Street Spirit Volume 17, No. 07 July 2011 $1.00 A publication of the American Friends Committee JUSTICE NEWS & HOMELESS BLUES IN THE B AY A REA Young People Lead Protest at Berkeley City Hall

Youth made the strongest impression at the pr otest. It was their message of com- passion, their plea for jus- tice, expressed so beautifully with their prayer flags. by Lydia Gans and Terry Messman he mainstream media may be ignoring them, but homeless activists and providers of ser- vices for homeless youth and Tadults are making sure that Mayor Tom Bates and the Berkeley City Council are paying attention. The threat that Berkeley officials might pass a law prohibiting sit- ting on the city streets has mobilized a broad coalition of to express opposition to it. On Tuesday, June 7, another spirited Young people painted colorful prayer flags and displayed them at City Hall in a public appeal for compassion. Lydia Gans photo demonstration was held at the Berkeley City Hall, organized by the Stand Up For enact a sitting ban ordinance. reported that one of the sitting ban’s chief YOUNG PEOPLE FIGHT CITY HALL The Right To Sit Down coalition. A num- It now appears that the coalition has proponents, Craig Becker, owner of the At the June 7 protest, scores of people ber of young people who have experi- made it too politically costly for the City Caffe Mediterraneum and an influential gathered at Berkeley City Hall. They held enced homelessness joined with organiz- Council to pass such an ordinance. The member of the Telegraph Business up signs bearing the message of the orga- ers in explaining the inhumanity of the council has evidently felt compelled to Improvement District, has conceded that nizing coalition, Stand Up For The Right idea and pointing out the paucity of ser- drop their plans to push through an anti- “the proposal is in limbo for now.” To Sit Down. One man held a sign stating vices for homeless youth in the city. sitting ordinance in the summer months. The coalition’s protests and publicity satirically, “9 out of 10 violent crimes are They may drop it entirely now, or they are undoubtedly the reason that the sitting committed by someone standing.” THE POWER OF POLITICAL PROTEST may try to place it as a future ballot mea- ban proposal has been pushed down into Dozens of hand-painted prayer flags The publicity and highly visible sure. That way, individual council mem- limbo. Homeless activists have scored at were on display. Young people from Youth protests organized by the coalition have bers can avoid the political costs of sup- least a temporary triumph over a seeming- Spirit Artworks were serving food and already had a major impact. By mid-June, porting such a controversial measure, and ly unstoppable proposal backed by mayor stringing together prayer flags that were it became evident that the mayor and City leave it up to the voting public to bear Tom Bates, several members of the City later held by the people who gathered to Council were beginning to back off from responsibility. Council and some of the most powerful their previous plans for the council to On June 15, the Berkeley Daily Planet business organizations in Berkeley See Youth Lead Protest at City Hall page 8 Oakland Coalition Fights State’s Draconian Cutbacks “These cuts hurt our fami- lies, they hurt our children, they hurt our most needy.” — Laurie Jones, Social Services director by Terry Messman n July 1, a high-spirited group of protesters arrived at the Alameda OCounty Social Services in Oakland to protest damaging cuts to the safety net that began taking effect that very day. A broad coalition of childcare agen- cies, senior organizations, homeless advo- cates, and healthcare groups denounced what they said were inhumane and destruc- tive cuts to medical care, , disabil- ity services and family welfare benefits. The far-reaching cutbacks in SSI bene- fits, CalWORKs family benefits, senior health centers, and Medi-Cal were approved by the California state legisla- BOSS Director boona cheema (at center with microphone) addresses the Oakland protest she helped organize. Lydia Gans photo ture in March and took effect on July 1, the same day as the Oakland protest. a supervising attorney with the East Bay today because I think she supports us!” sure that you were aware that Social A protest rally in front of the Oakland Community Law Center and one of the That turned out to be exactly right. Services is completely on board and sup- welfare offices might typically include a protest’s key organizers, suddenly made Laurie Jones spoke powerfully in favor of portive of the advocates in the communi- condemnation of the county welfare offi- an unexpected announcement. Huynh the protest, eliciting enthusiastic cheers ty. These cuts hurt our families, they hurt cials inside the building, but this was a introduced Laurie Jones, the new director from more than 100 demonstrators who had our communities, they hurt our children, protest with a significant difference. of the Alameda County Social Services been chanting loudly outside her offices. they hurt our most needy.” In the middle of the rally, Luan Huynh, Agency, saying, “she wanted to be here Jones told the rally, “I wanted to make See Oakland Protest of State Budget page 7 2 S TREET S PIRIT July 2011 Helping Homeless, Jobless Veterans in Oakland by Maureen Hartmann lex McElree, founding director of Operation Dignity, an orga- nization that provides emer- gency and transitional housing Ato homeless veterans in Oakland, is a tall, heavyset man with sandy hair. He speaks in simple, unadorned sentences, but his words and demeanor convey a personality full of strong emotion and action. After completing three tours of duty in Vietnam, McElree returned home, only to find himself inducted into another army, joining the countless, nameless ranks of homeless veterans living on the streets of American cities. McElree’s experiences led him to found Operation Dignity. He says, “What happened to me was, because of drinking and using drugs after returning from Vietnam in 1969, I held jobs, lost jobs. Eventually I got married; my wife decided to leave. I lost my job and I had a nervous breakdown in 1991. A homeless man in military gear. Many veterans return from overseas only to end up homeless at home. Robert L. Terrell photo While I was being treated for my stress condition by the Department of Veterans’ San Francisco, which has in the meantime wounds with Operation Dignity’s aid and frail, in a motel,” says McElree. “At this Affairs, I found out how many veterans spread to Oakland, helped me start helps others through example, is very time I do not offer an emergency shelter, were homeless — 32 percent of all single Operation Dignity. The VA staff helped touching and inspiring. McElree met her not that I wouldn’t like to. The city homeless people are veterans. me write the grant application.” when she was staying with her two chil- doesn’t have one that’s open year round.” “While I was being treated, I found a One of McElree’s first helpers was Bill dren in a shelter that he directed. If everything works out, the homeless friendly landlord who rented to me a Kennedy, a veteran like himself. McElree She moved into the transitional hous- veterans then move into transitional hous- house cheaply and I went out and found says that a number of veterans stayed on ing that he ran, and stayed the limit set by ing. “At the end of the two years, our goal some beds and mattresses, and took in after being helped to recovery, to become the Veterans’ Affairs Grant and Perdiem is to have them in permanent housing — homeless veterans during that time of my full-time volunteer staff in the outfit. Program, two years. The housing staff have them working or on Social , own recovery. I think it helped me more Because of Kennedy’s alcoholism and helped her get a job. or whatever they need to be on, so that than it helped them. Along the way, I addiction, he had come to the end of indoor “She finally got a permanent place to they can have enough money to live and hoped it helped them. places to stay in, including shelters and live,” says McElree. “Since then she’s be self-sufficient.” “The founding of the was detox centers. Even Kennedy’s mother had bought her own home. She now works for It is necessary to have some “good difficult because the system at the time in moved him out after a stay with her. the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. neighbor” rules due to the close commu- Alameda County was and is very hard to He finally appeared one morning on She’s on my board of directors. She nity living, such as not playing music too break into. If we didn’t have money, they McElree’s doorstep. From then on, he has comes and shares with women veterans loudly. McElree adds, “No fighting, no were not going to help us. For two to remained clean and sober. Kennedy is what happened to her, so they know physical violence; don’t disrupt the pro- three years, I did it with my own money, now a building inspector. He worked for there’s some hope for them.” gram for others...” my Social Security. Then in 1994, I was McElree as his “second-in-command” Clients usually spend 21 days in emer- Women are housed apart from men, so able to get a grant from VA with a lot of originally. As McElree opened new sites gency housing. Recently, there has been that they don’t have to mix with the men people thinking I was not going to be able for veterans, he would direct them. no emergency housing program except for if they don’t want to, some having suf- to do it. Julie Angelone, the director of the Another story, this time of a woman “some motel vouchers, so that we can put Veterans’ Grant and Perdiem Program in veteran who recovered from her war a family, or someone that’s medically See Helping Homeless Veterans page 6

these “mental health issues” are manifes- the troops” as it cuts their benefits? tations of depleted uranium. Does the government “support our Leuren Moret is a geoscientist who has troops” when it sends them into battle Bring ‘em Home worked around the world on radiation with inadequate equipment? Does the issues, educating citizens, the media, mem- government “support the troops” when it Does our government “support the troops” as it cuts their bers of parliaments and Congress and other turns its back on the casualties of the war? benefits and turns its back on the casualties of the war? officials. Ms. Moret calls depleted uranium Does the government “support the troops” a death sentence. “Depleted uranium: Dirty as it casts Herold Noel and countless oth- Does the government “support the troops” as it casts bombs, dirty missiles, dirty bullets: A death ers onto the streets? countless veterans onto the streets? sentence here and abroad.” Not long ago I watched a powerful A Japanese professor, Dr. K. Yagasaki, movie called “Homeless to Harvard,” by Judy Andreas diers to be poisoned and to die have to do has calculated that 800 tons of depleted ura- based on the true story of a young girl, with our freedom? In my lexicon of logic, nium (DU) is the atomicity equivalent of Liz Murray, whose parents were drug n Friday, April 15, 2005, I the belief that “he died for our freedom,” 83,000 Nagasaki bombs. The United States addicts dying of AIDS. After dropping out stood in front of our local is just about as meaningless as “support has used more DU since 1991 than the of school and living on the street, this courthouse protesting the War our troops.” atomicity equivalent of 400,000 Nagasaki heroic young woman became determined in Iraq. It was tax day and we On that particular tax day, we carried bombs. We have released 10 times the to get an education. Owere trying to make a point about how signs in front of the courthouse. I chose a amount of radiation released into the atmos- Though she ate out of dumpsters and our tax dollars were being used. sign that featured a picture of an Iraqi vet- phere from atmospheric testing! slept on the subway, she ultimately fin- Many cars passed by and gave us an eran named Herold Noel. Unlike Manny No wonder our soldiers, their families ished high school in two years and got a approving honk. Other drivers gave us a Lopez, Noel came home from the war. In and the people of the Middle East, New York Times scholarship to Harvard disapproving third finger. Some of the cars fact, he came home a hero — but it was Yugoslavia and Central Asia are sick. . It was a deeply moving story. had “support our troops” proudly displayed not long before he wound up homeless. “The long-term effects have revealed It was a story filled with hope. And yet, it on their bumpers. It might have been 2005, Byron Pitts of CBS News did a report that DU (uranium oxide) is a virtual death was obviously unique. Most young people but it seems like only yesterday. on Herold Noel on March 25, 2005. sentence,” stated Arthur N. Bernklau, in Liz’s situation succumb to a life of Has anything changed? “Support our When “Iraqi Freedom” first began, executive director of Veterans for hopelessness. troops?” Does anyone question those Private First Class Noel was a soldier in Constitutional Law in New York. This year, I once again stood in front words when they mindlessly slap the the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, “Marion Fulk, a nuclear physical of our local courthouse protesting war. bright yellow sticker on their ? pounding a path into Baghdad. “I fought chemist, who retired from the Lawrence Yet, in my case, the protest was aimed at I’m thinking back on that day of for this country,” Noel said. “I shed blood Livermore Nuclear Weapons Lab, and all the wars — past, present and future. protest, because it was back in 2005 that for this country. I watched friends die.” was also involved with the Manhattan My protest was aimed at the abuse of peo- our small county had its first fatality in Noel was forced to live in his jeep after Project, interprets the new and rapid ple all around the globe. My protest was Iraq. His name was Army Spc. Manny being robbed at a homeless shelter. He put malignancies in the soldiers (from the aimed at the lies and deception and greed Lopez. After the tragedy hit the newspa- in applications for housing but was told 2003 Iraq War) as ‘spectacular — and a of the globalists and the sadly hypnotized per, grief-stricken people called the local they were lost. matter of concern!’” populace that is willing to kill and be radio station to give voice to their pain. Pitts’ report talked about how veterans Noel was diagnosed with post traumat- killed without knowing why. One woman uttered, through her tears, are coming home with mental health ic stress disorder. Unemployed and mar- I carried a sign that had a picture of “He died for our freedom.” issues and substance abuse problems. ried with three kids, he couldn’t get a job. Noel. The sign read “From Hero to He died for our freedom? I wish some- “Mental health issues?” Once again I Waking people up from the nightmare Homeless.” It was a story filled with one would help me understand how am going to have to admit ignorance. That is not easy. While the people busily “sup- despair. Sadly, Noel’s story, unlike Liz’s, is killing innocent people in the Middle East phrase is amorphous and ambiguous. I port the troops” what does the govern- not unique. As many as 275,000 veterans is keeping us free. What has sending sol- cannot help but wonder how many of ment do? Does our government “support will likely sleep out in the cold tonight. July 2011 S TREET S PIRIT 3 AARP Sells Out the Elderly, Poor and Disabled The flourishes as budget cuts shred the safety net by Lynda Carson Street Elder: Morning Oakland — Letters were sent in June advising more than 1.3 million elderly and Claire J. Baker disabled people on SSI (Supplemental Her first steps are a stagger-limp — Security Income) throughout California a block, a mile to go! that on July 1, they will receive less fund- On the grimy street stage, ing to cover their needs. They have had she still tries to play a part, their benefits slashed to less than the fed- mutters moving lines eral poverty level, due to another vicious but few hear them at all round of state budget cuts by the or hear them as true. Democrats and Republicans. Maybe the one SSI recipients will now receive only dear-hearted today $9,960 annually — $930 less than the is you... estimated annual federal poverty level. As a result, countless elderly and disabled people are facing dire poverty conse- Looking for Fathers quences on a level not seen in years. by George Wynn Reverend Ben Fulcher, Sr. of Oakland receives disability payments from SSI and Walking aimlessly down said, “The effect of the ongoing budget cuts Tenderloin streets may result in more displaced citizens on the homeless, wifeless, jobless streets. We have had over $90 cut per walking slowly as though month in assistance out of the SSI disability they never get enough sleep program in California during the last 18 they plop down spread-eagled Art by Christa Occhiogrosso months or so, and it’s pretty devastating in to the sky and snore the day away total. People now have to choose between deprive the poor of badly needed income. POVERTY INDUSTRY — EAST BAY Some of them have law degrees paying for food or their rent.” and medals and were cross-country In 2009, Rother was paid $290,089 in In Oakland, 990 tax filings also reveal Oakland SSI recipient Naja Strand truckers and have children salary, plus $40,269 in other compensa- that salaries and compensation have been said, “I know damn well they are not they haven't seen in 13 or 15 years tion by AARP, and may have lost touch steadily rising in the nonprofit affordable spending our tax dollars right. We have to who are searching for their fathers with the poor. Many supporters of Social housing sector. One example is the cut back on military spending and give on the lonely streets of America Security now believe that Rother opened income received by key employees of the back more money for the schools, and up the door for conservatives and right- Oakland-based, housing organization, public education.” wing crusaders to solidify their ongoing East Bay Asian Local Development The latest round of budget cuts have attack on Social Security. Corporation (EBALDC). We Wobble Forth left poor people feeling deprived, as their With offices in California and members EBALDC claims that its mission is to by Sue Ellen Pector income decreases while rents keep sky- in Oakland and Alameda County, AARP is develop affordable housing for low- rocketing, resulting in less money for America shames us a wealthy, billion-dollar corporation with income people and integrated services, food, health care, transportation and keep- as though the wound of failure nonprofit status and 37 million U.S. mem- with an emphasis on Asian and Pacific ing the lights turned on in their homes. were insufficient torture. bers. AARP generated $2,182,262,128 in Islander communities and the diverse Meanwhile, as the poor continue to be We wobble forth despite gross receipts during 2009. low-income populations of the East Bay. devastated by never-ending budget cuts America’s taunting. AARP claims that its mission is to Records show that in 2009, EBALDC shredding the safety net, the poverty enhance the quality of life for the aged, Executive Director Lynette Lee earned Eden Housing, Satellite Housing, industry in Oakland and across the nation with emphasis on those at greatest social $140,536, plus an additional $5,942 in Resources for Community Development, flourishes for key staff in the nonprofit and economic risk. In reality, those that other compensation. Records also reveal Affordable Housing Associates, EAH sector, in ways that some advocates benefit the most from AARP’s activities that in FY 2007-2008, EBALDC only paid Housing and Housing. charge are exploiting the poor. are the top employees of the nonprofit Lee $87,265, meaning that Lee’s compen- These exorbitant salaries inflate the The huge salary increases for many organization who are raking in a small sation from EBALDC skyrocketed by more cost of producing low-income housing in high-level employees in the poverty fortune in salaries and compensation. than $50,000 in a single year. Since then, a time when there is a serious nationwide industry have accelerated during the same IGH SALARIES OF EXECS Lee has retired and been replaced as execu- shortage of affordable housing. Many period that massive budget cuts to local, H AARP tive director by Jeremy Liu. housing advocates are beginning to ask state and federal programs have taken In 2009, Robert R. Hagans Jr., chief EBALDC Human Resources Director how many more housing units could be place all across the nation. financial officer of AARP, received $317,324 in salary, plus $46,703 in other La Netha Oliver earned $80,221 in 2009, built if salaries weren’t so shockingly DOUBLE-CROSSING THE POOR compensation. Thomas C. Nelson, chief plus $8,184 in other compensation. Yet in high in the so-called nonprofit sector. On June 17, the American Association operating officer, was paid $492,320 in the previous year, she only earned How many poor people are not being of Retired Persons (AARP) made national salary, plus $48,609 in compensation. $68,547, meaning that her salary housed due to these high compensation headlines after it double-crossed the elder- Other high-ranking AARP employees increased by about $18,000 in a year. levels? How many rent increases must be ly poor, and sold out women and children received comparable salaries: In 2009, Carlos Castellanos, director of endured by poor tenants in order to keep across the nation, by joining right-wing Nancy LeaMond: $343,656 in salary, real estate development for EBALDC, nonprofit executives living in luxury? Republicans and Democrats in supporting plus $39,453 in other compensation. earned $91,280, plus $11,228 in other Lynda Carson may be reached at ten- budget cuts to Social Security benefits. Emilio Pardo: $326,639 in salary, compensation, a substantial salary hike of [email protected] While SSI disability recipients in $46,184 in compensation. about $28,000 over the previous year. California will now only receive $9,960 Joan S. Wise: $325,690 in salary, EBALDC Chief Financial Officer Don annually, many employees in AARP are $42,360 in compensation. Piyathaisere earned $98,265, plus an addi- Street Spirit paid $300,000 annually and more. The James Laney: $325,962 in salary, tional $8,472 in other compensation in Street Spirit is published by American shocking income gap between poor peo- $12,411 in compensation. 2009. Mary Hennessy, chief operations Friends Service Committee. The ven- ple living on SSI and the upper echelons Shereen G. Remez: $300,429 in salary, officer for EBALDC, raked in $129,220 dor program is run by BOSS. of the nonprofit sector have reached unac- $38,805 in compensation. in 2009, and Charise Fong, director of Editor, Layout: Terry Messman ceptable — even obscene — levels. Kevin J. Donnellan: $278,707 in economic development, received $81,828. AARP’s policy chief John C. Rother salary, $40,955 in compensation. These high salaries in the poverty indus- Contributors: Judy Andreas, David was quoted in the Wall Street Journal on Ellen Hollander: $261,546 in salary, try are becoming the standard among other Bacon, Claire J. Baker, Lynda Carson, June 17, saying that AARP was dropping $48,599 in compensation. so-called nonprofit housing developers in Jan Cook, Carol Denney, Mia Esquivel, its longtime opposition to cutting Social Harroll Backus: $258,828 in salary, the East Bay. Records show comparably Lydia Gans, Maureen Hartmann, Christa Security benefits, a position that will plus $38,751 in compensation. high salary levels for the top employees of Occhiogrosso, Sue Ellen Pector, Mary Rudge, Robert L. Terrell, George Wynn Donate or Subscribe to Street Spirit! All works copyrighted by the authors. The views expressed in Street Spirit arti- Street Spirit is published by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). Homeless vendors receive 50 papers a day, earn cles are those of the authors alone, not income and find a job providing a positive alternative to panhandling, and educate the community about social justice issues. Please necessarily those of the AFSC. donate or subscribe to Street Spirit ! Help us remain an independent voice for justice! Street Spirit welcomes submissions of ❒ I enclose $25 for one year's subscription. articles, poems, photos and art, but can- ❒ I enclose a donation of ❒ $100 ❒ $50 ❒ $ 25 July 2011 not guarantee they will be published. Contact: Terry Messman Send Donations to: Name: ______Street Spirit, 65 Ninth Street, AFSC Address: ______San Francisco, CA 94103 65 Ninth Street, Phone: (415) 565-0201, ext. 18 San Francisco, CA 94103 City: ______State:______Zip: ______E-: [email protected] 4 S TREET S PIRIT July 2011 South of Silicon Valley, Hunger Haunts Hollister In a great contradiction in U.S. poverty, workers who spend their lives producing the food consumed by mil- lions often don’t have enough to eat themselves.

Story and photos by David Bacon Hollister, Calif. — Every year when the spring comes, families get in their big pick- up trucks in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, or the River Valley in Arizona, and head for Hollister, south of Silicon Valley. Generations of families have made the annual migration to get jobs in the San Benito Foods cannery, or in the local fields on the machines harvesting the tomatoes that get canned there. This year, according to brothers Harley and Emillio Delgado, has been real- ly slow. “Last week we were picking apri- cots,” Harley says. “It’s the weather — it’s been raining a lot, and not really warm.” The two live in the migrant work- er camp, set up just south of town in the 1940s to house the field labor needed by Volunteers of the San Benito County Community Food in Hollister, Calif., hand out groceries at the Migrant Labor Camp. local ranchers. Today, part of the camp consists of trailers, and another part build- to the Rancho Apartments. These subsi- ings built after the war. dized homes were built in the wake of the Every Saturday, Israel Banuelos pulls political changes brought by the farm work- his truck out of a parking lot on the other er movement of the 1960s and ‘70s. side of Hollister, behind the During those years, at the height of the that houses the county food bank. The United Farm Workers movement, Hollister truck is filled with bags of food, and the was a union stronghold. Jose Luna (known camp is his first stop. The Delgado broth- in English as Joe Moon), was a short, unas- ers are among the many that line up while suming farm worker who became one of Banuelos and helper Erik Rivera hand out the union’s best organizers. bags of food. A UNION RUN BY WORKERS In one of the great contradictions of U.S. Luna came to Hollister in the late poverty, people who spend their working 1960s, and organized the thousand grape lives producing the food consumed by mil- pickers at what was then one of the largest lions in cities all over the country often wine companies in the world — Almaden don’t have enough to eat themselves. Vineyards. When Luna left, his legacy Here at the migrant camp, farm work- wasn’t just a contract, but a union the ers and cannery workers need the truck’s workers ran themselves. food partly because work is slow. Every September when the grape har- The Food Bank provides food to more than 5,000 residents, half of them children. “But even when there’s more work, vest started in the fields of Paicines, a half- there are still lots of families here waiting hour south, hundreds of men and women After Banuelos’ truck is empty, he dri- ing, I guess by hearing them.” for bags of food,” Banuelos says, “some- would descend on the tiny union office in ves it back to the warehouse. Today the mine is a ghost town in the times more than there are today. People Hollister. There the ranch committee, usual- In the afternoon, the truck goes out hills south of Paicines, between the really need it. I don’t know what they’d ly headed by Roberto San Roman, would again, this time to find the homeless peo- Salinas and San Joaquin Valleys. Half its do if we didn’t come every week. I feel dispatch workers to the fields. ple living under the trees near the railroad abandoned burned to the ground I’m doing something important, helping The office was run by the workers. The tracks, on a hill overlooking downtown. a few years ago. It is on the EPA them to survive.” union contract boosted piece rates. A family The old men who get their bags there Superfund list because mercury-laden San Benito County is just south of working the nine-week season at Almaden are not from farm worker families. Their water from the closed shafts seeps into the Silicon Valley. As you drive south, the could earn enough to get back to Texas or conversation as they wait for food reveals San Carlos Creek, and from there into the big electronics plants and the sprawling Arizona, and make it through winter’s dead a different slice of San Benito County’s San Joaquin River and San Francisco Bay. developments that house their workers time until the following spring. working-class history. In addition, rocks at New Idria contain gradually disappear. In their place spread Today the vineyards at Paicines are as Peewee Rabello, Sr. is one of the first in lots of short-fiber asbestos. fields of lettuce and tomatoes, and extensive as ever, but Almaden Vineyards line. “My son Manuel,” he declares, “drives The Rabello and Castro families, like orchards of apricots and walnuts. is hardly a memory. The company disap- a big rig truck, and his son, who’s also those of other miners, must have suffered a Something else changes too. peared in the 1980s. In the place of the named Manuel, just started driving one too. great deal of illness over those 100 years. As communities become more rural, union hall, labor contractors hire workers We’ve had ten generations of Manuels in Mercury is a poison, and causes Minimata and farm workers make up more of the for the harvest. Piece rates have dropped. our family. They’ve all been truck drivers. I disease and other forms of nerve damage. population, people get poorer. In 2009, Most farm workers today were small have a picture of my great-great-grandfa- Workers who come into contact with the average yearly income in Santa Clara children when the union office closed. A ther — I forget how many greats there are asbestos often contract mesothelioma, a County — home of Silicon Valley — was few older men getting bags of food at the — next to one of the first Model-T trucks, painful and fatal form of lung cancer. $94,715. Silicon Valley has its own not- truck in the migrant camp, like Julio with a flatbed on the back.” Now, descendents of families, so-hidden poverty, but the urban standard Cervantes or Jose Manzo, are old enough In addition to driving trucks, Rabello’s like Peewee and Gene, have no homes, no of living, especially in the country’s pre- to remember. But most do not. family also worked in what was the coun- jobs, and often, not enough to eat. When mier high-tech industrial center, is much And while the upsurge in Latino power ty’s main enterprise for many years — its the food bank truck comes out every higher than San Benito County. Here the that the union started is responsible for the mine. So did the family of Gene Castro, Saturday, they depend on the bags it car- average wage in 2009 was a third of housing in places like the Rancho Rabello’s friend who stands behind him in ries to make it through the next week. Silicon Valley — $37,623. Apartments, the young people who collect the food bag line. The New Idria Rabello is not a passive food recipient, In April last year, when the recession the bags of food out in front have no way Quicksilver Mining Company operated the though. He opens his wallet, and pulls out boosted state unemployment to 12 per- to remember that. The food bank worries country’s second-largest mercury mine in one carefully folded letter after another. In cent, Santa Clara’s rate was 10.3 percent. about those kids. New Idria for a hundred years, finally clos- tiny, dense text, each demands that San Benito County’s unemployment rate “When youngsters have just noodles, ing it in 1972. When it was going strong, it Congressmen and other local officials vote was exactly double — 20.6 percent. bread or crackers to eat for dinner, as employed hundreds of miners. for a national health care program. When the San Benito County many here do, they cannot perform well “My great-great-grandmother was “We need some kind of socialized Community Food Bank opened 20 years in school,” its says. “This is how blind,” Rabello remembers, “but she medicine,” Rabello says, “so poor people ago as the Community Pantry, it served many families in poverty must live today, worked at the mine as a cook and washed can get it.” He knows these are the days 35 families. Last year, it handed out 1750 relying on carbohydrate-based food that’s the miners’ clothes. I’m amazed she could of budget cuts, but that doesn’t faze him. bags a week to over 5000 people. Half of filling but very low in nutrition.” do all that, but in those days, it was the “I’m going to keep writing,” he says, “no them are children, many from families The bags of food on the truck have only way she could support herself. When matter what.” who work in the fields. bread, and even muffins, but they also I was a little boy, she’d hold my hand and Out of the same wallet he then pulls After the food bank truck leaves the have lettuce, oranges and food that won’t help me cross the . I was never afraid. the card of the Truckstop Ministries. “I migrant camp, it heads back towards town, cause as much child obesity. She could tell when there were cars com- pray for it too,” he says. July 2011 S TREET S PIRIT 5

GLIMPSES OF THE SPIRIT Mia and the Circle of Kindness Mia was inspired to of fer the same kindness she had seen Dorothy show to her cats. Love begets love in a self- renewing circle of kindness. A homeless woman cradles her two cats. Many homeless people form Photo by deep bonds of affection with the animals who give them so much love. Lydia Gans by Terry Messman hungry, so instead she gives them $20 to while we were organizing for abstractions two different species teach us something $30 so they can get a good meal. such as “economic justice” and “housing about overcoming homelessness. ia Esquivel is one of countless Nearly every Saturday, Mia brings the for all,” I saw a level of mutual support and disabled people in California THE KINDNESS OF THE CAT LADY couple a clean set of clothes she buys for sharing that could have transformed our who just suffered a significant Mia Esquivel called Ellen one day sev- M them at a thrift store. She buys them med- profit-worshipping society more profoundly setback when her SSI (Supplemental eral years ago, and told her that she had ical supplies. Several times, she brought than any of our housing actions. Security Income) was reduced to $830 per just met an elderly homeless woman at a new blankets to the couple because their The members of the Homeless Union month, beginning on July 1. free meal program in Antioch. Mia was blankets have been stolen frequently. constantly helped one another. They These cutbacks are a terrible blow to highly upset because the woman, Dorothy Mia recently consulted with Ellen so would house a friend who had just been poor people already living on the thin mar- Hill, was in her late 70s and yet was she could learn how to help the couple get evicted, willingly sharing their cramped gin of survival. Every state official respon- forced to live on the street. benefits. Mia worries deeply about this little room for weeks. Without being sible for shredding this lifeline should be Mia arranged to have Ellen meet couple, and prays they will be all right. asked, they would share their last dollar forced to live with a poor family for six Dorothy Hill at the meal program. Ellen Mia, a single mother living in poverty, with a friend who was broke. They insist- months to see how badly these cuts jeopar- helped her apply at a housing program for is a true neighbor who does more for this ed that we buy large amounts of food and dize their very ability to survive. low-income seniors in Pittsburg. Dorothy couple than entire nonprofit agencies have cook nutritious meals for hundreds of Although these government-ordered was accepted and found a new home there. done. She has so little herself, but is still homeless people every time we did a cutbacks may take food out of the mouths In helping her, Ellen learned why somehow willing to share with others. political action, so whether the protest of the hungry, and take medicine away Dorothy had become homeless in the first accomplished anything or not, at least from sick children, they have not eradicat- STRIKING GENEROSITY OF THE POOR place. In the middle of the night, a fire hungry people would be fed that day. ed the kindness and generosity that is one Mia’s story is not unique. One of the had ignited in the apartment building I have never forgotten that I learned of the most remarkable character traits of most striking and unexpected qualities where Dorothy resided at the time. She the best, most humane lessons of my life people living in poverty. noticed by many activists and social had been sleeping soundly, but when the from homeless people on the streets of When my wife, Ellen Danchik, first met workers who work closely with homeless fire started, her cats kept meowing repeat- East and West Oakland. Mia Esquivel 10 years ago, Mia was a dis- people is the often amazing levels of shar- edly and loudly until Dorothy was awak- abled mother of two young sons and was ing and altruism they display towards oth- STUDIES SHOW ALTRUISM OF THE POOR ened. Her cats alerted her in time and they living homeless on the streets of Antioch, ers in need. I’m not the only one who learned that all managed to flee the building. Calif. She asked Ellen, at that time the It flies in the face of the values ham- same lesson. “The poor are more generous After the narrow escape, she credited housing coordinator for eastern Contra mered into us day and night by our mate- than the rich when it comes to giving to her cats with saving her life. Dorothy and Costa County, to help her find housing. rialistic society. In a nation where wealth good causes,” is a typical headline from both cats were now homeless as a result Mia not only was homeless but also had is worshipped, and poverty is feared and the Guardian newspaper in England, of the fire. She was so concerned for the been diagnosed with a psychological dis- deplored, society warns us to look after our reporting on a study of donors to British cats that had saved her life that she began ability. Her sons were living with their own self-interest. Big corporations place charities that “finds that the least well-off spending her meager income on a kennel grandparents. Ellen was able to hook Mia profits before people, and each individual give a higher proportion of their income to house her cats, even while she herself up with an innovative case is taught to be similarly self-centered. to charity than the wealthy, no matter remained homeless and destitute. program, and then found her a Section 8 We are trained to idolize wealth, pursue what their age, class or beliefs.” WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN prosperity and put our money in a bank or In a series of experiments in 2010, subsidized apartment in Antioch. Her cats had saved her life, and the stock market, not in the outstretched researchers at UC Berkeley found that After finding stable housing, Mia was Dorothy returned their kindness by paying hands of a person in need. Yet, even in the “people of lower socioeconomic status are able to reunite with her kids and have for a home for her cats at a time when she face of this powerful societal directive to actually more altruistic than those higher them move into her apartment. She said could not afford a home for herself. look out after number one, many people on the economic ladder.” The finding of a that the experience of being helped Mia, in turn, was so inspired by still choose to help one another. team of UC researchers echoed recent touched something so deeply within her Dorothy’s acts of kindness to her cats that When I became involved in organizing national surveys showing that “lower- that her life was changed. it made her want to help her find a home, with homeless people in Oakland in the income people donate a greater percent- Ever since that day, she has repeatedly so she brought the elderly woman to Ellen 1990s, that was the single most over- age of their income to charity than upper- gone far, far out of her way to help others in order to help her find housing. whelming lesson I learned. The Oakland income people do.” in need. Because she was helped during That is how compassion is sometimes Union of the Homeless had a wild and The UC study was conducted in 2010 by one of her darkest hours, she now tries to passed from one person to another, like a rebellious run of militant housing takeovers a team led by UC doctoral psychology stu- pass that help along to others. baton in an Olympics relay race. Mia was and dozens of acts of nonviolent civil dis- dent Paul Piff and was reported in the Recently, Mia discovered a 37-year-old inspired to demonstrate the same kindness obedience. We took over abandoned office Journal of Personality and Social homeless woman named Elizabeth living that she saw Dorothy show. buildings, barricaded ourselves inside, and Psychology. Piff reported, “Individuals in her neighborhood with her boyfriend, One way to describe the law of karma were arrested while camped out on the from lower-class backgrounds are more Daniel. Elizabeth is disabled and ill, and is: “What goes around, comes around.” rooftops of federal buildings, demanding generous, trusting and helpful toward oth- Daniel also suffers from a serious, life- Love begets love in a self-renewing circle affordable housing for all. ers. We find that increased altruism among threatening illness. The couple’s problems — an unbroken circle of kindness. Those were inspiring actions, but noth- lower-class individuals is caused by their seem so complex and difficult that most One of the musical geniuses of our era, ing else felt nearly as important as the sense heightened feelings of compassion and con- people would shy away. But they live in Brian Wilson, brought this truth vividly to of community and friendship I unexpected- cern for the welfare of others.” Mia’s neighborhood and she could not pass life in his song, “This Whole World.” by without helping.. ly found in the Homeless Union. Their per- Yet if a sense of compassion leads poor Mia lives on her scant SSI benefits — sonal acts of caring and giving came to people to exhibit greater generosity, Piff “Late at night I think about the love the benefits that were just cut on July 1 — seem more important to me than all our found that “wealth seems to buffer people of this whole world, yet she gives money to the couple regular- political actions put together. from attending to the needs of others.” Lots of different people everywhere, ly. She says she can’t just give them a I’d never experienced that much human All of which leads to a meaningful les- And when I go anywhere couple dollars because they would still go decency anywhere else in my life. For son in trans-species compassion, wherein I see love, I see love, I see love.” 6 S TREET S PIRIT July 2011

Another Anti-homeless Break It to Them Gently Ballot Measure? Really? Berkeley will always attract travelers, hitch-hikers, encountering any visible poverty. poets, artists, dreamers, and people who aren’t sure If the new law designed to If the new “Elevate the Homeless” who they are yet but want to check out any town criminalize behavior spe- law designed to criminalize behavior (sidewalk sitting) specific to homeless roaring with creativity and life. cific to homeless people people, transients, travelers, and youth seems mean-spirited, it is. seems mean-spirited, it is. Tell your city by Carol Denney take a few cues from the 30,000 or so council representative so. he realization will hit any day young people who would love to shop, But equally important, tell the direc- now. It will be brutal for those dance, join, learn, and participate in com- by Carol Denney tors of the local business improvement who thought they could somehow munity events if they weren’t treated as he Berkeley City Council may not T such a threat by a town that can’t seem to districts that the last thing Berkeley’s create Rodeo Drive out of Telegraph have the stomach to pass another small businesses need is another nation- Avenue, but the upside is that it will save grasp that not only are they here to stay, anti-homeless law on their own, wide campaign about how terrible it is to years of police riots, court costs, and the they have something to offer. T It isn’t just the students enrolled on but they’re counting on another creative- shop in Berkeley. bewildering schizophrenia of having the ly named ballot measure to accomplish The last contentious anti-homeless richest property owners in town kill off campus, but the wider culture they create the task on the grounds of refusing to ballot measure received national media by bad-mouthing Berkeley. by just being here that will always attract “enable” people to sit on the sidewalks, attention, attention which could have This is a college town. travelers, hitch-hikers, poets, artists, thus frittering away days better spent pol- been focused on the amazing places to If you really want to, you can arrest dreamers, and people who aren’t sure ishing the handle on the big front door. visit and enjoy in Berkeley. Instead, the guy from Sweden with the backpack who they are yet but want to check out They’re hoping the voting public won’t potential travelers and visitors got the sipping coffee and poring over a map try- any town roaring with creativity and life. remember that the last anti-homeless ordi- usual dose of stories about how the ing to figure out how far Berkeley is That’s us. That’s us at our best, and nance, overturned by a successful citizen streets are filthy, full of stoners, etc. from Santa Cruz. But there’ll be another youth culture is a big part of it. The referendum signature campaign, was It’s their job to promote business, one along in an hour or so. recent push-poll that flopped as an effort found to be largely unconstitutional. after all. But the business improvement No matter how brutal we make our to support the proposed anti-sitting law Large property owners are apparently directors seem to love to reinvent the streets, how unaffordable we make our revealed some valuable input from the unembarrassed by the vast amounts of wheel. Their faith that another anti- and , rich property own- students who took it, who wanted more money and time the Berkeley legal homeless initiative will improve business ers in Berkeley and the University of dancing, more creative events, more art department is forced to spend on their is more than consistent; it is apparently California itself would be wise to consid- events available to them. behalf trying to carefully tailor ordi- irresistible to council representatives who er that having the UC campus sitting like We can do that — this town really nances so as to effect only the unwanted ought to know better. a cat in the sun in the middle of town is does know how. But the people doggedly humans in a particular area of town with- Pick up the phone. We have better an attractive nuisance worth exploiting, wed to the criminalization of poverty out inconveniencing anyone else. things to do as a community than perfect rather than fighting. need to make a little room at the table for Discriminatory enforcement is counted another negative campaign about our And it does mean listening to youth. creative ideas. We’re a college town, and on to keep the unwanted (homeless) walk- failings. And maybe, just maybe, we can It may be tough for the class that com- with a more inclusive attitude we can ing and the wanted (shoppers) at peace, work together on practical approaches to mands the country club to take, but it thrive in every possible way. We might shopping without the inconvenience of very real problems. might save Berkeley a lot of money to even learn a thing or two.

Helping Homeless Veterans in Oakland The Homeless Are Longing for Community from page 2 have clean clothes. These things are Lonely Like Jesus Organizer Spirit important to an employer to hire you.” by George Wynn fered from sexual trauma in the armed Approximately 60 percent of veterans by Maureen Hartmann forces. “They can get the therapy they who come to the Swords To Plowshares Jesus was a transient teacher, 2 South Side Chicago tired men need from the VA, or from a battered Oakland unit are classified as homeless, wandering around Palestine. warm their hands women’s center,” McElree notes. “They whether they live on the street, in shelters As human, he must have often over flickering fire do come back with PTSD (post traumatic or in transitional housing. had to concentrate formed on midnight street. stress disorder), but more of them come One veteran who came in off the on addressing the crowds Older man: "Things back with sexual trauma. The government streets was referred to the vocational reha- and healing the disabled and ill getting worse and worse." tries to hide that, but it’s a pretty bad bilitation counselor who deals with issues while worrying about his next meal Younger man nods: thing in the military.” of mental illness. The counselor felt he and that night’s shelter. "I thought things The actual process of screening clients should seek psychological help from the The homeless often get involved were gonna get better." for services is fairly simple. “They have Department of Veterans’ Affairs. He went with putting together a broken world Older man: "You know to prove that they are veterans,” he says. to the VA and was stabilized, and then by involvement with peace I remember Obama “They have to apply for a Social Security returned to Swords to Plowshares. and justice, when he was card, they have to get a picture ID. They “He wanted to be a Class A truck dri- and have to think of others a community organizer." have to get a tuberculosis test. They can’t ver;” Crawford says. “We paid for his in the midst of their own crises. "Me too." have been discharged from the armed training. He successfully completed that Older man: "Damn shame!" forces dishonorably. And then if they training, got a Class A driver’s license with the help of the staff. They are supplied meet the requirements, they’re in the pro- with full endorsements and, as we speak, with interview clothing, and haircuts if nec- Swords to Plowshares Employment train- gram. I can bring someone into my hous- is probably somewhere in Georgia, dri- essary. Before they get the first paycheck, ing unit in Oakland. ing within one hour.” ving an 18-wheel truck, making a very they are given a Safeway gift card so they “We hope to expand and add more ser- For the future, he envisions “watching decent, livable wage.” can get their lunches at work. After the first vices,” he says, “which we are looking at Operation Dignity grow to serve veterans Job readiness is a major issue for many paycheck, they become self-sustaining. now, to continue to build more relations and the homeless community in Alameda veterans. They must have been clean and Swords to Plowshares’ employment here in the East Bay, link up with more County.” The outfit is in the process of sober for 60 days before they start the job program is now a national model. referral agencies, expand our housing out- “partnering with Abode in Fremont and programs at Swords to Plowshares. If they Crawford says: “I recently attended a con- reach, as well as employer outreach. We Lifelong Medical Care here in Oakland, to haven’t been clean and sober for that length ference in Washington, D.C., of the are very much looking for employers that do a countywide family program,” he says. of time, they are referred to the VA and National Coalition for Homeless are interested in hiring veterans. All we’re “Lifelong gets our people medical care real- possibly Alcoholics Anonymous or Veterans. I and my director presented to a asking for is opportunity for our veterans. ly quick.” Dental care can be provided for Narcotics Anonymous. Job readiness also group of organizations, and what we “My vision is to expand and grow with all veterans. Even non-veterans receive includes punctuality, dependability, and talked about is how we serve our veterans, the hope that we can end homelessness for dental work through the organization. performing well on the job. These are quali- how we set up our program for the differ- veterans soon. Just in my vision, my goal Operation Dignity’s transitional hous- ties covered by their case managers. ent career tracks, like the Class A, the would be to provide more legal services, ing program collaborates with Swords To “We have already screened them and security guards, the green industry. more health services. The picture is of Plowshares’ Oakland employment and gone over these things with them, so that “We go to the employers and say, adding more agencies into our collabora- training unit. Transitional housing pro- by the time they get to an interview, we ‘What do you need from your employ- tion, getting out into the community, vides a temporary home for veterans out know that they’re able to be on time and ees?’ Get that piece in, and it’s a seamless spreading the word more, working with of which they can conduct a job search able to perform,” says Crawford. “If they transition from training to hire. So we more transitional housing.” and obtain job readiness. do not have everything we need, we refer shared that with other organizations to The work will continue as veterans “It is very difficult to do a job search or them to other organizations, for what they better their chances with various grants keep returning to their communities from training while you are living on the streets,” need, whether it be expungement of crimi- that are out there. Although we are San overseas wars, only to end up homeless. says Kenneth Crawford, who directs the nal records, legal issues such as disability Francisco-based, we are looked at by a “There are a lot more veterans out Oakland unit of Swords to Plowshares upgrades, compensation plans, discharge large group of organizations across the there.” Crawford says. “My hope is to be employment and training program. upgrades, DMV issues.” U.S. as having been successful.” able to drive around Alameda County and “I know that because I lived on the Veterans who received a bad conduct Veterans helping veterans is the vision not see veterans homeless. We see about streets for two years. It’s not easy to do discharge have to be served out of the San of both Crawford and McElree, and the 800 veterans over a year’s time. I would these things, if you don’t have a place to Francisco office. organizations they represent. Crawford expect that number to increase to over lay your head at night, take a shower, and Veterans write resumes and cover letters shares his vision for the future of the 1000 by this time next year.” July 2011 S TREET S PIRIT 7

Oakland Protest of State Budget Cuts from page 1

Then Jones pledged she would work with the demonstrators to do her utmost to defend the desperately needed social ser- vices that had just undergone a slash-and- burn assault from the state legislature. “We are committed to working with the advocates,” Jones said. “We are com- mitted to working with our community- based organizations to find ways that we can find the resources necessary to keep services in place.” Jones concluded with compelling words of commitment: “These cuts are horrible, and we realize it. I’m glad you guys are here, and this is a really great, strong show of support. You just need to know that Social Services is also behind you as well!” BOSS Executive Director boona cheema told Street Spirit that Jones has deep roots in the homeless advocacy community, not- ing that Jones had worked as an employ- ment counselor for BOSS 25 years ago. Cheema said that with Jones as the new Luan Huynh (center at podium) introduces speakers at the rally at the Social Services building in Oakland. Lydia Gans photo director, Alameda County Social Services and the Board of Supervisors are working long haul. “This is my 40th year of trying that if they make these cuts, families will be Center in Oakland, spoke out against SSI closely with advocacy groups under the to stand up with people who have to live homeless or children won’t go to school. cutbacks because he is disabled and SSI is umbrella of Alameda County’s Multi- in poverty and who have challenges we “So there is a stabilizing impact that the only income he receives. Agency Task Force. cannot even believe,” she said. “What CalWORKs has on families that is really For the past three years, state officials Jones wasn’t the only high-ranking they have most of all is courage and I important. Part of that is being taken away refused to make any cost-of-living increases Social Services official to make common want that courage celebrated today.” by these cuts. I can’t even imagine what to SSI despite the rising cost of living, rent cause with the demonstrators. Dan She added, “We cannot stop organizing. it’s like to have to live off of so little.” and food. To make matters worse, SSI was Kaplan, the finance director of the Social We must organize. Every day we’ve got to When an entire family must live on an reduced on July 1 to only $830 a month — Services Agency, also spoke in support of organize — not just the providers, not just average of only $504 per month, and then less than the federal poverty level. the protesters’ goals. the folks who are political. But any person that small income is suddenly cut to $464 “SSI is the only income I receive and it “We’re in a very, very rough situation who is receiving any kind of aid must orga- a month — as it was cut for thousands of is all I have to survive,” said Fobroy. here in California,” Kaplan said. “We nize, and must speak out about the horrors the poorest families in the state on July 1 “The cost of living continues to skyrocket have to keep organizing and keep pushing that they’re living with.” — it is much more than the loss of a few and yet we are expected to get by with for reform around our values as they’re A poem by BOSS community organiz- dollars. It can be the critical shortfall that less and less.” reflected in this budget. We don’t want a er Chaka-Khan Gordon, declared, “Stand causes a family to lose their housing. Medi-Cal was also cut in major ways. minority to be able to stop us from pro- with us as we create a world in which all Huynh said, “One of the important func- For the first time, the poor will be charged viding the services we need.” of us live with dignity and abundance. By tions of public benefits is to prevent home- copayments for every doctor visit, and Kaplan was referring to the minority of the power of love and unity, we begin!” lessness. When a family can’t pay for hous- still larger copayments for emergency Republican legislators who had blocked Luan Huynh supervises law students ing, they become homeless and they’re room visits and short stays. The Gov. Jerry Brown’s attempt to save some who help welfare recipients at the East Bay more likely to end up in emergency rooms legislature also imposed a cap of only social services from the chopping block. Community Law Center (EBCLC). She in . For families who end up living seven doctor visits per year. This GOP minority had prevented the said, “The GOP’s refusal to allow tax in cars when the shelters are full, they’re Ethel Long-Scott, director of the efforts of a majority of state legislators to extensions on the ballot is a slap in the face more subject to violence out in the street. Women’s Economic Agenda Project, said, extend the tax at its current rate of to needy families, who have been forced to And their children can’t get continuity in “These god-awful cuts in Medi-Cal! What 8.25 percent. Such an extension would have bear the brunt of the budget deficit.” their education and they suffer in moving kind of thief is going to force the sickest, preserved many services, but GOP intransi- In an interview with Street Spirit, from one school to the next.” the most vulnerable population and make gence sealed the fate of the safety net. Huynh warned of the impact of the cuts: That is very nearly a precise descrip- them pay more for health care and pay the Kaplan explained what that means to the “It’s going to hit them and it’s going to be tion of the fate that befell Ashley Proctor, doctors even less so it’s harder to find poor who receive aid from CalWORKs, the really serious because the grants that our a young mother with a four-year-old son. doctors who will take people on Medi- state assistance program for low-income clients get now are so small that it ends up Proctor spoke out at the rally as an imme- Cal? We are one nation. We need one families that has suffered an estimated $3.5 being a significant portion of their income diate victim of the budget cuts because damn health care plan. The same one that billion in spending cuts since 2008. that is cut. The grants are already so she was timed off CalWORKs benefits on the Congressmen got, all of us need.” “We’re seeing an eight percent cut in small. The average for most families on the day of the protest, July 1. Countless adults on Medi-Cal don’t get CalWORKs grants and people are timed CalWORKs was $504 per month, before State legislators shortened the lifetime dental, vision, podiatry and other needed off after 48 months, instead of 60 the cuts. All of that has gone down on limit on receiving CalWORKs from 60 medical care, according to Luan Huynh. months,” Kaplan said. “We’re seeing July 1 by eight percent.” months to 48 months. Once you have “Starting two years ago, I started seeing reductions in employment services. We’re Politicians were able to justify such received four years of benefits, you are clients in our office with rotted teeth. They seeing reductions in childcare for severe cuts because “they’re only looking “timed off” CalWORKs for the rest of say, ‘I can’t get a job because my teeth are CalWORKs clients.” at it in terms of numbers and how it bal- your life. That is what happened to rotting and no one wants to hire me.’ All these cuts makes the plight of poor ances out,” Huynh said. But as she works Proctor and her young son as of July 1. “But the only place I can send them is families “much, much worse,” he said. directly with poor people at EBCLC, she She will lose all funding for school and to Highland Hospital when their teeth are Kaplan told the rally that poor people are witnesses the human effects of the cuts. will no longer be able to be employed in rotting so badly it is impacting their gums, also facing cuts in health care, education “We’re already seeing clients who are the CalWORKs work-study program, and then as an emergency service, and the In Home Support Services pro- homeless,” Huynh said, “and we see people gravely jeopardizing her ability to provide Highland will pull out their teeth.” gram for the disabled and elderly. who are not yet homeless but whose utili- for herself and her young son. LaTanya Wolf, a senior advocate at St. “A minority in the legislature held up” ties have been shut off. When you “As of today, I will be cut off from Mary’s Center, is the mother of three and Gov. Brown’s attempt to increase revenue encounter these individuals on a daily basis, CalWORKs, and that cutoff will affect me the grandmother of seven. She told the and preserve services by extending the you understand that these cuts are not just tremendously, because I’m already rally, “I’m here because I know what it’s sales tax, Kaplan said. “So all in all, we’re numbers. You’re going to have people sit- halfway homeless,” Proctor said. “So like to be hungry. When I became home- making our community poorer because ting in front of you with children who when they cut me off now, then I have no less and without a job, if it wasn’t for St. we cannot bear to extend taxes.” won’t be able to go to school because now way to provide for my son. Mary’s Center, I’d be dead.” He concluded by urging the protesters they’re in shelters that are far away from “This affects everything I do. I cannot She gave the gathering an inspiring call to keep standing up for the rights of the the school they’re attending. Or their par- go to school. I cannot feed my son. So for to action — a blueprint for social change. poorest people in their community. ents have no place to prepare their meals. them to take me off, they’re taking my Wolf said, “I’m going to keep on speak- “We’re in this for the long haul,” “You can see the spiraling effects of all son off. You cannot clothe a child and ing out against hunger and for housing and Kaplan said. “We have to be saying over of that and I anticipate with these cuts, give a child what he needs for just $300 a medical care and everything else that’s and over, to everyone who will listen, that we’ll see even more poverty.” month. There is no time limit on poverty, been stripped from us, along with our digni- this level of cutbacks is not acceptable Huynh said the Oakland protest was but they’re gonna time me out.” ty. I’m going to fight until I can’t speak any and has to be restored. We have to push needed because legislators often make cuts On the same day that thousands of more. Why can’t we tax the corporations? hard against the notion that a minority can without understanding the real damage they CalWORKs recipients suffered cutbacks, They’re not paying their taxes. They’re tak- put off tax extensions that a majority cause to entire families and communities. thousands more disabled and elderly ing everything from us until there’s no wants to put in place.” She said, “Sometimes legislators make recipients faced major reductions in their more left to take. Let’s take something from BOSS Director boona cheema also these decisions without understanding the SSI (Supplemental Security Income). them and make them pay their way.” talked about staying committed for the hurt they cause, or without understanding David Fobroy, a member of St. Mary’s 8 S TREET S PIRIT July 2011

Sareena Johnson and Kali Boykin of Youth Spirit Artworks helped Lydia Gans The steps and front walk at Berkeley City Hall were transformed with Lydia Gans make the brightly painted prayer flags for the City Hall protest. photo scores of prayer flags, protest signs, and food served to homeless people. photo

director of the Telegraph Business But it was out on the lawn prior to the Youth Lead Protest at City Hall Improvement District, saying, “In my view, council meeting that the young people a sit-lie (law) is not really a threat to any- from Youth Spirit Artworks made the “Those prayer flags are a prayer for compassion and jus- one. It’s really a statement saying this is not strongest impression. This was their tice for youth and all the people that ar e on the str eets OK, you ought to be doing something bet- event. It was their appeal for compassion, ter with your life.” This was met with much their plea for justice, expressed so beauti- right now.” — Sally Hindman, Youth Spirit Artworks derision from the crowd. fully with their colorful prayer flags, that Carol Denney reported on important carried the message. from page 1 living on the streets, alone and destitute. legislation pending in Sacramento which There is more to the message. As long “So they’re on the street and they’re pan- adds homelessness to the list of groups as Mayor Bates and the City Council con- speak to the issues. handling,” she said. “They have nowhere protected under California hate crimes sider passing an anti-sitting ordinance, the The prayer flags are a project of Youth to go.” If they get a ticket, she added, any legislation. Assemblymember Bonnie Stand Up For the Right To Sit Down Spirit Artworks. Director Sally Hindman money they get from panhandling must go Lowenthal from Long Beach is the sponsor coalition will continue to point out that explained, “Those prayer flags are a prayer to pay the ticket — or they are sent to jail of AB 312 which appears to have a good this is not only a cruel law, but also stu- for compassion and justice for youth and and get a criminal record. chance of passing. She sponsored an identi- pid, expensive and unenforceable. all the people that are on the streets right Another speaker pointed out that cal bill last year which passed the legisla- They are asking the further question: now. (A prayer) that our community will Berkeley has only eight shelter beds avail- ture but was vetoed by then-Gov. Who would benefit by such an ordinance? continue to bear in mind the difficulty that able year-round for homeless adolescents Schwarzenegger. The bill can bring about There is no evidence that people sitting on they face on the street and not penalize and just 25 shelter beds open six months what Denney described as a “shift in the the sidewalks on the avenues are hurting them for being homeless.” of the year for youth living on the streets. cultural perspective on homelessness.” business. It is the increasingly high com- People formed a large circle in front of Hali Hammer and Patrick Fahey played As 7 p.m. approached, BOSS commu- mercial rents being charged that are hurting City Hall to speak out against the sitting a poignant song about being homeless, nity organizer Michael Diehl led several and causing so many businesses to close. ban, with Venus Morris of Youth Spirit “Living in a P.O. Box.” people into the City Hall. Diehl was able The coalition has made it clear that Artworks leading the discussion. She spoke Attorney Osha Neumann read from a to address the City Council, telling them protests will continue until the mayor and from her own experience of young people Daily Cal article quoting Roland Peterson, how harmful this proposal would be. the council abandon this repressive plan.

THIS NEWS Poem by Mary Rudge Editor’s note: Mary Rudge and Jan Cook created a tribute to the victims of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City, a disaster of legendary horror. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the fire that killed 146 people on March 25, 1911, and helped to galvanize the U.S. labor movement. The victims were mostly young immigrant women, many of whom jumped to their death to escape the flames. Days after the fire, 100,000 mourners marched in a funeral procession while another 250,000 lined the route. Their grief built support for the right of garment workers to unionize. Are words terrible enough, strong enough to tell this — women in a factory on fire, who burned, or jumped from windows to fall 9 stories and die — the poet worked, though words seemed as blood clots, as tears, among things that were beautiful in the room, paintings, photographs, other art and poems, the heads and hands of people — words fell from her mind as the women fell, screaming, the women who sewed the same pattern, over and over 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, 12 cents an hour, whose safety was counted as nothing — 146 died, their bodies were counted — even after 100 years, they haunt in news — the burning skin of live bodies on fire, sizzle of fat, flesh, the ache in hands that could not hold longer to the edge of a window, the agony of fear in the falling, the instant white light of blank emptiness when the brain spills from the skull's crack, the breaking of spine and fingers, the inter-tangled neural system, blood vessels, sinew, spit open, girls and women who were once solid forms in a room humming with their industry, warm with their breath, with feelings and neurons throbbing and tingling — women who shared bread they needed with others in need, the girl with beads and ribbons braided into her hair, the woman who sang songs she knew from another place to her children, the one others counted on for their happiness, who made things beautiful — for these, the poet tried to gather together words and letters that were scattered like separate bones — for women who had sold parts of their lives for passage to America — women with years of sweat and tears in the thou- sands of stitches they made for so few coins — the one who was 13 years old — women who had come from persecution and repression, to here and hope — those who hung from window sills by their fingertips — girls who gave their virginity to get a job — women who slept on — women with 7 children, 12 chil- “Beyond the Triangle.” The women were betrayed for profit. Painting by Jan Cook dren — the one who supported a sick mother and little sisters — the one who died with the unborn child within her — the ones who held hands and fell through space together — the one who kissed her and pushed her out the window 9 stories “I READ THE NEWS TODAY, OH BOY!” up, then jumped, hair on fire, through the air — the many who fell into the fire- An exhibit of art and poetry men's nets then onto the sidewalk as others fell upon them and the nets broke, their fall broke through concrete — they burned and outrage changed things, fire Benicia Public Library, 150 L St. in Benicia sprinklers spring out overhead like lotus, opening — they died for unlocked doors The art of Jan Cook and poetry by Mary Rudge ar e part of an exhibit and safe elevators and fire escapes, for unions and working conditions to become at the Benicia Library, free to the public, open all thr ough July to a clos- humane — the artist wants to show fair labor laws, workers' rights. justice — the poet tries again to shape words into action and truth — artists and poets together, ing reading by the poets on July 28, 7-9 p.m. The show features collabora- what will our work do — and you, too, what more can we do with this news? tive work by artists and poets using news stories chosen as their subject.