THE READER-EL PERICO OCT 2020 by PioneerMedia.Me

in the GENERAL

NOV 3

O C TO B E R 2020 | volU M E 27 | I SSUE 08

e id Gu S’ ER VOT

VOTE

COVER ART BY Michael Barnes

INSID

Election 2020 Issue

North & South Omaha Can Own Politicians with Their Votes E L E C T I O N : E a s t O m a h a C o u l d O w n t h e E lection || G et O u t T h e V ote : A loo k at b e h in d t h e w a r d || T h e St r engt h in t h e So u t h O m a h a V ote

402.496.0220 402.496.0220 402.496.0220 www.huberchevy.com www.huberchevy.com “Your “Your Way! Way!Under Underthe theExpressway!” Expressway!” 11102 West Dodge Rd. • Omaha, NE 68154 “Your Way!Dodge UnderRd. the Expressway!” 11102 West • Omaha, NE 68154 11102 West Dodge Rd. • Omaha, NE 68154

October 2020

www.huberchevy.com

V O T E

N O V .

With a pandemic, the office of the president at stake and so much more, election day 2020 has a lot going on. But at The Reader, we want to make sure we still have the basics covered while walking reader’s through mail-in voting and so much other important information you’ll need for Nov. 3

Citizens of the United States.

Residents of Nebraska and of the county where you are registering, if you move to another county, you must re-register. You must be at least 18 years of age or will be 18 years of age on or before Nov. 3, 2020.

Citizens that have been convicted of a felony by any state or Federal court in the country. You cannot register to vote until two years after the completion of your sentence including any probation or parole term. You must register before you can vote by mail and online by Friday, October 16. www.nebraska.gov/apps-sos-voter-registration/ Register in person in the Douglas County Election Commission or DMV by Friday, October 23.

VERIFY your Voter Registration here:

www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/voterview If you are registered you can also update your information including address, affiliation with a party and name changes on your voter registration record.

To vote by mail you need: a copy of a current and valid photo ID. a copy of a utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document showing the same name and residence address provided on the voter registration application. Each must be dated within 60 days immediately prior to the date of presentation. If you are 18 years old after those dates and before November 3 (election day) you can vote too. Just present your ID that shows your birthday. Register online through the official Nebraska Government website, instructions available in English or Spanish.

Info Karlha Velásquez Rivas

Graphic Chris Bowling

People who have been officially found to be mentally incompetent.

You can apply for an early-voting ballot by contacting your county election office in person, by mail or by fax.

Print and complete the online early-voting application. Mail, fax or scan/take a picture of your application and email it to your county election office. The last day for an early-voting application to be received is 6 p.m. on the second Friday preceding the election. You can vote early in-person at your county election office for a period prior to an election (30 days prior to a primary or general election and 15 days for all other elections). The day before the election is the last day to vote early in person. Download the form at: sos.nebraska.gov/elections/voter-forms

If you are registered to vote in Douglas County but either you’re voting at the wrong polling place, your address does not match your registered address, or you fail present identification, you must request a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots are separated and examined by the county’s election commission. Check your provisional ballot’s status at: www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/VoterView/ProvisionalBallotSearch.do

October 2020

JOBS: As Unemployment Drops, Disparities Appear

ELECTION: How East Omaha Can Own The Election

ELECTION: The Strength in South Omaha

publisher/editor........... John Heaston john@thereader.com graphic designers........... Ken Guthrie Sebastian Molina news..........................Robyn Murray copy@thereader.com lead reporter............... Chris Bowling chris@thereader.com associate publisher.... Karlha Velasquez karlha@el-perico.com creative coordinator...... Lynn Sanchez lynn@pioneermedia.me

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

ELECTION: The Stakes in North Omaha

ART: The Rise of the Up-And-Comers

DISH: Mob Mentality Supporting Local Restaurants

PICKS: Remote & COVID-Safe Things to Do

FILM: In the Name of All that is Scary: 20 Horror Picks REVIEW: New Charlie Kaufman

IN MEMORIAM: Comedian Carlos Tibbs FEATURE: Funeral Homes During COVID

HEARTLAND HEALING: In Through the Nose: A Look at Aromatherapy

CROSSWORDS & COMICS: 2 Puzzles, and 3 Comics 41

48 53

OUR SISTER MEDIA CHANNELS

healing...............Michael Braunstein info@heartlandhealing.com arts/visual.................... Mike Krainak mixedmedia@thereader.com dish................................ Sara Locke crumbs@thereader.com film.................................Ryan Syrek cuttingroom@thereader.com hoodoo................. B.J. Huchtemann bjhuchtemann@gmail.com music..................... Houston Wiltsey backbeat@thereader.com over the edge..............Tim McMahan tim.mcmahan@gmail.com theater.................... Beaufield Berry coldcream@thereader.com

36 61

OVER THE EDGE: Feeling through the Darkness of 2020

64 67

66 65

OUR DIGITAL MARKETING SERVICES

01 4

La Fuerza en el Sur de Omaha

Recordando Ramon Jacobo

OCTOBER 2020

Fotos Sociales // Social Photos Proud to be Carbon Neutral

P H O T O

B Y

M I K E

M a c hi a n

ALSO ONLINE:

theReader.com / Sept. 8

Sept. 11

Sept. 17

Sept. 21

Many in Financial Gap after Losing Unemployment Benefits While Business Still Lags

Failure to Address COVID-19, Racial Justice, Call A Special Session Ends Frustrating 2020 Session

What I Learned About Racism Growing Up in Apartheid South Africa

The Curious, Winding Case of Earnest Jackson

OCTOBER 2020

O M A H A

J O B S

Minorities Share of Nebraska Unemployment Grows

n the early days of the pandemic, claims for unemployment benefits shot to historic proportions in Nebraska. At its peak in April, claims for unemployment were more than 17 times higher than previous years. Since then unemployment has started to drop with many returning to work as the state enters new phases of reopening despite increasing daily COVID-19 cases that rival the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s previous peak.

At the start of the pandemic, workers of all races lost their jobs at rates equal to their share of the population. But as the pandemic has worn on unemployment among white, Hispanic and Asian Nebraskans has improved. For others, particularly Black Nebraskans, its gotten much worse.

However, work has not returned as quickly for Nebraskaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s minority communities, particularly African Americans. Recent data from the Nebraska Department of Labor shows that as of Sept. 5, 2020, African Americans were unemployed at rates more than five times their share of the population. By comparison Hispanics, the largest minority group in the state were underrepresented with rates 0.8 times their share of the population.

ProKarma, Inc.

Software Engineer # 572884

Software Development Engineer in Test

ProKarma, Inc. has mult. openings for Software Engineer in Omaha, NE; travel and/or relocate to various unanticipated locations throughout the U.S. is required. Responsible for designing/ programming/coding/ & analyzing new computer programs & data structures in accordance with specifications and user needs. Correct errors by making appropriate changes & rechecking the program to ensure that the desired results are produced. Req. a BS degree in Comp Sci/ Engg (any)/or any technical/analytical field that is closely related to the specialty + 5 yrs of exp in an IT/Comp-related position.

To apply, email Resumes to

postings@prokarma.com

with Job Ref#572884 in the subject line.

with Job Ref#493097 in subject line.

October 2020

ProKarma, Inc.

ProKarma, Inc. has mult. openings for Project Manager in Omaha, NE; travel and/or reloc to various unanticipated locations throughout the U.S. is required. Responsible for analyzing data processing problems, identifying informational or process requirements and needs, providing technical advice or consultation and develop logical solutions to problems for medium to large projects. Req. a Bachelor’s degree, or its foreign equivalent or its equivalent based upon a combination of education/experience/training in Computer Science, Engineering (any), or any technical/analytical field that is closely related to the specialty, plus five (5) years of experience in an IT/Computer-related position. In the alternative, will also accept seven (7) years of experience in an IT/computer-related position.

ProKarma, Inc. has mult. openings for Digital Optimization Strategist in Omaha, NE; travel and/or reloc to various unanticipated locations throughout the U.S. is required. Responsible for working on complex problems and analyzing and evaluating current business methods and procedures for improvement. Req. a Master’s degree in Comp Sci, Engineering (any), or any technical/analytical field that is closely related to the specialty, plus 2 years of exp in an IT/Comp-related position.

Project Manager #548945

To apply, email Resumes to

postings@prokarma.com

Digital Optimization Strategist - 409353

To apply, email Resumes to

postings@prokarma.com

with Job Ref# 548945 in subject line.

with Job Ref#409353 in subject line.

ProKarma, Inc.

Systems Analyst #470919

Software Engineer

ProKarma, Inc. has mult. openings forSystems Analyst in Omaha, NE; travel and/or reloc to various unanticipated locations throughout the U.S. is required. Responsible for analyzing and evaluating business systems, procedures and processes. Identifying best practices and providing functional and technical deliverables. Req. a Master’s degree in Comp Sci, Engineering (any), or any technical/ analytical field that is closely related to the specialty, plus 2 years of exp in an IT/Comprelated position.

To apply, email Resumes to

postings@prokarma.com with Job Ref#470919 in subject line.

postings@prokarma.com with Job Ref #528856 in subject line. October 2020

ProKarma, Inc.

Systems Analyst #535603

Business Analyst #573926

ProKarma, Inc. has mult. openings for Software Engineer in Omaha, NE; travel and/or reloc to various unanticipated locations throughout the U.S. is required. Responsible for designing, programming, coding, and analyzing new comp programs and data structures in accordance with specifications and user needs. Req. a Bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in Comp Sci, Engineering (any), or any technical/analytical field that is closely related to the specialty, plus 5 years of exp in an IT/Comprelated position. Alternatively, will also accept an Associateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in Comp Sci, Engineering (any), or any technical/analytical field that is closely related to the specialty, plus 6 years of exp in an IT/Comp-related position.

ProKarma, Inc. has mult. openings for Business Analyst in Omaha, NE; travel and/or reloc to various unanticipated locations throughout the U.S. is required. Responsible for working with application development/architecture/technology infrastructure & security teams to ensure commitment on deliverables & alignment on projects. Defining & documenting client business functions & processes. Req. a BS degree in Comp. Sci./Engg (any)/or any technical/analytical field that is closely related to the specialty, + 5 yrs. of exp in an IT/Comp-related position

To apply, email Resumes to

postings@prokarma.com with Job Ref#535603 in subject line.

ProKarma, Inc.

To apply, email Resumes to

postings@prokarma.com with Job Ref#573926 in subject line.

ProKarma, Inc.

Software Engineer #573965

Software Engineer # 574017

To apply, email Resumes to

postings@prokarma.com with Job Ref# 573965 in subject line.

ProKarma, Inc.

October 2020

postings@prokarma.com with Job Ref#574017 in subject line.

ProKarma, Inc. Business Analyst ProKarma, Inc. has mult. openings for Business Analyst in Omaha, NE; travel and/or reloc to various unanticipated locations throughout the U.S. is required. Responsible for working with application development/architecture/technology infrastructure & security teams to ensure commitment on deliverables & alignment on projects. Req. a MS degree in Comp Sci, Engg (any), or any technical/analytical field that is closely related to the specialty plus 2 yrs. of exp in an IT/Comp-related position.

To apply, email Resumes to

postings@prokarma.com

ProKarma, Inc.

Software Engineer # 576722 ProKarma, Inc. has mult. openings for Software Engineer in Omaha, NE; travel and/or reloc to various unanticipated locations throughout the U.S. is required. Responsible for designing/programming/ coding & analyzing new comp. prgms. & data structures in accordance with specifications & user needs. Req. a BS degree in Comp. Sci., Engg (any), or any technical/analytical field that is closely related to the specialty + 5 yrs. of exp in an IT/Comp-related position. To apply, email Resumes to

postings@prokarma.com

with Job Ref #574038 in subject line.

with Job Ref# 576722 in subject line.

ProKarma, Inc.

has mult.openings for Solutions Architect

in Omaha, NE; travel and/ or reloc to various unanticipated locations throughout the U.S. is required. Confer w/ systems analysts, engrs, programmers & others to design system & obtain info on project limitations & capabilities, performance requirements & interfaces. Req. a Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Degree in Comp Sci, Engg (any), Bus Admin or any technical/ analytical field + 2yrs of exp in an IT/Comp-related position. To apply, email Resumes via email to postings@prokarma.com with Job Ref#583099 in subject line.

Software Engineer #455759 ProKarma, Inc. has mult. openings for Software Engineer in Omaha, NE; travel and/ or reloc to various unanticipated locations throughout the U.S. is required. Responsible for designing, programming, coding, and analyzing new comp programs and data structures in accordance with specifications and user needs. Req. a Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in Comp Sci, Engineering (any), or any technical/ analytical field that is closely related to the specialty, plus 2 years of exp in an IT/Comprelated position. To apply, email Resumes to

postings@prokarma.com with Job Ref#455759 in subject line. October 2020

V O T E RACIAL DIVERSITY

N O V .

A measure of a census tract’s racial diversity from a scale of 0 (least diverse) to 1 (most diverse)

Data: 2018 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau

HOMEOWNERSHIP 100%

The percentage of people in a census tract who own the home they live in.

East Omaha

Could Own the Election

by Chris Bowling

t’s a bold claim. But the thing is, it’s true. From as far north as Florence to the southern reaches of the city’s limits. From the banks of the Missouri River to 72nd Street, the people who make up East Omaha have an opportunity to control the 2020 election.

Data: 2018 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau

POVERTY LEVEL

60%

The percentage people whose income is low enough to be considered below the poverty line

Data: 2018 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau

VOTER TURNOUT

The percentage of registered voters who voted in the 2020 primary.

60%

Precinct 2-19

Precinct 4-10 Data: 2018 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau

OCTOBER 2020

That’s because, for years, these neighborhoods have consistently not made their voices heard. Whether it’s registration counts or total votes cast, East Omahans traditionally lag their western counterparts. Just in this last primary, for every person who cast a ballot in North and South Omaha, people in Millard outnumbered them by more than double. If every registered voter in East Omaha cast a ballot on Nov. 3, that would be an additional 99,958 votes. Kara Eastman lost to Representative Don Bacon by fewer than 5,000 votes in 2018. Hillary Clinton lost to President Donald Trump by fewer than 6,000 votes in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District in 2016. Brenda Council lost the 1997 mayoral race to Hal Daub by 735 votes. In 2020 it could have ramifications for the entire nation as some predictions place Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District and its lone electoral vote as the potential deciding factor

between the reelection of President Donald Trump and the election of Vice President Joe Biden. Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District has only voted for a Democrat once since the state began splitting its vote in 1992: President Barack Obama in 2008. But, on a more granular level, making sure East Omaha’s voice is heard is about leveraging a neighborhood’s interests with its ability to decide the election of anyone from a president to a school board member. It’s not hard to see the effects of low voter turnout in East Omaha. Aging buildings, overgrown lots, cracking sidewalks. Community groups have found success through the years in pooling public and private dollars to win new development, but the victories have been hard fought. From an institutional standpoint, the needle’s been harder to move. Local government dollars have often gone to building up commercial centers, such as downtown, Aksarben or Midtown Crossing. Advocates will point to various reasons for the disparity in voter turnouts. There’s less education about why it’s important to vote, people move more frequently in these areas and language barriers present challenges in canvassing.

V O T E

N O V .

Precinct 4-10

Precinct 2-19

Polling Center:

Salvation Army Kroc Center

Metropolitan Community College Fort Omaha

Notable characteristics:

Precinct 4-10 is on the edge of Sarpy County and just south of Metropolitan Community College’s South Campus. Its eastern border is Highway 75. Its western border is 34th Street. It contains Omaha’s largest public housing complex, Southside Terrace, as well as neighborhoods of small, single-family homes of which 47.7% are occupant-owned. That’s about 14 percentage points lower than the county median.

Precinct 2-19 is bordered by Highway 75 on its eastern edge and 33rd Street on its western edge. Ames Avenue runs along its southern edge and Kansas Avenue makes up its northern border. It contains the Miller Park neighborhood where about 45% of people own their homes — about 17 percentage points lower than the county median. Several of its census tracts have some of the oldest structures in the city. In one, nearly three-fourths of its homes were built before 1939.

Median Income: Households make about $34,345 annually, 40% less than the county median. Thirty-two percent of its residents are below the poverty line, three times the county median.

Median Income: Households make about $30,433 annually, nearly half the county median.

Voter turnout:

Its 2020 primary voter turnout was 15.5%, the lowest in Douglas County, excluding the precinct that surrounds Boys Town, which is often an outlier.

Its 2020 primary voter turnout was 17.41%, the second-lowest in douglas county.

precinct and county Diversity Precinct 4-10

Douglas County

Precinct 2-19

Latino (54.5%)

white (67.73%)

Black (58.95%)

Black (21%)

Latino (12.94%)

white (25.3%)

white (18%)

Black (12.63%)

Latino (10.1%)

other (>1.5%)

Asian (3.41)

Asian (2.59%)

other (>1%)

other (>4%)

Some point to political disenfranchisement, fueled by systemic racism and social inequity. Overlay maps of median income, rates of homeownership and racial diversity in Douglas County, and you’ll find clusters. They’re the same clusters that banks refused to invest in for decades, a practice called redlining. These areas were considered ripe to demolish and make way for Highway 75. Today their schools have lower attendance records, communities have worse health

outcomes and more prevalent.

evictions

are

But Nov. 3 will come after months of protests against racial injustice and a pandemic that’s hammered poorer communities. Activists say now, more than ever, people are awakened not only to the real effects of inequity but to the real ways they could make an impact. For this series, The Reader examined the areas that have consistently shown the least vot-

er turnout. We wanted to know their histories, why community members haven’t made their voices heard in the past and what we can learn about 2020 and elections to come. The answers to how efforts in these areas and others like them will impact the election are complicated. Many institutional obstacles still exist. Add in trying to canvas and register voters during a pandemic, and you get a sense of what advocates are up against.

But, if there was a time to make East Omaha’s voice heard, it’s now. If residents in this area flooded the election with thousands of new votes, it’s dizzying to think of what could happen. Beyond new state senators or federal leadership, Nov. 3 is an opportunity to make their voices heard. To take control of the narrative. To show that East Omahans can, and will, decide the destiny of their communities and this city.

OCTOBER 2020

V O T E

N O V .

The Strength in the

South Omaha Vote by Chris Bowling

past primary, only 15% of registered voters of the area cast a ballot, less than half the county’s median. In past elections it’s trended even lower. Ruiz said many don’t cast a vote because they feel the city doesn’t care about them.

Alberto Ruiz, 47, stands outside his home in South Omaha.

he squat, single-family ranch has a narrow porch looking out onto a small, green lawn. The street outfront slopes toward a park, which right now kids race toward on skateboards. Alberto Ruiz likes the house he and his family live in. The 47-year-old Mexican immigrant bought the South Omaha home in 2002, moving in on the July 4 weekend. Since then he and his wife have worked, raised their kids and made a good life in the neighborhood on the far southern edge of Douglas County, which features shady streets of other modest homes as well Southside Terraces, the city’s largest public housing complex. But Ruiz knows there are differences between this area and others in the city. “If you go up the street or out west, you don’t see sidewalks like this,” he said, looking toward the cracking walkways. For a long time, this area has felt neglected. This area, precinct 4-10, is racially diverse than most in the city. It has higher rates of poverty, a lower median income and, for years, some of the lowest voter turnout in Douglas County. This

“They make you feel like you don’t count. If you’re Latino, they put you on the side,” said Ruiz, whose neighborhood is more than half Latino. “They only go for white people.” But those numbers could change radically this year. While in the past it’s been hard to draw parallels with community needs and voting-based solutions, 2020 has provided immediate examples. The area’s seen more than 2,000 cases of COVID-19, nearly double the caseload in the next hardest-hit zip code in Douglas County. And ever since protests around racial justice erupted in May, more people seem awake to social inequities, said Kimara Snipe, president of the area’s neighborhood association as well as the president of South Omaha Neighborhood Alliance.

For a long time this neighborhood, like many around it, has been blue collar. Only a short drive from meatpacking plants, the majority of homes were built before 1939 with little development after the ‘60s. As whites left for the suburbs, Latino and other immigrant populations of Omaha moved in, picking up their working class lifestyle. Today, immigrants with a variety of citizenship statuses, including refugees, make up a large portion of this community. That comes with more language and cultural gaps to bridge than a typical neighborhood, and it’s a large reason why it’s been left out of typical get-out-the-vote efforts.

“This is the main message as an organization,” said Lily Reyes, a senior organizer in South Omaha with Heartland Workers Center. “Make your voice heard, don’t permit other people to decide for you. If you want to see changes make it happen.” Due to the pandemic, the organization has had to modify its get-out-the-vote strategy. Normally volunteers and staff would canvas across the state, but this year they’ve switched to more phone banking. That’s hard in an area like 4-10 where a lot of people are harder to reach by phone or internet. On Sept. 15 they set out to physically canvas the homes that couldn’t be reached remotely — 252 houses, by far the largest number of any other precinct, organizers said. Along the way, they met young college students who knew nothing about the candidates, homeowners who said they were telling all their neighbors to vote and others who said they knew they should vote but didn’t know how.

In 2020, a presidential election could hinge on Omaha. A congressional Heartland Workers Center canvassers check As organizers rematch, decided by less a map of the 4-10 precinct on Sept. 15, 2020. walked the streets than 5,000 votes in 2018, clad in bright green vests, they will take place. Countless local “Up until now, it’s been comalso informed people about offices are up for grabs. And the pletely ignored,” Snipe said. planned redevelopments in the sleeping giant, tens of thousands Heartland Workers Center, area. Southside Terrace will be of votes worth, lies east of 72nd in particular, targeted the area demolished to make way for new Street. following its 2020 primary voter homes and community spaces, “The voting power in East turnout. They’ve started using though exact plans haven’t been Omaha is enough to shift the the campaign slogan, “I Vote for decided. whole political climate in [NebrasMy Family.” It’s a call to action for ka’s] 2nd Congressional District,” “One of the main things that those whose citizenship status alSnipe said. “There is power in we want to do is change with the lows for voting to be a voice for these communities, and people participation of the community,” their loved ones. just don’t know that.” said Penelope León, a community

OCTOBER 2020

V O T E organizer and trainer with Heartland Workers Center. “The community is going to say what they want or [what their] dream for the area could be.” With social and health issues banding people together and the promise of a new development in the works, people are getting inspired, Snipe said. But change has to come through community organizing, she added, because low-income, diverse communities such as 4-10 need their voices amplified. “People are not able to come into their own power,” she said. “Oftentimes we go into these neighborhoods that are suffering from poverty, and we just make the wrong assumption that there are no positives. But we don’t look at the positives.” Protests in 2020, specifically those against the treatment of minorities by police, have ignited diverse communities. Snipe said social inequities are now a frequent topic whenever she talks to her neighbors. “There’s power in being civically engaged and knowledgeable,” said Snipe, who’s also a member of the Omaha Public Schools board. “That’s why I was able to be in poverty and still be out here and be someone considered to be a leader and a de-

N O V .

cision maker,” she said. “You can be broke as hell and still do your thing, but people don’t realize that.” Once the community organizes, voter turnout can rise. Tens of thousands of votes from here and neighborhoods like it could swing elections in a new direction. It could mean politicians courting voters or developing policies to improve their communities. When Snipe imagines that reality, she thinks about the message it sends to politicians. “We’re watching you.” Increased political accountability could have helped in limiting the spread of COVID-19, Snipe said. State Senator Tony Vargas fought for COVID-19 protections in this district, but the legislative effort stalled in Nebraska’s Unicameral. Ruiz works as a forklift operator in a meatpacking plant and contracted COVID-19. His family got the disease, and his wife, who has asthma, spent time in the hospital. Ruiz said a man he knew, who came out of retirement to work a few shifts at the plant and save up some money, died from the disease. Increased political attention and accountability could aid in discussions like policing or invest-

ment in community resources, which very briefly took center stage in the Omaha City Council.

Their ads weren’t on Spanish-language television or radio stations. Then more people started voting.

It could also have national implications. Pundits in their election simulations keep coming back to one place that could be the tipping point in electing the next president of the United States: Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District.

“Then we saw the candidates doing canvassing around South Omaha,” she said. “We started hearing spot promotions in Spanish from candidates. So I know what we are doing is the correct thing, and we’re going to increase voter participation.”

With its one electoral vote Nebraska could (big capital “C” could) be the tiebreaker between President Donald Trump and Vice President Joe Biden. With a high population of Black and Latino voters, who poll unfavorably against Trump, a precinct like 4-10 holds sway.

Snipe feels the same way. There are more forces at work that could push people to cast ballots than ever before. And after years of organizing work, she can envision a reality where the people of 4-10 recognize they have control over this election and their community.

These are electrifying new jumping-off points for organizers like those with the Heartland Workers Center. But it’s still just another opportunity to continue bolstering electoral power in East Omaha. “I have been doing this job for more than six years,” Leon said. “At first I was skeptical. I didn’t believe that we could make a change or make a difference. But after every election we have seen the rates increasing in South Omaha.” Leon said six years ago, she didn’t see candidates around South Omaha neighborhoods.

But she doesn’t want to get ahead of herself. 2020 is a big election year, but the fight to engage this community has been long. This is just another step in the process. “The truth is that we’re not going to fix this tonight. We’ve been having this conversation since the ‘60s, since before that. Let’s be honest,” she said. “But we have not had this level of activation before.” “It’s not just about what happens tomorrow, or next week,” she continued, “it’s about what happens 10 years from now.”

Get Out The Vote:

A look at behind the ward by Mark McGaugh

wenty-twenty has already proven to be historic and yet more history could be written this year with Nebraska as the author. With election day quickly approaching and ballots rolling out, all eyes are on Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District. According to polls published by the New York Times and CNN, the margin of

victory in this year’s presidential election could be at an all-time low. Other than Maine, Nebraska is the only other state where each congressional district can award its winner an electoral vote. That could potentially swing the entire election. Although it has historically low voter turnout, Omaha’s 2nd ward, which makes up much of North

OCTOBER 2020

Omaha, has the opportunity to be the deciding factor between Biden and Trump.

runs along its southern edge and Kansas Avenue makes up its northern border.

In particular voting precinct 2-19 which contains the Miller Park neighborhood, had the second-lowest turnout of any precinct in Douglas County. That neighborhood is bordered by Highway 75 on its eastern edge and 33rd Street on its western edge. Ames Avenue

However the problems in that precinct permeate the entire ward which had the lowest voter turnout of any ward in Douglas County. According to seasoned canvasser and Omaha resident Schmeeka Grayer-Simpson, the lack of education and engagement are the

V O T E

N O V .

State Senator Justin Wayne two major contributing factors to those low numbers. “[Candidates] don’t engage us with education, they don’t engage in our communities as far as investing in us,” Grayer-Simpson “I think our people are very aware of that, we’re not stupid. And, so as a result we don’t participate. We don’t feel like we have a real dog in the fight.” Grayer-Simpson said she found that many registered voters opted not to vote due to a lack of candidates that represent their interests similar to how Obama energized Black voters in 2008 when he won Nebraska 2nd Congressional District, the only time it’s ever split from the state. “A lot of it too is that we don’t have representation,” she said. “That means… the person who is representing me is taking my platform, my likeness and my needs and representing that in a way of going forth for us and fighting for us. We are not seeing that.” This holds true statistically as voters in Ward 2 turned out in record numbers to help elect the nation’s first Black president. In contrast, numbers dropped significantly following Barack Obama’s second term. In both the 2008 and 2012 presidential general elections, over 55% of the voters in Ward 2 turned out at the polls, according to the Douglas County Election Commission. However, voter turnout dropped to just below 25% in the 2020

Presidential Primary, despite having 3,000 more registered voters than in 2012. Less concerned with electoral votes and more concerned with putting food on the table, many communities don’t see the connection between voting and tangible change, Grayer-Simpson said. That’s even more true in the midst of a global pandemic that has exacerbated just about every known socioeconomic disparity. “The main thing is voting literally hasn’t changed our reality as Black people,” Grayer-Simpson said. “Even if we talk about the civil rights movement, even if we talk about the equal rights movements and human rights movements that have been enacted through political action, we’re still poor. People are still hungry in our communities. “We’re not seeing the connection between voting and a better quality of life. And it’s very discouraging to the community,” she continued. “Why take the time off to go vote when I know tomorrow my reality is not going to change?” State Senator Justin Wayne said that although he understands that Omahans may be fed up with oppressive systems and disenfranchisement, “it isn’t just about protesting.” According to Wayne, “our biggest voice is checking that voter box and making sway that will help our community.”

preston love jr. “As it relates to just Omaha in general and people who have been frustrated with the systems whether it’s [Omaha Public Schools], whether it’s the county/city criminal system, whether it’s down at the state legislature, whether it’s the pot holes you drive through in North Omaha and you go out in West Omaha and they got brand new construction, all that changes with one thing,” Wayne said. “And that’s the ability to vote.” According to local activist and former executive director of Black Votes Matter Preston Love Jr. not voting would be the bigger atrocity. Beyond the district’s sole electoral vote, Love Jr. believes there is much at stake in this year’s election, including the historic strides of the civil rights movement. Because while Love said he’s voted in some great elections, this one probably has the most on the line of any in his lifetime. “Quite frankly [we] could have a race war because this president has released the white supremacists and made ‘em feel welcome,” he said. “And they’re also trying to unravel the victories we’ve had during the civil rights era. So, there’s so many things at stake. I hope the people will not sit this one out because it will affect our community for generations if we do.” Wayne also acknowledged there is a lot at stake given the rhetoric from the current administration.

“We got all the way from the top down, with the Trump administration,” he said. “This divisiveness, this fact that maybe Black lives don’t matter. And the way we change that is by registering to vote. We gotta vote.” Despite the significant drop in voter turnout, given all that’s at stake and the ease of access due to heightened mail-in ballot requests, there is a lot of optimism surrounding voter turnout in this year’s presidential election. “Folks are getting those applications in to get the ballots sent to their homes,” Love Jr. said. “In the streets there’s a rumble. And I’m happy about it.” Grayer-Simpson also believes voters will turn out in droves, saying fear may lead to better numbers than the 2012 Presidential general election. “I use the word excited, but I don’t know if it’s excited or scared,” she said. “You know, I think our people are both. We are scared of what it’s going to look like if Donald Trump is in office for another four years. I think we were excited for Obama, this year we’re scared because of Trump,” said Grayer-Simpson. “So, I definitely think we’ll probably see voter turnout to be something equal or even exceed what happened with Obama... Just because we know that we are in a bad place right now and we want to try to do our part to make some changes.”

OCTOBER 2020

D I S H

A New Facebook Group Aims to Keep Local Alive

Omaha natives use social media to empower others to make a change by Sara Locke

h e n Covid-19 first made landfall in Omaha, we all groaned in frustration at the thought of being stuck at home for up to two full weeks. Restaurants shut their doors, their owners developing tiny ulcers as they wondered what kind of impact the closure would have. Just one week can break a small business. Seven months later, many of these restaurants have found themselves permanently shuttered, and many more are still operating, but unrecognizable. As these establishments find new ways to serve, their customers are reminded that there is still one way to give these restaurants a fighting chance.

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is The harsh reality is that if Omaha’s economy is going to recover, it’s going to take more than a bailout and having your favorite chain restaurant deliver to your door. Supporting locally-owned businesses feeds

20 per adult spent in Omaha over a year

Retained in Local Economy

93,277,790

funds directly back into our local economy, and that kind of meaningful impact is the name of the long-game. One local group is creating actionable steps to keep Omaha’s small businesses thriving. Bob Johnson and Dave Loveland, who share extensive business and sales backgrounds and a passion for entrepreneurship, launched the Facebook group Keep Local Alive (KLA) in early summer. It was an attempt to “move from word to action” and truly create traction around the efforts to keep locally owned

OCTOBER 2020

establishments flourishing. The pair do more than cheerlead their followers to spend locally; they support local businesses by educating them on ways to actively engage their customers, even now. The page grew rapidly, hitting more than 13,000 members in September. Participants are encouraged to take part in easy challenges, like the “shift 20 challenge.” Simply spend $20 you would usually spend at a chain at a locally owned establishment instead. That’s just five lattes a month from one of the many locally owned (and locally

sourced) coffee shops, instead of a chain that may or may not burn their beans. Go to www. Move20SaveLocal.com to take the pledge, and to access tools and tips to Keep Local Alive. The site shows you exactly how much potential impact there is for Omahans to stimulate and revitalize our own economy. Bob and Dave understand that Omaha citizens aren’t passive spectators in the destruction of the local culture it’s taken generations to cultivate, but engaged and excited to affect change and action. That’s why the Keep Local Alive page isn’t your standard gripe-group, but a living to-do list. The private group (facebook.com/groups/KLA.Omaha) is a sonnet of positive restaurant reviews, kudos for covid precautions, and tips about restaurants who may need a little more love in any given week. While your standard private local group pretty quickly devolves into burn-book level rants, KLA is a place to find your next favorite.

OF THE B I

Thanks Omaha For Voting Us Best Indian Food

Omaha’s Original Indian Restaurant & Brewing Company

#1 for 17 years in a Row

Family owned and operated. Jaipur has something for all ages.

10922 Elm Street Omaha, NE 68144. • Tel.(402) 392 7331

11-3 DAILY

Celebrating Over 30 Years Of Making Ice Cream Th e Old Fashioned Way

Two Omaha Locations:

Old Market

Downtown • 1120 Jackston 402.341.5827

Benson

An Omaha Tradition Since 1975.

6023 Maple 402.551.4420

tedandwallys.com

Home of America’s Most Premium Ice Cream Ted & Wally’s Ultra-Premium 20% Butterfat Made from Scratch with Rock Salt & Ice

La Vista

Mid-town

West ‘0’

8146 S. 96th St La Vista, NE 68128

715 N Saddle Creek Rd Omaha, NE 68132

15615 Pacific St Omaha, NE 68118

402-614-5545

402-553-9270

402-933-5090

OCTOBER 2020

RS ' CH

D I S H

Omaha!

Thanks for voting for us

Make an appointment and reserve a free loaner car at OmahaCarCare.com

3 Omaha Locations: 132nd & Dodge 59th & Center 84th & L We'll be along for the ride!

www.omahacarcare.com

The group’s energy is proof that while we have lost a lot these last several months, Omaha’s humanity is alive and well. Members are quick with tips, suggestions, and encouragement and the admins foster a hopeful ambiance for their fervent followers and casual lurkers. The team is working on a directory of local businesses to make support easier, and the myriad members are encouraged to share all of their positive experiences through stories, pictures, tags and hashtags. And when some of those stories included members finding themselves the sole customer in a beloved local establishment, a new Call to Action was delivered.

Omaha’s humanity is alive and well

Cash Mobs

Dare to be Different If you can dream it, we can make it

Thanks for voting for us Omaha! 1019 Howard St. in the Old Market 18

OCTOBER 2020

out entirely the week the mob chose to target them, and as mentioned, a week can change everything for a small business. And it’s not just diners on the KLA page, but many local business owners rely on the group for inspiration, and jump at every chance to support their fellow entrepreneurs. You’ll find small businesses reaching out to one another, employing one another from the comments section for odd jobs, website design, beauty services, and home improvement. Many of these locally owned businesses engage with the Cash Mob targets by purchasing gift cards to the establishment and using them as giveaways on their own pages. For some, it took a pandemic to find the locally owned establishments that would become the local proprietors they can’t imagine life without. You can find this team using their platform across social media, podcasts, (Including this one at OvationUp.com), and out in the real world actively living their own Call to Action. The movement has spread, and Keep Local Alive groups are sprouting up in other cities like wildflowers. With a little luck and twenty bucks, who knows how much more good can be done?

The group has been using their numbers to give in guerilla fashion through the cash mob phenomena. Page followers nominate a business who could use a boost, and an establishment is chosen each week. Participants then buy gift cards, make purchases, grab take-out and dine at the selected target to boost sales for the establishment. Diners are encouraged to tag the business, hashtagging #Move20mob to encourage others to take part. Establishments are given ample notice that they will be subject to the sudden influx of customers for a week. This allows them to make inventory and staff choices to handle the sudden increase in traffic. Hartland BBQ sold

Head to www.facebook. com/keeplocalalive.omaha to join the movement.

FALL SAVINGS EVENT

SAVE UP TO

50 OFF

$100 EYEGLASS PURCHASE

25 OFF

$50 EYEGLASS PURCHASE

Thanks for Voting Us One of the Best Cafe/Diners in Omaha!

Serving Breakfast & Lunch 7 Days A Week 817 N 40th St | (402) 551-2176

SCHEDULE YOUR EYE EXAM TODAY!

Malbar.com/good *Must purchase a complete pair of prescription eyeglasses including frame and lenses. Only valid on retail pricing and some insurance plans. An out of pocket expense after insurance payment and before tax must meet minimum requirement in order to receive discount. Cannot be used with any other promotion, discount or offer. Not redeemable for cash. Does not include Ray-Ban, Maui Jim, Oakley, Tiffany & Co., accessories, contact lenses, LASIK, eye examinations or medical procedures. Not valid on previous orders. Some restrictions apply. See store for full details. Offer ends 11/18/2020. 20MRB-86178.

Omaha Tribal Historical Research Project, Inc. A 501(c)(3) non-profit since 1992 PO BOX 279 ROSALIE, NE 68055

GIVE GENEROUSLY!! Giving Tuesday: December 1, 2020 A Global Day for Charity

Help save an ancient culture

OTHRP on Facebook OTHRP@yahoo.org jackalopearts.org OTHRP on Pay-Pal OTHRP on Go Fund Me

OCTOBER 2020

Thanks Omaha for voting us

OF THE B T I

9 9 1

4 Omaha Locations Shop 24/7 Online ThriftWorld.com 20

OCTOBER 2020

Best Thrift Store!

P I C K S script The Call was finally made into a film – two decades since first optioned. The project marks a full circle for Stibbs, whose cinema passion includes a friendship with legendary writer-director John Milius (Dirty Harry, Conan the Barbarian), reviewing movies as “The Box Officer” and organizing screenings in theaters and improvised drive-ins. For his day job, Stibbs makes award-winning short films and TV-radio spots. Cinedigm is releasing the pic nationwide in October. His buzz-worthy story concerns an old woman suspected of being a witch. When she dies, a group of people who tormented her are forced to call a phone installed in her casket. When someone on the other end picks up, there’s hell to pay.

October 2nd

Layers Petshop

Layers, a two-person exhibit opening at Petshop, Friday, October 2, explores the complexity of how “we navigate and interpret interactions with others and our surroundings” according to the show statement. The exhibit features the work of Shaun Ilahi and Trudy Swanson who deconstruct some of these layers in order to reveal something more tangible and visual. Ilahi examines the multiple layers of Midwestern culture by overlaying a photo from Nebraska and one from Asia. The juxtaposition of images provides a multi-faceted commentary on the American landscape and how people are intertwined with one another.

Sculpture by Trudy Swanson: not everything is shared, 9x10x9, Clay, Glass Swanson uses several layers of textures to create various body sculptures that convey hidden emotions and experiences beyond first impressions. By uncovering these layers, the sculptures evoke a sensory and emotional experience for the viewer, expanding immediate perceptions. Layers opens at Petshop Gallery October 2, from 7-10 p.m. during Benson First Friday. For more details and gallery hours, go to www.bffomaha.org › petshop. — Mike Krainak

Coming to a theater or streaming platform near you Photo by Shaun Ilahi: Searching. Looking. Finding. Waiting / The memory of you still gets me high/ With love, America the beautiful, 20x30, Photograph

The script, which once had Oscar-winning actress Patricia Neal attached, passed through many hands but each time a production seemed eminent, things fell through. Real traction only happened recently when fellow Omaha native Randy Goodwin, a veteran film-TV actor, got the screenplay to Insidious horror franchise star Lin Shaye. She liked the story enough to share it with director Timothy Woodward Jr., who was sold on the property. He brought on a second horror franchise star, Tobin Bell (Saw), and suddenly this long frustrated fever dream became activated. Stibbs admits he feared something would kill the deal again. It wasn’t until he visited the set he knew it was real.

The Call

www.thecallmovie.com

Goodwin has a small part and, along with Stibbs, a producer credit. If the film performs well, Stibbs is in line to write a sequel.

The adage good things come to those who wait holds special meaning for Omahan Patrick Stibbs. In 2019, his feature horror

This family man is a nice guy in a cutthroat industry, thus the odyssey of his dream come true even more inspiring for aspira-

tional film artists in places like Nebraska. — Leo Adam Biga

October 8th

Legal Aid Equal Justice Awards Online

Legal Aid of Nebraska will be holding a virtual event on Thursday October 8th from noon - 1 p.m. The event is free and requires prior registration (legalaidofnebraska.org). Pulitzer Prize winning author Matthew Desmond will address the impact of COVID-19 has had on the hardest-hit in their lives and daily work. The Equal Justice Awards recognize those who have worked to achieve greater, more equal justice for everyone in the community. The 2020 awardees are: Husch Blackwell, Children of Smithfield (Crete), OneWorld Community Health Center, Charles Drew Health Center, Nebraska Medicine, and Tenant Assistance Project volunteer private attorneys. Attendees will learn about the legal safety net of resources available for people suffering through the effects of COVID-19. For more information on the event, go to www. legalaidofnebraska.org/fola2020. Legal Aid of Nebraska is a nonprofit organization that has provided support to low-income Nebraskans to ensure fair enforcement of the law, protect the rights of the people and to address the urgent legal needs of the community. — Eneris Aymée Bernard Santos

OCTOBER 2020

Very Becoming Seven make good impression in G1516’s first ‘Emerging Artists’ group exhibit by Kent Behrens at the former’s location at 16th and Leavenworth.

Talbert Reflection of Power, 2019

Amplify Arts’ Program Director Peter Fankhauser offered this as the venue’s definition: “Artists in the early stages of their creative development, with 2 to 10 years of generative experience, a focused direction and goals, a developing artistic “voice,” who have yet to be substantially celebrated within their field, the media, or funding circles.”

Searching the term on the web only confounds the issue; it appears that arts writers and curators are in little agreement about this somewhat new and seemingly overused label. What they do agree on, mostly, is these artists evolving presence and reputation.

The exhibit, which takes good advantage of G1516’s excellent space, features the work of seven local contemporary artists at varying levels of experience and renown. Gallery 1516’s Assistant Curator Suzi Eberly tapped into Amplify Arts extensive roster to serve as guide through the forest of those transpiring from unknown to known. Together, they assembled a group of local talent, as described in the show’s accompanying pamphlet, “that reexamines and rewrites traditional artistic narratives.”

One possible enlightenment is the recent collaboration of Omaha’s Gallery 1516 and the art center Amplify Arts which resulted in an exhibit, appropriately titled Emerging Artists, which opened Sept. 13

Gallery Director Pat Drickey said the show was “put together as a kind of precursor and complement to the upcoming Spring 2021 Biennial.” In addition, it satiates the recent virus-induced dearth of art

ave you ever found yourself asking “What exactly is an emerging artist?” Is it as obvious as it sounds or is there more there than meets the eye?

Neil Griess Blurred Landscape, 2019

OCTOBER 2020

shows; group shows have always been a good way to show more work to more people. Prior to the completion, Eberly moved away, but still consults with the gallery. Subsequent curation and installation was then taken up by the staff at 1516. This transient collaboration yielded a group of seven artists at different stages of their careers: Camille Hawbaker Voorhees, Shawnequa Linder, Jenna Johnson, Neil Griess, Tom White, Patty Talbert, and Anne Dovali. Depending on your frequency of gallery visits in the area, a few of these names may be new to you, and

Shawnequa Linder Scotch and Soda, 2020

OCTOBER 2020

The presentation of the work is comfortable and logical, arranged to the benefit of both the artist and viewer. With only a couple of logistical exceptions, each artist is allocated their own space on the wall, and the adjacent floor when called for, as there are a few sculptural entries.

Dovali The Compromise, 2018 more than a couple may be recongizable. The work is of varying size, ranging from larger, six and eight-foot paintings by Johnson, Dovali and Talbert, to more modestly sized works by others. Additionally, there are more intimate works from Griess and Hawbaker Voorhees.

Neil Griess has ten paintings of surreal, abstracted landscapes of strong perspective, many of which elicit fantasy or science fiction parallels. Most of the work is watercolor, with some airbrush work and watercolor pencil additions.

In addition to Griess’ two-dimensional pieces, on display are a few of his “models,” small sculptures from 2018 that look like maquettes for larger earthwork sculpture or landscape designs. These four functionally abstract pieces are made from typical modeling materials, like foam core, acrylic medium, fake grass, paper and more. Much of the show consists of more traditional paintings. Linder, Johnson, Dovali, Talbert and Griess all use traditional mediums, acrylics, oils, watercolors and such. In a few instances, collage or found objects add interest or dimension to the piece,

White Antiquated 2, no date

Linder, like a few of the others, has had much exposure over the last few years. Her mysterious and sometimes eerie, faceless portraits appear to have more “personality” than many traditional portraits tend to convey. A couple of her eight works veer farther from her recognizable portrait style, towards

abstraction. This foray into the less subjective is inviting and enigmatic. In a similar fashion, Jenna Johnson takes to deconstructing the human form in “Dropped in It” (2020,) obscuring the facial features of a seated young woman, but retaining enough for us to question her subject’s emotional state. Across the room, and the first piece in the show, is Johnson’s D.T.M.H. (2020,) a less deconstructed portrait of a young woman, whose braids come to life, popping off the canvas. Anne Dovali is represented by two large paintings in a surreal yet photo-realist style that also bring some humor to the room. “The Compromise” (2018,) oil on canvas, features a scaley reptilian/human under attack by what appears to be a miniature hunting party. Accompanying this large painting is a greenware floor sculpture, inspired by the scales in the painting. The engaging little installation by Tom White furnishes the northwest corner of the gallery. White, who now lives in Chicago, has modified an old console tube television that has been redone with back lighting and a translucent collage where the picture used to be, then topped with a tapestry work of his design, and a ceramic “vase”. Rounding out this domestic tribute is a “yarn drawing” in his same drawing style, recalling the child-art every parent has on their refrigerator. This “T.V. Dinner” (n.d.) is a humorous reflection on a lifestyle that actually predates many of these artists. The installation is framed by two matching portraits in White’s colorful drawing style of interlaced lines and color, that harkens back to the pop illustrations of the ‘60’s and Peter Max. His 2D entries are actually digital prints made from

hand-drawn originals. The quality of the prints is superb, but some may desire to see the original drawings. The jury is still out for many art lovers. Patty Talbert’s two paintings, “Reflections of Power” and “Reflections of Patty” (both 2019) use dense patterns of repeated shapes to create a tapestry of colors that meld into vibrant portraits. The patterns call up similarities to fabric and painting found African indigenous art. Talbert’s newer painting, “Reflections (2020,”) is a large diptych; an abstract, geometric piece using similar patterns but in a more pastel palette. Many will recognize the 13 embroidered paper works from Camille Hawbaker Voorhees. Her method of distressing a base layer of paper and applying over painting, fabrics, embroidery, and more, results in cryptic, abstract, archaic objects d’art that would be at home in a history museum as well as an art gallery. Longer looks may reveal hidden shapes that can form into words or faces. Emerging Artists may not satisfy everyone’s definition or understanding of its operative word, but one can rightly conclude, “emerged” or “established” these seven artists have successfully “arrived” in the Metro’s arts scene in this very fine collaboration. The Emerging Artists exhibit is open to the public by reservation, as individuals in groups up to six, and member groups from 7 to twenty. As it stands, the show will end Nov. 22nd. All attendees, non-members and members, need to contact the gallery to make reservations. Please check their website for further information; gallery1516.org.

Omaha’s Award Winning Personal Injury Attorneys FOCUSED ON HEALING, THEN RESULTS

6790 Grover Street, Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68106 | inserra.com

OCTOBER 2020

YOU ARE NOT ALONE... WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE ALL IN

FAMILY COUNSELING

selin E

linic

st Co

CALL US ANYTIME! (402) 330-0960

THIS

10:50 am Live-Stream Service via Facebook @ www.facebook/FUMCOmaha

7020 Cass Street 402.556.6262 www.fumcomaha.org

ArborFamilyCounseling.com

THANK YOU, OMAHA, FOR VOTING US THE BEST!

WINNER Best Dermatology Clinic Best Cosmetic Practice - Noninvasive

PLACED IN Best Cosmetic Surgery Practice Best Day Spa Whether your needs are medical or cosmetic, Dr. Joel Schlessinger and the LovelySkin staff have the expertise to find a treatment plan for you. Visit Skin Specialists P.C., LovelySkin Spa or the LovelySkin retail store to achieve a more beautiful you!

402-697-6565

402-334-7546 LovelySkin.com/Dermatology

402-334-1226

Skin Specialists and LovelySkin Spa are under the direction of Joel Schlessinger, M.D., Board-Certified Dermatologist and Cosmetic Surgeon.

OCTOBER 2020

F I L M

Twenty Times the Horror for 2020 The best horror movies I’ve seen in the last 20 years by Ryan Syrek

FYI:

My paid movie reviewing career is now officially old enough to vote. I can promise it’s not going third party… Over all these years, the question I have been asked most as a film critic is “This is more of a comment than a question: You suck.” The second is honestly “What’s the scariest movie you’ve ever seen?” It’s a boring answer. Only The Exorcist has ever actually scared me, mostly because my friend Tony and I watched it back when spelling “boobs” on a calculator was the height of hilarity. I was like 10 or 11, and the devil was not a lie. My abject, unholy terror after watching that particular movie taught me to separate all film from reality. Sure, jump scares still make me whizz a thimble of fear juice but none of it makes me truly “afraid.” Although I’ve always appreciated the horror genre’s penchant for innovation, a legitimate passion has developed in the last few years thanks to some beloved guidance and partnership. Now, I feel like I’m finally ready to make a real, honest-to-Beelzebub “best of” list. In an effort to close the belching hellmouth that is 2020, I thought a ritual sacrifice of the top 20 horror movies of the last 20 years was just what the Necronomicon ordered. Oh, and this is no-messing-around: no horror comedy (sorry Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland), no arthouse indie horror “homage” (sorry A Girl Who

Walks Home Alone at Night), and no cartoon horror (sorry Paranorman). Alright, caveats over, let’s kick this pumpkinhead.

20 – The Descent Director Neil Marshall’s claustrophobic glimpse into cave dwelling hell is a violent bit of spelunking, as six women try to survive some CHUDs. Fun fact: the US and UK got different endings, although both were nearly exactly similar in tone, purpose, and depressing inferences, much like the nations’ current leaders.

19 – Dawn of the Dead

17 – Drag Me to Hell Writer/director Sam Raimi’s giddy, “good for a teen’s first horror watching” flick is about a young loan officer who gets cursed after she is forced to kick a witch out of her home. This should serve as a stark warning for all those about to unpause COVID-era evictions… Whether or not Raimi intended the eating disorder metaphor that has been much discussed, it works, and the gnarly PG-13 ride is gloriously playful, like a spider tickling a fly.

16 – Prometheus and Alien: Covenant

Director Zack Snyder’s fanboy army can take out all the billboards they want to, his best film is still going to be this remake of the Romero classic. Not only does this mall-centric apocalypse have an absolutely perfect opening sequence, it has a woman giving birth to Mekhi Phifer’s zombie baby. This is art. Everything else in life is just noise.

I don’t typically “cheat” on these lists, but there’s no way to justify putting one of these in this slot without the other. Unfairly maligned for simplistic, superficial reasons, these are movies about the terror that is the origin of humanity and the nightmares we are bound to unleash upon the universe. If most creation stories are lullabies, this is a baby that screams back in binary code and Latin.

18 – Cloverfield

15 – The Void

For my mental bitcoins, no found footage film paid off better than this “alien who hates proto-hipsters” bit of jittery mayhem. With sewer xeno-cockroaches and TJ Miller before he was revealed to be the biggest monster involved, the film is still probably the best United Statesian Godzilla riff.

This one has everything you love: Cosmic horror that is not directly linked to the racist HP Lovecraft, weird hooded cult members, Cronenberg-esque body horror done with practical effects, and a traumatizing synth/ambient noise score. If you open one gateway to hell this October, make it The Void!

14 – Under the Shadow Set in Tehran in the 1980s, writer/director Babak Anvari’s djinn-based fear fable is filled with explicit symbolism and some legitimately upsetting chills. After a missile strike, a mother and daughter struggle against manmade terror and an evil genie that’s almost as scary as Will Smith in the (gasp) live-action Aladdin.

13 – Pontypool If you feel like you want more upsetting pandemic-based content in your life, get yourself to Pontypool. A radio host, which is what we used to call podcasters, is holed up at his station, riding out the potential end of the world. Some

OCTOBER 2020

folks absolutely detested the third act, but if we have learned anything in the last year, it’s that many people are wrong about a lot of things.

12 – Mandy I almost didn’t include this one, as it is more “revenge fantasy by way of a Heavy Metal cartoon” than horror. But there are motorcycle-riding demons, a deranged cult led by a former Law & Order actor, a character credited as “Fuck Pig,” and Nicholas Cage at an 11. If that doesn’t tingle your danger noodle, what even is scary to you?

11 – Us Writer/director Jordan Peele’s ascent to entertainment mogul is wholly justified by his sophomore effort. Us features a lead performance that should have won Lupita Nyong’o her second Oscar and has a central thesis about our cruelty towards people we are willing to ignore. That feels particularly timely during a year in which some folks have explicitly argued that we should let whole segments of our population simply die off without protection. Real life has always gotta one-up fiction, you know?

10 – Suspiria We’re here, in the top sphere of fear. I fully expected that director Luca Guadagnino’s remake of Dario Argento’s gory dance-heavy madness was going to trip my trigger, what with its copious use of Tilda Swinton. What I did not expect was to be glued to its marriage of the exquisitely beautiful and palpably grotesque, to its Cold War history lessons, to its aggressive feminism (albeit coming from two dudes writing/directing). From its Thom Yorke score to its abundant ballet, it should have come across as pretentious buffoonery. Instead, it felt like a blissful blend of goofy and profound. It’s goofound. Now you go find it.

9 – I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House Writer/director Oz Perkins offers up just the prettiest, lyrical haunted house film you ever did see. It helps that Ruth

Thank you for your votes Omaha! All types of Roofing, Guttering, Siding & Windows • Hail Damage Specialists Locally Owned & Operated Since 1993 • Insurance Claims are Our Specialty

FREE ESTIMATES! ential Roofin sid g Re

Voted Best 9 Years in a Row

Voted Best 7 Years in a Row

5532 CENTER STREET, OMAHA NE 68106 (402) 502-9300 WWW.PYRAMIDROOF.COM

OF THE B I

EB I

O! CE

Your vote is our reward Thank you for voting us the best electrical service in the Big O — again. We’re proud to serve you with the highest level of expertise, skill and do-it-right-the-first time philosophy. It’s the Miller way.

402.341.6479

millerelect.com

OCTOBER 2020

F I L M Wilson is involved, which is literally always the case. Like Suspiria, the meta-nature of a movie about a prolific horror writer really should have been grating. Instead, this gentle and sly ghost story doesn’t jump out and say “boo” so much as it haunts you with tone, its feel lingering in your psychic residue. And that shit does not wash out.

8 – She Dies Tomorrow The next time I revisit this list, writer/director Amy Seimetz’s film may well have convinced a few flicks above it their death was imminent. She Dies Tomorrow is about the absolute most terrifying thing in the entire world: understanding the inevitability of mortality. This hallucinatory, spellbinding film is upsetting in a way that won’t have you leaving the lights on so much as finding out if your insurance covers telepsychiatry. Doesn’t that sound fun?

7 – The Host This Bong Joon-Ho guy may just be pretty good, y’all. The movie that put him on many a radar is this bonkers flick that is filled with his trademark tonal shifts, the performers he loves, recurrent themes about family, and mutated fish monsters. Parasite may have the scarier monster, capitalism, but The Host has 100% more tentacles.

6 – Hereditary I deserve Toni Collette screaming in my face for not putting this in my top 5. Writer/director Ari Aster’s first exploration of grief and trauma hit the goofound absolutely perfectly. At the film’s legitimately insane climax, half the audience was gasping while the other half openly laughed. Perfection. Horror is, at its core, playing footsie with the darkly absurd. The sincerity of Collete’s performance, including the best reactions to discovering the supernatural is real, helps ground the film even as it continues to ascend into the mountains of madness.

5 – Let the Right One In This quiet Swedish unfairy tale is the best vampire movie ever made, and you can tell Robert Pattinson I said that. In a way that most other blood-sucking cinema doesn’t, it legitimately conveys the desperation and depth of depression associated with unholy, endless life. The boundaries of good and evil bleed together, and we’re the ones who lap it up. That’s right: Just watching this makes you a Dracula. A Swedish Dracula at that, which means you’re just culinary school away from being a Swedish Dracula Chef!

4 – 28 Days Later The best zombie movie ever made did the whole “the real monsters are regular human beings” thing better than anything outside of our political system. The very concept of the fast-moving undead is brilliantly unfair and was absolutely revolutionary. The shadow cast by this one has kept The Walking Dead going for, I want to say, 34 seasons? Any list like this one without 28 Days Later was probably written by an actual reanimated corpse trying to get you to let your guard down.

3 – The Babadook We’re now at the point where any of these films could be number one. Writer/ director Jennifer Kent introduced a delightfully meme-able, behatted weirdo that serves as a physical embodiment of the unique grief and trauma that stalks each of us. It’s as much about the burden of motherhood as it is about, you know, a guy with knife hands and a demonic pop-up book. No spoilers, but the final lesson of The Babadook has stayed with me longer than almost any other movie moral, save for “maybe don’t shoot Bambi’s mom.”

2 – Get Out

I’m Still Thinking of I’m Thinking of Ending Things Charlie Kaufman’s latest is extremely Charlie Kaufman by Ryan Syrek

s has been the case with every maddening, brilliant, irritating, gloriously profound work from writer/director Charlie Kaufman, I’m left with two very distinct minds about I’m Thinking of Ending Things. Ryan’s Mind One: How am I supposed to even review a movie in which just discussing who the characters are is a spoiler? Ryan’s Mind Two: Aw, poor baby. Did the bad man’s movie make your brain hurt? Not every review can be about Chris Hemsworth’s meaty paws caving dudes’ skulls in. Seriously though, what does a synopsis of this even look like? Jake (Jesse Plemons) and his girlfriend (Jessie Buckley) go to visit his parents (Toni Collette and David Thewlis). Shit gets weird.

Is it misogynistic though? Uh, pass? Nope. Given the revelations in the film, is this the grossest manifestation of the manic pixie dream girl this side of Hook? Maybe? Look, a criticism that puts forth this entire thing as a grotesque objectification is absolutely defensible. But… Yes, by all means, apologize away for the misunderstood white artiste… But… To me, the film reads as a deconstruction of the dangerous lonely white boy that doesn’t forgive or apologize any shitty actual actions. It explicitly makes those actions fictional and separates that out from the character’s loneliness, allowing us to sympathize with just that part.

Jordan Peele’s debut changed the genre forever, legitimized horror’s already existing artistic merit in the eyes of many, elevated Black voices, exposed racism as the most terrifying force at play in the world, and made stirring a cup of tea the most upsetting sound this side of a Ben Shapiro “WAP” remix. Far smarter people than me have said far smarter things about this one, so let’s go with this: Get Out is just about as good as it gets. Out…

Perfect. Who could possibly be confused about what happens given that in-depth description?

1 – Midsommar

You didn’t mention the janitor in your synopsis though. Is that maybe because the whole thing is really just an empty house of cards that falls apart when you understand “the reveal” about what’s happening?

Maybe?

This is not the Netflix House of Cards that falls apart after something is revealed about one of its stars.

Love them or hate them, Kaufman movies are singularly engaging. It’s fine if that engagement makes you upset or if you ultimately think that there’s not much “there” actually there. But in the same way that we have created a culture that allows Fast and Furious movies to be increasingly stupid and nonsensical…

Nearly 20 years ago, if you had told me a pagan horror movie about a toxic relationship would be one of the best movies I’d ever see, I probably would have gone into food reviewing. Instead, I’m eating up what Ari Aster is serving: a meticulous exploration of corrupt love, mental health, and Florence Pugh absolutely dominating the entire concept of acting. Midsommar resonates in a way that only the best cinema does, making you flinch as often from brain-splattering gore as from disingenuous professions of support in a romantic partnership. Whatever I thought horror was or could be when I started this gig, Midsommar proved to me it could be so much more.

OCTOBER 2020

Trying to figure things out is kind of the point of watching the movie. Come to think of it, deciphering what everything really means is kind of the point of watching every movie. I get it, you love “dialoguing with film.” Should it be this hard? Oh please, it wasn’t hard in any way to figure out what was actually happening. Kaufman all but tells you like 15 minutes into the car ride to Jake’s folks’ place. The minute Kaufman introduced the janitor, I fully “got it.”

Sick Kevin Spacey burn, bro… Seriously, isn’t Kaufman’s weird bullshit exhausting? A ballet sequence? A song from Oklahoma!? A character literally turning into Pauline Kael? In order: No it’s not exhausting, most artists in most creative fields have signature styles. The ballet sequence is actually the key to unlocking the meaning of the whole thing. The song from Oklahoma! is a soul-rending substitute for the gory ending of the novel the film is adapted from. And if you don’t want more Kael in your life, especially when an actress as impossibly talented as Buckley portrays her, you need hella hella help.

So you feel bad for Jake? I do. And I can’t further explain why I’m not troubled about the depiction of Buckley’s character without spoiling things. Convenient. I know! Look, here’s the big thing… The big thing is that Kaufman movies feel smart, they feel like you should see them as genius, even if you don’t necessarily enjoy any moment of it while it’s happening. Uh, pass? Nope. Tell me. Did you like it? See there you go. You didn’t let me tell you the big thing. Fine. “Big thing” me.

You watch your poop mouth! No judgment! My point is, if we have all collectively agreed that “shut your brain off” movies are okay and even fun, why can’t “turn your brain all the way on” movies be just as okay and even fun? Because it does things like make me talk to myself. And didn’t you have a good time? Maybe? I’ll take it.

Grade = A

I N

M E M O R I A M

Carlos Tibbs

Don José Gaytán-Ramos

Sept 16, 1985 - Aug 19, 2020

Dec 29, 1964 - May 31, 2020

Omaha’s comedy scene lost one of its most beloved performers when Omaha standup Carlos Tibbs died from COVID-19 at age 34. His mother Lydia, 50, died two days earlier, also from COVID-19. Tibbs was a rising star, winning the OEA Award for Outstanding Comedian in 2019. Besides performing on local stages, Tibbs also performed across the country and opened for national comics who stopped in Omaha. His friends remember the overwhelming positivity that he brought to the stage and to the comedy community as a whole. Joshua Littrell was a close friend and frequent collaborator. “Carlos will forever be remembered in all of our hearts for the energy he gave everyone on and off the stage,” Littrell said. “Him and I are forever friends and I know that bro would want us all to continue the mission of bringing laughter to everyone.” Omaha comic Jason Regan recalled, “Having a conversation about the state of things in this country, Carlos said to me, ‘All we can do is spread love and laughter to combat the evil,’” Regan said. “He assured me, ‘What we do is so important to the world!’”

José David Gaytán was born in Nueva Rosita, Coahuila, Mexico. He came to the U.S. seeking a better future, settling in Omaha. He opened La Michoacana on 24th and F Streets, selling Mexican snacks, paletas and ice cream. Despite a rocky start, he and his wife Vaneza Ramos worked hard and built up a successful business. “He was a strong and hard-working person. He had many goals, he always made it because he was a dedicated man. He loved his family. He was very joking and cheerful, but robust in character. He wanted a big family and he made it,” Ramos said. When José began to feel ill, he did not want to go to the doctor. As his condition worsened, the family took him to the hospital on May 22, 2020, where he was diagnosed with COVID-19. He passed away at noon on May 31. “It’s been excruciating,” said Vaneza. “But I’m going to follow his legacy and his projects for him and his children. He managed to have a large family and fulfilled his dream; it’s the comfort I have.”

Sofía Barragán de la Luz Sept 18, 1945 - May 21, 2020

Larry Lee Stephens June 14, 1942 - Sept 1 2020 Larry Lee Stephens was born in Malvern, Iowa and graduated Malvern High School May, 1960. From 1964-1970 Larry served as 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army National Guard. Andrea Crampton (only daughter): I will miss his hugs, kisses, support, advice, laughter and true genuine love. His wit and sense of humor was top notch. I always signed my cards to him “your favorite daughter” and every time he read that he laughed like it was the first time he was seeing it. Marcus Stephens (oldest son): It seemed like he knew someone everywhere he went because he did the majority of the time. I remember a needlepoint in his bathroom growing up that said “dont hurry, dont worry, and don’t forget to smell the flowers. I think he lived by this. Scott Stephens (youngest son): My Pops was a great man who never wanted recognition for his greatness.

The heart of Sofía Barragán de la Luz stopped beating at 5 a.m. in an Omaha hospital, stopped by COVID-19. Ms. Sofía, a woman who never tired of learning, was born in Chietethlan, a Mexican town in Guerrero. There she married Agustín Vargas Ayala and they had four sons and one daughter, now adults. In Omaha, she studied at the Latino Center of the Midlands and Completely Kids – a kindergarten that offers adult classes – and got the education she had missed as a girl. She was still taking high school classes when she passed. Her daughter Celsa tested postive for COVID-19 in May. Sofía caught it as well. “We went one day to see her on the fourth day of hospitalization. She looked bad, she’d already had a heart attack,” Celsa said. Sofía was intubated, sedated and didn’t notice anything, nor did she feel pain as she left. Sofía’s remains were moved to Mexico with the financial assistance of the Latino Center of the Midlands. She left a void in many hearts that she illuminated with her songs and smiles.

OCTOBER 2020

F E A T U R E Photo by Joshua Foo

The Business & Ritual of Dealing with

Death in a Pandemic by Leo Adam Biga

In a pandemic, it’s only natural to focus on first responders. Pandemic or not, ERs, ICUs and nursing homes are where patients with life-threatening illnesses find care, and either recover or die. When death occurs, it’s easy to overlook the role funeral homes play as last-responders. Though each of the funeral homes featured in this

f the COVID crisis reveals anything, it’s that some services are truly indispensable. As last responders, licensed funeral homes are the only prescribed option for families sending deceased loved ones off to eternal rest. Janet Thomas-Caston is the executive director of three-generation Thomas Funeral Home located at 3920 North 24th Street. “Certainly it is an essential service,” she says. “We’re there to provide the services we would want for ourselves as safely as we possibly can.” The mortuary has served generations of families. “We’re grateful and blessed they have that confidence in us,” she says. Her mother Ruth Thomas still keeps her mortician’s license active at age 100.

Roeder Mortuary is another family-owned, multi generational funeral home serving North Omaha at its 4932 Ames Avenue and 108th and Maple chapels. “We’re essential workers,” Brian Roeder says unequivocally. “We can’t say no. How do you tell a grieving family no?” But COVID’s made it difficult to be there in the way people expect. “That March-April-May time frame was the most tumultuous time we went through,” he says. “We were looking for answers. Everybody was scrambling trying to figure things out.” That included the Nebraska Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) whose board he serves on. There was scant information.

OCTOBER 2020

series have likely provided services for COVID fatalities, the focus of this series is not on those deaths per se. Rather, it looks at how precautions to prevent the spread of coronavirus affect the services that funeral directors arrange and that mourners experience in viewing, memorializing, burying or cremating the dead. Early recommendations proved fluid.

was a logistical challenge sometimes.”

Six months later, COVID precautions still impose unprecedented restrictions. Thomas-Caston marvels how well people have coped.

“You just follow what the guidelines say and go with the flow with what you’re supposed to do,” Thomas-Caston says. “In the early stage of the pandemic we had more graveside services than usual. They were private. Then we expanded to chapel services and eventually to church services.”

“They understand and comply. Not everybody does, but by and large.” A 10-person limit per room rule is now at 50% of capacity. “As hard as the 10-person rule was for families,” Roeder says, “it made it easier because there was a clear cut rule we could count and control. But I felt so bad for families that lost a loved one during that time. We tried to work with families the best we could, We did visitations all day to comply and still give people a chance to pay their respects. It

Adaptation is the operative word. “People are doing the best that they can with what they’ve been given. They recognize this is what we’ve got to do – this is our new normal. Not to say they’re happy about it,” Roeder says. When memorializing someone, the instinct is for intimacy,

F E A T U R E you. For some, it’s a sense of relief their loved one isn’t suffering anymore. For others, it’s a sense of shock because it was a sudden, unexpected death,” he says. “On the financial side, some have pre-planned services. Some come into it blindsided. You have to be prepared to deal with all of it, right then and there.”

yet mourners are directed to do the opposite. Thomas-Caston says, “People tend to want to reach out to the bereaved and be physically close, but we’re asking them to social distance.” Getting folks to stay apart, she says, “can be kind of touchy,” adding, “You try to figure out a tactful way they can social distance.” “But we’re not going to be a jerk about it and kick people out who are grieving,” Roeder says. “At some point we have to say we’re all adults, we know the rules, let’s abide by them the best we can.” Most mourners wear masks. Hand sanitizer dispensers abound. Signs on doors and in pews remind to practice safety first. Human nature being what it is, Roeder says, some folks insisting on strict protocols end up ignoring them when emotions kick in. Embraces and kisses get exchanged, COVID be damned. “Before Douglas County issued a mask mandate, it was such a gray area and so polarizing,” he says. “We had families in the clear camp of everybody must wear masks and others who were like, ‘No way in hell we’re wearing masks.’ The mandate made that easier.” He notes “a very different dynamic” at Roeder’s chapel in Gretna. “In Omaha people recognize the COVID threat more, but Sarpy County doesn’t have near the cases Douglas County does, so they’re treating it differently. They’re way more relaxed there.” A funeral experience during COVID is “different for sure,” Roeder says. “Last spring was definitely different – not in a great way – just because the rules and restrictions were still so new.” Services were very small, often private affairs. Omaha native Jackie Barfield, who lives in Dallas, Texas, lost her brother Jimmy Ray Barfield

Brian Roeder

Janet Thomas-Caston

of Omaha in August. The U.S. Navy veteran died, age 63, at UNMC after suffering a massive stroke. She regrets most family members, including herself, were unable to visit him there due to COVID protocols. They were also unable to celebrate his life at Thomas Funeral Home the way they could have otherwise. “Normally we would come in (by) the hundreds, but we couldn’t do that,” she says. “We didn’t really have a repast. The hugging we’re used to, we had to be careful and limit that. It was totally different.”

to get back to normal? I think the unknown is the hardest part.”

“Most people are still cautious coming out to large gatherings, which is where online streaming helps,” Roeder says. In April, his Maple chapel held a viewing of U.S. Army veteran and Michigan native Robert A. Hull, who died at age 96. It marked the mortuary’s first live video streaming. The Omaha viewing was attended by four family members. Most family viewed online. “Doing the live streaming,” Roeder says, “has made it a lot easier.” Implementing streaming services is among many changes COVID concerns have prompted. “We can’t fathom a time where it got this crazy for this long,” Roeder says. “There were tornados and blizzards, but those events were not six to eight months long. We’re still in it. When is the end in sight? When are we going

From an industry perspective, it’s turned things upside down. “We’re a very social, personal industry,” he says. “We rely on face to face meetings. Making arrangements over the phone or Web is really tough. There’s just things you can’t do remotely.” Those new stresses are on top of long hours, being on call, working weekends, organizing and staffing memorial, burial and cremation services. “Being available to families,” Roeder says, “means you’ve got to treat it like a ministry.” Janet Thomas-Caston considers it a calling. “The Lord places you in a particular service and you have to do that. It’s more or less a community commitment. We try to be there for the people.” There’s heavy trust and responsibility to shoulder. “It’s a wear on you,” Roeder confides. “And it’s not getting easier with family dynamics way more complex now. Technology is making it easier and harder. You have to be up on so many different things. You’re dealing with a lot of stuff.” Funeral directors need the right demeanor of being lowkey, respectful, yet engaging. “You never want to push things on people. Some people need leadership and direction from

Services vary per families’ cultural, religious traditions and personal requests. Like Thomas Funeral Home, Roeder’s North O chapel largely serves the Black community. Its Maple site is more diverse. The science and sacred sides meet in the back room, where the embalming and preparation of the corpse happen. During COVID, morticians struggle finding personal protective equipment, wipes and bleach. “It’s tough,” Roeder says. “We’ve really had to think outside the box on how to get some of this stuff.” Safety protocols haven’t changed much in an industry that’s developed procedures around AIDS, TB, et cetera. “There’s a couple extra steps we implemented as far as sanitization,” he says, “but beyond that we were already there in terms of precautions and protection.” Collegial support helps navigating the crisis. Serving on the NFDA board gives Roeder a preview of what’s “coming down the pipeline.” Thomas-Caston stays connected with her colleagues to “talk about concerns and restrictions – it’s reassuring other directors are going through it as well.” As for any notion of returning to normal, she wonders “if there’s ever going to be such a thing,” adding, “We’ll just be glad to see it settle down – but we’ll get through it.” If nothing else, Roeder suggests, “This is going to make the general public realize how important funeral services are.”

OCTOBER 2020

H E A RT L A N D H E A L I N G

Aromatherapy:

More of Nature’s Pharmacy by Michael Braunstein

merican professional sports are off my radar for 2020. If I need politics, I have Facebook, Twitter and the Mainstream Media for that. But there’s one sporting event I don’t have to miss: the Tour de France. No political messages on the bikes, just a lot of sweat and grit. Watching on television is much like a travelogue. As aerial shots cover the cycling route, historical towns, castles and cathedrals are toured and described. Thus, today I learned that the perfume capital of the world is the small burg of Grasse in the French Department of the Alpes-Maritime, just on the border with Italy and near the Mediterranean coast. That was enough to spur me to describe the arcane healing art of aromatherapy.

The Nose Knows. All five senses have a target area in our body: the brain. Touch, taste, sight and hearing have important nerves connecting them to processing centers in the brain. The physiology of the olfactory sense is unique among the other five senses. The organ that detects smell is the only one of the senses that connects directly to the brain itself. Indeed, the part of the body that detects aromas, fragrances, smells and odors, the olfactory bulb complex in the nasal passage, is actually a direct extension of the brain. Smell is the only sense that is directly perceived with no middleman. Yep, part of your brain is located in your nose. In evolution, the sense of smell is the most potent and primal. Smell is so key to survival, it directly connects our brain to the outside world. Part of the most primitive portion of the brain, the limbic system, grew along a path to the nostrils and interfaces with the outer world through the sense of smell. Research has shown that memory centers in the brain are stimulated more by smell than any other sense and it is the sense that is most evocative of memory and emotion. Smell is such a powerful sense, research neurologist Alan Hirsch

found several common smells had a sexually stimulating effect on both genders. He didn’t just use subjective estimates; he studied physiological changes. An increase in vaginal blood flow signified arousal in women and erectile blood flow was the criterion for men. Hirsch found that smells associated with domestic tranquility stimulated women the most. Rated number one was the fragrance of the candy Good & Plenty combined with cucumber, then the fragrance of baby powder. Low on the list were barbecue and men’s cologne. But there is therapeutic application of the sense of smell, too. That would be called aromatherapy.

Burse of the Mummy’s Tomb. Early use of aromatherapy can be traced to the ancient Egyptian physicians who conceived of organ transplants (no records of success discovered) and originated brain surgery (some success documented.) Egyptian medicos of 5,000 years ago avidly used essential oils to medicate and treat their patients. Some earlier evidence can be traced to ancient Chinese uses, but the discovery of sacs or purses of valuable anointing oils in mummy tombs showed the importance that the Egyptians placed on fragrant oils. In the same part of the world a few centuries later, three wise men carried gifts to a newborn infant. The three gifts were considered the most valuable of the time. Two of them were herbal extracts with aromatic qualities. Ancient Vedic texts of India document and classify the use of essential oils to treat ailments and balance the doshas. Later history shows extensive use by the Greek, Persian and Arab cultures. In the 10th century A.D., the great Arabic philosopher and physician, Avicenna, is credited with developing the exact process of steam distilling aromatic plants that yields their essential healing oils and properties. It is the same process used today.

OCTOBER 2020

As science began to collect, cubbyhole and define synthetic replicas of the naturally occurring essences, aromatherapy was less prevalent in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the early 1930s, however, French chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefossé began describing the therapeutic properties of these oils and coined the term “aromatherapy” with the publication of his book, Aromatherapie.

Medicine Moderna. Gattefossé brought much of the historical knowledge of aromatherapy into the modern age with his book, Aromatherapy: The Essential Oils in 1937. When French physician Jean Valnet (1920-1995) treated battlefield casualties with aromatherapy in World War II, he was using a method that dated as far back as the Pharoah’s legions. Using essential oils gleaned from plants, herbs and flowers, Dr. Valnet was so impressed with results that he continued that as the focal point of his medical practice until his retirement in the 1980’s. His landmark work, The Practice of Aromatherapy, was published in 1977 and is considered one of the most important sources of information on the art of aromatherapy healing.

Nature’s drugstore. The body produces, stores and releases some of the most powerful chemicals known to man. Neurohumors (neurotransmitters), hormones and metabolites produced in the body can deaden and eliminate pain. For example, the word endorphin is a combination of the words endogenous and morphine, or the morphine within. Other neurohumors can induce sleep or instill a feeling of pleasure. Both physiological and emotional well-being are affected by the body’s natural pharmacy. Nearly every event in the body is preceded by the production of a chemical that stimulates or enhances the effect. When an aromatic molecule is introduced into the limbic system, either by transdermal delivery or through the sense of smell, that mol-

ecule stimulates a corresponding release of hormones and chemicals from the brain and other organs. For centuries, aromatherapists have documented the effects and carefully combine and use pure essences to facilitate the desired physiological or emotional result. So the mechanism appears to be that the aroma initiates the real healing powers that are innate. Margurite Muary is credited with the application of touch and therapeutic massage using the volatile oils of healing plants. German research has shown that molecules of essential oils are present in the breath within moments of application onto the skin. Further studies have shown that hormones and various neurohumors are released in the body immediately upon introduction of the aroma to the senses. Autonomic functions are greatly influenced by these neurohumors. Both the immune system and our emotions are powerfully affected by neurohumors.

Don’t fall for fake. The term “aromatherapy” has been severely misused. You can find it on junk candles and room fresheners that have nothing to do with real aromatherapy. Essential oils are powerful and should not be used directly on the skin. Consult with someone who has taken the time to study aromatherapy and perhaps is certified by a recognizing organization. Find out more from your massage therapist or health care practitioner. Be well.

Heartland Healing is a metaphysically based polemic describing alternatives to conventional methods of healing the body, mind and planet. It is provided as information and entertainment, certainly not medical advice. Important to remember and pass on to others: for a weekly dose of Heartland Healing, visit HeartlandHealing.com.

C O M I C S Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau

which deaths matter? by Jen Sorensen

TED RALL

OCTOBER 2020

c r o s s w o r d reaching #1000! I say 28 Across!

Getting Free K by Matt Jones

Across

out is a human and not a cat)

1 They’re out to pasture

29 ___ De Spell (“DuckTales” character voiced by Catherine Tate in the 2017 reboot)

10 Words before “your mother” or “your father” 15 Prepared statement

31 Place for neighborly gossip

16 Slip

32 Samuel L. Jackson movie that Roger Ebert called the best film of 1997

17 Verdi opera originally titled “La maledizione” (“The Curse”)

34 Adherence to mystic doctrines

18 ___ Selänne, highest-scoring Finn in NHL history

39 Wisconsin city known for kids’ overalls

19 Short gamut 20 Measures of loudness

45 Yiddish gossip 46 “I gotta go feed the ___”

21 Change direction sharply

47 Hitch in haste

23 Does a dairy duty

49 ___-chef

27 “Them!” creature

52 1-800-CALL-___ (bygone collect call service)

28 Cry of accomplishment 30 WWE wrestler ___ Mysterio 31 Iconic “Lady and the Tramp” song whose title means “Beautiful Night” 33 Elemento numero 79

53 “What ___ know?” 58 Moved forward, perhaps

4 Game for NFL allstars

13 “Wow, that was rude!”

59 River through France and Belgium 42 Site for mil. planes

5 Daughter of Loki

14 Cereal on “The Simpsons” where Bart ingested some jagged metal

41 Frigid ocean areas that can be seasonal or permanent

43 Record producer Mike ___, or 35 Middle of a French actress ___ Kaye Revolution motto 44 Go with the flow, 36 Pharmacy chain maybe? with unusually 48 Minimal long receipts 50 Hull backbone 37 Card seen in skat 34 CLE player

38 Risky purchase 40 Places for Whoppers, briefly

51 Rod Stewart’s “Lost ___” 52 Extended 57 Make grime pay?

OCTOBER 2020

60 Vacation purchase with a possibly aggressive sales pitch

Down 1 Harness part 2 Nation where Kreyòl ayisyen is spoken 3 Bush or Clinton, informally

6 One of the saisons 7 Dirty groove? 8 “The 5,000 Fingers of ___” (1953 Dr. Seuss film) 9 ___-Caps (movie candy brand) 10 Increases in difficulty, like a hike 11 Vowel-rich cookie 12 Category for Styx and (arguably) the Stones

22 Small-screen movie, quaintly 23 One in charge 24 Admire excessively 25 Told, as a secret 26 ___ Bachika (“Gurren Lagann” anime character who I just found

AnsweR to last month’s “Censor-y Overload”

C R O S S W O R D

Masked

AnswerS in next next month’s issue or online at TheReader.com

by s.e. Wilkinson

Across

40. One going on foot?

1. Scratchy voice 5. Archipelago part

41. Unit in a shopping cart

10. Cookie container

47. Snoozes

13. Pays (up)

48. Got room service, say

15. Agitates

49. Hoover ____

16. Palindromic brand in the kitchen

50. Some digital videos, briefly

17. Comment from someone with their mouth covered?

51. Musical endings 52. “Enough!” 53. Answer to the old riddle “What’s round on the ends and high in the middle?”

20. Skye of “Say Anything ...” 21. “Bill & ____ Excellent Adventure”

54. Neighbor of a pec

22. Looking good when covering one’s face?

57. Bronx-born congresswoman, familiarly

29. Goes on a second date with

58. T-shirt choices, briefly

30. “Mad Men” channel

59. Mauna ____ (Hawaii’s tallest mountain)

31. “Wheels” 34. “I could ____ horse!”

60. Unlikely race favorite

35. So far 37. Mine cart contents

55. His Twitter handle 38. Offerings provided is @Pontifex by those favoring 56. Hit reality comfacial coverings? petition series in 42. ____ talk which you can’t see the person 43. More introverted performing ... and this puzzle’s 44. Fork prong theme 45. NFL rushing units 64. De-squeak 46. The Blue Jays, on 65. Alpha’s opposite scoreboards 47. Dance done to the 2015 hit “Watch Me” 49. The perfect facial covering for your feline? 52. Club ____

66. Easily fooled 67. Washington, D.C. legalized it in 2014 68. First or economy 69. Secluded valley

Down 1. One making a ewe turn? 2. “Pick a card, ____ card” 3. Mo. town

9. Wanders around JFK?

26. Oscar ____ hot dogs

10. Laughing matter

27. USA part: Abbr.

11. Fired

28. 1970s-’80s sketch show on which John Candy and Eugene Levy got their starts

12. Towel holders 14. Vengeful feeling

4. Louvre pyramid 18. Beans high in designer I.M. ____ protein

31. Cancún kitchen 32. Skybox locales

5. Neighbor of a Pakistani

19. Investor’s purchase: Abbr.

6. Philosopher Kierkegaard

22. Like J.Crew clothing

33. Pursue again, as an elected position

7. Falsehood

23. Brought up

35. Director Kurosawa

8. Tree in many street names

24. Prevents, by law

36. Opposite of NNW

25. Jazz or Blues

39. Subj. for Galileo

OCTOBER 2020

AnsweR to last month’s “Double Negatives”

O V E R

T H E

E D G E

Misery Loves Company Are we becoming addicted to bad news? by Tim McMahan

Sept. 19, 2020 -- This is the last column and last issue of The Reader before the election. Yes, there will be a November issue, but there is no way/no how it’s going to be in your hands by Nov. 3. So this is that time, like four years ago, when I look into my magical crystal fondue pot and tell you who’s going to be running the country for the next four years. Please note that I failed spectacularly when I did this in 2016, but didn’t all the wizened pundits get that one wrong? Ah, those indeed were different days. We’d just come off eight years of uneventful — some might say boring — leadership from President Obama, and the spate of candidates lined up to take his place had all the personality of potted plants. When Trump slithered from whatever Stygian mire in Manhattan where he coifs his golden locks, he brought a new kind of excitement to politics. No matter the situation — be it stump speech, rally or debate — Trump never failed to entertain with the sheer audacity of his comments. And we all laughed and laughed, assuming with every racist, misogynistic, xenophobic, insulting lie that he was gleefully, purposely throwing another shovelful of dung over his own political career. How wrong we were. Now, four long years later, I’ve gone from being addicted to politics to despising it, especially the media that covers it. Any last inkling of interest in Politics in These United States went up in a puff of digital smoke when Ruth Bader Ginsburg finally succumbed to cancer last night. When the news alert flashed onto my iPhone, I walked from my office into the living room and told Teresa, who changed the channel to CNN. But I didn’t want to hear about it.

And I walk away knowing the same truth that was first uttered by crazy French philosopher/diplomat Joseph de Maistre some time in the 18th Century: Every nation gets the government it deserves.

Photo by Ted Eytan

While I knew there would be wall-to-wall remembrances of RBG, one of our greatest Supreme Court justices in history, there also would be dreadful speculation about what happens next with SCOTUS. CNN, MSNBC and FOX would give us every gory detail about Trump and McConnell’s attempts to fill the vacancy despite the Senate having blocked President Obama’s efforts to nominate Merrick Garland in 2016 because it was too close to the election. We all remember it well; and we all know about the pending hypocrisy. I don’t need to hear about it over and over and over again for the next few days, weeks, months. No one wants to be swindled and then told every day how badly they were swindled. Or do they? Look, I already know we’re screwed. I know exactly what’s going to happen regardless of the election’s outcome. And there’s nothing you, I or anyone can do about it. So why have it drilled into my head every time I turn on cable news? People have tuned into MSNBC since the days of Keith Olbermann to hear talking heads explain how Republicans are screwing the country. FOX had done the same thing on the right since Bill O’Reilly and now with Hannity and Tucker. But over the past year or so, the callous partisanship has bled over to other channels. You can’t turn on Anderson Cooper or any

OCTOBER 2020

CNN anchor (day or night) without hearing end-of-the-world “thought pieces” about how Trump is screwing us. And I often find myself standing in front of the screen saying to Anderson, Chris Cuomo and Erin Burnett, “We know, goddammit. And no one gives a shit. Nothing will ever change.” The only thing worse than broadcast news is social media, where you not only get the never-ending retelling of every dreadful political apocalypse, you also get your Facebook “friend’s” personal spin. Nothing like reading the armchair bleatings of an army of out-of-work bartenders, artists and musicians warning us about what’s going to happen with Trump and the Supreme Court, their anger rising with every post, telling and retelling and retelling again the same awful news. This country wallows in tragedy. And while there’s plenty to go around these days, never have I seen media (social or otherwise) bombard us with it as if we wanted to hear it. I finally turned it off; the cable news, the social media; I scroll right past it. I haven’t put my head in the sand; I still know what’s going on, I just don’t worship at the altar of misery.

You hate the other side of your personal political spectrum and the people who represent it in Washington, but remember those senators didn’t just show up one day with their briefcases and bad haircuts. Someone voted for them; someone who lives right next door to you or is driving that SUV in the opposite lane on Dodge Street. You hate what these senators are doing, but they’re playing by the same rules of democracy as everyone else. In the immortal words of ICE-T: Don’t hate the playa, hate the game. Your neighbors all knew Trump and McConnell were shit-stains before they were in office, and the majority voted for them anyway. And, god help us, they’re going to do it again. Like I said four years ago in these very pages: Donald Trump is a reflection of the country you live in, its ideals, its vision, its hopes (or lack of it) for the future. His election is a testimony of your world and the people who surround you. The reason he’s in office is because there are more of them then there are of you. Which brings us back to that prediction. I’m not going to tell you who’s going to win. Just vote, and remember, it was never supposed to be us vs. them. Over The Edge is a monthly column by Reader senior contributing writer Tim McMahan focused on culture, society, music, the media and the arts. Email Tim at tim. mcmahan@gmail. com.

LA OMAHA DEL ESTE podría ser dueña de las elecciones POR CHRIS BOWLING

s una afirmación audaz. Pero la cosa es que es verdad.

Tanto en el norte como Florencia hasta el sur de los límites de la ciudad, desde las orillas del río Missouri hasta la calle 72, las personas que conforman el Este de Omaha tienen la oportunidad de controlar las elecciones de 2020. Eso es porque, durante años, estos vecindarios no han hecho que se escuchen sus voces. Ya sea que se trate de conteos de registro o de votos totales emitidos, los omahanos del Este tradicionalmente se retrasan a sus contrapartes occidentales. Sólo en esta última primaria, para cada persona que emitió una votación en el norte y el sur de Omaha, la gente en Millard la superó en número por más del doble. Si cada votante registrado en Omaha del Este emitiera una boleta el 3 de noviembre, eso sería un adicional de 318 715 votos. Kara Eastman perdió ante el representante Don Bacon por menos de 5 000 votos en 2018. Hillary Clinton perdió ante el presidente Donald Trump por menos de 6 000 votos en 2016. El Consejo de Brenda perdió la carrera de la alcaldía de 1997 a Hal Daub por 735 votos. En 2020 podría tener ramificaciones para toda la nación, ya que algunas predicciones sitúan al segundo distrito del Congreso de Nebraska y su voto electoral solitario como el posible factor decisivo entre la reelección del presidente Donald

OCTOBER 2020

Trump y la elección del vicepresidente Joe Biden. Así, el segundo distrito sólo ha votado por un demócrata una vez desde que el estado comenzó a dividir su voto en 1992: Barack Obama en 2008. Pero, en un nivel más detallado, asegurarse de que se escuche la voz de los del Este de Omaha es aprovechar los intereses de un vecindario con su capacidad para decidir la elección de cualquier persona, desde un presidente hasta un miembro de la junta escolar. No es difícil ver los efectos de la baja participación de votantes de esa parte de Omaha. Edificios envejecidos, lotes de cachibaches, aceras agrietadas. Los grupos comunitarios han encontrado el éxito a lo largo de los años con el dinero de la agrupación públicas y privadas para ganar nuevos desarrollos, pero esas victorias no han sido fáciles de conseguir. Desde un punto de vista institucional, las direcciones han sido difíciles de cambiar. Los dólares del gobierno local a menudo han ido a la construcción de centros comerciales, como el centro de la ciudad, Aksarben o Midtown Crossing. Los defensores señalaron varias razones para la disparidad en la participación de los votantes. Hay menos educación sobre por qué es importante votar, la gente se mueve con más frecuencia en estas áreas y las barreras del idioma presentan desafíos a simple vista.

Algunos apuntan a la privación de derechos políticos, alimentada por el racismo sistémico y la inequidad social. Si echa un vistazo al mapa de ingresos medios, tasas de propiedad de viviendas y diversidad racial en el condado de Douglas, encontrará los grupos que mencionamos. Es decir, son los mismos en los que los bancos se negaron a invertir durante décadas, una práctica llamada redlining. Estas áreas fueron consideradas áreas viejas y se demolieron para dar paso a la Carretera 75. Hoy en día sus escuelas tienen registros de asistencia más bajas, las comunidades tienen peores resultados de salud y los desalojos son más frecuentes. Puede hablar con algún votante en cualquiera de estas áreas y la privación de derechos políticos codifica sus respuestas por no votar. Pero esto podría cambiar en 2020. El 3 de noviembre viene después de meses de protestas contra la injusticia racial y una pandemia que ha golpeado a las comunidades más pobres.

Los activistas dicen que ahora, más que nunca, la gente se despierta no sólo a los efectos reales de la inequidad, sino a las formas reales en que podrían hacer un impacto y la necesidad de hacer oír sus voces. Para esta serie, The Reader examinó las áreas que han mostrado consistentemente la menor participación de votantes. Queríamos conocer sus historias, y por qué los miembros de la comunidad no han hecho oír sus voces en el pasado y qué podemos aprender sobre 2020 y las elecciones por venir. Las respuestas a cómo los esfuerzos en estas áreas y otros como ellos afectarán las elecciones son complicadas. Todavía existen muchos obstáculos institucionales. Agregue el intento de hacer un lienzo y registrar a los votantes durante una pandemia, y hágase una idea de lo que los defensores están enfrentando. continuada en la página 2 y

ARTICULO DESTACADO // FEATURE ARTICLE

y continuada de la página 1

Pero, si hubo un momento para hacer oír la voz del Este de Omaha, es ahora. Si los residentes en esta área inundaron las elecciones con miles de nuevos votos, es vertiginoso pensar en lo que podría suceder. Más allá de los nuevos senadores estatales o los líderes federales, el 3 de noviembre es una oportunidad para hacer oír sus voces. Para tomar el control de la narrativa. Para demostrar que los Omahanos del Este pueden, y lo harán, decidir el destino de sus comunidades y esta ciudad. Caja de hechos:

Precinto 4-10 Centro de votación: Centro Kroc del Ejército de Salvación Características notables: El precinto 4-10 está en el borde del condado de Sarpy y justo al Sur del campus de Metropolitan Community College de ese sector. Su frontera oriental es la autopista 75. Su frontera occidental es la calle 34. Contiene el complejo de viviendas públicas más grande de Omaha, Southside Terrace, así como vecindarios de pequeñas casas unifamiliares de los cuales el 47,7% son propiedad de los ocupantes. Eso significa unos 14 puntos porcentuales menos que la mediana del condado. Demografía: Es 54,5% latino, 21% negro, 18% blanco y menos de 1.5% otras razas. Es aproximadamente el doble de diversa que otras áreas del condado de Douglas. Ingresos medios: Los hogares ganan alrededor de $34 345 anuales, 40% menos que la mediana del condado. Treinta y dos por ciento de sus residentes están por debajo del umbral de pobreza, tres veces la mediana del condado. Participación de votantes: Su participación principal en 2020 fue del 15,5%, la más baja en el condado de Douglas, excluyendo el recinto que rodea a Boys Town, que a menudo es un valor atípico.

Precinto 2-19 Centro de votación: Metropolitan Community College Fort Omaha Características notables: El precinto 2-19 está bordeado por la autopista 75 en su borde oriental y la calle 33 en su borde occidental. Ames Avenue corre a lo largo de tu borde sur y Kansas Avenue hace tu frontera norte. Contiene el vecindario de Miller Park, donde alrededor del 45% de las personas poseen sus hogares, aproximadamente 17 puntos porcentuales menos que la mediana del condado. Varios de sus distritos censales tienen algunas de las estructuras más antiguas de la ciudad. En una, casi tres cuartas partes de sus casas fueron construidas antes de 1939. Demografía: Es 10,1% latino, 58.95% negro, 25.3% blanco y menos de 4% otras razas. Es aproximadamente 1,5 veces más diversa que otras áreas del condado de Douglas. Ingresos medios: Los hogares ganan alrededor de $30 433 anuales, casi la mitad de la mediana del condado.

La fuerza en el voto de Omaha del Sur La reducida casa unifamiliar tiene un porche estrecho con vista a un pequeño césped verde. La calle de enfrente se empina hacia un parque, donde ve a sus hijos jugando en monopatines. A Alberto Ruiz le gusta la casa en la que vive con su familia. El inmigrante mexicano de 47 años compró la casa en el sur de Omaha en 2002, el fin de semana anterior al 4 de julio. Desde entonces, él y su esposa han trabajado, criado a sus hijos y han hecho una buena vida en el vecindario en el extremo sur del condado de Douglas, que cuenta con calles oscuras al igual que en otras casas pequeñas unifamiliares, como

ARTICULO DESTACADO // FEATURE ARTICLE

Southside Terraces, el complejo de viviendas públicas más grande de la ciudad. Pero Ruiz sabe que hay diferencias entre esta zona y otras en la ciudad. “Si vas por la calle o hacia el oeste, no ves aceras como estas”, dijo, mirando hacia las vías agrietadas. Durante mucho tiempo, esta área se ha sentido descuidada. Es más, es racialmente más diversa que la mayoría en la ciudad. Tiene las tasas más altas de pobreza, un ingreso medio más bajo y, durante años, con la participación de votantes más baja en el condado de Douglas. En el pasado, solo 15% de los votantes registrados del área emitieron una boleta, menos de la mitad de la mediana del condado. En elecciones pasadas tiene una tendencia aún más baja. “Te hacen sentir como si no contaras. Si eres latino, te echan a un lado”, dijo Ruiz, cuyo vecindario es más de la mitad latino. “Sólo van por los blancos.” Pero esas cifras podrían cambiar radicalmente este año. Mientras que en el pasado ha sido difícil trazar paralelismos con las necesidades de la comunidad y las soluciones basadas en la votación, 2020 ha proporcionado ejemplos inmediatos. El área ha visto más de 2 000 casos de COVID-19, casi el doble de la carga de casos en el siguiente código postal más duro en el condado de Douglas. Y desde que estallaron las protestas en torno a la justicia racial en mayo, más personas parecen despiertas a las desigualdades sociales, dijo Kimara Snipe, presidenta de la asociación vecinal de la zona y líder de South Omaha Neighborhood Alliance. En 2020, una elección presidencial podría depender de Omaha. Se produciría una revancha en el Congreso, decidida por menos de 5 000 votos en 2018. Innumerables oficinas locales están a la venta. Y el gigante dormido, cientos de miles de votos que valen la

pena, se encuentra al este de la calle 72. “El poder del voto en Omaha oriental es suficiente para cambiar todo el clima político en el segundo distrito del Congreso (de Nebraska)”, dijo Snipe. “Hay poder en estas comunidades, y la gente simplemente no lo sabe”. Durante mucho tiempo este vecindario, como muchos a su alrededor, ha sido de trabajadores de cuello azul (obreros). A solo poca distancia en carro de las plantas empacadoras de carne, la mayoría de las casas fueron construidas antes de 1939 con poco desarrollo después de los años 60. A medida que los blancos se fueron de los suburbios, latinos y otras poblaciones de inmigrantes de Omaha se trasladaron allí manteniendo el estilo de vida de clase trabajadora. Hoy en día, los inmigrantes con una variedad de ciudadanías, incluyendo refugiados, conforman una gran parte de esta comunidad. Eso viene con algunas barreras de idioma y cultural que hace que haya un puente hacia otro vecindario, y es una gran razón por la que se ha dejado fuera de los esfuerzos comunes para salir a votar. “Hasta ahora, ha sido completamente ignorado”, dijo Snipe. Heartland Workers Center marcó y se dirigió a las áreas donde hubo baja participación en las primarias del 2020, la peor en el condado. Han empezado a usar el eslogan de la campaña, “Voto por mi familia”, y es un llamado a la acción para aquellos cuyo estatus de ciudadanía les permite votar y que sean una voz para sus seres queridos. “Este es el mensaje principal como organización”, dijo Lily Reyes, una organizadora senior en el sur de Omaha con Heartland Workers Center. “Haz oír tu voz. No permitas que otras personas decidan por ti. Si quieres ver los cambios, hazlo realidad”. continuada en la página 4 y

OCTOBER 2020

LO QUE NECESITAS SABER PARA

LO SABER PARA LO QUE NECESITAS SABER PARA LOQUE QUENECESITAS NECESITAS SABER PARA

V O T A R ! R O T A V ! R O T A V !! R O A V AS SABER PARAT LO QUE NECESITAS SABER PARA Para el día de las elecciones del 2020 tiene mucho que tomar en cuenta. En The Reader y El Perico, queremos asegurarnos de que cubrimos los conceptos básicos para guiar a nuestros sobre la votación correo, además información Para el lectores día de las elecciones delpor 2020 tiene muchodeque tomar importante necesitarán paraqueremos este 3 de noviembre. en cuenta. En The que Reader y El Perico, asegurarnos

V O T A R !

EN EN

ÚLTIMO DÍA PARA SOLICITAR UNA BOLETA POR CORREO

11/3 10/23

AV R O !T A R !

Para el día de las elecciones del 2020 tiene mucho que tomar

de que básicos paratiene guiarmucho a nuestros Paracubrimos el En díaThe delos lasconceptos elecciones delqueremos 2020 que tomar en cuenta. Reader y El correo, Perico, asegurarnos lectores sobre la votación por además de información ¿QUÉ NECESITA SABER SOBRE ESTA en cuenta. En The Reader y El Perico, queremos asegurarnos de que cubrimos los conceptos guiar a nuestros importante necesitarán parabásicos estebásicos 3 para de noviembre. de queque cubrimos los conceptos para guiar a nuestros ELECCIÓN?

lectores sobre la votación por correo, además de información lectoresque sobre la votación poreste correo, de información importante necesitarán para 3 de además noviembre. por correo o en línea hasta el viernes: ¿QUÉimportante NECESITA SABER SOBRE ESTA que necesitarán para este 3 de noviembre.

16 de octubre. ELECCIÓN? https://www.nebraska.gov/apps-sos-voter-registration/ ¿QUÉ NECESITA SABER RSOBRE O enT Adel Registro V !ElectoralESTA En persona. la Oficina o DMVESTA hasta el viernes ¿QUÉ NECESITA SABER SOBRE Paracorreo el23 díade las elecciones del 2020 tiene mucho que tomar por odeen línea hasta el viernes: ELECCIÓN? octubre. ÚLTIMO DÍA PARA ende cuenta. En The Reader y ElSOLICITAR Perico, queremos asegurarnos 16 octubre. ELECCIÓN? UNA BOLETA POR CORREO de que cubrimos los conceptos básicos guiar a nuestros https://www.nebraska.gov/apps-sos-voter-registration/ por correo o enPuede líneaverificar hasta elsuviernes: IMPORTANTE: Registropara aquí: lectores sobre lalavotación correo, además de información En persona. en Oficina del Registro Electoral o DMV hasta el viernes ENVÍE SU POR CORREO https://www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/voterview 16 de octubre. por correo o BOLETA en líneapor hasta el viernes: importante que necesitarán para este 3 de noviembre. 23 deestá octubre. Si ya registrado, también puede actualizar su información como dirección

11/3 10/23

V O T A R !

ENVÍE SU BOLETA POR CORREO

11/3 10/2311/3

11/2 R O DÍATPARAASOLICITAR VÚLTIMO V O T A! R11/3 ! UNA BOLETA POR CORREO

ÚLTIMO DÍA PARA SOLICITAR ¿QUIÉN PUEDE VOTAR? ENVÍE SU BOLETA POR CORREO ÚLTIMO PARA SOLICITAR 10/23 UNA BOLETA PORDÍA CORREO

UNA BOLETA POR CORREO

CiudadanosENVÍE estadounidenses. SU BOLETA POR CORREO

11/210/23

11/2 ¿QUIÉN PUEDE VOTAR? Residentes de Nebraska y del condado donde se está registrando; 11/2 si se muda ENVÍE SU BOLETA POR CORREO

a otro condado, debe volver a registrarse. EN ¿QUIÉN PUEDE VOTAR? Ciudadanos estadounidenses.

A R ! 11/3 V O T ¿QUIÉN PUEDE VOTAR? Se mayor de 18 años de edad o próximos a cumplir antes del 3 de noviem-

Ciudadanos estadounidenses. Residentes deÚLTIMO Nebraska y del condado donde se está registrando; si se muda DÍA PARA SOLICITAR bre de 2020. 10/23 UNA BOLETA CORREO Ciudadanos estadounidenses. a otro condado, debe volverPOR a registrarse. VOTACIONES PROVISIONALES Residentes de ENVÍE Nebraska del condado se está registrando; si se muda SUyBOLETA POR donde CORREO 11/2 de 18debe años deNebraska edad o próximos a cumplir antes de noviem- si se m https://www.nebraska.gov/apps-sos-voter-registration/ 16 de octubre. aSe otromayor condado, volver a registrarse. Residentes de y del condado donde se del está3registrando; Si está registrado para votar en el condado de Douglas pero está votando de la afiliación partidoElectoral y cambios de nombre enviernes su registro bre de 2020. En domicilio, persona. en la Oficinacon delun Registro o DMV hasta el https://www.nebraska.gov/apps-sos-voter-registration/ a otro debe volvero sia registrarse. en el lugar decondado, votación equivocado, su dirección no coincide con su de ¿QUÉ SABER IMPORTANTE: Puede verificar su Registro aquí:SOBRE PUEDE VOTAR? 23electores. de octubre. UIÉN PUEDE VOTAR? Se mayor de 18 oaños de edad una o próximos a cumplir antes 3 deuna noviemEn NECESITA persona. en la Oficina del Registro ElectoralESTA o DMV hasta el viernes ¿QUIÉN domicilio registrado no presenta identificación, tendrá quedel emitir boleta https://www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/voterview VOTACIONES PROVISIONALES ELECCIÓN? breprovisional. de 2020. 23 de SI ES LAoctubre. PRIMERA VEZ QUE SE REGISTRA Se mayor de 18 años de edad o próximos a cumplir antes del 3 de noviem SiIMPORTANTE: ya está registrado, puede actualizar información como dirección Ciudadanos estadounidenses. Puedetambién verificar su Registro aquí: su Las boletas provisionales sonen separadas y examinadas porpero la comisión elecCiudadanos estadounidenses. POR CORREO TIENE QUE PRESENTAR: bre de 2020. Si está registrado para votar el condado de Douglas está votando por correo o en línea hasta el viernes: de domicilio, la afiliación con un partido y cambios de nombre en su registro toral del condado. Puedeequivocado, verificar el estado su boletanoprovisional en: su https://www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/voterview VOTACIONES PROVISIONALES IMPORTANTE: Puede verificar su Registro aquí: en el lugar de votación si sude dirección coincidesi con 16 de octubre. Residentes de Nebraska y del condadoodonde se está registrando; se muda de electores. https://www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/VoterView/ProvisionalBallotSearch.do Si ya está registrado, también puede actualizar suestá información comosidirección Para votar por correo necesita: Residentes dehttps://www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/voterview Nebraska y del condado donde se registrando; se muda domicilio registrado o no presenta una identificación, tendrá que emitir una boleta https://www.nebraska.gov/apps-sos-voter-registration/ VOTACIONES PROVISIONALES otroregistrado condado, debe a registrarse. Siaestá para volver votar en el condado de Douglas pero está votando unaEncopia devolver suen documento de con válido. deES domicilio, la afiliación con un VEZ partido yQUE cambios defotografía en su yregistro aSI otro condado, debe registrarse. SE REGISTRA persona. laa Oficina delidentidad Registro Electoral o DMVactual hasta elcomo viernes QUE PUEDE VOTAR ANTICIPADAMENTE? provisional. Si yaLA está PRIMERA registrado, también puede actualizar sunombre información dirección ¿SABÍA en el lugar de votación equivocado, o siensueldirección nodecoincide conpero su una23 copia de una factura de servicios públicos, extracto bancario, cheque del de electores. de la octubre. Si de está para votar condado Douglas Las boletas provisionales son examinadas por comisión elec-votando Se mayor 18registrado años de edad oseparadas próximos ay cumplir antes del 3lade noviem-está POR TIENE QUE PRESENTAR: deCORREO domicilio, afiliación un partido y cambios de nombre en su registro gobierno, cheque de pagocon u otro documento gubernamental que muestre el domicilio registrado o no presenta una identificación, tendrá que emitir una boleta Puede solicitar una boleta de votación anticipada poniéndose en contacto bre de toral del2020. condado. Puede verificar el estado deo si susu boleta provisional en:con con su Se mayor de 18 años de edad o próximos a cumplir antes del 3 de noviemen el lugar de votación equivocado, dirección no coincide de electores. mismo y dirección y queSE esté fechado dentro de los 60 su oficina electoral del condado en persona, por correo o por fax. SIdeES LA nombre PRIMERA VEZ QUE REGISTRA provisional. IMPORTANTE: verificarde sudomicilio, Registro aquí: https://www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/VoterView/ProvisionalBallotSearch.do brePara 2020. domicilio registrado o no presentaenuna identificación, tendrá queluego emitir una bol votar correoPuede necesita: díaspor inmediatamente anteriores a la fecha de presentación. Imprima la solicitud dePROVISIONALES votación anticipada completepor el formulario Las boletas provisionales son separadas ylínea, examinadas la comisióny elechttps://www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/voterview VOTACIONES POR CORREO TIENE QUE PRESENTAR: una copia de su documento de identidad conQUE fotografía actual y válido. SI ES LA PRIMERA VEZ SE REGISTRA provisional. envíe por correo, fax o escaneo/tome una foto de su solicitud y envíela por correo ¿SABÍA QUE PUEDE VOTAR ANTICIPADAMENTE? Si ya está registrado, también puede actualizar su información como dirección toral del condado. Puede verificar el estado de su boleta provisional en: TACIONES una copiaCORREO de una factura de servicios públicos, extracto bancario, cheque del TúPROVISIONALES también puedes votar. Debes presentar sudeidentificación muestra Lasoficina boletas provisionales son separadas y examinadas por la comisión ele Si estáa registrado para votar el condado de Douglas pero está votando electrónico su electoral delencondado. POR TIENE QUE PRESENTAR: de domicilio, la afiliación con un partido y cambios nombre en suque registro https://www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/VoterView/ProvisionalBallotSearch.do Para votar por correo necesita: gobierno, cheque de pago u otro documento gubernamental que muestre el su cumpleaños ante el registro electoral. Puede solicitar una boleta de votación anticipada poniéndose en contacto con en: en el lugar de votación equivocado, o si su dirección no coincide con suprovisional toral del condado. Puede verificar el estado de su boleta de electores. Si está registrado votar en eldecondado deconDouglas pero estáy votando una copia de para documento identidad fotografía actual válido. mismo nombre ysudirección de domicilio, y que esté fechado dentro de los 60 domicilio registrado o no del presenta una identificación, tendrá queo emitir una boleta votar anticipadamente en en persona en lapor oficina electoral su condado suPuede oficina electoral condado persona, correo por de fax. ¿SABÍA QUE PUEDE VOTAR ANTICIPADAMENTE? https://www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/VoterView/ProvisionalBallotSearch.d Paracopia votar por necesita: en días el lugar de votación equivocado, sidel su dirección no coincide con su una de unacorreo factura de servicios públicos, extracto bancario, cheque Regístrese en línea a através sitio web oficial del Gobierno de del SI ES LA PRIMERA VEZ QUE SE REGISTRA provisional. inmediatamente anteriores laofecha de presentación. períododeantes de unaanticipada elección (30 antes de unaelelección primaria Imprimapor laun solicitud votación en días línea, complete formulario y luego una copia de su documento de identidad con fotografía válido. disponibles en inglés o español. micilio registrado oNebraska,instrucciones no presenta tendrá que emitir una yboleta Lascorreo, boletas provisionales sondemás separadas y de examinadas porylaenvíela gobierno, de pago TIENE uuna otroidentificación, documento queactual muestre el o general ysolicitar 15 días para todas las día antes decomisión las contacto elecciones ¿SABÍA QUE PUEDE VOTAR ANTICIPADAMENTE Puede una boleta de votación anticipada poniéndose en con envíe por fax o escaneo/tome unaelecciones). foto suElsolicitud poreleccorreo PORcheque CORREO QUEgubernamental PRESENTAR: una copiayde una factura de servicios extracto bancario, cheque del electrónico toral condado. Puede verificar el estado de boletaoprovisional es elsuúltimo día para votar temprano provisional. Tú también puedes votar. Debes presentar su fechado identificación que muestra mismo nombre dirección de domicilio, y quepúblicos, esté dentro de los 60 adel suelectoral oficina electoral del en condado. oficina del condado en persona. persona, porsucorreo por fax. en: Info Karlha Velásquez Rivas gobierno, de pago ua otro documento gubernamental queelecmuestre el Imprimahttps://www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/VoterView/ProvisionalBallotSearch.do Descargar elde formulario aquí: https://sos.nebraska.gov/elections/voter-forms Chris Bowling Puede solicitar boleta de anticipada poniéndose en contacto Paracumpleaños votarcheque por correo necesita: su ante elseparadas registro electoral. Las días boletas provisionales son y examinadas porGraphic la comisión inmediatamente anteriores la fecha de presentación. la solicitud votaciónuna anticipada envotación línea, complete el formulario y luego una nombre copiaPuede de su documento identidad fotografía actualdentro y válido. y dirección domicilio, ycon que estéprovisional fechado su oficina electoral del condado en persona, por correo o por fax. toral delmismo condado. verificar de elde estado de su boleta en: de los 60 ¿SABÍA Puede votar anticipadamente en persona en la oficina electoral de su condado QUE VOTAR envíe por correo, fax PUEDE o escaneo/tome una fotoANTICIPADAMENTE? de su solicitud y envíela por correo copiaen de una factura servicios públicos, extracto bancario, Regístrese línea avotar. travésde del sitio web oficial del Gobierno decheque días inmediatamente anteriores apresentar la fecha de por un antes de elección (30 días en antes de una elección primaria y lu Imprima la solicitud deuna votación anticipada línea, complete el formulario https://www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/VoterView/ProvisionalBallotSearch.do Túuna también puedes Debes su presentación. identificación que muestradel electrónico a superíodo oficina electoral del condado. gobierno, cheque de pagodisponibles u otro documento gubernamental Puede unatodas boleta dedemás votaciónelecciones). anticipada en con por correo Nebraska,instrucciones en inglés o español. que muestre el o general y 15solicitar díascorreo, para Elde díasuantes decontacto lasy elecciones su cumpleaños ante el registro electoral. envíe por fax o las escaneo/tome una fotoponiéndose solicitud envíela mismo nombre y dirección de domicilio, y que esté fechado dentro de los 60 ABÍA QUE PUEDE VOTAR ANTICIPADAMENTE? su oficina electoral del condado en persona, por correo o por fax. último día para votar temprano en persona. Tú también puedes votar. Debes presentar su identificación que muestra es el Puede electrónico ade suvotación oficina electoral del condado. votar anticipadamente en persona ende lacomplete oficina electoral su ycondado Silaestá registrado para votar en el condado Douglas pero estádevotando días inmediatamente anteriores a la fecha de presentación. Imprima solicitud anticipada en línea, el formulario luego Info Karlha Velásquez Rivas Descargar el formulario aquí: https://sos.nebraska.gov/elections/voter-forms Graphic Chris Bowling su cumpleaños ante el registro electoral. Regístrese en línea a través del sitio web oficial del Gobierno de por un período antes de una elección (30 días antes de una elección primaria en el lugar de votación equivocado, o si su domicilio no coincide con su Puede solicitar una boleta de votación anticipada poniéndose en contacto con envíe por correo, fax o escaneo/tome una foto de su solicitud y envíela por correo Nebraska,instrucciones inglés osuespañol. direccióny registrada ovotar no presenta una identificación, que boleta de su cond o general 15a su días para todas lasdel demás elecciones). Eltendrá día en antes de lasuna elecciones Tú también puedes disponibles votar. Debesen presentar Puede anticipadamente en persona la emitir oficina electoral electrónico oficina electoral condado. su oficina electoral del condado en persona, por correo oidentificación por fax. que muestra su cumpleaños anteaeltravés registro enanticipada línea delelectoral. sitio web oficial del Gobierno de es provisional. el último díapor paraunvotar temprano período antesen depersona. una elección (30 días antes de una elección prima prima la solicitudRegístrese de votación en línea, complete el formulario y luego Puede votar en persona laelecciones). oficina electoral deantes su condado Info Karlha Rivas Descargar elyanticipadamente formulario aquí: https://sos.nebraska.gov/elections/voter-forms disponibles en inglés o español. Graphic Chris Bowling oLas general 15 días para todas las demás día de las eleccion boletas provisionales son separadas yenexaminadas por El la comisión víe por correo, faxNebraska,instrucciones o escaneo/tome una Velásquez foto de su solicitud y envíela por correo Regístrese en línea a través del sitio web oficial del Gobierno de por un período antes de una elección (30 días antes de una elección primaria electoral del condado. Puedetemprano verificar el en estado de su boleta es el último día para votar persona. ctrónico a su oficina electoral del condado. Nebraska,instrucciones disponibles en inglés o español. o general y 15 días en: para todas las demás elecciones). El día antes de las elecciones provisional Info Karlha Velásquez Rivas Graphic Chris Bowling es el último formulario aquí: https://sos.nebraska.gov/elections/voter-for díaDescargar para votarel temprano en persona. www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/VoterView/ProvisionalBallotSearch.do Puede votar anticipadamente en persona en la oficina electoral de su condado Info Karlha Velásquez Rivas Graphic Chris Bowling Descargar el formulario aquí: https://sos.nebraska.gov/elections/voter-forms por un período antes de una elección (30 días antes de una elección primaria eneral y 15 días para todas las demás elecciones). El día antes de las elecciones votar en noviembre el último día para votar temprano en persona. Descargar el formulario aquí: https://sos.nebraska.gov/elections/voter-forms

11/2

y continuada de la página 2

necesitan que sus voces se Debido a la pandemia, la amplifican. organización ha tenido que “La gente no es capaz de modificar su estrategia para entrar en su propio poder”, dijo. incentivar al voto. Normalmente, “A menudo entramos en estos los voluntarios y el personal investigaban en todo el estado, pero este año han cambiado a llamadas telefónicas. Eso es difícil en un área como 4-10 donde existe una ausencia de teléfonos e Internet. El 15 de septiembre se propuso investigar físicamente las casas a las que no se podía llegar de forma remota: 252 casas, con mucho el mayor número de barrios que sufren de pobreza, cualquier otro distrito, dijeron y simplemente asumimos mal las organizadoras. que no hay positivos. Pero no En el camino, conocieron nos fijamos en los aspectos a jóvenes estudiantes positivos”. universitarios que no sabían Las protestas de 2020, nada sobre los candidatos, específicamente las que propietarios que decían que eran en contra al trato de las les decían a todos sus vecinos minorías por parte de la policía, que votaran y a otros que han encendido a diversas decían que sabían que debían comunidades. Snipe dijo que votar pero que no sabían cómo las desigualdades sociales son hacerlo. ahora un tema frecuente cada vez que habla con sus vecinos. Mientras caminaban por las calles revestidas con chalecos “Hay poder en ser verdes fluorescentes, también comprometidos cívicamente informaron a la gente sobre la y conocedores”, dijo Snipe, reurbanización planificada en quien también es miembro la zona. El complejo Southside de la junta de las Escuelas Terrace será demolido para Públicas de Omaha. “Es por eso dar paso a nuevos hogares y que pude estar en la pobreza espacios comunitarios, aunque y seguir estando aquí y ser no se han decidido planes alguien considerado como un exactos. líder y que puede tomar sus decisiones”, dijo. “Una de las principales propias cosas que queremos hacer es “Puedes estar en bancarrota y cambiar con la participación seguir haciendo lo tuyo, pero la de la comunidad”, dijo gente no se da cuenta de eso.” Penélope León, organizadora Una vez que la comunidad y formadora comunitaria del se organiza, la participación de Heartland Workers Center. “La los votantes puede aumentar. comunidad va a decir lo que Cientos de miles de votos de quieren o (cuál) podría ser su aquí y barrios como él podrían sueño para la zona”. cambiar las elecciones en Con problemas sociales y de una nueva dirección. Podría salud que unen a las personas significar que los políticos y la promesa de un nuevo corten a los votantes o políticas para desarrollo en las obras, la gente desarrollen se está inspirando, dijo Snipe. mejorar sus comunidades. Pero el cambio tiene que venir Cuando Snipe se imagina esa a través de la organización realidad, piensa en el mensaje comunitaria, agregó, porque que envía a los políticos. las comunidades de bajos “Te estamos vigilando.” ingresos y diversas como 4-10

ARTICULO DESTACADO // FEATURE ARTICLE

El aumento de la responsabilidad política podría haber ayudado a limitar la propagación de COVID-19, dijo Snipe. El senador estatal Tony Vargas luchó por las protecciones COVID-19 en este distrito, pero el esfuerzo legislativo se estancó en el Unicameral de Nebraska. Ruiz trabaja como operador de carretillas elevadoras en una planta de envasado de carne y contrajo COVID-19. Su familia tuvo la enfermedad, y su esposa, que tiene asma, pasó tiempo en el hospital. Ruiz dijo que un hombre que conocía, que salió de su retiro para trabajar unos cuantos turnos en la planta y ahorrar algo de dinero, murió por la enfermedad. Una mayor atención política y rendición de cuentas podría ayudar en discusiones como la policía o la inversión en recursos comunitarios, que ocuparon muy brevemente el centro del consejo municipal de Omaha. También podría tener implicaciones nacionales. Los expertos en sus simulaciones electorales siguen regresando a un lugar que podría ser el punto de inflexión en la elección del próximo presidente de Estados Unidos: el segundo distrito del Congreso de Nebraska. Con su único voto electoral, Nebraska podría (con “P” mayúscula, podría) ser el desempate entre el presidente Donald Trump y el vicepresidente Joe Biden. Con una alta población de votantes negros y latinos, que sondean desfavorablemente contra Trump, un distrito como 4-10 tiene influencia. Estos son nuevos puntos de salto electrizantes para organizadores como los del Heartland Workers Center. Pero también es otra oportunidad para seguir reforzando el poder electoral en el este de Omaha. “He estado haciendo este trabajo por más de seis años”, dijo León. “Al principio era

escéptica. No creía que pudiéramos hacer un cambio o marcar la diferencia. Pero después de cada elección hemos visto las tasas aumentando en el sur de Omaha”. León dijo que hace seis años no veía candidatos por los barrios del sur de Omaha. Sus anuncios no estaban en las estaciones de radio o televisión en español. Entonces más gente empezó a votar. “Luego vimos a los candidatos haciendo búsquedas alrededor del sur de Omaha”, dijo. “Empezamos a escuchar promociones puntuales en español de los candidatos. Así que sé que lo que estamos haciendo es lo correcto, y vamos a aumentar la participación de los votantes”. Snipe siente lo mismo. Hay más fuerzas en el trabajo que podrían empujar a la gente a emitir papeletas que nunca. Y

después de años de organizar el trabajo, puede imaginar una realidad donde la gente de 4-10 reconoce que tienen control sobre esta elección y su comunidad. No quiere adelantarse. 2020 es un gran año electoral, pero la lucha para involucrar a esta comunidad ha sido larga. Este es sólo un paso más en el proceso. “La verdad es que no vamos a arreglar esto esta noche”, dijo Snipe. “Hemos estado teniendo esta conversación desde los años 60, desde antes de eso. Seamos honestos. Pero no hemos tenido este nivel de activación antes” “No se trata sólo de lo que sucederá mañana, o la próxima semana”, continuó, “se trata de lo que sucederá dentro de 10 años”.

OCTOBER 2020

@ Supermercado Nuestra Familia

www.omahasupermercado.com

29 y leavenworth

36 y Q

18 y Vinton

2900 Leavenworth St. Omaha, NE 68105 (402) 346-2447 6 am to 11 pm

3548 Q St. Omaha, NE 68107 (402) 733-4700 6 am to 11 pm

1826 Vinton St. Omaha, NE 68108 (402) 346-7487 6 am to 11 pm

Everyday

36 y Q • Omaha, NE (402) 733-4700 OPEN 6 am to 11 pm everyday

OCTOBER 2020

Everyday

29 y Leavenworth • Omaha, NE (402) 346-2447 OPEN 6 am to 11 pm everyday

18 y Vinton • Omaha, NE (402) 346-7487 OPEN 6 am to 11 pm everyday

SUPPORT FREE PRESS // SOPORTE PRENSA GRATUITA

José F. García: Ramón Jacobo en uno de los pioneros de los negocios latinos en Omaha POR KARLHA VEL ASQUEZ RIVAS

a simpatía y la atención de Ramón Jacobo queda ahora grabada en la memoria de quienes lo conocieron y también pisaron Jacobo’s Grocery. Y es que estamos hablando de uno de los pioneros de los negocios hispanos al sur de Omaha. La simpatía y la atención de Ramón Jacobo queda ahora grabada en la memoria de quienes lo conocieron y también pisaron Jacobo’s Grocery. Y es que

estamos hablando de uno de los pioneros de los negocios hispanos al sur de Omaha. Nació en Omaha el 31 de enero de 1930, sus padres habían migrado a Estados Unidos desde Michoacán, México en 1929, debido a que ellos eran parte del programa Bracero en ese año. Durante su juventud Ramón visitó varias veces México. Jacobo contrajo matrimonio con Cirina en 1952. Luego su

familia decidió mudarse a Chicago, Illinois, en un vecindario l l a m a d o Bridgport al sur de la ciudad. Allí Jacobo tenía un pequeño negocio de abarrotes por unos 20 años, pero debido a situaciones de violencia en la ciudad decidió mudarse a Omaha donde también su esposa tenía unos familiares.

mexicano y yo chicano. Él me enseñaba muchas cosas sobre cómo un mexicano piensa en negocio, no sabía nada sobre mexicanos en ese aspecto. Con el apoyo de su esposa y sus hijos crecidos, Jacobo ya había abierto en ese entonces Jacobo’s Grocery en la calle 6330 con 30, y luego se mudaron la locación a la calle 24 con B donde abrieron una panadería. García, de padres mexicanos y nacido en Kansas City, es uno de los pocos cultores

En 1976 decidieron mudarse a Omaha. “En ese año conocí a Ramón. Yo tenía 34 años y él 50. Él sabía muy bien cómo se llevaba un negocio, ya tenía experiencia en Chicago y en Omaha sabía con quién hablar. Era un visionario. Llegamos a ser muy buenos amigos”, dijo José Francisco García. “Él era tan

TE GUIAREMOS A CASA HIPOTECA fnbo.com/español Los productos y servicios se realizaran en inglés. Visite fnbo.com/español para obtener más información.

ARTICULO DESTACADO // FEATURE ARTICLE

Reyna Gonzalez

rgonzalez@fnni.com 402.602.5903 NMLS#: 623837

Reyna Moreno

rmoreno@fnni.com 402.602.5902 NMLS#: 623838

OCTOBER 2020

populares que quedan en Omaha, su historia está llena de eventos políticos y fervor por la lucha de los derechos del mexicano en Estados Unidos y sus descendencias, fue miembro del movimiento Chicano durante su juventud cuando estaba estudiando en la universidad.

compañía ferroviaria y en las empacadoras de carne. Ramón fue el primero en vender

“Crecí dentro de la cultura mexicana pero cuando tenía 18 años llegué a Omaha, era un estudiante radical en los 60, del Chicano”, contó. El también historiador se comunicó con El Perico ante la necesidad de dejar plasmada una memoria de quien fue su gran amigo y pionero de los negocios hispanos en Omaha. En aquel entonces cuando García llegó a Omaha eran contados los negocios hispanos, solo se podía ver una que otra peluquería. La mayoría de los mexicanos trabajan en la

productos mexicanos. “Existía un racismo. Los europeosestadounidenses no dejaban que los mexicanos abrieran negocios en la 24. Pero sí lo podían hacer en sus propias casas. Jacobo luchó contra todo eso, era un hombre inteligente”, dijo. El negocio hasta ahora ha sido un éxito y aun hasta sus 90 años ha estado al frente de este. Ramón falleció por causas

naturales el 13 de septiembre de 2020. “Él era el mero bueno de todo el estado (de Nebraska). Todo el mundo conoce a J a co b o’s ”, comenta García. Mientras todos los negocios iban creciendo Ramón se sentía satisfecho por el fruto de su trabajo. “Un día conversamos y le dije: puedes ser billonario, tienes un buen negocio y tienes la mentalidad de hacer más dinero. Me dijo: mira Chato, yo ya sé cómo hacer eso y no me voy a empujar a mí mismo porque tengo familia y si comienzo una franquicia, tendría que atenderla personalmente y ser el mánager de cada una”, dijo con cierta gracia que inspiran buenos momentos.

A él le gustaba hacer las cosas a su manera, dijo García, “Es por eso que ha sido tan exitoso. Un hombre que con sus ahorros pudo levantar su negocio. Es admirable. Para mí ha sido un gran honor conocerlo”, agregó también que Ramón hablaba inglés con un fuerte acento ya que su lengua materna era el español. El arraigo a sus raíces hizo que también Ramón le abriera las puertas de trabajo a hispanos. Entre los años 75 y 76 algunas empacadoras dejaron de operar y dejaron sin empleo a varios trabajadores. “Jacobo ayudó a muchas personas a conseguir empleo en ese entonces. Estaba recién abriendo su negocio”, Dijo García. “La gente mexicana debe conocer que Jacobo era importante, no solo como un ser humano que tenía amor a su raza y que dio trabajo a muchísimos mexicanos, más que las empacadoras, a lo largo de todos estos años”, señaló su amigo.

¡Ahora es el momento... responde HOY! AYUDA LEGAL GRATUITA PARA COVID-19 Visita 2020census.gov/es o llama al 844-468-2020

Si está enfrentando un desalojo o un embargo de sueldo, se le han negado los beneficios por desempleo o tiene preguntas legales sobre una situación de violencia doméstica, Legal Aid of Nebraska está aquí para ayudarlo.

LegalAidOfNebraska.org

1-844-268-5627 LEGAL AID OF NEBRASKA OFRECE AYUDA LEGAL GRATUITA A LOS HABITANTES DE NEBRASKA DE BAJOS INGRESOS.

HÁBLANOS HOY OCTOBER 2020

LAN001-01 Legal Aid Covid Ad - Spanish ARTICULO DESTACADO // FEATURE ARTICLE El Perico B/W 3.54x4.54”

FOTOS COMUNITARIAS

COMMUNITY PHOTOS

ELITE STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY INDEPENDENCIA DE MÉXICO El consulado de méxico realizó por primera vez en sus instalaciones la ceremonia de “el grito”, para celebrar el aniversario de la independencia mexicana. En esta oportunidad, el evento no contó con las multitudes que solían acudir a dicho festejo debido a la situación de pandemia. Es por ello que atendiendo con los protocolos de salud el festejo se se hizo de manera virtual y se transmitió en vivo de forma impecable, con los componentes tradicionales: mariachi, juegos pirotécnicos, escolta charra, reconocimientos especiales y la presencia de la consul guadalupe sánchez para gritar con pasión “¡viva méxico!” ¡Enhorabuena!

FOTOS COMUNITARIAS

OCTOBER 2020

FOTOS COMUNITARIAS

COMMUNITY PHOTOS

ELITE STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY

OCTOBER 2020

FOTOS COMUNITARIAS

HISPANOS SUMERGIDOS EN TABÚES Y VERGÜENZA ante las enfermedades mentales POR KARLHA VEL ASQUEZ RIVAS

a rutina de María no es diferente a la de muchas personas: se levanta

da pena que se burlen de mi por mi mamá. No es fácil”, dijo con vergüenza.

mentales como: la ansiedad, depresión, bipolaridad, demencia, esquizofrenia y otras psicosis. No hay una edad específica para padecerlas. Los factores no solo tiene que ver con la capacidad de gestionar nuestros pensamientos, emociones, comportamientos e interacciones con los demás, sino también con aspectos socioculturales, económicos, políticos y ambientales: nivel de vida, condiciones laborales, apoyos sociales de la comunidad.

temprano, prepara la comida y sale a trabajar. Pero en todo ese espacio de tiempo en su casa ella tiene que atender a su mamá de 73 años. A su mamá, Elena, se le olvida a veces que está en Omaha y que ahora vive con su hija, su marido y sus nietos. Y pregunta muchas veces sobre personas que ya no están con ella en México, país de origen. Algunas veces María no tiene paciencia para responder a su mamá. Ella cuenta que como sus hermanos no podían mantener ya a su mamá decidió traerla a EEUU. “Amo a mi madre, sé que ella no está cuerda. A veces me las arreglo para atenderla. Una vez se me escapoporque iba a buscar algo donde una vecina cuando ella ni habla inglés. Me

Dice que dentro de la familia no se habla mucho sobre la situación de Elena. Solo mencionan que “se está poniendo viejita y es normal”. Pero cuando algo afecta nuestros sentidos y los altera de forma constante no hay normalidad de quepa.

Transtornos mentales que nos afectan Todo el mundo se preocupa por la salud del cuerpo, cuidar la alimentación y hacer actividades físicas, pero la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) publicó un artículo en el que alertan sobre el incremento de los trastornos

ARTICULO DESTACADO // FEATURE ARTICLE

También el estrés, la herencia genética, la alimentación, las infecciones perinatales y la exposición a riesgos ambientales contribuyen al desarrollo de estos trastornos.

sueño o del apetito, cansancio y falta de concentración. La bipolaridad se presenta con la alternancia de episodios maníacos y depresivos separados por periodos de estado de ánimo normal. Mientras que las psicosis, entre ellas la esquizofrenia, se caracterizan por anomalías del pensamiento, la percepción de sí mismo y otros, las emociones, el lenguaje y la conducta. Las psicosis suelen ir acompañadas de alucinaciones (oír, ver o percibir algo que no existe) y delirios (ideas persistentes que no se ajustan a la realidad de las que el paciente está firmemente convencido, incluso cuando hay pruebas de lo contrario). Entre tanto, la demencia es la falta de la capacidad para

La OMS reseñó que la depresión afecta más a mujeres que en los hombres, y se caracteriza por presentar tristeza, pérdida de interés y de la capacidad de disfrutar, sentimientos de culpa o baja autoestima, trastornos del

OCTOBER 2020

servicios de salud mental son entre 25 y 44 años. “En la comunidad hispana es muy difícil determinar un porcentaje claro de quienes padecen enfermedades de trastornos mental porque no se reportan, existe un tabú, una vergüenza en el qué dirán”, aseguró la experta. Cuenta que al ISC llegan personas de diferentes nacionalidades y pasados. Algunos vienen de campos de refugiados y otros de una cierta libertad laboral y también de sus países de orígenes que, cuando llegan a cierta edad son dependientes de sus hijos lo que puede ocasionarle un cambio radical en sus vidas.

procesar el pensamiento y va más allá de lo que se considera una del envejecimiento. Ésta afecta a la memoria, el pensamiento, la orientación, la comprensión, el cálculo, la capacidad de aprendizaje, el lenguaje y el juicio. Elena podría tener demencia, aunque no ha sido diagnosticada. Y a María le resulta difícil aceptarlo y pedir ayuda.

Los hispanos no reportan los casos La trabajadora social y experta en temas de salud mental del Intercultural Senior Center (ISC) en Omaha, Anahí Reynoso, explica que la comunidad latina está llena de tabú con respecto al tema porque lo ven como algo normal cuando no es así.

OCTOBER 2020

Un reporte del año 2017 de la Administración de Servicios de Salud Mental y Abuso de Sustancias (SAMSHA) muestra que del total de personas que se han tratado por algún problema de salud mental en

Nebraska, 8% corresponde a hispanos, mientras que 80% se refiere a otras razas como las personas de piel blanca y negra. No obstante, 44,3% de las personas que atienden

“He notado de abuelitos que se estresan porque no quieren hacer molestar a sus hijos con la espera. Eso les causa a ellos un estrés. A veces los hijos ven a sus padres como héroes y cuando los hijos crecen entonces creen que los padres tienen la misma fuerza que antes entonces no existe esa empatía ni comunicación. Eso les baja la autoestima a los adultos mayores que ahora se sienten dependientes”, comenta Reynoso. La experta aconseja que en estos tiempos de pandemia es importante llenarse de paciencia y asistir a consultas médicas para ayudar tanto al paciente como a la familia. “Este no es un problema individual, no es de la persona. Es de toda la familia y todos deben colaborar. Lo recomendable es visitar a un médico especialista que les podrá orientar para mejorar la calidad de vida de todos y evitarse estrés”, dijo. Ante una sociedad individualista los latinos que tienen a sus abuelos consigo pueden buscar en ellos historias y conectarse con sus raíces, apartando las vergüenzas y tabúes, y siempre garantizando el bienestar familiar.

ARTICULO DESTACADO

Celebrate Local Food Systems! October 5-11, 2020

Saturda 8:0

Old Market Farme

Saturday,September September 21, 2019 Oct. 5: Share Your Local Food Story By Sept. 18 Saturday, 21, 2019 Hear from Food Day Champions & Visit FoodDayOmaha.com for more info 8:00AM AM -12:30 12:30 PM 8:00 PM Lifetime Achievement Award Winners Awards Ce OldMarket MarketFarmers FarmersMarket Market(10th/11th (10th/11thand andHoward HowardSt.) St.) Old

Producer of the Year ◆ Oct. 6: Nonprofit of the Year ◆ Take Out TuesdayAwards - Order Local Food Ceremonyfrom from10:00 10:00-10:30 -10:30AM AM Awards Ceremony from your Favorite Restaurants Producerof ofthe theYear Year◆◆Restaurant Restaurantof ofthe theYear Year◆◆Retailer Retailerof ofthe theYear Year Producer Nonprofitof ofthe theYear Year◆◆Food FoodDay DayChampion Champion◆◆Lifetime LifetimeAchievement Achievement Nonprofit Oct. 7: Food Day inspires Americans Buy Local Food at Retailers united by a vision of food that environment, farm animals, and FoodDay DayMission Mission Food is a day to resolve to make chan Oct. 8: FoodDay Dayinspires inspiresAmericans Americansto tochange changetheir theirdiets dietsand andour ourfood foodpolicies policiesas asrelated weare areproblems in our co Food we Support Nonprofits unitedby byaavision visionof offood foodthat thatisishealthy, healthy,affordable, affordable,and andproduced producedwith withcare carefor forthe the united environment,farm farmanimals, animals,and andthe thepeople peoplewho whogrow, grow,harvest, harvest,and andserve serveit.it.Food FoodDay Day * For more info environment, is a day to resolve to make changes in our own diets and to take action to solve foodOct. 9-11: is a day to resolve to make changes in our own diets and to take action to solve foodrelated problems ourcommunities communities atthe thelocal, local,state, state,and andnational nationallevel. level. Hear fromproblems Local Producers and Sell related ininour at Tha Out the Last Two* Farmer’s Markets visit www.fooddayomaha.com For more information

Oct. 10: Old Market

* For more information visit www.fooddayomaha.com

Oct. 11: Aksarben Thankyou youto toour oursponsors! sponsors! Thank

October 2020