Uterus) Small Cell Lung Cancer Small Intestine Cancer - with distant metastases or inoperable, unresectable or recurrent Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Types 0 And 1 Stomach Cancer - with distant metastases or inoperable, unresectable or recurrent Thyroid Cancer Ureter Cancer - with distant metastases or inoperable, unresectable or recurrent

Social Security expands compassionate allowances

(Continued from pg 5)

7. Cri du Chat Syndrome 8. Degos Disease 9. Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease 10. Edwards Syndrome 11. Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva 12. Fukuyama Congenital Muscular Dystrophy 13. Glutaric Acidemia Type II 14. Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), Familial Type 15. Hurler Syndrome, Type IH 16. Hunter Syndrome, Type II 17. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis 18. Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa, Lethal Type 19. Late Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses 20. Leigh’s Disease 21. Maple Syrup Urine Disease 22. Merosin Deficient Congenital Muscular Dystrophy 23. Mixed Dementia 24. Mucosal Malignant Melanoma 25. Neonatal Adrenoleukodystrophy 26. Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses, Infantile Type 27. Niemann-Pick Type C 28. Patau Syndrome 29. Primary Progressive Aphasia 30. Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy 31. Sanfilippo Syndrome 32. Subacute Sclerosis Panencephalitis 33. Tay Sachs Disease 34. Thanatophoric Dysplasia, Type 1 35. Ullrich Congenital Muscular Dystrophy 36. Walker Warburg Syndrome

37. Wolman Disease 38. Zellweger Syndrome The original 50 compassionate allowance maladies are: Acute Leukemia Adrenal Cancer - with distant metastases or inoperable, unresectable or recurrent Alexander Disease (ALX) - Neonatal and Infantile Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Anaplastic Adrenal Cancer Astrocytoma Bladder Cancer - with distant metastases or inoperable or unresectable Bone Cancer - with distant metastases or inoperable or unresectable Breast Cancer - with distant metastases or inoperable or unresectable Canavan Disease (CD) Cerebro Oculo Facio Skeletal (COFS) Syndrome Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) Blast Phase Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) - Adult Ependymoblastoma (Child Brain Tumor) Esophageal Cancer Farber’s Disease (FD) - Infantile Friedreichs Ataxia (FRDA) Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), Picks Disease -Type A - Adult Gallbladder Cancer Gaucher Disease (GD) - Type 2 Glioblastoma Multiforme (Brain Tumor) Head and Neck Cancers - with distant metastasis or inoperable or uresectable Infantile Neuroaxonal Dystrophy (INAD) Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) Kidney Cancer - inoperable or unresectable Krabbe Disease (KD) - Infantile Large Intestine Cancer - with distant metastasis or inoperable, unresectable or recurrent

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The Voice of the Homeless

Page 10

Never lose hope in dealing with your fears and depression

Home of the Brave?

(Continued from pg 4)

(Continued from pg 7)

takes practice. The more you pracRemember that no one can predict the tice, the better you will become. future with one hundred percent certainty.

The techniques that I have just Even if the thing that you feared does hapcovered are some basic ways to pen there are circumstances and factors manage your fears and depresthat you can’t predict which can be used to sion, however your best bet is to your advantage. For instance, let’s say at get some help from a professional your place of work that you miss the deadand not to lose hope. Eventually, line for a project you have been working you will find the answers you are on for the last few months. Everything you looking for. feared is coming true. Suddenly, your boss ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE comes to your office and tells you that the ABUSE WILL NOT TAKE deadline is extended and that he forgot to AWAY YOUR FEARS tell you the day before. This unknown facAlcohol and substance abuse or tor changes everything. Another technique any other addictions will not take that is very helpful is to have a small noteaway your book of positive stateproblems and “there are circumstances ments that makes you fears. In the feel good. Whenever and factors that you can’t you come across an afshort run, they might make predict which can be used to firmation that makes you feel betyou feel good, write it your advantage” ter, but in the down in a small notelong run these addictions will only book that you can carry around with you make things worse. in your pocket. Whenever you feel deSo what do you do to make your pressed or frustrated, open up your small problems and fears go away? notebook and read those statements. This Well, since you can’t run away will help to manage your negative thinkfrom them, then the best solution ing. is to tackle your fears head on no The important thing is to get the proper matter how strong they may be. help by seeing a professional. Avoiding The key is to be smart in how you your problem through the use of alcohol or try to manage these fears. Here are other substances will do nothing in the long some ways in how to manage your run in fixing your problems. It will just persistent fears and anxieties. make things worse. Managing your fear The first step is to learn to take and anxieties will take some hard work. Be it one day at a time. Instead of patience, persistent and stay committed in worrying about how you will get trying to solve your problem. through the rest of the week or BIOGRAPHY: Stan Popovich is the coming month, try to focus on author of “A Layman’s Guide to Mantoday. Each day can provide us aging Fear Using Psychology, Christiwith different opportunities to anity and Non Resistant Methods” - an learn new things and that includes easy to read book that presents a general learning how to deal with your overview of techniques that are effecproblems. tive in managing persistent fears and Focus on the present and stop anxieties. For additional information trying to predict what may happen go to:http://www.managingfear.com/ next week. Next week will take care of itself.

of the nation right on down to the neighborhood levels would be determined and satisfied by these economic bodies.

How much economic responsibility will these new bodies absorb from our federal, state and local governments? How much will be shared? Can a balance of power be maintained? At any rate, our federal, state and local governments will be relieved of considerable amount of economic responsibility. Thus, our various governments will be free to catch up on all the other domestic and foreign issues that face us.

Yes, we will still import and export goods with foreign countries as our needs dictate; but what money will be used in place of the almighty dollar? Would the dollar have any value if everything is free in the USA? Would that be a problem? We would, however, still be able to use the currency of the country we are doing business with. For example, if we export goods to Germany, we would accept marks or euros in payment.

The euros would then be deposited in our national treasury for future use. The money could then be used to import goods or perhaps send Americans overseas on vacation.

Yes, a way of life without money could be compared to the kibbutz which now exist in Israel. Can you picture the USA as one big kibbutz? However, ownership of property will remain the same as it is today. Our government will remain the same. Our free enterprise system will remain in place as it is today. There will be no need for money or any substitute for money since everything will be free.

The advantages of a way of life without money stagger the imagination; but they are real and cannot be disputed. Perhaps it is time for us to grab the brass ring?

"The Human Race has improved everything except the Human Race.“ Adlai Stevenson

Homeless often recruited for Ga. fraud rings ATHENS, Ga. (AP) - Athens-Clarke police say their investigation into a fraud ring is being hampered because the criminals often recruit homeless people to do their dirty work.

They say even the drivers who are taking homeless people from bank to bank in Athens and other communities don’t know who they’re working for.

Athens-Clarke police Detective Beverly Russell tells the Athens Banner-Herald in a Saturday story that the drivers get the checks from distributors and those printing the fake checks have a lot of layers around them.

She said the Secret Service and the FBI have set up a task force in Atlanta that is also trying to crack the case.

Vet to Bike CrossCountry for Homeless

Aol News

He’s still in need of some sponsors and doesn’t have a support team, but that’s not stopping 54-year-old Vietnam veteran Jerry Nelson from bicycling crosscountry to raise money for homeless vets.

Nelson will begin his 2,000-mile-plus journey from Asheville, N.C., to California on March 19. The professional photographer and homeless advocate hopes to raise $10,000 for the Asheville Homeless Network, which says it’s the nation’s only organization made up of homeless people aimed at helping the homeless, according to Asheville’s Mountain Xpress.

“This story’s not about this big ol’ boy,” Nelson told the paper.

“It’s about the veterans coming back that don’t have a place to live. I’ve got a soft spot for them.”

Nelson, who served in the Navy from 1972-84, credits the Veterans Administration with providing the resources so he never went homeless. He completed a similar ride in 2008 to benefit the National Coalition of Homeless Veterans. What Nelson lacks in preparation he makes up for in commitment to fellow veterans. A local cycle shop has built Nelson a bike for the trip, and another group bought him a tent and sleeping bag. He still needs more supplies, including cigarettes, which he’ll be smoking as he makes the six-week trek.

Nelson plans to photograph this journey. He’ll post the photos to his Web site, journeyamerica.org, and will also update his blog.

Volume XII, Issue 3

Page 11

Homeless parents just want jobs Scientist Has Plan to Eliminate AIDS

(Continued from pg 5)

end. He was also one of the World Infectious Disease and is working on a pilot test Health Organization scientists, along program to look at the feasibility of the “test with Dr. Reuben Granich, who puband treat” method in two communities with lished a paper outlining the ideas in some of the highest HIV/AIDS infection rates the medical journal The Lancet more in the United States: Washington and the Bronx than a year ago, in January 2009. in New York.

Of course, universal testing and then Fauci cautions that, though he thinks it’s too providing treatment for the millions soon to begin to evaluate the pilot program, who have the virus is anything but a plan to eliminate HIV/AIDS with “test and simple. Or inexpensive. But, Williams treat” would run into a number of difficulties. notes that the spread of HIV/AIDS is “The first thing you have to do is see if you already costing billions of dollars. can test a large enough group of people for this “The cost actually stays quite flat,” to work,” he told Politics Daily. “Then, do you Williams told doctors at the CROI have the infrastructure for it? Third, will they conference. “The reason it stays flat is accept the treatment?” And those aren’t the initially we have a big capital outlay only roadblocks; it’s also possible that a resis-- we spend a lot to get evtance to the drugs could start to build “There erybody onto antiretup, necessitating new medical are currently more roviral therapy. But, developments. than 33 million cases of once we do that, if But, he notes that even if we really reduce the project doesn’t eliminate AIDS worldwide.” transmission and the HIV/AIDS, it will neverthenumber of people that are less do some good. “We don’t want infected, then we save money.” the perfect to be the enemy of the good,” said Williams estimates that over the Fauci. “You may not be able to test everyone last 25 years, the cost of AIDS has or even treat everyone, but, using treatment as already rung up a staggering total of prevention will still have a major positive immore than $150 billion. “We have a pact on diminishing the virus.” choice,” he said, “and the choice is we Still, even with the possibility of making can do nothing and spend $60 billion measured dents in the virus with existing treatover the next 40 years, or we can save ments, the search for the Holy Grail goes on.

3 million lives, and spend $60 billion “Obviously, the major goal is still a vaccine,” over the next 40 years.” said Fauci.

But cost is not the only issue. There’s But that, too, is likely to be difficult. In Sepalso the issue of how -- and, indeed, if tember, researchers in Thailand announced a -- a program of this size would be feaseemingly major breakthrough for the possibilsible. There are currently more than ity of an HIV/AIDS vaccine. But, since then, 33 million cases of AIDS worldwide. researchers have been disappointed with both The United Nations estimates that the potential effectiveness and longevity of that AIDS is responsible for more than 2 vaccine. And -- until a vaccine does emerge -million deaths a year and that an addiit’s hard to quarrel with expanded testing and tional 7,500 people are infected each treatment. Especially if it ends up working. day with HIV/AIDS. Dr. Anthony Fauci is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and

Janine Zeitlin

1:10 A.M. — His two young sons are starting to ask questions. Can we go back to a real home? Why do we have to sign in and out?

Johnny Hoover, 31, and sons, Gaberiel, 7, and Seth, 8, have been staying at The Salvation Army’s family shelter in Fort Myers.

“I want them back in a home,” said Hoover, whose family became homeless after the company he worked for closed and he couldn’t keep up with bills at his Cape Coral duplex.

The number of homeless families in Lee County shot up 21 percent in the last year and the thing they want most is a job, a local survey showed. Unemployment in Lee County hit 14.1 percent in January. night in January 2009 to 100 in JanuHoover, who delivered and sold mattresses, ary 2010. is receiving help from The Salvation Army to Jobs were the No. 1 service people search for jobs. requested in the survey. Getting peoThe Lee homeless coalition released findings ple to work will help bring down the Friday of its annual single-night count from numbers, said Fred Schilffarth, coJanuary. ordinator of Friends of Lee County Among the 1,041 tallied, 91 were families Homeless. He leads an advocacy and with 115 children. mentoring group Last year, there were 75 for the homeless. families with children, a “We’ve just got “We’ve just got to get our 115 percent increase from to get our econothe year before. economy kicking again in my kicking again “It is still a big number, South Florida,” in South Florida,” though I’m hearing we’re he said. showing signs of recovMany of the ery,” said Janet Bartos, the coalition’s execupeople he works with had minimumtive director. wage jobs, which have decreased or The count doesn’t reflect the entire popubeen filled by people with higher levlation, as families may be sharing homes or els of education, he said. loath to admit they are homeless out of fear of Next month, Hoover hopes to move losing their children, Bartos said. out of the shelter, which is almost at As many as 3,400 people in the county may its capacity. be homeless.

“An extension is possible but I’m The Salvation Army reaches out to famihoping I don’t need it,” he said. lies who may be staying in tents or vehicles It will depend on landing a job, a through its evening meal program, said Meg final hurdle that so many are strugGeltner, the local organization’s general mangling to overcome. ager.

It jumped from serving about 75 meals a

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