Streetvibes May 2005 Edition

May 2005

STREETVIBES Drug Dealing Prevention Barrier Taken Down in OTR

by Jimmy Heath The controversial 13th Street barricade in the downtown neighborhood of Pendleton in Over-the-Rhine - put up on the recommendation of police and residents in an attempt to block easy access to and from I-471 for drug buyers - came down last month, 10 months after it went up.

Cincinnati City Council voted 5-4 to ask the City Manager to take the barricade down. It was originally slated to be a six month “test” closing of the street, but since its erection in July of 2004 it has been a source of controversy and debate.

An increasingly common technique of community policing is limiting access to a neighborhood.

In many cases, the police, with the cooperation of resident leaders, erect barricades and guard posts at street intersections in threatened neighborhoods.

Municipalities have become interested in the prospects for controlling crime through the introduction of traffic barriers and traffic flow controls. Cities as different as London and Chicago have begun to experiment with the use of street barriers, parking prohibitions and other impediments to traffic flow. The idea is to create dead-ends, cul-de-sacs and neighborhoods that are difficult to enter by motor vehicle in the expectation that the levels of crime on targeted streets and neighborhoods will be reduced.

The Pendleton Community Council asked for the barricade at the intersection of 13th Street and Reading Road after a drug deal ended in a fatal shooting and because of speeding cars, petty crime and other dangerous activity.

In 2004, there were 3 murders in this area of OTR, all drug related.

Some Council members and residents said the barricade was installed without properly surveying residents’ opinions. They also said the barricade merely pushed the drug dealing a block away, to 12th Street.

Complaining that it was losing business, a Pendleton car wash, Mr. Bubbles, led the opposition to the barricade. Other 13th Street business owners have complained that the effect of the barricade drove down business.

The city’s Department of Transportation and Engineering

also said the barricade should never have been erected because it’s designed for crime control rather than traffic control.

In a report to council, City Manager Valerie Lemmie laid out a six-step process for future street closures, which will require approval of 75 percent of property owners, along with other criteria affected by a closure, along with City Council approval.

The 5-4 vote to remove the barrier came after Cincinnati City Councilmember Sam Malone, who had previously voted to keep the The barricade, changed his mind.

It came as a surprise to the Pendleton Community Council, who thought a decision would wait until their meeting this month, when they planned to hear a presentation on the effects of the barricade from the neighborhood’s community problem-oriented policing (CPOP) team.

Police say the barricade has driven crime down by no longer allowing drug buyers from suburban areas and Kentucky easy access to 13th Street from Reading Road and the exit ramp from Interstate 471.

The access provided drug buyers an easy route in and out of the city for purchases from street corner drug dealers. But opponents of the barricade, led by the Mr. Bubbles car wash, said the barricade kept too many business customers away.

Meanwhile, drug dealers who were inconvenienced by the barricade took up business on other street corners in the neighborhood.

Arrest statistics indicate that while there has been a decrease in the number of serious crimes in the Pendleton area, the number of less serious crimes has increased.

Several barricade opponents chastised City Council, saying their predominantly black, mostly poor neighborhood had been unfairly targeted. Cincinnati City Council previously delayed a vote on whether to remove the metal guardrail that was installed by police last July.

13th street is lined with turn-of-the-century tenement buildings mostly inhabited by lowincome people of color. There is decay and poverty, but there are families and businesses that are

barricade from Reading Road to 13th Street in Over-the-Rhine hoping to bring safety to this dangerous area.

But residents say drug dealing is also common along the Main Street entertainment district and near bars in Mount Adams, which are frequented by affluent white customers, yet barricades aren’t used there.

Laketa Cole, who heads Council’s neighborhoods committee, said police had indicated they had overwhelming resident support for the barricade when it was installed. But a recent UC study found otherwise, she said.

“There were several residents who indicated the barrier should not have been there,” she said.

Many of the citizens and their families feel like they have been abandoned by the police and the city. Blocking a street is not a solution to the drug problem, but it temporarily greases the squeaky wheel – it sends a message to the uneasy upper-class that something is being done to appease the new, more affluent, formerly suburban residents. It superficially addresses the concerns of neighborhood upscale developers.

Sadly, drug dealers simply move on to another corner and the problem becomes someone else’s.

It didn’t take long before the middle-class residents and businesses realized they had been had by this weak “solution.”

There is a growing realization that the best strategies for fighting crime in residential neighborhoods are those where the

police work closely with resident organizations. Such communitybased strategies require residents to believe that others in their neighborhood, including the police, are committed to a crime-free environment.

Additionally, as long as the drug-buying customers keep coming to the corners in urban neighborhoods to buy drugs, there will be a willing supplier. For every drug deal that goes down, there is an equal amount of buyers.

A message needs to be sent to the buyers that this is not the place to buy drugs. Coming at the drug problem backwards will not solve the problem. It is not enough to create a slight inconvenience by blocking street corner access.

Most important is evenly distributed access to safety for everyone, including low-income people who have lived and worked and raised their kids on these tough neighborhood streets.

It should never be a matter of economics from the standpoint of who’s “worthy” and who isn’t. It is a sad commentary on our society that money rules the day; that appearance, color and culture judges how precious you are, or aren’t.

Soon, it will be necessary to block every street in the community, creating a gated urban neighborhood. We need a community that celebrates each citizen equally – and does not apply weak fixes when rich people come in and start crying. We also need a unified community that will not tolerate the use of neighborhood streets as an open-air drug market.

Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless

Streetvibes Streetvibes, the TriState’s alternative news source, is a newspaper written by, for, and about the homeless and contains relevant discussions of social justice, and poverty issues. It is published once a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless.

Becoming a Streetvibes Vendor is a great way for homeless and other low-income people to get back on (or stay on) their feet. Streetvibes Vendors are given an orientation and sign a code of conduct before being given a Streetvibes Vendor badge. Vendors are private contractors who DO NOT work for, or represent, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homleess. All profits go directly to the vendor.

The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a group of shelters, agencies and individuals committed to ending homelessness in Cincinnati through coordinating services, educating the public and grassroots organizing.

GCCH Staff Georgine Getty - Executive Director Allison Leeuw - Administrative Coordinator Andy Erickson - Education Coordinator Rachel Lawson - Civil Rights VISTA Kate McManus - Civil Rights VISTA Mary Gaffney - Receptionist Streetvibes Jimmy Heath, Editor Photographers Jimmy Heath, Steve Lansky Cover Jimmy Heath photo 13th Street barricade, Over-the-Rhine Streetvibes accepts letters, poems, stories, essays, original graphics, and photos. We will give preference to those who are homeless or vendors.

Subscriptions to Streetvibes, delivered to your home each month, can be purchased for $25 per year.

Address mail to: Streetvibes Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com web: http://cincihomeless.org

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Update with Ernie Hubbell Ernie came into the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless office (GCCH) on April 26 to give an update on what’s been happening since his last interview with Streetvibes. He had a stack of photos in his hand of people who had been helping him and wants to say a big thank you. He’s also been helping homeless folks. As he puts it, “there are always two sides to a story. That’s what causes problems between elected officials and homeless people.”

People have been staying with you? Occasionally overnight. Just here and there. Just my friends. I feed them with food from the church, give them clothes and send them on their way. These are my friends who are homeless. I’d like to thank them.

They give me information from the street . . . who’s died because of alcohol, how the bridge camps are doing. Sometimes they give me soda pop, they give what they can.

Where do you stay now? Page Towers. I have a furnished apartment. . . my own furniture thanks to the churches. There are two ladies from the Lord’s Pantry who gave me a color TV. They serve sandwiches. Here is my preacher and his wife (Carol & Larry Bombark). They’re like a mom and dad to me. They’re self-funded.

They spend their own money.

Here’s a guy in a camp.

He’s below poverty level.

This is what it’s like, homelessness. Here’s Sharon and Debbie from Tender Mercies. They saved me. These are all my friends.

These are friends to the homeless people. Some of them are homeless, they stay up under bridges. All I can do is be an example. I’m Sharon and Ernie free from drugs. I have an apartment. I abide by the law. I hope they don’t have to have a tragedy like I did before they get some help.

There was a rumor that you died, what happened?

Yeah. They thought I’d passed away. I just want people to know that I’m doing well. I want other people to get help too.

Cincinnati Behavioral Health can help them.

Anything else new? My Friend at campsite attorney is taking my case to I just want to put this in because I’m court with my Social Security. I’m helping homeless people where I can, having a few health problems. . . I have a lot of pain in my legs and they but I can only do so much. I’m getting help myself. I’m not sure go out on me. Other than my pain, what to say, but I’m speaking from I’m staying sober and healthy. I’m the heart. The Lord is helping me. going on TV. (Brian Garry’s cable show) I think.

The Cost of War Americans killed since war began (3/19/03): 1572 (as of April, 2004) Since “Mission Accomplished” (5/1/03) 1435 Since Capture of Saddam (12/13/03): 1105 Since Handover (6/29/04): 706 Since Election (1/31/05): 140 American Wounded Official Estimated - Total Wounded: 11664 Other Coalition Troops -176 US Military Deaths - Afghanistan - 166 The wounded numbers above reflect the official count as released by the U.S. military. However, there are other estimates that 12,000 soldiers have been treated for illness, non-combat injury and combat injury since March of 2002.

The Landstuhl Regional Medical Center has been a fixture on America’s military landscape for more than five decades, serving as midway point for wounded troops returning home for treatment.

Since President Bush declared Iraq combat operations over in May 2003, nearly 3,000 servicemen and women have been wounded in action. More than half that number did not return to duty, reflecting the high number of combat casualties, and serious nature of injuries, from Iraq.

As many as 1 of every 10 soldiers from the war on terror evacuated to the Army’s biggest hospital in Europe was sent there for mental problems.

Between 8 and 10 percent of nearly 12,000 soldiers from the war on terror, mostly from Iraq, treated at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany had “psychiatric or behavioral health issues,” according to the commander of the hospital, Col. Rhonda Cornum.

That means about 1,000 soldiers were evacuated for mental problems.

The hospital has treated 11,754 soldiers from the war on terror, with 9,651 from Iraq and the rest from Afghanistan, according to data released by the hospital.

Streetvibes exists as a forum for the expression of the views and opinions of our readers and supporters. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Streetvibes staff or the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless

Streetvibes

throughout the five boroughs.

According to a survey released today by the department, 592 homeless people live in Brooklyn, 587 in the Bronx, 1,805 in Manhattan, 335 in Queens, 231 in Staten Island and 845 are living in the subways.

William “Les” Brown, an ”I spent a lot of time making Compiled by Jimmy Heath activist who helped start an sure I did not make assumptions In New York, a homeless advocacy group to fight (about the numbers of homeless man was busted last month for homelessness in Chicago, has people),” said DHS commission trying to smuggle a BB gun into a died. He was 64.

Linda Gibbs. “While we continue to federal building so he could shoot Brown was a founder of the have far too many individuals Social Security clerks for cutting Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. remaining on our streets, we now off his benefits.

The coalition’s executive director, Ed have a solid estimate of street Daniel O’Brien, 38, of Staten Shurna, says Brown died last month homelessness citywide.”

Island, told investigators he brought at Rush North Shore Hospital in A higher density of homeless the weapon “so he could intimidate Skokie after a long battle with cancer. people were found near Social Security employees if Brown was the Chicago transportation hubs like Penn Station, necessary,” but added he had no coalition’s first board president and Grand Central Terminal and the Port qualms about using it. went on to become its executive Authority bus terminal, the survey “I would have shot them director in 1988. He also had been found. because I’m not getting any answers active in the National Coalition for the regarding my Social Security,” he said Homeless.

An auction in Witchita, in a written confession, law Brown was born in Doraville, Kansas raised about $45,000 for enforcement sources said.

Georgia. He earned a masters the Drop-In Center and other O’Brien’s name was on a degree in social work from Chicago’s United Methodist Urban Ministry Secret Service watch list because he Loyola University in 1968. services to combat homelessness. had made verbal threats against Brown is survived by a wife, President Bush in 2002, sources said. two children, a sister and two As much as the event was O’Brien, who suffers from grandchildren. about art, it was also about raising bipolar disorder and lives in a awareness on the issue of homeless shelter on Staten Island, is In Springfield MA, Lee homelessness, said the Rev. Deann being held without bail by the U.S. O’Brien says he survived the Smith, executive minister of the Bureau of Prisons pending an April winter thanks to a city-sponsored organization. She said the Drop-In 11 court date. emergency homeless shelter that Center is at capacity, averaging about He was arrested by the guaranteed him a thin mattress on 100 people each day.”

Federal Protective Service and a patch of basement floor.

Homeless services are one of arraigned before a federal magistrate.

The so-called warming the hardest to fund, because people Law enforcement sources said he had places, operated on alternating nights have the myth of the guy that just served time in federal prison, but at two city churches, gave the 30doesn’t want to do anything, and details of the earlier case were not year-old refuge from the blistering that’s not the case,” she said. available. cold and an alternative to the “All of us would like to think Worthington House, Springfield’s that could never happen to us,” she In Lexington, North main homeless shelter which many said, “But having worked at the Carolina critics fear a statewide say is overcrowded and unsafe.

Drop-In Center and been across the database that will track the But with the warming places table as I’ve served lunch, I see that homeless as they get help will put set to close on April 30 when the there’s so little that separates me from victims of domestic violence in program’s funding ends, O’Brien and the guy or woman that I’m serving.” danger, make fraud easier and scores of other homeless people are discourage people from getting becoming anxious about where they’ll Toronto police announced help. find shelter. they have charged two people in Starting next year, information After eating lunch at a the death of a homeless man on computers used at shelters, soup downtown soup kitchen, O’Brien and whose body was found last week kitchens and treatment centers can be some of his friends started talking near the Rogers Centre. shared with nonprofit agencies across about the need for another Sanctuary An autopsy found the victim, North Carolina.

City - the name given to the identified as Daniel Joseph O’Brien, Supporters say the goal is to community of tents and plastic tarps 43, died of a blunt force trauma to his improve services, allowing workers that drew criticism from city officials head. to track whether the homeless get while providing a haven to the James Rushton, 23, of continued help. homeless last year.

Toronto, has been charged with But critics charge the “Hopefully there will be second-degree murder, and Tina database will subject the homeless another one of those,” said O’Brien, Marie Desjardine, 23, of Vernon, “to a level of tracking that is normally who says he arrived in Springfield B.C., has been charged with being an used against criminals,” said Jennifer from Tennessee about four months accessory after the fact.

Rudinger, executive director of the ago and found himself homeless when ACLU of North Carolina. a friend’s promise of a job and a Here in Cincinnati, The programs use names, place to stay was broken. “If not, I downtown businesses and Social Security numbers, dates of guess we’ll all just be on the streets.” property owners pay a voluntary birth and other personal data to set tax that raises $1.6 million up individual computer files.

New York City’s annually for various services, Whenever a homeless person spends Department of Homeless including $50,000 for Brent a night in a shelter, sees a counselor Services said last month that Chasteen’s social worker position. or picks up food at a participating 4,395 homeless people live on the Chasteen walks through the agency, the file is updated. city streets and in subway stations downtown and tells the homeless

Homeless News Digest

Streetvibes

about sandwich shops where they can get something to eat under deals he has worked out. He is friendly but firm as he warns the homeless of a city ordinance that outlaws aggressive panhandling.

Steve Prichard, 45, has been on the streets for four years, but is now staying with friends and plans to enter an alcohol rehabilitation program.

“Brent has stuck with me through thick and thin,” Prichard said.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do all this without his help.”

Still, many cases do not turn out as well. Sometimes people skip the meetings Chasteen sets up with social service agencies, drop out of treatment programs or rebuff his attempts to help.

“I try not to take it personally or get discouraged,” he said. “I just see myself as a motivator for those who want help but may not be able to find it on their own.”

A judge overruled a mobile home park’s request for summary judgment in a case involving the location of a new homeless shelter in Iowa City, Iowa.

Attorneys for the Hilltop Mobile Home Court argued that Shelter House missed a deadline to extend an application period with the Iowa City Board of Adjustment. The new shelter is proposed near Southgate Avenue and Waterfront Drive.

However, Judge David Remley concluded that the applicant’s request was timely filed.

During a two-hour bench trial last month in Johnson County District Court, attorneys argued for and against a special exception granted in August 2004 by the Iowa City Board of Adjustment. Arguments focused on whether sufficient evidence existed to support the board’s decision, specifically whether the new shelter would hurt neighboring property values and whether parking requirements had been met.

Appeals brought last summer by nearby property owners, including Hilltop Mobile Home Court, stalled the shelter from expanding from its current 29-bed center at 331 N. Gilbert St., to a facility that could house as many as 70 people at 429 Southgate Ave.

Writers!

Submit your Poetry to STREETVIBES email your writing to Streetvibes@juno.com Page 3

If the human race wishes to have a prolonged and indefinite period of material prosperity, they have only got to behave in a peaceful and helpful way toward one another.

- Winston Churchill I prefer the most unfair peace to the most righteous war.

- Cicero.

The most disadvantageous peace is better than the most just war.

- Desiderius Erasmus I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.

- Mohandas K. Gandhi Peace is a journey of a thousand miles and it must be taken one step at a time.

- Lyndon B Johnson Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind...War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today.

- John F. Kennedy Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.

- John F. Kennedy At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Only $15 We will send your Streetvibes T-shirt to your door All proceeds benefit the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and the Streetvibes newspaper. Call 513.421.7803 x 16, or come in to our office at 117 E 12th Street in Over-the-Rhine Page 4

Streetvibes

In Focus: WIC Trends One half of all U.S. infantsand one in four young children in the U.S. (aged one to five)-get crucial health and nutrition benefits from the WIC Program, according to a new FRAC (Food Research & Action Council) report.

“WIC In The States: ThirtyOne Years of Building A Healthier America” provides extensive stateby-state and year-by-year data for each of the covered categories (women, infants and children) for the period FY 1974 through FY 2004.

“WIC is building a healthier America,” explained Geraldine Henchy, MPH, RD, FRAC’s Director of Early Childhood Nutrition and the author of the report.

“Newer research is adding to the list of positive WIC accomplishments. It helps to reduce low birth weights, decrease the incidence of iron deficiency anemia in children, prevent overweight in children, and improve the growth of at-risk infants and children.

WIC investments are costeffective, preventing costly health problems that would impact federal, state and local budgets in the future.”

See http://www.frac.org/ Press_Release/04.20.05.html and http://www.frac.org/WIC/ 2004_Report/index.html

chorus of conversation. Forty ounce on the move, in and out of the alley, bottles being passed around in peeking around the corners, watching between tokes of a joint. In one for the police.

by Riccardo Taylor Smokers, drinkers, tricks, Ah! So here we are ready to corner you may witness a sexual act where a quickie may result in a few and crooks all paying tribute to the take a walk down the street in the dollars pay. The exchanges of alley and its happening. Huddled up life. schemes are on the lips of everyone, in a corner with a bottle, or passing Strolling the avenue, listening trying to figure away to come upon a around the crack pipe. to the sounds of the city streets. lick for the return trip back here.

Between slurred Watching to see who is doing what, The empty building, their conversations of the alcoholics there how the human traffic is flowing. backs on the alley proper are as busy occurs the pronounced voice from We pass groups of people someone giving doing their thing. Drinking, swearing, as the main street.

People climbing in and instructions on the talking loud about everyone else’s out of once boarded fine art of smoking business. The groups consist of the the crack pipe. street people, those of us who line the windows, or doorways that have been The alley is a sidewalk, everyone looking for reopened by the live from the first something to get into. It’s all about squatters who reside in hour of the day until trying to make a dollar. the splendor of an the last. The alley Dope fiends, alcoholics, abandoned building. has a life of its own. panhandlers, and small time hustlers Some coming out to It is the passageway all vying for a piece of the day’s pie.

Riccardo Taylor start the day others from sobriety to Each one working for the moment seeking refuge from intoxication, from that they can take their brake in the their tour of the streets. mellowness to rage, from sense of alley.

Arguments, the order of sanity to the pure depths of the Before entering the alley we insane. have to take a look up and down the civility in the alley are heard throughout the day.

An occasional This is the place where the street to see who’s watching or who fight occurs, but generally threats fly street person is most relaxed. It is might follow. as everyone attempts to establish here that we make plans for going Upon entering the alley we their right or rank within the alley. back out on the sidewalk. are greeted by the smells of human Often you find someone who after Oh! The sidewalk. We’ll waste, urine permeating the air. reaching his or her limit of intoxicants see what’s happening out there. Let’s Every shadow conceals people has laid down some cardboard for a take a walk. ranging from one to a group. bout of sleep. Others are constantly Whispers and shouts mingling in the It is not necessary to advertise food to hungry people, fuel to cold

by Jimmy Gipson, Vendor no one to trust in them. Churches people, or houses to the homeless. and other agencies help the best way The message and the need John Kenneth Galbraith continues. The cry for help is always that they can. But not enough to present for the homeless problem in bring changes to the lives of many.

The real problem too is in the mind Cincinnati and the thinking of the homeless.

Streetvibes vendors and writers carry this message. The need They adapt to confused and defeated behavior. This is their reality. More for giving is great and becoming love, more support more giving is greater. Mental illness, addiction, abuse, poverty, crime, lack of housing needed. You must understand what is Over the years, media at stake. The more you give, the – It is at an all time high with no owners and editors have come up more you bless. Serving gives and solutions in sight. The depressing with different explanations for the state of the homeless mind makes it a offers hope to the one who’s trying to lack of left or progressive voices overcome their problems. plaque for everyone. They’re trying across the media landscape. We’re Thank you and continue to is in vain. The homeless say, Why told those ideas are unpopular with support Streetvibes and the vendor try? No one cares or loves. the public, for example, or that leftists Many try to help themselves, so that the message can continue to aren’t as engaging or likeable as, say, just to run into a deadend. They have be carried. May God Bless Sean Hannity.

Street Life

The Zen of Streetvibes

Don’t Get Too Worked up About Anything

Homeless Woman

by Linda Corey, Streetvibes Vendor A woman being homeless is very hard. I was homeless in Daytona Beach, Florida, and I‘ve been homeless here in Cincinnati.

Cincinnati is a lot harder on a woman than Daytona. The men here are nice until you reject their offers and they turn on you. Most of the men I have met are OK. I leave them where they are.

I was in Daytona living with a man who came on like a charm when he was sober. After a few drinks he turned into a mean, selfish, greedy and controlling person. Women are brain dead. I put up with this for 5

years. I was always wearing a black and blue face.

I had him arrested and he just got worse. The black and blue increased. I had separated ribs and I tried counseling for domestic violence recovery. That did not work so well.

I had nightmares.

My friends told me that if I didn’t leave he would eventually kill me. I left and hitchhiked to Cincinnati. My kids are in Daytona.

I miss them a lot. I hope one day to go back and see them. Congress needs to make up laws that are a lot stricter on these men who hit women and children to keep these women and children safe.

We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless.

The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.

Mother Teresa

The new CNN President Jonathan Klein offered another theory during an appearance on PBS’s Charlie Rose Show on March 25: Progressives aren’t angry enough.

When Rose asked if there could ever be a successful progressive version of Fox News Channel, Klein thought not. He explained that while Fox was tapping into a brand of “mostly angry white men” conservatism, “a quote/unquote, ‘progressive’ or liberal network probably couldn’t reach the same sort of an audience, because liberals tend to like to sample a lot of opinions. They pride themselves on that. And you know, they don’t get too worked up about anything. And they’re pretty morally relativistic. And so, you know, they allow for a lot of that stuff.”

Does Klein really think progressives don’t get too worked up about anything? If he does, that

Streetvibes

U.S. Income Gap Among Worst of Wealthy Nations (“It’s better to be poor in Norway than in the US,” Christian Science Monitor, April 14, 2005) Even though Americans on average have a higher standard of living than those in almost all other rich countries, the poor in America fare worse than the poor people in almost all other industrialized countries. The cause is unequal distribution of income in the U.S. Among 30 prosperous nations, the U.S. ranks third from the bottom in income equality.

Only Russia and Mexico have a greater maldistribution of income.

America does “far less on the social side. We have not as good a safety net. The priorities aren’t there,” says Timothy Smeeding, a public policy professor at the Maxwell School of Syracuse University, who compiled the inequality numbers.

Poor U.S. children are at a “serious economic disadvantage” compared to their peers in other nations. Without a stronger governmental safety net, the nation faces “a rough future,” says Smeeding. Disadvantaged children “will be a drag on themselves and on our whole economy.” http:// www.csmonitor.com/2005/0414/ p17s02-cogn.html

might be because he’s watching too much CNN, where centrists are often looked to stand in for bona fide progressives.

But outside the CNN studios, evidence would suggest that progressives get plenty worked up.

Internet organizing groups like MoveOn.org, which advocates against Bush administration policies, attract millions of members.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans marched against the Iraq war, and the 2004 Republican convention in New York City provoked massive protests. The expansion of liberal talk radio network Air America, as well as the success of the Bushbashing documentary Fahrenheit 9/ 11, would also seem to suggest that there’s an audience for programming from a distinctly left-of-center perspective.

As for progressives being “pretty morally relativistic,” Klein’s insult seems misapplied. One could argue that it’s the right and not the left that tends to see the killing of civilians as important only if the civilians are of the right nationality, for example, and thinks that torture may be acceptable if the right people are torturing.

Presenting a skewed political dialogue that under represents progressive points of view is bad enough; but Klein’s explanation that progressives simply don’t get “worked up” makes no sense whatsoever.

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Program Important in Aiding The Second Time Around day. Completely satisfying. Or so I Senior Citizens The staff at AARP is very by Rachel Lawson thought. dedicated in helping provide help to

by Ms. Mary Gaffney senior citizens, whose programs To my Streetvibes readers and my homeless friends, this month’s provide extra income. The four or article is dedicated to AARP and the five hours of employment each day are very helpful. staff headquartered at 700 Walnut I want to thank each and Street here in downtown Cincinnati. every one of the The American people at the Association for downtown AARP Retired Persons office. Your help in (AARP) is a senior aiding the senior men employment program and women helps for people 55 years provide a better life. or older. This To my program is so readers and homeless important in aiding the friends, keep on senior citizen, Miss Mary Gaffney trying, and don’t give providing job up. God loves both placement and you and I. training.

The staff at the Cincinnati office is John Phillips, project director, Abdur Rashid Ali, employment specialist; Mary Dean, employment specialist; Jimmy White, community outreach specialist; Clara Miller, office specialist; Dorothy Craig, computer specialist; Dean Campbell, intake payroll; Bill Wiggin morning receptionist; Mary Ann Doyle, afternoon John Phillips, project director, AARP receptionist.

Hello Future

by Marieke Van Zyl Amid the litany of ‘international days’ on our calendars, World Telecommunications Day (on 17 May) stands out as one whose importance in contemporary society is steadily increasing.

Celebrated as a commemoration of the founding of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), it’s an annual date on which to take stock of the state of the global digital divide, and the initiatives that have been, and are being implemented to combat this technopolitical phenomenon.

In our increasingly connected global society, the issue of access to information and communication technologies plays a fundamental role in the level of interaction a country or community can achieve with its neighbors or competitors. The lack of access to such tools and systems has placed Africa at a disadvantage in relation to the international market, compounding the many economic and social problems already suffered by her countries. Catch-up has been painfully slow, with the logistics of stringing phone-lines in some of Africa’s more rural areas and harsh landscapes proving tough and expensive.

It is because of these difficulties that many have turned to the world of cellular communication

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to decrease the problems of connectivity on the African continent.

In 1999, Uganda became the first African nation to have more cellular than fixed-line customers, an example, which some 30 other Africans countries have followed since. Cell-towers are significantly cheaper to build than kilometers of telephone wires and poles, with much lower maintenance costs. This has prompted Uganda to recently start removing some of its mostly unused fixed-line infrastructure.

It is estimated that about 9,000 cellular users sign up in South Africa daily, with current statistics claiming 19 million cell-connected citizens. With the South African consumer still waiting for a second network operator to be licensed in order to break Telkom’s de facto monopoly, the ease and accessibility of cellular communication is negating or replacing the need for a fixed-line communication for a growing number of people. While the global digital divide is still felt keenly with regard to the Internet and its various communication channels, cell phones are increasingly picking up this slack in the telecommunications market.

As an international initiative, the ITU has a Plan of Action to which all of its 175 members have committed themselves, the primary object of which is to extend information and communication

Mr. Taylor invited me to I love all forms of creative writing. As a result I may not qualify attend his first reading, ever, on April as an expert on what is and what is 1st, 2005. Although it was pouring down raining, a group of loyal art not “true.” I honestly believe that (spoken and visual) lovers, college anything someone took time out to write is relevant and whether or not I students, etc, gathered at the Base Gallery (located on Main Street in “get it” does not really matter. After Over-he-Rhine) and listened to all there are pieces that were written various performers read and recite so certain people would not “get it,” for example, the Negro Spirituals that their creative pieces. Before Riccardo performed, he explained the guided slaves to freedom were not inspiration for his written understood by their piece and then he went white masters and I on to read in his personally am pretty soothing yet gruff voice thankful for that. In Dancing in Poverty. This turn, I like to read time around however, it creative writing pieces was more fulfilling. It for what they are, works was as if even though I of arts that sometimes Rachel Lawson had eaten my favorite let the reader into the meal, Larosa’s just added my favorite mind, heart, and soul of the writer. desert, and I was beyond satisfied, I What impresses me the most, was in total bliss. It’s amazing how however, about creative writing different things sound and appear pieces is their ability to have a life of once your perspective is broadened their own, as well as your own beyond your own understanding of personal impression and understanding of the writing and how reality. I gained insight into the and why that perspective can change. thoughts of an individual who wants Upon first reading Dancing in so much more for not only himself, but for those around him.

Poverty by Riccardo Taylor in the Riccardo’s work examines December Issue of Streetvibes, I thought it was well written and that it the desire to go beyond the level of gave a unique viewpoint of the life led gaining material possession but instead challenging individuals to

by Homeless Individuals. Extremely demand that they are treated with the humble, reserved, intelligent, with a utmost respect. Inspite of one’s spark of mischief hiding in his eyes, circumstances, we are all human and the words of Riccardo Taylor are a deserve to be treated that way. major asset to any conversation, Although I still believe that Dancing in poetry collection, or spoken word Poverty was beautifully written, I event. Also very direct, Riccardo know that it reaches an even deeper does not allow anyone to element, it offers the reader the misunderstand the reality of his life.

In turn, my first reading of Dancing in opportunity to step into another world, life, and reality and I thank Poverty was ironically similar to Riccardo, the Nikki Giovanni’s, and eating one of my favorite meals: the Maya Angelou’s for that Larosa’s pizza with a salad, after opportunity. having absolutely nothing to eat all

technologies to all humanity. For example, in 2004, the ITU initiated the installation of 100 Multipurpose Communication Telecentres in 20 African countries with primary aims to bridge geographical and social distances, as well as focusing on empowering rural women.

Press releases concerning such projects use words such as “ehealth” and “e-governance,” connoting a new era of administration that could possibly bridge obstacles such as language, distance and accessibility on the African continent.

In the wake of the tsunami disaster that rocked the world, the union has channeled energies on developing an early-warning disaster reduction system; what it calls a “wake-up call for technological co-operation.”

Reprinted from The Big Issue South Africa, April 2005. ©Street News Service: www.street-papers.org

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GE Announces $1 Million Grant For City GE announced a million dollar grant aimed at improving race relations and other issues in Cincinnati last month.

The money will go to a new group called “Better Together Cincinnati,” which is hoping to increase diversity and racial understanding in the city. The grant is part of a court ordered collaborative effort initiated in the wake of the April, 2001 civil unrest. The fund is managed by the Greater Cincinnati Foundation Part of the GE donation will go toward improving night-time lighting in Over-The-Rhine, especially around Music Hall.

GE held shareholder meetings in Cincinnati last month.

Undoubtedly, the blackface minstrel hardships and cruelties that Blacks have successfully endured. Although I think Cincinnati definitely needs

by Rachel Lawson random history lessons on what racial In the early 1800’s a tolerance can lead to, that’s not my comedian named Thomas Rice purpose for taking a dreary walk introduced a song that described a back in time. black stable hand. The image that A young white lady chuckled was depicted in the song gave birth to as she was assigned her role for the Blackface. The Black face minstrel day: a black coffee-colored, freeshows a type of theatrical flowing Afro wearing woman. entertainment that was extremely Smiling before her audience, she was popular in the United States, the UK instructed to imagine she was black. and even Europe. Both White and This did not happen in the early Black performers wore greasepaint, 1800’s. It didn’t even happen in the wigs, and rags for clothing in order to 1900’s. It happened March 30, exaggerate the stereotypes of Blacks 2005. UPN is one of my favorite during that time. In turn, although the channels because of their continuous minstrel shows played on the preeffort to fill their television line-up existing racist views, they also further with African American oriented shaped them. Although the roles that shows that focus on a variety of these Black actors played were themes: a group of single independent extremely insulting, it allowed for women to a single father raising his African Americans to at least get their college oriented daughter. As well, foot in the door. Bert Williams, America’s Next Top Model, hosted famous for his portrayal as a solo

by Tyra Banks had become one of minstrel performer is even more my must see television shows, known for being the first black especially since last season the young performer on Broadway.

Eva won, setting a positive example

We Wear the Mask

for other African Americans. For all of you that perhaps don’t watch reality shows as faithfully as I do, each week the contestants each have a test (whether it means taking a picture with a boa constrictor or hanging upside down in the air), the purpose of each test is to make sure you know how to take a good picture no matter what the circumstance.

Which is why I am not sure what was the motivation behind placing a white female in what basically was modern day blackface.

I thought perhaps it was just me until my cell phone kept ringing and all of my friends called me asking me what was going on. Here was our role model, an independent and beautiful Black model who was extending her hands out to all women and showing them how to be business oriented and focused at the same time. Yet as a black woman, I personally felt slapped in the face.

Not only did Tyra Banks basically promote black face in 2005, but also since that week’s test was based on all the would be models becoming another ethnicity they all played into

stereotypes. For example a young blond became an Italian mom and the judges berated her appearing too innocent to promote that sexy Italian image and another contestant, a black woman became Asian by placing a wig on her head and accentuating her eye shape. The stereotypical images that America’s Next Top Model promoted on March 30, 2005 were similar to the ones that were put on display during the early 1800’s. One can not forget Bert Williams, Josephine Baker, and Spike Lee and the suffering that they struggled to make known to the world. “We wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides out cheeks and shades our eyes, This debt we pay to human guile; With torn and bleeding hearts we smile” Paul Laurence Dunbar. *All historical information was accessed from an online encyclopedia, for further information or if you would like to look further into the history of the blackface minstrels feel free to visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Blackface

must first go to court to be assigned her court date and then she will have to go to court again. That would be two days in which she probably spends the whole day at court in addition to possibly another day in jail.

For those of you who may not be aware, when you do not have the funds to pay your fine, homeless individuals and those with lower income spend days in jail depending on the price of the fine. In other words, Ms. Cobb will be left with deciding whether or not she will pay for heart medicine or even food and shelter for homeless individuals in order to not spend a day in jail. Another issue to consider is that when a homeless personal has charges on their record, no matter how small or irrelevant, it gives them an extensive criminal record. Having such a record certainly does not make it any easier to find housing or assistance.

I think it is tragic that the police are targeting panhandlers, when it is legal to panhandle, but it is even more of a tragedy when there are actual crimes occurring in Cincinnati that should receive attention. Ironically, Ms. Cobb herself believes in upholding the law, which is why she educates herself on the city ordinances in order to ensure she is not breaking the laws. She even explained that if she were in the wrong, she would have no problem; unfortunately Ms. Cobb was upholding the law. As stated before,

the Cincinnati Police Department has quite a few fans and that is the result of them upholding the law and protecting their citizens.

Unfortunately we cannot ignore the actions of those who are giving a bad name to the Cincinnati Police Department. Those police officers that profile anyone based on the social status, race, or beliefs should be given just as much attention, to ensure that they are not allowed to violate the civil and legal rights of anyone. Especially a 60 year old woman who is raising money for homeless individuals.

Upholding the Law

by Rachel Lawson The responsibility of the Police Department is to protect the citizens and uphold the law; there are definitely police officers out there that go above and beyond their duty and they should be recognized and given applause. Unfortunately, there is always a bad seed in the bunch that give a bad name to the Cincinnati Police Department.

Ms. Carol Cobbs is a striking woman; although she’s petite in stature, her vast knowledge of information, feisty spirit, and ‘go-getem’ attitude make her someone to be reckoned with, not someone to mistreat. Although she’s in her early sixties, there’s no strand of gray and why should there be? Anyone who has led the life she has and believes in her strong moral convictions is destined to always have a smile on her face.

Raised in group homes at an early age, Ms. Cobbs explains, “I’ve been down some roads and I’m not a drug addict or alcoholic” although she’s definitely come in contact with her fair share.

Ms. Cobb does more for others in one day than others have tried to do in a life time. Why? She says, “It gives me something to do, besides feeling sorry for myself.

Occupy my time.” She went on to explain that when she first saw homeless individuals in Cincinnati, she thought that was only something that happened in New York. Deciding that something definitely had to be done, she set out to get to know homeless individuals and help them anyway she knew how.

Unfortunately Carols eyes were opened to a reality that made her unhappy, “You’re playing God when

you decide who can eat. If they tell you they’re hungry, you feed them.”

Rather than sitting still and accepting the problems that were right in front of her, Carol tackled them head on. She began interacting with different agencies, insisting that they treat their clients the right way.

She also takes in people from under the bridge into her own home so they can get a shower and shows them how to access different programs that can assist them. Ms. Cobb is not a multi-millionaire who has the funds to freely give away, but rather she does what she does because it’s right. As a matter of fact, Ms. Cobb is even a legal panhandler herself, going so far as to receive her vendor license to ensure that Carol Cobb she is not breaking any law. Ms. Cobb uses the funds that she receives to help the homeless individuals that she interacts with, for example, buying them food and blankets.

Ms. Cobb is the very person the Cincinnati Police Department should be protecting, especially since she is legally allowed to panhandle.

Instead, certain police officers harass the homeless and lower income people. Ms. Cobb is a perfect example of what happens when the interaction between the police and lower income individuals is not positive and understanding. Since she was given a ticket for impeding traffic while she was panhandling, she has a fine of $60 and if she cannot afford to pay Ms. Cobb must spend a day in jail. However, Ms. Cobb

Streetvibes

20 YEARS SERVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Empowering our neighborhood children through peace, art and education Peaslee Neighborhood Center 215 East 14th Street Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

(513) 621-5514 Page 7

Drop Inn Center Update Don’t be Squirrelly!

Weather Impact: If you had any doubt before about the impact of weather on the shelter population, just look at a weekend in April as a case in point. On a Friday night, before the severe weather hit, we had 178 people stay the night. However, on Sunday, when the temperature hovered around freezing, we had 242 people. That’s a 40% increase!

Thanks to everyone for their yearround assistance. Due to your help, we can be available whenever we are needed.

Supportive Housing Update: As you may know, the Drop Inn Center has been working with development groups who are interested in moving our Supportive Housing at the corner of 12th and Elm Streets for the new Arts School Project. We had a project worked out this spring that would have used Tax Credits to pay for the construction of a new facility, but talks broke down mid-February because city leaders had concerns about the size and program for the project. We are beginning again to work on another relocation project and are re-looking at possible sites and program options. We will keep you posted on any developments.

Let us know if you have any ideas!

Rumors: Some of you may have heard the rumor recently that said that the Drop Inn Center was moving to Price Hill on March 15th. Obviously, that was not true. Believe me, if our location is ever threatened, you would hear about it first from us! You never know how stories will take off…

Resident Handbooks: Work was completed on our first ever comprehensive Resident Handbook.

This guide is given to all residents and includes all the services, schedules, rules and rights for the Emergency Shelter. It provides information on everything from how to get a locker to the hours for the laundry facilities.

If you are interested in one of these handbooks, please let me know.

Nursing Award: Charlene Rasche, volunteer nurse with the Southwest Ohio Nurses Association, won the prestigious Florence Nightingale Nursing Award this year. Charlene has volunteered with SONA at the Drop Inn Center since they started coming in 1994. She combines craft projects with nursing when she comes every Sunday evening. I know many residents who look forward to Charlene’s visit. Congratulations and thank you!

Buy Streetvibes!

This Mother’s Day, how will you show your mother that you really care?

Mother’s Day is May 8. Whether she is a mother, a grandmother, an aunt, a wife, or a sister, Mother’s Day is our chance to show that special woman in our life how much she means to us.

Mother’s Day is also a chance to honor the spirit of mothering. Mothers are there to make sure we are clothed, clean, fed, safe, and warm. They are there to tuck us in and kiss away the tears. They are there to read to us, to listen, and to steer us down the right path.

The picture above was drawn by 9 year old Asherah, one of many participants in a state-wide Mother’s Day card contest for young people. Asherah won the contest because of her touching ability to capture the sprit of support, love and family. Asherah was a resident of a local shelter at the time she drew this picture of her family. Her family is one of 5,000 in Cincinnati who will experience homelessness this year.

Nationally, 3.5 million people experience homelessness over the course of a year. Homeless families make up over 40% of that population. This year in Cincinnati alone, over 8,000 children will experience homelessness with their mothers.

The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless has been working for 20 years to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. We firmly believe that by coming together as a community, we can reach this goal. We need your help to erase homelessness from childhood memories.

This year, truly honor the mothers in your life by making a special donation in their honor. We will send Asherah’s Mother’s Day card to the honoree, along with a notification that a donation has been made in their name. What better way to appreciate the woman who raised you than by helping other women raise themselves, and their children, out of homelessness?

By sending this completed form along with your donation, Asherah’s Mother’s Day card will be sent to the person you designate below. The card will inform the recipient that a donation has been made in her name to the Coalition for the Homeless.

Your name, address, and phone number

Name and address of the person to whom we should send the card

/ For more information on how to help or for volunteer opportunities please call the Drop Inn Center at 421-7803

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Who should the donation be placed in honor of/in memory of?

Who should we say the card is from?

If you would like the card sent to an additional person, please indicate on another sheet of paper the same information as above.

Send this form along with your donation in the enclosed envelope to: The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, 117 East 12th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Streetvibes

People of Faith, People of country in ways that it doesn’t in Conscience other developed nations.”

by Anitra Freeman Jim Wallis, leader of the national church-based effort to address poverty, speaks often of the importance of being “people of faith.”

But comparing these two books, I think a more accurate term for what he is describing is “people of conscience.”

Both Susan Jacoby and Wallis describe an America that has barely begun to live out the commitment to human rights expressed in our founding documents, and has been over the past 30 to 40 years eroding what advances we had made. Both call for a recommitment to “liberty and justice for all,” and illustrate in their equal passion, and the passion of those they describe and admire, that such a commitment transcends boundaries of theism and non-theism.

Jacoby shows how religious evangelicals allied with freethinkers and deists to ratify a Constitution with no mention of God or any appeal to Divine Authority. Instead of secularizing the nation, Jacoby explains, the secularized Constitution put the just-sprouting Protestant denominations on equal footing with established religions, which “has probably enabled religion to flourish throughout the 20th century in this

Jacoby acknowledges the work of progressive Christians in working for the advance of democracy and civil rights, while Jim Wallis describes the providing a much-needed corrective to coalition of evangelical as well as American’s historical amnesia by liberal Protestants, Catholics, and publicizing the leadership of Jews who are secularists, now allying to including agnostics Freethinkers : A History of speak out against and atheists, in American Secularism the theology of those advances.

by Susan Jacoby American While Wallis Metropolitan Books, 2004 Triumphalism that advances a very Hardcover, 432 pages, $27.50 passes for progressive Christianity on the agenda, he rarely Right, and refocus God’s Politics : Why the acknowledges the Right Gets It Wrong and the contributions of the message on Left Doesn’t Get It social justice: in atheists and particular, the

by Jim Wallis agnostics, or even related issues of HarperSanFrancisco, 2005 of those religious poverty, racism, Hardcover, 416 pages, $24.95 outside of the and the Jewish-Christianenvironment.

Muslim family of faiths, in advancing While Jacoby’s book the principles of conscience he celebrates the respect for reason and proclaims for a new “spiritual” rejection of “truth by decree” that is politics. essential to carrying out such a Yet both Jacoby and Wallis — commitment, Wallis illustrates how and all of the people they praise and emotional faith is not necessarily in identify with — are committed to the conflict with free reason and the criticism of tradition. In an article on racism as “America’s Original Sin,” he writes that the nation “was established as a white society, founded upon the near-genocide of another and then the enslavement of yet another.”

same principles of human rights and common good; of Dr. Martin Luther King Junior’s vision of “The Beloved Community.”

These principles seem to Jacoby to be rooted in secular values; to Wallis they seem rooted in the values of the God of the Bible, proclaimed by the prophets of the Bible — prophetic voices still lifted up today. Both regard the effort to incorporate these values into social life as an ongoing countercultural revolution. The revolution to establish liberty and justice for all may have begun in 1776, but it has never ended, and has a long way yet to go.

Engaging in that effort is a profound moral commitment.

Both Jacoby and Wallis say that we need a revitalized commitment to those values to even regain what we once had, and to build on it. That both books are bestsellers today demonstrates that this message transcends theism or secularism.

Reprinted from Real Change News, April 2005. ©Street News Service

Got The Vibe?

Protesting Budget Cuts

by Kate McManus On April 12, 2005, concerned citizens and action groups from across the state of Ohio met on the Statehouse lawn to let the state Senate and House of Representatives know that they do not agree with the cuts that are proposed in the 2006 Annual Budget. These cuts include the elimination of health care for 25,000 working parents, the elimination of Disability Medical Assistance to 15,000 adults, cuts in funding for Child and Family Health Services, and freezing ODH funding for HIV/AIDS health services. It also includes cuts in funding to local governments, which would result in cuts in funding to fire and police departments, libraries, and many local human service agencies.

The rally was a huge success with hundreds of people turning out in support of reinstating the programs and funding that have been cut.

Individuals from across the state who use and depend on the services that are in danger of being cut told their stories in hopes that the state legislators would hear their stories, see these cuts as affecting real people, and vote to change the budget.

Since the rally, the House has voted to approve the budget mostly as Taft proposed it, however, due in part to this rally, full funding was restored to vision and partial funding was restored to dental coverage, as well as restoring the funding to the Bureau of Children with Medical Handicaps.

This beautiful, original artwork depicts the vibrant role that Streetvibes plays in downtown Cincinnati and neighboring communities. Created by local artist and activist Mary Ann Lederer in collage form, this colorful 18" X 10" reproduction can be yours to own for only $10. Commemorating Streetvibes 100th issue, proceeds from this limited time offer will go to support the Streetvibes Program and Vendors.

Kate McManus and Rachel Lawson at the State House

To order, call the Homeless Coalition at 421-7803

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Maman in Athens, Ohio was a joy, his ready and generous wit always present, his affection for creativity easily offered, and his words so friendly. We bonded quickly and I so

by Steve Sunderland looked forward to seeing him and his I am back two days from school. Maman is part of a growing Indonesia, awake in the shadows of core of young civic and religious an early Cincinnati Sunday morning. leaders training for democratic I see her, a vibrant 12 year old, her methods throughout Indonesia, all so brown face glowing in the 100 degree deeply committed to rights for all, heat, her smile as wide as Jakarta, recognition of women, economic and her piercing voice, bellowing justice, anti-corruption, and directly to me: “Mista!

Don’t you forget me!”

As if I could. She is wearing a simple black headscarf, a gray coat, and running everywhere I walk, peppering me with question after question. She is Indonesia’s future: beautiful, energetic, highly bright, and with a great smile, and those eyes, those eyes of fervor and friendship.

Dr. Steve Sunderland We met in the courtyard of the beautiful Islamic boarding school, Al- tolerance. They remind me of the Mizan, Ciboren, Indonesia, 4 hours freedom fighters of the civil rights drive east of Jakarta. She comes up movement. Something similar is to me as I stumble into the courtyard, happening in Indonesia as young past militia with rifles, and into the people, masses of students, have very warm welcome of hundreds of been responsible for insisting on children and adults standing in rows democracy, demanding the abolition to greet us. It is brutally hot, the most of authoritarian structures, replacing intense of any of our 7 days in the destruction of pseudo democratic Indonesia, but seemingly ignored by methods, and the end to sexism and children and adults. Children, in racism in the treatments of any brilliantly colored headscarfs, run to Indonesian. (Many students have us to shake hands, to stare, to smile. been threatened, tortured, and killed So many are very little ones, by the military but the movement for cautiously walking forward with one justice continues.) Teams of these hand outstretched, a little smile young leaders have come to Ohio covering their faces.

University and to the Peace Village to We have come to meet with discuss the ways to strengthen nontheir delightful religious leader, violent approaches to conflicts that Maman Imanulhaq Faqieh, a surround free discussion, resolution of handsome young man who has come disputes through just practices, and to peace programs in Ohio, attended the constructive uses of emotion. peer mediation programs with us in Now, we have returned to our Jakarta, and now, standing in his friends, reconnected, and, thanks to beautiful robes and hat, we are at his the US State Department, have the boarding school. Doing posters with chance to continue our discussions.

The Peace Village

It became clear that we were holding a historic “interfaith conference” for this school and community. The Imam rose to give us a great welcome, to praise our coming, and to thank us for attending.

A large and generous buffet dinner had been prepared for all and we were invited to line up to receive our delicious looking dinner. The heat and jet lag were combining to take away any thought of eating for me but the friendliness of our hosts made it impossible to not join in, dizzy as I was. Standing on line, my new “friend” appeared and started her questions about everything: “Do you like our school? Have you been here before? What is your name?” And so it went, as I moved down the line for food, answered questions coming so rapidly from this jewel, and tried to keep from fainting from the heat. I was so happy to meet her, almost as if we were old friends catching up on my being away, a grandfather that had returned with stories to be shared that could not wait.

Our remarks were followed by a presentation of music by the school orchestra and they played the beautiful music of Indonesia. A group of a dozen teenage males came after and presented a spectacular program of magic and daring with broken glass being danced on, knives seemingly so sharp as to cut leaves in front of us but never cutting flesh and other events that seemed out of some distant and dangerous magic show. I rose to find out what these events meant and asked Maman and he stopped the program to say to all, “We are showing that violence in art is all that is permitted.” I gulped as he said this explanation, struggling to grasp all that it might mean to youth and those adults who knew that violence was always right beneath the surface. (Indonesia’s army is famous for its brutality and betrayal of human rights. Also, the separatist movements have acted violently toward army supporters in Aceh and East Timor.

Millions killed. Struggles with students had also had a long tradition

of violence, with violence being brutally exhibited in the failed coup in 1965 and by the Japanese in their 3 year occupation of Indonesia during World War II.) The smile on Maman’s face acknowledged that teaching about the end of violence was something that he was serious about even if the “lesson” was purposely dramatic to make his point. This “teaching” was for the sake of his school community but it was not misdirected for the adults, especially those of us from a country at war with Islamic peoples. Our Indonesian social worker colleague drove the point home with his comment about the need to explain just why we were at war in Iraq and Afghanistan and, by implication, were we to be at war with all Islamic countries? (Indonesia is concerned about this question not least because it is the largest Moslem nation in the world with more Moslems than the Middle East combined, over 200 million people, and because of recent events of some Christian relief agencies seeking to “adopt” Moslem orphans and place them in a Christian school in Jakarta.)

We took pictures, her eyes looking sad for the first time as she looked deeply into me. “Do not forget me, Mister,” she repeated. “I want to see you again.” We laughed, hugged, and walked the path with dozens of children and adults back to our bus, as two old friends.

Dr. Steve Sunderland, professor of Social Work at the University of Cincinnati, is the Director of The Peace Village, a group of individuals from the national and international community committed to examining all issues of Peace in the world. Dr. Sunderland also heads up Posters-for-Peace which engages people in expressing their visions of Peace, in their own words through the creation of posters.

Kamagasaki: The City Left Behind

by Kazuhiro Hieda The largest city of dayworkers in Japan is Kamagasaki, Osaka. While it has lost its primary function as a ‘Yoseba’ (the focal point of job seeking day-workers), after the rupture of the bubble economy nearly 30,000 people still remain in this area. Nearly half of all ‘roughsleepers’ in Osaka have once been day-workers in Kamagasaki, and it is the birthplace of the homeless.

Professor Kazuhiro Shima of Osaka City University tells us the story.

“The present job openings in Kamagasaki have declined to one third in number, compared to those in 1989 (1.87 million). The numbers of people who receive unemployment insurance benefits have also

Page 10

decreased to one third, compared to its peak. Kamagasaki’s day-work labor market, which once underpinned Japan’s steep economic growth, has perhaps completed its mission,” says Mr. Kazuhiro Shima, who first brought attention to the issue of homelessness in Osaka in 1998 by conducting a field survey on the homeless. The district has continued to be his area of field work for many years.

Job opportunities in Kamagasaki have decreased, after having reached a peak when the Kansai International Airport was constructed in 1993. Later, however, there was a temporary revitalization of the industry and the area during the reconstruction process following the

Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake in 1995.

As a result, workers who could not find jobs left Kamagasaki behind; an estimated 5000-6000 of such workers later became rough sleepers- thereby originating the homeless population, he points out.

Mr.Shima says, “You may consider homelessness as something that suddenly occurs to you, like someone living a decent life one day suddenly falling off a ten-storey building. That is not the nature of today’s homeless issues. The truth is people who were excluded from the safety net of the social welfare system managed to work throughout the steep economic growth period; however, they were later pushed out

Streetvibes

onto the streets when they lost their jobs with the breakdown of the economy.”

“According to the national census of 1955, the gender ratio of men to women is about 1:1. The situation drastically changed when the Exposition was held in Osaka in 1970, resulting in a huge demand for a massive labor force necessary for infrastructure construction. As single men poured into the area, the numbers of women and children steeply declined.”

Mr. Shima asserts the daywork labor market expanded to respond to urban infrastructure

City... cont. next page

Nakuru story and photos by Steven Lansky After driving all day in Kenya we arrive in Nakuru as dusk falls.

Peter, our Kikuyu guide, a darkskinned man in a World Safari uniform shirt and chinos, climbs out of the van and disappears into Safari.com to buy cell phone minutes for Mel’s phone.

Peter is in his thirties, has worked managing sustainable farmland, and played soccer as a young man until he broke a leg during a scrimmage. He has a shaved head, wide features, with sometimes evasive eyes. Richard, our driver, has pulled up next to an open market that edges out into the wide street in front of a small hotel. Hardscrabble faces take in our arrival below machine and handmade painted storefront signs.

Traffic and a crowd of people in all manner of colorful clothing block the road. A preacher speaks through a megaphone across the street in front of what looks like a mosque.

As we have parked, a truck blocks our view of this pale blue building where a small crowd appears to be listening.

I open the sliding left side door and step down to stretch my legs. (Richard sits in the driver’s seat, on the right side of the Nissan’s cab. He is a very happy man, who takes his work seriously. The day before when we had a flat tire on a

City... from page 10 development, and was promoted as part of labor policies at the national level.

“Back in those days, Kamagasaki was full of sweat shops, violent recruiters, and illegal work arrangements negotiated by street labor sharks. The local administration established a ‘Center’ so that employment arrangements would be made on a transparent, face-to-face basis, and the dayworkers’ labor trade could then also be monitored by local administration.

This also meant that Kamagasaki became an obvious source of manpower for the urban development of Osaka.”

Kamagasaki was not the only day-worker’s job market fostered by national labor policy. In Tokyo, workers gathered in Sanya to respond to the infrastructure development demand for the Tokyo Olympics held in 1964, and in Yokohama, Kotobukicho functioned as a labor market of dock workers after the end of World War II in order to handle US military cargo.

However, when the economic boost

rough dirt road, he changed it in ten minutes, sweat covering his face, and red dust thick on his forearms. In the evening he took the van from our resort hotel where my stone porch faced Mt. Kilimanjaro. He repaired the tire.)

Out of the van I reach above my head and clasp hands lightly easing the stiffness in my shoulders and back. At the edge of the roadway, circled against the corner, men and women are seated on stools with piles of potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and purple eggplants stacked in front of them. A woman with an orange head wrap, a thin face, and light brown skin is drinking a steaming cup of kahawa from a white enameled cup. As she sips and grins at me a young vender offers to sell me khaki trousers. I decline.

A big man, bigger than I am, with light leather boots, dark blue trousers and a heavy navy parka steps forward. I stand six-two with long gray hair and a beard.

My green hemp jacket and nearly round wire-rim spectacles

attract a special attention. The sky is cloudy and night will soon be upon us. The big man lifts a small child, wrapped in a blue hooded jacket as a gesture at me.

The drone of the man preaching through the megaphone fades as this man sways the chortling child. The child has oval eyes that are not quite symmetrical, he reaches a hand toward me; I return the favor and we clasp hands.

Sticky, soft, tiny fingers with a limp grip. The man pulls the child down, as I try to find Peter. The yellow sign of Safari.com is nestled against the far corner opposite the market.

Black bicycles and a throng extend to the edge of the road. Peter is not visible. The American women in the van are talking loudly. Mel asks why Peter had to go in for her. I pull the white sliding door almost shut. The big man is a smoky color, his eyes are a bit puffy and he chats in Swahili with the woman who watches, holding her hot cup. The child away, out of sight behind the produce stands; a second child is offered up to me, this one in a pink coat and hood. Her skin is lighter. For a moment I think the man wants to give me the child. He leans closer, smelling of tobacco and beer. As her eyes focus on me she bursts into tears. The man laughs and speaks to the seated venders in Swahili. There is a chorus of laughter. Faces change shape and I am not sure if they are

laughing at me. My head buzzes with tension and fear.

The American passengers behind me laugh, enjoying this at my expense.

The preacher’s voice drones. My hair flows down across my chest. A dark-skinned boy with a small square head and angry brown eyes approaches with an open extended hand. “Give me,” he says. “Uncle, give me.” I shake my head. “Where is your mother?” “My mother she is sick, give me.” I turn sour. “Are you a man?” I ask. “Yes,” with a pout.

“What are you doing?” I ask, resentful. “I beg. I am begging.” “I have nothing for you.” An older boy leads a man with a cane. The eyes are closed, twitching above a flat van Gogh nose. The forehead is creased with tenderness. Richard tells me to get in the van, his head angled between the seats. “We have to go.”

A truck is pulling toward the van from the other side as I close the sliding door and Richard revs the engine.

He backs up to let the truck through.

Through the window Peter reappears from the Safari.com shop, strolling through the crowd with presence and purpose.

ended and industrial restructuring changed labor demands, these “Yoseba” job markets reached a similar, dim closing.

“The day-workers’ issues should be considered in the context of national employment policies, as in the case of the closure of the coal industry. However, because the ‘Yoseba’ day-worker’s labor market was, in principle, not an authorized labor market, it is very unlikely that the issue will be reexamined for official labor measures to be taken,” explains Mr. Shima.

Today, as Kamagasaki becomes an aged workers’ city, it has been transformed into a “Social Welfare City.” Nearly one third of the 160 privately owned temporary shelters have been reconfigured into welfare apartments and supportive housing with welfare benefits.

Already, over 5000 ex-workers receive these social welfare benefits.

It appears Kamagasaki has morphed into an enormous welfare facility.

Reprinted from The Big Issue Japan, March 2005. ©Street News Service: www.street-papers.org

Streetvibes

Page 11

Streetvibes Vendor Code of Conduct About the Greater Cincinnati All Vendors Sign and Agree to a Code of Conduct Coalition for the Homeless and Report Any Violations to GCCH - 421-7803 Streetvibes....

1. Streetvibes will be distributed Vendors must not tell customers earned. This program has helped for a $1 voluntary donation. If a customer donates more than $1 for a paper, vendors are allowed to keep that donation. However, vendors must never ask for more than $1 when selling Streetvibes.

2. Each paper purchased from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) costs 30 cents. Papers will not be given out on credit. Old papers can not be traded in for new papers.

3. Streetvibes may only be purchased from GCCH. Never buy papers from, or sell papers to other vendors.

4. Vendors must not panhandle or sell other items at the same time they are selling Streetvibes.

5. Vendors must treat all other vendors, customers, and GCCH personnel with respect.

6. Vendors must not sell Streetvibes while under the influence.

7. Vendors must not give a “hard sell” or intimidate anyone into purchasing Streetvibes. This includes following customers or continuing to solicit sales after customers have said no. Vendors must also never sell Streetvibes door-to-door.

8. Vendors must not deceive customers while selling Streetvibes. Vendors must be honest in stating that all profits go to the individual vendor.

that the money they receive will go to GCCH or any other organization or charity. Also, vendors must not say that they are collecting for “the homeless” in general.

9. Vendors must not sell papers without their badge. Vendors must present their badge when purchasing papers from GCCH. Lost badges cost $2.00 to replace.

Broken or worn badges will be replaced for free, but only if the old badge is returned to GCCH. 10. Streetvibes vendor meetings are held on the first weekday of the month at 1pm. The month’s paper will be released at this meeting. If a vendor cannot attend the meeting, he or she should let us know in advance. If a vendor does not call in advance and does not show up, that vendor will not be allowed to purchase papers on the day of the meeting or the following day. Five free papers will be given to those who do attend.

11. Failure to comply with the Code of Conduct may result in termination from the Streetvibes vendor program. GCCH reserves the right to terminate any vendor at any time as deemed appropriate. Badges and Streetvibes papers are property of GCCH, and must be surrendered upon demand.

The mission of the North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA) is to support a street newspaper movement that creates and upholds journalistic and ethical standards while promoting self-help and empowerment among people living in poverty. NASNA papers support homeless and very low-income people in more than 35 cities across the United States and Canada.

Streetvibes Vendor: 70 cents

Printing and Production: 30 cents

Page 12

The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) was formed in May of 1984 for one purpose: the eradication of homelessness in Cincinnati. What started out as a coalition of 15 volunteers meeting weekly in an unheated church basement has since grown into a Coalition of over 45 agencies and hundreds of volunteers dedicated to improving services for homeless individuals, educating the public about homelessness and empowering homeless individuals to advocate for their civil rights and housing needs.

Streetvibes is a tool of GCCH used to help us achieve our goal of ending homelessness.

On the one hand it is a selfsufficiency program geared towards the homeless and marginally housed individuals who are our vendors. Streetvibes vendors buy the paper for 30 cents per copy and sell it for a suggested one-dollar donation, keeping the profit that they have

hundreds of people find and maintain housing. The vendors also sign a code of conduct stating that they will behave responsibly and professionally and they proudly display their official Streetvibes badge while selling the paper. Our vendors put a face on “the homeless” of Cincinnati and form lasting friendships with their customers.

On the other hand, Streetvibes is an award-winning alternative newspaper and part of the international street newspaper movement. Focusing on homelessness and social justice issues, Streetvibes reports the often-invisible story of poverty in our community. Streetvibes is also proud to include creative writing, poetry, articles, photography and interviews written by homeless and formerly homeless individuals. Streetvibes enjoys a loyal reader base that respects the honest portrayal of the joys, sorrows, and challenges facing the people of Cincinnati.

Streetvibes is a member of the:

The International Network of Street Papers (INSP) unites street papers sold by homeless and people living in poverty from all over the world. INSP is an umbrella organisation, which provides a consultancy service for its partner papers and advises on the setting up of new street papers and support initiatives for marginalised people.

Where Your Dollar Goes...

The Streetvibes program maintains a minimal overhead cost so that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible.

Please call our office at 421-7803 for more information about the program. Many thanks for your support.

Streetvibes

Trying to be a first-rate reporter on the average American newspaper is like trying to play Bach’s St. Matthew Passion on a ukulele: The instrument is too crude for the work, for the audience and for the performer.

Ben Bagdikian In those days, most people read newspapers, whereas today, most people do not. What caused this change? One big factor, of course, is that people are a lot stupider than they used to be, although we here in the newspaper industry would never say so in print.

Dave Barry I am unable to understand how a man of honor could take a newspaper in his hands without a shudder of disgust.

Charles Baudelaire

Safe and Stable Families Have Health Care

by Lynn Williams, Ohio Empowerment Coalition, West Ohio Organizer Ohio Empowerment Coalition and the Ohio Family Coverage Coalition held a joint press conference Wednesday, April 6, to draw public attention to the severe impact of the health care cuts proposed by the Governor. The press conference was part of the Ohio Empowerment Coalition’s Legislative Day at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Downtown Columbus. Individuals who will be hurt by these cuts if passed were the majority of speakers.

Ohio Empowerment Coalition leaders along with Family Coverage Coalition spokespersons urged the State Legislature & Governor to restore: Parent Coverage to working parents at 100% of Federal Poverty Level and higher; Disability Medical Assistance (DMA) to Ohio’s poorest adults who are medication dependent; dental and vision care to 800,000 adults on Medicaid.

“Don’t balance Ohio’s budget on the backs of the poor” urged Contact Center and Cincinnati Welfare Rights organizer Cassandra Barham-Denton. “Health care for the poor is not a playing card to use; human lives are at stake here. We want our families to be “Safe and Stable. That means having health care.”

Elen McKee of Cincinnati was one of the speakers. “I am here today to ask you not to cut vision and dental care from Medicaid. I am on Social Security Disability, and one of my many disabilities is diabetes. Due to this condition, I run a higher risk of macular degeneration and at the moment I am in the very early stages of cataracts. I desperately need vision care,” she said. “Due to the very restrictive limitations of my

Shutter Speed

budget, I cannot afford to pay for vision and dental care myself. My medications to keep me alive and healthy cost more than my monthly check.”

Along with DMA and dental and vision care for adults on Medicaid, low-wage working parents are also slated to take a cut in health care.

“Cutting Medicaid for lowwage working parents is Pennywise and Pound Foolish. Low-wage parents need health care to work and to raise healthy children. Eliminating their coverage will come back to bite struggling parents, their kids, their employers, their health providers and Ohio taxpayers,” stated Cathy Levine, co-chair of the Family Coverage Coalition and Executive Director of UHCAN OHIO. Afterwards, OEC members from Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Blanchester and the Athens area met with approximately twenty state representatives to share personal stories of how health care had helped their families on the path to becoming safe and stable.

The Ohio Empowerment Coalition is a statewide coalition of low-income people who work collaboratively to bring about economic and social justice through public policy.

The annual Mobilization Day brought together low-income people and advocates to educate ourselves and mobilize for action to impact Ohio’s policies of deep concern to our families. The Family Coverage Coalition is a statewide coalition of advocates, health care providers, and concerned citizens.

For more information on how you can get involved in stopping the health care cuts in Ohio, please call the Ohio Empowerment Coalition at 877-862-5179.

by Jimmy Heath

Worn Stereotype Tokenism does not change stereotypes of social systems but works to preserve them, since it dulls the revolutionary impulse - Mary Daly Instead of being presented with stereotypes by age, sex, color, class, or religion, children must have the opportunity to learn that within each range, some people are loathsome and some are delightful - Margaret Mead FACTS ABOUT LIFE ON TV If being chased through town, you can usually take cover in a passing St. Patrick’s Day parade - at any time of the year.

All grocery shopping bags contain at least one stick of French bread.

The ventilation system of any building is a perfect hiding place and leads to any location in the building, including the safe. No one will ever think of looking for you in there.

The Eiffel Tower can be seen from any window of any building in Paris.

A man will show no pain while taking the most ferocious beating but will wince when a woman tries to clean his wounds afterwards. This generally leads to a sex scene.

When paying for a taxi, just grab a note from your pocket and hand it over.

It will always be the exact fare.

Any American movie will contain a car chase, unless it was made by Walt Disney. Cars and trucks that crash will always burst into flames after they have come to a standstill and the hero is running away from it at 5 to 10 meters distance.

A single match will be sufficient to light up a room the size of a football stadium.

If a killer is lurking in your house, it’s easy to find him. Just relax and run a bath - even if it’s the middle of the afternoon.

Medieval peasants had perfect teeth, were well-fed, wore clean clothes and make-up.

Although in the 20th century it is possible to fire weapons at an object out of visual range, people of the 23rd century will have lost this technology.

Even when driving down a completely straight road, it is necessary to turn the steering wheel vigorously from left to right every few moments.

Similarly, when driving a curvy road, the slightest movement of the steering wheel will do the job.

One man shooting at 20 men has a better chance of killing them all than 20 men firing at one.

Creepy music coming from a graveyard should always be closely investigated.

“Don “Don’’t Leave Home W ithout IIt...” t...”

If a phone line is broken, communication can be restored by frantically beating the cradle and saying, “Hello? Hello?”

Dogs always know who’s bad and will naturally bark at them.

Streetvibes

Page 13

Today

Life

by Ron O’Neal

by Ron O’Neal

Today I can honestly say that I’m glad to be alive.

But recently I’ve been through Hell, and that’s no jive.

Today I believe you only get out of life what you put into it.

Really, life is just life, we have no choice but to get down to it.

Today I’m feeling good about myself, So now I need to learn how to feel for someone else.

I know it’s not going to be easy to stay in this frame of mind, But I do know it gets easier with time.

So when things aren’t going your way, I suggest you hit your knees and pray.

Today it’s time to give back what was so freely given to me.

I can do that by becoming all I can be.

Today I’m becoming the man He created me to BE!

My life has taken on a new meaning.

I am doing the right thing for the right reason.

I now know that in order for something to grow You must feed it.

I’m writing about how I feel Because I need it.

I need fellowship in life, Much like a husband needs his wife.

It keeps me from feeling alone. it gives me the sense that I belong.

Once I felt that I had it made And my relapse was the price I paid.

God gave me a gift, but not just for myself.

It was to be of service to someone else.

I pray for the strength to become all I can be, But I know deep inside, it’s not just for me.

So if you feel the same as I do, Be careful that you share the gifts God has given you.

Relapse

by Ron O’Neal I was doing so well As far as I could tell.

I thought I was doing all I could do, And that’s when life shows up for you.

Sometimes I feel like a fool Because it’s my fault for not using my tools.

All I know is, I’ll never forget How close I was to turning my life into s**t I know deep down inside That it was a blow to my pride.

I really know what I have to do Because I can’t save my ass and my face too.

I’m only glad it didn’t last too long.

I’m so grateful to be back where I belong.

The N.A. fellowship is the best thing for me.

It’s my only chance to really be free.

My family is uppermost in my mind I refuse to take them through this s**t one more time.

My life is back on track.

I’m just thankful to sever my bout with crack!

His Sacrifice

by Abby Grimm Dust and grime coat his lungs as the poor man heaves and coughs HE is told by the soldiers to carry his cross She falls to the ground and feels the sting of his fist HE is greeted by his mother’s lonely kiss Whiskey stirs the room, they spin out of control HE carries his cross, now alone The young man ran the streets, he was told to sell crack HE feels the soldiers whips in his back They sleep on the streets, in the winter catch flu.

Page 14

We’re Not Alone

by Robert Manassa Sometimes when the going gets tough Even when the road is rough Don’t forget there’s one who’s bigger than you and I He’ll fight our battle from on high We’re not alone When we’ve prayed and prayed all night long When it seems that all hope is gone Remember that there’s one with a mighty hand Cast your burdens upon him ‘because he’ll understand We’re not alone When things don’t come your way Pray a prayer, ask God for the things to say Have faith in everything you do This poem I’ve just written, all the words are true We’re not alone

Love

by Ron O’Neal Love is what a mother feels for her child.

How she is so willing to go that extra mile.

I’m learning how to love myself And Maybe I’ll be able to love someone else.

Some people love to eat.

Others would love nothing better than buying new shoes all week.

Love is my family being there through thick and thin.

Helping me to fight the fight until I win.

I love to write.

It helps me from staying up all night.

My life has been going through all kinds of s**t But I’ll be damned if I’ll quit.

I love my friends for never leaving my side, For hanging on to me for this crazy ride, And for never letting go.

No matter what they never said, “no.”

God puts people in your life for a reason, Not just for the season.

Love can make you sad, But there’s still no reason to stay mad.

I love my life today.

I can only keep what I have by giving it away.

May God bless you – And learn how to pray

Streetvibes

The War Within

To My Beloved Brother

by Brian Garry War Against the Poor, The war within me The war on my inside The war rages on.

Flames against the sky Yeah I’m Inflammatory I’m Hot, Hot Boy, Hot Head Yes I’m inflamed, incensed, engulfed with the flames the fire of Justice, The burning flame of Freedom pours from belly. passion compassion – to suffer with Feel the heat, it’s getting warm in here Fan the flames My guts metaphorically strewn all over the cityscapes – Some by the police, Rattle the cage Answer the door with lead.

Blood visceral This is my block fighting over the block Bush wants to sell the dope on this block But I’m takin’ the block back, my block Black Block We the entrepreneurs, selling, freedom, Marketing Democracy, Peddling Justice, Liberation, Capitalism All by methods of brainwashing and mind control Democratic lullabies, bedtime stories Lulling us to sleep at night brought to us live by corporate media Whose purpose is only thought distortion, mental transfixiation to cause us to vote bush in the next election GW wants us to be perfect little American puppets, awaiting the teacher to come and teach us What is life? Life is bad be afraid here is your gas mask terrorists are everywhere.

We will fly around the earth orbitin’ while you all blow yourselves up with weapons we created.

Democratic lullabies sung to Saluting the flag that we burn I got dynamite in my pocket A tank rolling over my chest You got the gasoline The wick sticks out of my heart Can’t breathe.

My greatest weapon is acting from my core my center. love The War Within My words, my weapon,- a double edge sword The Babylon beast,- a open legged whore The war inside me.

The hungry Lion The DMZ. Over-the-Rhine is Palestine.

BG, Baby Gansgta The war rages on. Battle lines drawn. Damn. Not again. Here comes the flood. The little dutch boy pulled the plug and Hitler’s army has drowned in the sands. The tanks can’t move.

I’ve been so guilty of …

I’m here to eliminate you, I mean liberate you and your weapons of mass destruction and create for you a puppy government I need comfort There are two wolves, which will I feed?

Speak to me.

Calm me down cool my heels, sooth me, U the balm for my soul Shut me down . .

Save it for the ring killer.

Pull my chain Speak to me.

by Jesse James Dear Diary, it’s me.

How sad I know I’m mad.

But what can I do, except maybe enjoy these blues

Through your Pen I see your heart, az the Ink Bleedz across the Paper, you show me through your eyez that are not my own but sacred, and a mind complex’d in ways I may not understand, you share a piece of you az I learn who you are and how you feel to be a man. From the wonderland to the sad misshapz in life you do reveal, as I walk through your front door and enter into your real, Now az I see you in your Happy room, I smell your motherz cookin’ in the air the aroma loomz, I see where you’ve come from though I’ve never left my seat, and I feel the pain of growing up missing thingz that make you so complete, I know not the namez of family or facez you hold so dear, but I feel love for them through you and how you may long to hold them near, You put your soul on Paper about how you love your sisterz and your Motherz, to how you’ve been abused to wrestling with your Brotherz, from the argumentz and Pain and enduring Parentz Fightz, I want to pray and tell you everything will be alright, and say you’ve tried enuf my brother Joy comez in the mornin’ so tuck your tearz in good night, Cuz Through your Pen I see your heart az the Ink Bleedz across the Paper, You show me through your eyez that are not my own but sacred…

(This waz written during a Menz group creative writing session) Mozez.

On the Run

by Jesse James Another day, another dollar?

I hope so. I thought I’d try to give a holler to ya’ll.

My first story is dedicated to the River Rats. You have to really be one to know one.

I met my first one in Covington, Kentucky about 4 years ago. That’s when I became homeless.

Folks called their little community the “Ponderosa.” It was an exclusive club. Some may have called it a hobo village. But we all had one thing in common; we loved living on that river.

Well, my old girl, the river, took one home this year – ol’ Joe. We used to call him the mayor of the Ponderosa cuz when I first got down 4 years ago he had already been on that river around 13 years or better.

Winter, summer, he did it all on the river. That’s a long time.

I would dare you to try one night on the river when it’s 10 degrees. It’s nasty.

Joe and I became friends and he was a good friend. I’m gonna’ miss you, brother.

Well, they found ol’ Joe, down on the river on a very cold morning.

I walked by the spot and his cigarettes and bottle were still there.

He lived on the river -he died on the river. I’m glad he died at home.

All we are is dust, while we are here, we fight over dust - to become dust

Streetvibes

Bells and Whistles Through the hazy, fog-wisped smalltown air of my schoolday morning I hear the bells for Mass at Holy Angels and the low, asthmatic whistles of the factories near the poisoned river.

My mother makes breakfast and I dress for school, but I know that men in gray work clothes will now swing lunch buckets off kitchen counters painted white.

My father is gone two hours already to his window at the Post Office, but my uncle is among these men and my neighbors and the fathers of my friends.

Across town and around the corner and in the next street over and in the slate-sided houses of Buckeye Terrace, men with gray knuckles clothes that smell of tobacco and machine oil and hearts thickening in their chests leave, under the call of the whistles, for Liberty Folder, LeRoy, Mack and the river-fouling tannery and the nameless foundries where my grandfather caught the red of his lungs.

They do not complain.

It is not in them to complain.

A word to the wife a word to the kids an ear to the great solemn bells toiling in the catholic steeple and out the door and into the chill, fog-dark, bell-bespoken whistle-haunted streets to the places where they make their living and their death.

Page 15

357-4602

Formed in 1984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups serve the homeless through emergency shelter, transitional living facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addiction services.

The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that Cincinnati is an inclusive community, meeting the needs of all of its citizens. Join the fight to end homelessness; contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at (513) 421-7803, 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

SHELTER: Both Anthony House (Youth)

SHELTER: Men City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Garden St. House 241-0490 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 St. Francis/St.Joseph House 381-4941 Mt. Airy Center 661-4620 Volunteers of Amer. 381-1954

SHELTERS: Women and Children YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 (Toll Free) 1-888-872-9259 Bethany House 557-2873 Salvation Army 762-5660 Welcome Hse. 859-431-8717 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335

If you need help or would like to help please call one of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless members listed below.

OTHER SERVICES: AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati 421-2437 Appalachian Identity Center 621-5991 Beech Acres 231-6630 Center for Independent Living Options 241-2600 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Cincinnati Health Network 961-0600 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Emanuel Center 241-2563

TREATMENT: Both N.A. Hopeline 820-2947 A.A. Hotline 351-0422 C.C.A.T. 381-6672 Talbert House 684-7956 Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 DIC Live-In Program 721-0643

TREATMENT: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Prospect House 921-1613 Starting Over 961-2256

TREATMENT: Women First Step Home 961-4663 Full Circle Program 721-0643

HOUSING: CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 Miami Purchase 241-0504 OTR Housing Net. 369-0004 ReSTOC 381-1171 Tender Mercies 721-8666 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Dana Transitional Bridge Services, Inc 751-9797

Caracole (AIDS) 761-1480 Friars Club 381-5432 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Haven House 863-8866 Interfaith Hospitality 471-1100 Lighthouse Youth Center (Teens) 961-4080 St. John’s Housing 651-6446

Need Help or Want to Help?

MIDDLETOWN/HAMILTON (Butler County) St. Raphaels (Food Bank/Soup Kitchen) 863-3184 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 New Life Baptist Mission (Soup Kitchen) 896-9800 Hope House (Homeless Families/Singles) 423-4673

Freestore/ Foodbank 241-1064 Fransiscan Haircuts 651-6468 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 Hamilton Co. Mental Health Board 946-8600 Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 Hamilton Co. TB Control 632-7186 Health Rsrc. Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van 352-2902 House of Refuge Mission 221-5491 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assis.

Center 271-5501 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 Project Connect Homeless Kids 357-5720 St. Vincent De Paul 562-8841 The Emergency Food Center 471-4357 Travelers Aid 721-7660 United Way 721-7900 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Women Helping Women 872-9259

May 2005

Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless

Page 1

Controversial Anti-Drug Barrier Removed

Casualties of War

cover story

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