11.02.2022

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VENDORS

Abel Putu, Abraham Aly, Aida Peery, Amina Washington, Andre Brinson, Andrew Anderson, Angie Whitehurst, Anthony Carney, Anthony Pratt, Archie Thomas, August Mallory, Betty Everett, Beverly Sutton, Bob Davis, Brianna Butler, Brandon Archer, Candice Wilkes, Carlos Carolina, Carlton Johnson, Carol Motley, Charles Armstrong, Charles Woods, Chon Gotti, Chris Cole, Chris Sellman, Conrad Cheek, Corey Sanders, Cortney Signor, Daniel Ball, David Snyder, Debora Brantley, Degnon (Gigi) Dovonou, Don Gardner, Donté Turner, Doris Robinson, Earl Parker, Eric Glover, Eric Thompson-Bey, Erica Downing, Evelyn Nnam, Floyd Carter, Franklin Sterling, Frederic John, Fredrick Jewell, Gerald Anderson, Gracias Garcias, Henry Johnson, Ivory Wilson, Jacqueline “Jackie” Turner, Jacquelyn Portee, James Davis, Jeanette Richardson, Jeff Taylor, Jeffery McNeil, Jeffrey Carter, Jemel Fleming, Jenkins Daltton, Jennifer McLaughlin, Jermale McKnight, Jet Flegette, Jewel Lewis, John Littlejohn, Joshua Faison, Juliene Kengnie, Justin Blakey, Katrina Arninge, Kenneth Middleton, Khadijah Chapman, Kym Parker, L. Morrow, Laticia Brock, Laura Smith, Lawrence Autry, Levester Green, Malcolm Scott Jr, Marcus McCall, Mark Jones, Mango Redbook, Maurice Spears, Melody Byrd, Michael Warner, Michelle Mozee, Michele Rochon, Mildred M. Hall, Morgan Jones, Patricia Donaldson, Patty Smith, Phillip Black, Queenie Featherstone, Reggie Jones, Reginald Black, Reginald C. Denny, Ricardo Meriedy, Rita Sauls, Robert Warren, Rochelle Walker, Ron Dudley, Sasha Williams, Shawon McCrary, Sheila White, Shuhratjon Ahmadjonov, Susan Westmoreland, Susan Wilshusen, Sybil Taylor, Warren Stevens, Wendell Williams

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mary Coller Albert, Blake Androff, Jonquilyn Hill, Greg Jaffe, Stanley Keeve, Clare Krupin, Ashley McMaster, Matt Perra, Michael Phillips, Daniel Webber, Shari Wilson, Corrine Yu

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Brian Carome

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS

Doris Warrell

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS Darick Brown

DIRECTOR OF VENDOR EMPLOYMENT Thomas Ratliff

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VENDOR PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS

Roberta Haber, Ann Herzog, Madeleine McCollough, Dylan Onderdonksnow

MANAGER OF ARTISTIC WORKSHOPS Maria Lares

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Will Schick

Originally founded as a street newspaper in 2003, Street Sense Media has evolved into a multimedia center using a range of creative platforms to spotlight solutions to homelessness and empower people in need. The men and women who work with us do much more than sell this paper: They use film, photography, theatre, illustration, and more to share their stories with our community.

Our media channels elevate voices, our newspaper vendor and digital marketing programs provide economic independence. And our in-house case-management services move people forward along the path toward permanent supportive housing.

At Street Sense Media, we define ourselves through our work, talents, and character, not through our housing situation.

OPINION EDITORS (VOLUNTEER) Rebecca Koenig, Emily Kopp, Lydia DePillis, Bill Meincke, Candace Montague

EDITORIAL VOLUNTEERS

Josh Axelrod, Ryan Bacic, Katie Bemb, Lilah Burke, Chelsea Ciruzzo, Lenika Cruz, Alison Henry, Kathryn Owens, Nick Shedd, Andrew Siddons, Jenny-lin Smith, Rebecca Stekol

PHOTO BY NEAL FRANKLIN

How to vote in next week’s election

ANNEMARIE CUCCIA Staff Reporter

NEWS IN BRIEF AT A GLANCE VENDOR PROGRAM ANNOUNCE -

D.C. residents will elect a new slate of local officials next Tuesday, Nov. 8. Mayor Muriel Bowser is expected to win a third term, but two council seats and a ballot measure are hotly contested. All D.C. residents still have the chance to vote, even if they’re not yet registered.

How to vote

Registered voterS have several options for casting their ballots. They may visit an early or election day voting center, post the ballot they’ve received from the city in the mail, or visit any one of the 55 official drop boxes set up around the city.

From now until Nov. 6, all registered voters have the option e to visit one of 25 early voting centers, open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. On election day, Nov. 8, polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters may cast their ballots anywhere in the city, regardless of where they live.

If voters have yet to register, they can do so in person during the early voting period or on Election Day at a voting center. Voters need to bring proof of residence, which can include a valid D.C. ID, recent paycheck or bank statement, homeless shelter occupancy statement, or lease.

City-wide elections

The top office on this year’s ballot is the mayor. Given D.C.’s heavy Democratic bent, Bowser is expected to prevail over independent Rodney “Red” Grant, Republican Stacia Hall, and Libertarian Dennis Sobin.

Voters will select two of the eight candidates vying to fill the city’s At-large Council seats. Incumbents Anita Bonds and Elissa Silverman are hoping to fend off challenges from current

Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, businessman Graham McLaughlin and government employee Karim Marshall, among others. Most of the candidates are running as independents since the two seats can not both be filled by Democrats.

Ballot Initiative 82 would eliminate a separate minimum wage for waiters, bartenders and other service workers who rely on tips. They’re currently paid just over $5 an hour, and employers cover the difference if tips don’t bring their earnings up to minimum wage. Proponents of Initiative 82 say this system leads to wage theft and underpayment, while opponents say a tipped wage keeps costs down.

Residents will also vote for attorney general, council chair, delegate to Congress, and shadow representative, though none of the races are particularly competitive.

Ward elections

Residents of Wards 1, 3, 5 and 6 will also vote on council members and representatives to the Board of Education.

The most competitive council race is in Ward 3, where David Krucoff is hoping to make history as the first Republican to represent the area. His opponent, Democrat Matthew Frumin, is an attorney who’s been active in local politics for six years.

In the Ward 1 race, Democratic incumbent Brianne Nadeau is up against Statehood Green candidate Chris Otten, though an upset is highly unlikely. It’s a similar situation in Ward 5, where Democrat Zachary Parker is expected to beat Republican Clarence Lee Jr. The second incumbent, Charles Allen, is running unopposed in Ward 6.

Finally, voters will select representatives to the Advisory Neighborhood Commission, though less than a quarter of those races are contested.

Takoma Park announces $2 million in aid for low and mid-income families

SOPHIA THOMAS Michael Stoops Fellow

The city of Takoma Park, Md., is distributing $2 million to low and mid-income households this fall.

Residents can apply for a one-time $1,000 payment to be spent on rent, utilities, or however recipients see fit.

The Direct Cash Assistance Program dips into the city’s $17.5 million received in March 2021 under the American Rescue Plan. The program aims to ease the economic burden on Takoma Park households brought on by the pandemic. The city is partnering with FORWARD, an organization helping local governments administer pandemic recovery programs, to implement the initiative.

“Our team is committed to incorporating equity into every aspect of this program and will work with the City to reach traditionally hard-to-reach communities,” FORWARD CEO

Adnan Mahmud said in a press release.

FORWARD is also working with local homeless service nonprofit Shepherd’s Table on outreach and marketing to encourage people to apply.

Takoma Park households with an income of $50,000 are eligible. Applicants must present proof of income and residency and can opt to receive payments by direct deposit or paper check. Applications will remain open while funds last.

The funds will provide “immediate relief” for community members still hurting from the pandemic, according to the press release.

Interested applicants can find more information and apply by visiting tinyurl.com/takoma-aid.

MENTS

• The Street Sense Media offices will be closed Friday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day.

• Earn $10 and 10 papers. Take a Vendor Survey with Thomas or Darick.

• The new orange vests are here! Every Vendor gets a free one.

• Street Sense now offers nine Vendor workshops, with at least one every day starting at 10:30 a.m. Come to a workshop today!

• Reminder! Show us your CDC card and get free papers.

National Building Museum highlights six affordable housing innovations

NEAL FRANKLIN Editorial Intern

In a brightly lit corner of the National Building Museum, across a sprawling atrium, sit three wooden houses. Each house represents a different model for affordable housing and forms apart of an exhibit titled “A Better Way Home.”

In January 2020, Wells Fargo teamed up with Enterprise Community Partners, a national housing nonprofit, to sponsor a contest that asked organizations for creative solutions to the affordable housing crisis. The “Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge” received about 900 applicants.

On Sept. 22, 2020, six of the applicants were selected to each receive a $2.5 million grant. The museum exhibit highlights

the efforts of the six recipients – Preservation of Affordable Housing, Impact Justice, the Center for NYC Neighborhoods, the Gulf Coast Housing Partnership, Forterra and Mi Casita — and the innovations they are currently implementing.

When the exhibit, titled “A Better Way Home,” opened on Oct. 21 at 11 a.m. multiple people were already passing through the wooden houses.

The early arrivals were people who worked for Enterprise Community Partners who wanted to see how their work manifested into an exhibit, including Molly Morely, an employee at Enterprise.

“It’s not enough to provide someone with a place to live, there’s so much more that needs to go into it to build strong communities to have strong outcomes for people,” Morely said.

“I’m hoping that this introduces people to what’s possible if you do affordable housing the right way and center the individual.”

The exhibit will be on display until May 8 and features the winning projects which focused on housing construction, but also resident service and support and housing finance.

When asked to choose between the projects Christi Smith, the director of programs at Enterprise Community Partners, said it was as impossible as choosing her favorite child.

“We are thrilled to have an exhibition at the National Building Museum that really showcases what those innovations are, what the intended impact of those innovations will be,” Smith said.

The museum has been intentional in the past five years about curating exhibits focused on justice in building design

The National Building Museum will feature the exhibit until May 8. Photo by Neal Franklin

and housing because of contemporary housing affordability issues, said Cathy Frankel, vice president for exhibitions and collections at the National Building Museum.

“There is sort of beauty in the design of how the built environment happens,” Frankel said. “And justice is part of that and creating this equitable environment so that everybody has opportunity.”

About 20 years ago the museum hosted an exhibit focused on constructing affordable housing. Then, about five years ago, the museum featured a show focused on dividing rent prices between roommates, Frankel said.

Jayson Bennett, an occupational therapist from Canada, visited the exhibit and was interested in how housing can be created to be more accessible to whoever is living in the unit like in the Preservation of Affordable Housing’s project centered on building trauma resilient communities. Many of the people that he interacts with have difficulties with housing, he said.

“From an economic standpoint things aren’t going to improve for a while and the population is only going to increase,” said Bennett. “So we have to find out what we can do with what we have.

The six projects feature different approaches to solving affordable housing issues.

The exhibit features Impact Justice’s Homecoming Project, which provides housing to people leaving prison by offering subsidies to homeowners to rent a room at an affordable rate.

Katie Harb visited the Building Museum to pass the time while her child slept in a stroller. When passing through the exhibit, said she was most interested in the Homecoming Project.

“I didn’t realize that so many people that left prison didn’t really find, or have, a great way to get back into society,” Harb said. “And I didn’t realize that so many of them became homeless and especially those of color.”

One of the plaques in the exhibit quotes a Homecoming Project participant named Mareo who said he received resources to focus on his job and recovery.

“I was homeless for a short while and things weren’t looking good, but The Homecoming Project really came through for

me at my most difficult time,” the plaque read.

Another innovation displayed is the Mi Casita project. The exhibit showed pre-fabricated housing boxes that can be configured in multiple ways to create living options for families.

Mi Casita aims to build homes in 60 days. The homes are also 15% to 20% cheaper than building a home on-site.

The Health + Housing project from the Gulf Coast Housing Partnership seeks to offer people in search of housing another option focused on health, according to a press release from the partnership on Sept. 22, 2020. In Jackson, Mississippi, Health + Housing is partnering with UnitedHealthcare to create the first pilot program.

The initiative focuses on creating affordable housing structures with on-site clinics staffed with health care workers, said Kathy Laborde, the president and CEO of the partnership.

This project is now more important in the context of the pandemic when more people can’t leave their homes to access healthcare, said Laborde.

“Particularly after COVID, people just became more aware of how your built environment can certainly impact your health,” Laborde said. “So we just need to take advantage of the moment to get those buildings built.”

Employees of Enterprise tour the exhibit. Photo by Neal Franklin

Christi Smith with project winners on a featured video at the exhibit. Photo by Neal Franklin

DC attorney general honors District youth

KAELA ROEDER Deputy Editor

The D.C. Attorney General’s office hosted its sixth annual New Direction Awards on Oct. 12, honoring 26 District youth who have demonstrated resilience in overcoming adversity.

Held at the Old Council Chambers, the event celebrated the work of residents aged between 12 and 24 years old for remarkable acts of service to the community.

Attorney General Karl Racine started the awards in 2015 to honor and encourage youth to persevere in the face of challenges. The recognition lapsed in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.

“We want our kids thinking about tomorrow and not thinking that they're not going to make it to tomorrow,” Racine said.

Celebrating young people’s accomplishments is incredibly important, Racine said, especially as youth crime has been the center of debates in this election cycle.

“The Right Direction Award simply is for young people who may have had a stumble — but guess what? They got themselves up like we have to every day as adults, and we celebrate that,” Racine said. “It's important for them to be recognized.”

One awardee, 18-year-old Ariyah Nash, started a club for survivors of sexual abuse and assault. A graduate of DC

International School, Nash experienced homelessness for a period of four months during her senior year of high school. She put her pain into working for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington in Southeast D.C., she said. She’s taking a gap year but wants to attend Spelman, a historically Black liberal college for women in Atlanta, Ga., to study psychology. She and other awardees said the District government needs to involve youth more in governance and lawmaking.

“Nothing will change unless we start to speak up and do what we have to do,” Nash said.

The awards recognized a diverse group of young people all at different stages in their life. Several of the awardees are studying toward degrees in computer science, air transportation and social services — striving to continue giving back to their community.

For Natalie “Flo” White, 23, a University of the District of Columbia student studying to be a social worker, the award ceremony gave her the chance to meet with other inspiring young people.

“I love just being amongst young people who are doing great things in the community,” she said.

White became homeless at 19 when she lost her apartment during the pandemic. Today, she works for a local youth homeless services nonprofit where she had once received help.

Other awardees shared similarly inspiring stories about

overcoming hardship. Dieudonne Kazzembe, 21, came to the United States in 2014 from Uganda where he was a refugee for eight years. Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, both of his parents died before he was three, and the rest of his family was forced to flee the Congo when he was about five.

When he arrived in the District, Kazzembe spoke little English but went on to graduate from Cardozo High School second in his class. He fell in love with flying the first time he was on a plane on his journey from Uganda to the United States and knew immediately that’s what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.

“I actually fell in love with it from there on,” Kazzembe said. Today, he attends Arizona State University and is majoring in air transportation, climbing one more step toward his dream of being a pilot.

Jamarri Kane-White, 21, is no stranger to wrestling housing instability. A senior at Howard University majoring in computer science. He was in the foster care system for 10 years, where bounced between homes whilst keeping up with school. His social worker, girlfriend, parents and friends nominated him for an award for his resilience, an honor that carries deep meaning for him.

“When I hold this (award), it's a representation of not me, but my community,” he said.

The Right Direction Awards, held on Oct. 12, honored 26 District youth. Photo by Kaela Roeder

feature

The ‘Pursuit of Hoppiness’

CHRIS COLE Artist/Vendor

On Saturday mornings I sell my papers at the farmers market at the Waterfront Metro in Southwest D.C. I had the pleasure of meeting four good-looking young guys who were out to fundraise for a great cause. The name of their organization is the "Pursuit of Hoppiness" and their goal is to raise over $100,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The story starts with their friend Zach Kauffman, who was diagnosed with leukemia last year in November 2021. He was in his early twenties, in the best shape of his life, and was endurance training for a marathon. Over the span of a few short months, he started to notice some strange symptoms. He was extremely fatigued after his runs, his endurance had decreased, and he noticed a deep bone bruise that he wasn't sure how he had gotten. He thought that he had just overworked himself but as the symptoms persisted he decided to go to the doctor to see what was wrong.

"I remember going in for a blood test, and then just coming home and passing out for hours because I was so tired ... I woke up to 13 missed calls from my doctors telling me to get to an emergency room because something was wrong." His blood test showed that his white blood cells were extremely

elevated. A normal person's white blood cell range is between 4,500- to 11,000. Zach's range was over 100,000.

The Mayo Clinic defines leukemia as cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system. Leukemia usually involves white blood cells. The white blood cells are potent infection fighters; they normally grow and divide in an orderly way, as your body needs them. But in people with leukemia, the bone marrow produces an excessive amount of abnormal white blood cells, which don't function properly.

Because Zach noticed his symptoms and quickly sought out answers, they were able to catch the cancer early. After a year of treatment, I'm happy to report that he is currently in remission. He attributes the success of his treatment to a newer drug; a protein inhibitor called Imatinib or Gleevec. That research was funded by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS).

“Twenty years ago leukemia was a death sentence. It is because of modern medicine and the donations that were given to the LLS that this drug was even discovered," Zach said. It is now his mission to shed light on and gain support for others who suffer from the illness.

The group “Pursuit of Hoppiness” has been holding fitness

and social fundraisers across the D.C. area for the past year in support of Zach's story. It's important to Zach the events are fitness related as he discovered his illness due to his love for running. The group has held volleyball games, bar crawls, softball games and runs with all proceeds going to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Earlier this month, the group organized and sold tickets to the Navy Yard's first charity pub crawl. The event included happy hour specials at three different bars and the group sold 153 tickets and raised nearly $5,000. The organization is now taking a break from its outdoor fundraising efforts to focus on its apparel line which will make its debut this winter.

They have raised $34,000 and have no plans to stop, even after they reach their goal. If you'd like to know more or donate to their endeavors — please visit their website at pursuitofhoppiness.co or follow them on Instagram @poh_co.

Chris Cole is an artist and vendor with Street Sense Media. She worked with the volunteers at Pursuit of Hoppiness to produce this unique feature story outlining their work to fight leukemia. You can read more of her work and stories on streetsensemedia.org.

The people behind the ‘Pursuit of Hoppiness.’ Photo courtesy of Chris Cole

On the streets with pets

MONIKA VESELÁ Novy Prostor

It’s a Friday in October and we’re on our way to Prague’s Hlávkův Bridge, accompanied by several homeless people. A large vaccination campaign is taking place here today as part of World Rabies Day. It’s been organised by Psí život (A Dog’s Life), the only organization in the Czech Republic dedicated to helping animals belonging to homeless people. Have you ever wondered why homeless people care so much about having an animal companion by their side? For homeless people, an animal is often the only close being with whom they can experience the feeling of unconditional love. That’s also why they often treat them with an almost excessive love. In the vast majority of cases, they take better care of their pets

than they do of themselves, and find any separation from their four-legged friend very hard.

But the problem comes when their animal has a health issue. Understandably, homeless people can’t afford veterinary care, and animals often suffer without help. This is where Psí život comes in. They focus specifically on helping animals belonging to homeless people or people with substance addictions, and animals that live with people in areas of social exclusion. They help dogs and cats whose owners have found themselves in a difficult life situation or are on the “margins of society” and are unable to take sufficient care of their animal. At the same time, they don’t want to take the animals away from their owners, but to make sure the care they need is available to them.

Their regular activities include a large vaccination event for

dogs belonging to homeless people, which takes place twice a year on Prague’s Štvanice Island. This is precisely where we were today.

Here, all dogs first have a check-up with a vet and, if their health condition allows, are vaccinated, microchipped, defleaed, and wormed. Medicine to help with more extensive health problems is also available. The most common problems that vets deal with here are ear infections and injuries of various kinds, but sometimes the diagnoses are more serious, such as epilepsy, tumours, and heart problems. The vets help to identify any health issues and start the dogs’ treatment, but after that the owners have to take care of their pets themselves.

“We have two stands here — first, the animals are taken care of by vets from a surgery we’ve been working with for a

“We have two stands here – first, the animals are taken care of by vets from a surgery we’ve been working with for a long time. Then we have donations from companies and people who support us, which we hand out. Each pet owner receives a bag of dry food and a basket for their dog, and we have a range of coats available too,” explains Jarmila Pávková, Psí život’s director. Photo by Eliška Krátká

“I adopted Jack as a puppy because he was born with an umbilical hernia, and I wanted to have him operated on and then returned to his owners. That didn’t happen, because I became very attached to him. Psí život really helps me take care of Jack and my two females. Thanks to them, the girls are spayed and we get vaccinations regularly. It’s great to have someone I can rely on.”

long time. Then we have donations from companies and people who support us, which we hand out. Each pet owner receives a bag of dry food and a basket for their dog, and we have a range of coats available too,” explains Jarmila Pávková, Psí život’s director.

Keeping records of individual dogs is also an important part of the event. Owners often lose their pet’s vaccination certificate, and can’t remember which vaccinations they’ve received. “We keep an online database, where we track when the dog was here and what we did with them, and also information about the owner. It’s common for an animal to have several different owners during its life,” Pávková adds.

Jarmila Pávková (director) on Psí život

The organization was founded in 2014 and is dedicated to animals that live with people on the streets. Every year, we help hundreds of animals by giving them health checks, vaccinations, and more. Many clients also call us for advice – for example, when they lose their vaccination certificate or when their dog ends up in a shelter or bites someone. But our goal isn’t to solve everything for them. We don’t want to take responsibility for dogs on behalf of their owners. We’ll help them get out of a crisis situation that they might not be able to manage on their own, but then they have to continue to take care of their pet themselves. We’re an outreach service, and the care we provide depends on how we’re doing financially. We work with two veterinary clinics, but we also have various specialists we’re friendly with. They’re really kind-hearted people, but obviously we have to pay them for the treatment they provide.

I’m also often asked why homeless people get animals. Homeless people are no different from us, and we’re simply a nation of dog lovers. Homeless women have dogs to protect them. And, of course, they’re their kindred spirits – they don’t mind that their owners smell or don’t have a clean bed to lie on. What matters is that they really are with them all the time. On top of that, homeless people are often the ones who pick up dogs that others don’t want.

Why is this important?

Help is particularly important for the animals themselves and for their quality of life. But animals also risk spreading diseases and parasites to their surroundings, so we should keep their population healthy. This will protect their owners, ourselves and, above all, our children. It’s impossible to eliminate the number of these animals on the street, but through neutering and spaying we can control unwanted breeding. However, owners usually refuse these procedures, so we have to constantly

communicate their benefits. There are a lot of preconceptions about neutering and spaying, and there’s definitely also a lack of education. Many think that a bitch will be in a bad way if she is unable to have puppies for the rest of her life. We used to be able to neuter and spay more often but, due to a lack of funds, now we only do it in acute cases.

Translated from Czech via Translators without Borders

Courtesy of Nový Prostor / International Network of Street Papers

The vets treated 78 dogs and 4 cats. Some of them are awaiting further treatment, neutering, or spaying, while others will come back for revaccination. Photo by by Eliška Krátká

Photo by Eliška Krátká

Photo by Eliška Krátká

Why DC voters should say no to raising the tipped minimum wage

JEFFERY MCNEIL

don’t understand any argument for raising the minimum wage, which is on the ballot in Washington, D.C. in November.

Initiative 82 would raise the minimum wage for tipped workers from $5.35 an hour to the regular minimum wage of $16.10. Currently, if a server or bartender doesn’t make enough tips to get them from the tipped minimum wage to the regular one, employers are supposed to make up the difference.

The measure was pushed by a disgruntled server who got stiffed on a tip and then quit his job, instead of looking in the mirror at why customers were abusing him. Now he wants to pass a law that would impact the tips of bartenders and servers who prefer tips over an hourly wage.

What could possibly go wrong with this idea?

Wages should be between the employer and employee! Unfortunately, proponents of this bill do not understand the fundamental law of economics: Wages are determined by supply and demand, not feelings and emotions.

Baseball players make more than dishwashers and bussers because maybe 30 people out of a billion can hit 30 home runs, while a billion people can wash dishes.

As a server and bartender, I have served many people well, and

still gotten stiffed on tips. I’ve also had days where I made no money all day, then one person sent me a big tip, and I made the most out of all the employees.

The disgruntled person who wants to raise the tipped minimum wage may not be cut out to be a server or bartender and should never apply for a restaurant job. Maybe he didn’t make any money because he wasn’t very good or had a nasty attitude. Has that rationale been considered?

That’s called business.

Bartending is no different than selling newspapers. There are some days where you’re going to kill it and some days where you’re lucky to sell a paper. Some vendors don’t have the service skills or grit to be good at it. Sorry, some want to be the Phillies or Astros and don’t have time to deal with the Commanders or Lions. I want to win championships, not participation trophies.

Do the math. If you make $16 an hour in D.C., after taxes you make less than $100 per 8-hour shift. If you work five days a week full time, you’re only making $500 a week, when the average apartment in D.C. costs $2,400 a month.

With tips, you have the ability to make enough to actually live in this city. A good bartender or waitress can make more than enough to live on, even in D.C. If people decide not to tip because they think we’re getting paid well at the minimum wage, I lose out.

Why does any Democrat think that’s a good tradeoff for the poor and oppressed?

When wages are set artificially high, small businesses especially have to raise their prices. In a few years, special interest groups will want to raise the minimum wage to $20 an hour, and then the average rent will be about $3,000 a month.

Take it from someone who worked many minimum-wage jobs and was fired from all of them. That was the best thing that ever happened to me because I wasn’t happy working those jobs, and now I work a job that I like, and I don’t care how much they pay me per hour.

This D.C. minimum wage will be on this year’s ballot, and I urge all my readers to vote a resounding “hell no” to any minimum wage increases. Then vote out any politician that advocates for it, and get capitalists in D.C.

It’s time to get away from socialist ideas and return to rugged individualism and free markets.

McNeil is an artist and vendor with Street Sense Media.

Jeffery

Take care of each other

BRIANNA BUTLER Artist/Vendor

It was a cozy night — all you could hear was the leaves shaking in the flowing wind. Needing a little warmth myself, I decided to make a red zig-zag double-crochet Afghan. It’s a nice and fluffy yarn that cuddles your skin. It was simple and easy to do. I was watching movies while crocheting this Afghan. The beautiful blanket reached from my shoulders to my calves on my legs and it wrapped around the front part of my body. It took about a week and a half to perfect this relaxing craft. My family praises the design work of the Afghan I created.

A couple of days later, I heard a knocking on the door. It was a lady needing some comfort. She was shivering and blowing her hands. I told her she came to the right place and talked with her. She didn’t want to come in or stay. So I was happy to serve her some food and give her some canned goods to take with her.

I blessed her with that cozy red Afghan. I gave it to her to keep warm that evening because I knew the weather was getting more breezy. The moral of this story is to always give to someone. People really need this great comfort.

Brief Interludes

FREDERIC JOHN Artist/Vendor

Nostalgia as antidote

I escaped polio as a lad, inculcating ragtime and Bach, next to my Mom, who knew how the notes echoed out from the worn sound board of the old Mason-Hawkin in our basement. Now, I hum ‘Maple Leaf Rag’ in my head, no pox shall make me dead!

Love = karma

Let lassitude go, energize love instead. Beasts of rage might break out. The maze, so — avoid deadly crippling obsessions, by subsuming the entire caboodle with oodles of tidal wave love!

Triolet us

JOHN ALLEY Artist/Vendor

Good and evil were asked to dance

A song starts playing, they hold hands, tightly. The good stared north; evil looked south, until both crossed eyes in a perfect glance–conjoined, moving freely with grace and couth. They started whirling, upon their flight, “1, 2, 3…” tension!

Flip a coin. Romance suffered vibrations, fueled by love’s fight.

Fall haikus

AMINA WASHINGTON Artist/Vendor

The leaves change my age when fall comes to play outside can trace a snowflake

When the sea breeze comes my eye cries an ice crystal. A small leaf falls down.

Hit hard

ERIC GLOVER Artist/Vendor

This is going to hit a lot of people on a whole other level because this is one of the most crushing, but truest, things.

The people with the biggest smiles.

The people with the biggest hearts.

The ones who care about people.

The ones who check up on friends to make sure they’re doing well.

The ones who would give everything to talk with a friend. If a friend is hurting and that friend is in need, they would go out to visit them, even if it was early in the morning.

We find out these are the people who are hurting the most. These are the people who feel like they have no one — no one in their lives who care about them. They would give all the love in the world, but they won’t receive any love in return. These are the people who are hurting really badly, but they keep a smile on their faces every day. You would never know they’re hurt. Do you know why? Because they don’t want other people to suffer the pain they suffered. So, remember, just because a person is showing happiness all the time or looks like they don’t take anything seriously, that doesn’t mean they have not been hurt.

Explaining my lane

LEVESTER GREEN Artist/Vendor

It wasn’t until I started opening up more and sharing my stories with Street Sense and Second Story Cards about my tough struggles that I was convinced I was a storyteller. I had to admit to myself that I did have plenty of stories to tell, but the ball didn’t really start to roll until others started trying to dog out my name and notoriety. I became a tight-lipped sealed type of guy. I’ve always held my innermost sanctum to myself because I realized the repercussions of being loose-lipped. There’s a line in one of my poems about loose lips sinking ships. I had to keep things organized in my mind or at least try to, especially with guys like Biggie, Jay, and Lil Wayne memorizing their rap catalogs and laying lyrics in one take. The game of life had been getting more difficult because of folks running games and causing confusion, so you had to be pretty sharp to have things go in your favor. Just how many folks were granting favors? Most of the time I had so much stuff on my mind that I wouldn’t focus on the immediate. I fumbled a lot, searching. So when it came down to my details I had to be calculating.

I got the ball rolling for the documentary creation. By the time I got

Red-handed

DANIEL BALL Artist/Vendor

The last time I got caught red-handed was when I tried to steal a cold beer, and I got caught. Why did I try to steal?

Because I was just being plain stupid that day, but, my life changed when I found my lord and savior Jesus Christ.

Did you know that my birthday is on Oct. 25?

Sometimes, I ask myself if I am a bad person. I say no. Sometimes, I ask myself if I am a criminal. I say no.

And, after all this, my friends at Street Sense call me fireball.

housed in September 2019 and dropped my poetry books as I had promised myself and worked so hard, I came to the point that I wanted to build and expand on the nest of stories I had incubated and created into the book

Federal City Hustlerz. The book cultivated itself practically as I sat back and tried my best to enjoy my new space. I struggled some to maintain my focus in my new space so I paced myself. The cherry on top was when I started to enjoy the documentaries channel on my TV. I got to see a whole lot of nurturing stuff there. I saw stories of homeless folks underground in New York surviving, a plethora of good stuff including the exceptional tale of Nicky Barnes.

I was strictly dropping poem bombs in Street Sense because I had a lot to express about being dogged out. We started creating videos of my work but then he convinced me to expand my creative expression and it worked! It clicked because most of my poems were based on one life experience or another.

ART Molding life

ERICA DOWNING Artist/Vendor

Our lives are molded like clay, based on our decisions made each day. You may start out not knowing your way, each and every day making changes, most just decide to stay the same, because change is hard, letting their gifts and talent decay. There’s no good in attempts to run away from your purpose; we all have a part to play, why did I let that burden weigh on you? In old age considering what could’ve been done yesterday, slay the demons of today. No longer fall prey to self doubt and dismay, put yourself on display, share your gifts and talents with the world as they were intended, only hide away to develop and grow as a butterfly in a cocoon — it’s a part of your DNA to create your own lane, be the star of your own play, sculpt your life like clay.

McPherson

JEN MCLAUGHLIN Artist/Vendor

For many years, the unhoused community went to McPherson Square on weekends to receive services such as clothing, food and hygiene services. Over time, the unhoused community members and advocates noticed the statues of General McPherson were neglected, and being so, decided to say something at a D.C. government homeless meeting. Military heroes should always be respected.

When autumn leaves the US like Ted Kennedy

JAMES DAVIS Artist/Vendor

The polling places are not that crowded, the crisp, cool air blows on the envelope of the sealed ballots.

The first three seasons of the year shed their memories, soon winter will be king and there will be no coronation.

Mother Nature has other plans as a tempest, gather the dry leaves and circle them into a crown, fit for the coming king.

Macy’s is on parade, the balloons look forward to the charade of handlers and toddlers with oohs and ahhs on their faces.

The polling places are now closing. The band, the dead Kennedy’s, have packed up and left, along with the lion of winter.

Time goes a dime

GIGI DOVONOU Artist/Vendor

I’ve been around the world, I’ve been to a lot of places, Seen a million faces, Sometimes life is not what we expect To impact how to expect, we inspect Many of us had taken many actions But unfortunately observed different reactions When time goes around With some bad situations around We know we’re wrong In some of our situations

By paying a wrong attention Many are happy Many are unhappy Crossing the line To find a little dime

How long will it take? How hard it will make Time goes a dime Time does a lime.

Struggle in the jungle Muggle in the middle Time goes a dime.

Feed me blessing

KYM PARKER Artist/Vendor

What is the first thing we do when we wake up in the morning?

Some pray, some ask, and some give thanks to others.

When I wake up in the morning, I pray that all the children are blessed, loved, respected, and know that their sins are forgiven. I say thank you because she hears me and feeds me.

She loves all of us, works with us and helps us. I feel God greater in my soul. I pray every day for her children.

What would make me happy?

ABEL PUTU Artist/Vendor

Sharing my story makes me happy.

Having my own commercial and movie would make me happy.

Getting married would make me happy.

Public transportation with better treatment for people with wheelchairs would make me happy.

People attending a wheelchair basketball game would make me happy.

Homeless

PHILLIP BLACK Artist/Vendor

About a week ago, one of my customers asked me, “Phillip, I can’t give you any money, but I can buy you food.” So I said, “You can’t give me any money, but I can buy you lunch.” There’s a big difference between being homeless and being poor. When people see homeless people doing the wrong thing with the money others give them, they think all homeless do it. Don’t ever judge a book by its cover.

So when I told my customer I can buy lunch, she was in shock. I told her I was homeless, not poor. I can always buy a meal for my customers, the way they want to buy for me. All homeless people are different. Being homeless is one thing, and being poor is another.

6 1 9

3 5 4 6 8 6 3 4 6 8 5 5 8 4 7 5 2 8 2 2 3 7 5

This is the Daily Crossword Puzzle

Across 1. React to an act 5. Pains partner 10. Second Israeli ambassador to U.S. 14. Decorative fabric 15. Scold 16. Somewhat blue 17. Peru Indian 18. Party line? 19. Toward shelter 20. Air makes it work 22. Lush 23. Jarreau and Hirt 24. Court demand 25. Joint part 27. Kind of seating 29. Unflappable 30. Cut short 31. Gulf city in the Sunshine State 34. English longbow wood 35. Certain football position 38. Go astray 41. Got one’s feet wet 42. Little bits 46. Memorized 48. Pitch tents 49. Farm areas 50. Bod wetter? 53. ID factor 54. Mischief maker 55. Pipette kin 57. Nabisco nosh 58. Characteristic 59. Took the count 60. Traveled 61. Something easy 62. Director Kazan 63. Butterfly snares 64. Excessively quick 65. Noggin

2.

31, 2022

Wool fat

Defendant

Soil enricher

. Harmony 6. Group of pitches

. Door part

. He spoke for Mortimer 9. Penn name? 10. Counterpart of a delete key 11. "Horsefeathers!" 12. Common solvent 13. PBS "Science Guy"

. Community dance parties 25. Attack violently 26. Not used 28. Cartoon canine 29. Masseuse employer 31. Late Knight 32. Allow to ripen 33. Kind of pie 36. Posed for 37. Dwarf with glasses

.

44.

Michigan State athlete

Does a florist's chore

45.

Like a farm smell 50

Asian country

Disengages

King's order

Write on glass

Common man

"My ___ Private Idaho"

transports

member

“My ___ Private Idaho”

Community dance parties 25. Attack violently 26. Not used 28. Cartoon canine 29. Masseuse employer 31. Late Knight 32. Allow to ripen 33. Kind of pie 36. Posed for 37. Dwarf with glasses 38. Suspended transports 39. AARP member 40. Attire 43. Kermit as a youth 44. Soap-opera

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Academy of Hope Public Charter School 202-269-6623 // 2315 18th Place NE aohdc.org

SHELTER

HOTLINE

Línea directa de alojamiento (202) 399-7093

YOUTH HOTLINE

Línea de juventud (202) 547-7777

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE

Línea directa de violencia doméstica 1-800-799-7233

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HOTLINE

Línea de salud del comportamiento 1-888-793-4357

JOB BOARD

Team Member

Father McKenna Center // 202-842-1112 19 Eye St., NW fathermckennacenter.org

Bread for the City - 1525 7th St., NW // 202-265-2400 - 1700 Good Hope Rd., SE // 202-561-8587 breadforthecity.org

Calvary Women’s Services // 202-678-2341 1217 Good Hope Rd., SE calvaryservices.org

Catholic Charities // 202-772-4300 924 G St., NW catholiccharitiesdc.org/gethelp

Central Union Mission // 202-745-7118 65 Massachusetts Ave., NW missiondc.org

Charlie’s Place // 202-929-0100 1820 Connecticut Ave., NW charliesplacedc.org

Christ House // 202-328-1100 1717 Columbia Rd., NW christhouse.org

Church of the Pilgrims // 202-387-6612 2201 P St., NW food (1-1:30 on Sundays only) churchofthepilgrims.org/outreach

Community Family Life Services 202-347-0511 // 305 E St., NW cflsdc.org

Community of Hope // 202-540-9857 communityofhopedc.org

Covenant House Washington 202-610-9600 // 2001 Mississippi Ave., SE covenanthousedc.org

D.C. Coalition for the Homeless 202-347-8870 // 1234 Massachusetts Ave., NW dccfh.org

Food and Friends // 202-269-2277 (home delivery for those suffering from HIV, cancer, etc) 219 Riggs Rd., NE foodandfriends.org

Friendship Place // 202-364-1419 4713 Wisconsin Ave., NW friendshipplace.org

Georgetown Ministry Center // 202-338-8301 1041 Wisconsin Ave., NW georgetownministrycenter.org

Loaves & Fishes // 202-232-0900 1525 Newton St., NW loavesandfishesdc.org

Martha’s Table // 202-328-6608 marthastable.org 2375 Elvans Road SE

2204 Martin Luther King Ave. SE

Miriam’s Kitchen // 202-452-8926 2401 Virginia Ave., NW miriamskitchen.org

My Sister’s Place // 202-529-5261 (24-hr hotline) mysistersplacedc.org

N Street Village // 202-939-2076 1333 N St., NW nstreetvillage.org

New York Avenue Shelter // 202-832-2359 1355-57 New York Ave., NE

Samaritan Inns // 202-667-8831 2523 14th St., NW samaritaninns.org

Samaritan Ministry 202-722-2280 // 1516 Hamilton St., NW 202-889-7702 // 1345 U St., SE samaritanministry.org

Sasha Bruce Youthwork // 202-675-9340 741 8th St., SE sashabruce.org

So Others Might Eat (SOME) // 202-797-8806 71 O St., NW some.org

Thrive DC // 202-737-9311 1525 Newton St., NW thrivedc.org

Unity Health Care 3020 14th St., NW // unityhealthcare.org - Healthcare for the Homeless Health Center: 202-508-0500 - Community Health Centers: 202-469-4699

1500 Galen Street SE, 1251-B Saratoga Ave NE, 1660 Columbia Road NW, 4414 Benning Road NE, 3946 Minnesota Avenue NE, 765 Kenilworth Terrace NE, 3240 Stanton Road SE, 3020 14th Street NW, 1717 Columbia Road NW, 1313 New York Avenue, NW BSMT Suite, 425 2nd Street NW, 4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW, 1333 N Street NW, 1355 New York Avenue NE, 828 Evarts Place NE, 810 5th Street NW, 850 Deleware Avenue SW, 65 Massachusetts Avenue NW, 4515 Edson Place NE

Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless 1200 U St., NW // 202-328-5500 legalclinic.org

The Welcome Table // 202-347-2635 1317 G St., NW. epiphanydc.org/thewelcometable

Whitman-Walker Health 1525 14th St., NW // 202-745-7000 2301 MLK Jr. Ave., SE // 202-797-3567 whitman-walker.org

Last updated May 25, 2022

For further information and listings, visit our online service guide at StreetSenseMedia.org/service-guide

Whole Foods Market // 2323 Wisconsin Ave NW

Full-time/Part-time

Application for multiple potential positions across the store, including the customer service, cashier, stocking, food prep, dishwashing, floral arrangements and more.

REQUIRED: N/A

APPLY: https://tinyurl.com/wfm-ssm

Store Associate

CVS // 1637 P Street NW

Full-time/Part-time

Greet and provide customer service, open, close and operate cashier, restock shelves, assist pharmacy when needed.

REQUIRED: Lift up to 35 pounds.

APPLY: https://tinyurl.com/cvs-store

Retail Associate

Ross // 1600 Benning Road NE

Full-time/Part-time

Assist customers at the register and throughout the store, and keep sales floors clean.

REQUIRED: Lift up to 25 pounds.

APPLY: https://tinyurl.com/ross-store

Hiring? Send your job postings to editor@StreetSenseMedia.org

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