I have now wrapped up my final story Here in Los Angeles, but I will never forget the traumatic experiences that I came across. the harsh discrimination that I saw. especially towards the homeless. and the homeless literally hating one another. I have been a homeless advocate for a very long time. and from time to time I just want to give it all up and say what's the use. but then when I see how the poor are treated in america. this just gives me more fuel to burn.
the midnight mission, the los angeles mission, the fred jordan mission, the salvation army shelter, and a few others. these places were in fact the places where the homeless could go in order to seek food and shelter. but the staff who ran thse places were not always customer friendly. the primary reason is because many of the staff in shelters are run by the homeless themselves. and many who come off the streets of any city will often forget that they were there themselves.
I have been in conference with the los angeles city council and we have discussed the homeless problem in LA. but for some reason the city council has turned a blind eye to the problem. more and more I saw nothing but hatred towards the poor in LA. I often have asked why is the homeless rate so high in LA. many blame the economy, there is a very high percentage of unemployment in the city of los angeles. many blame the government and so on and so forth. I can only say that a change needs to come in los angeles, this is my story from Los Angeles California. talk to you next time.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Thursday, December 13, 2007
On the Road: Destination Los Angeles CA. part 2 story by August H Mallory
As another day ends and another day begins, this day is not so dramatic as the first
day, but that does not mean that things could get pretty heated up by this evening. I I just hope that I haven't spoken too soon.
however as I go about my way. so I decide to hangout with the local homeless in town
well as I look around I see all sort of performers. I see the second General Douglas McArthur, for anyone who knows their history General McArthur was the supreme commander of the U.S. pacific forces during the second world war and then later fired by president harry truman. but this clown was dressed down in fatigues and a baseball cap. and strutting about yelling storm the beach .
I did manage to see all of the shelters in downtown LA. and there were several.
but the homeless in LA. still have this hate directed towards them by the police and
other city workers. and those in private Industry when they go to look for a job. you can just sense the tension around you. the attitude that you get when you go have a conversation with a business manager or supervisor. if you are carrying a bag you are automatically labled homeless.
and this sort of thing goes on all over LA. people are not very to the homeless in fact the hate and prejudice you see is no joke. I once witnessed a police officer threaten a homeless man with a nightstick and told the man that he would beat his behind back to where ever he came from.
the LAPD is a very corrupt and evil force. very aggressive and hostile towards blacks and hispanics. there are many cases of police officers involved with unprovoked shootings.their personal motto is to shoot first and ask questions last.
and killing a homeless person is no problem for them. you can rest assure that they welcome such an opportunity. writing false reports. lying to Investigators. It's all in a days work for the LAPD. so who's a homeless man. he's nothing, he's just street trash and street tramp. toss him in the gutter. that's the attitude of the LAPD. and others throughout LA. a stop to the local job service office was not exactly pleasant either. and no matter how hard you try to make yourself look presentable they are going to find something about you thats just not right and they don't have a problem telling you up front.
this even more discrimination in tow.and talk about nasty behavior these people were just ridiculous. these job placement counselors will talk down on an Individual without blinking an eye.I could not believe what I was seeing. well the day is growing late and I return to the midnight mission to check in for the night.
and as I reflect back on the events of the day. I had to admit that there was more prejudice here than any southern city that I have ever visited.
at least in some parts of the south. people will try to help you. but here in LA. forget it. if you are down, then you will stay down.I think about tomorrow and what it will bring. I hope for some better attitudes. but I know better.
day, but that does not mean that things could get pretty heated up by this evening. I I just hope that I haven't spoken too soon.
however as I go about my way. so I decide to hangout with the local homeless in town
well as I look around I see all sort of performers. I see the second General Douglas McArthur, for anyone who knows their history General McArthur was the supreme commander of the U.S. pacific forces during the second world war and then later fired by president harry truman. but this clown was dressed down in fatigues and a baseball cap. and strutting about yelling storm the beach .
I did manage to see all of the shelters in downtown LA. and there were several.
but the homeless in LA. still have this hate directed towards them by the police and
other city workers. and those in private Industry when they go to look for a job. you can just sense the tension around you. the attitude that you get when you go have a conversation with a business manager or supervisor. if you are carrying a bag you are automatically labled homeless.
and this sort of thing goes on all over LA. people are not very to the homeless in fact the hate and prejudice you see is no joke. I once witnessed a police officer threaten a homeless man with a nightstick and told the man that he would beat his behind back to where ever he came from.
the LAPD is a very corrupt and evil force. very aggressive and hostile towards blacks and hispanics. there are many cases of police officers involved with unprovoked shootings.their personal motto is to shoot first and ask questions last.
and killing a homeless person is no problem for them. you can rest assure that they welcome such an opportunity. writing false reports. lying to Investigators. It's all in a days work for the LAPD. so who's a homeless man. he's nothing, he's just street trash and street tramp. toss him in the gutter. that's the attitude of the LAPD. and others throughout LA. a stop to the local job service office was not exactly pleasant either. and no matter how hard you try to make yourself look presentable they are going to find something about you thats just not right and they don't have a problem telling you up front.
this even more discrimination in tow.and talk about nasty behavior these people were just ridiculous. these job placement counselors will talk down on an Individual without blinking an eye.I could not believe what I was seeing. well the day is growing late and I return to the midnight mission to check in for the night.
and as I reflect back on the events of the day. I had to admit that there was more prejudice here than any southern city that I have ever visited.
at least in some parts of the south. people will try to help you. but here in LA. forget it. if you are down, then you will stay down.I think about tomorrow and what it will bring. I hope for some better attitudes. but I know better.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
On The Road: Destination Los Angeles CA. story by August H Mallory part 1
As I arrive In the city of Los Angeles, I am now observing a city that maybe famous for
the many movie actors and actresses, and other well known celebrities, but the city of Los angeles also has its share of con artists as well. but I have noticed this time as I had noticed back in 1982 when I first saw Los Angeles, was the many people who are homeless and poor. and the desperation in their souls. I remember when I went into a restaurant to have dinner, there was a man seated next to me. he was homeless, and he was having a meal but was not able to pay for the meal. and this created an uproar with the restaurant. the guy said that he was willing to go to jail for it.
I intervened and offered to pay for this person's meal. the waitress thanked me but told the guy to never step foot back into that restaurant again. I felt pretty bad for the guy, but I asked this person to sit and talk with me. I informed him that what he did was wrong. but I understood he was hungry, he was very lucky to not have been arrested.
I mentioned to him that there was were ways to earn money to buy what he needed. I asked him if he had considered temporary employment work. or working as a flyer distribution person, he could earn himself money for 2-3 hours a day. these were options that he could take. I gave him a list of temporary employment services and flyer distribution firms who were looking for people. it now the year 2007, not alot has changed. however more employment agencies are opening up in metro Los Angeles. which is a good sign, which means that the homeless can have more opportunities to find work if they want it. I spend an entire day in Downtown LA. and I see the homeless sleeping in cardboard boxes and in tents. sleeping in alleyways, and doorways and where ever they can get some rest. the Los Angeles police department has not changed, they are still the aggressive, baton swinging, trigger happy, shoot first ask questions last department that they always have been. in movies and television the LAPD has always been portrayed as a very professional police department.
but to see their actions in real life paints an entire different picture from what is portrayed in the movies. as many people put it the LAPD is full of redneck hillbillies, hicks from the hills, backwood gun toting cowboys with no proper training what so ever. a department who has a serious hatred for blacks and hispanics. and if a person appears homeless, that person will catch more flack than your average individual, simply because he or she is homeless. as I am about to wrap up day one in LA. I take a trip to the Los Angeles County Department Of Social Services. whom I observe but not surprised that this department is run highly by african americans who may appear to be educated in their fields, but their attitudes and behaviors speak a different language. many black clients refer to them as uncle toms and aunt jemima's who kissed up to the system to get their jobs.
I sat in the client waiting area to get a good view of just how clients were being treated. believe me, I have never seen such rudeness and mean spirited behavior in my life. suddenly without warning there was a shouting match between clients and case managers. and things got so bad that one client came very close to sending a chair through a glass window at one case manager, he bedside manner was just appalling and ridiculous. the client had to be restrained by two other clients and a security person and escorted out of the building.
many of the poor in Los Angeles are african american and to see how african americans treat one another is a crying shame. there is so much prejudice present that it is totally sickening. the city of angels did not come from heaven, that's for sure, but maybe from the devil you might say. there are so many mean spirited blacks in america, that it does make you sick to your stomach. what is it that makes blacks hate each other. or as some might say dislike each other. this is my story from Los Angeles,
the many movie actors and actresses, and other well known celebrities, but the city of Los angeles also has its share of con artists as well. but I have noticed this time as I had noticed back in 1982 when I first saw Los Angeles, was the many people who are homeless and poor. and the desperation in their souls. I remember when I went into a restaurant to have dinner, there was a man seated next to me. he was homeless, and he was having a meal but was not able to pay for the meal. and this created an uproar with the restaurant. the guy said that he was willing to go to jail for it.
I intervened and offered to pay for this person's meal. the waitress thanked me but told the guy to never step foot back into that restaurant again. I felt pretty bad for the guy, but I asked this person to sit and talk with me. I informed him that what he did was wrong. but I understood he was hungry, he was very lucky to not have been arrested.
I mentioned to him that there was were ways to earn money to buy what he needed. I asked him if he had considered temporary employment work. or working as a flyer distribution person, he could earn himself money for 2-3 hours a day. these were options that he could take. I gave him a list of temporary employment services and flyer distribution firms who were looking for people. it now the year 2007, not alot has changed. however more employment agencies are opening up in metro Los Angeles. which is a good sign, which means that the homeless can have more opportunities to find work if they want it. I spend an entire day in Downtown LA. and I see the homeless sleeping in cardboard boxes and in tents. sleeping in alleyways, and doorways and where ever they can get some rest. the Los Angeles police department has not changed, they are still the aggressive, baton swinging, trigger happy, shoot first ask questions last department that they always have been. in movies and television the LAPD has always been portrayed as a very professional police department.
but to see their actions in real life paints an entire different picture from what is portrayed in the movies. as many people put it the LAPD is full of redneck hillbillies, hicks from the hills, backwood gun toting cowboys with no proper training what so ever. a department who has a serious hatred for blacks and hispanics. and if a person appears homeless, that person will catch more flack than your average individual, simply because he or she is homeless. as I am about to wrap up day one in LA. I take a trip to the Los Angeles County Department Of Social Services. whom I observe but not surprised that this department is run highly by african americans who may appear to be educated in their fields, but their attitudes and behaviors speak a different language. many black clients refer to them as uncle toms and aunt jemima's who kissed up to the system to get their jobs.
I sat in the client waiting area to get a good view of just how clients were being treated. believe me, I have never seen such rudeness and mean spirited behavior in my life. suddenly without warning there was a shouting match between clients and case managers. and things got so bad that one client came very close to sending a chair through a glass window at one case manager, he bedside manner was just appalling and ridiculous. the client had to be restrained by two other clients and a security person and escorted out of the building.
many of the poor in Los Angeles are african american and to see how african americans treat one another is a crying shame. there is so much prejudice present that it is totally sickening. the city of angels did not come from heaven, that's for sure, but maybe from the devil you might say. there are so many mean spirited blacks in america, that it does make you sick to your stomach. what is it that makes blacks hate each other. or as some might say dislike each other. this is my story from Los Angeles,
Thursday, November 8, 2007
calvin turner. real change vendor.
If you read this please comment I need help with finding a car or van, motorhome.For
under $200 or for free I need a car to get to and from work at the real change news paper i will also use it to get out to new turf on the east side thank you for any help
with this request.calvin turner. http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6409687389763964448#
under $200 or for free I need a car to get to and from work at the real change news paper i will also use it to get out to new turf on the east side thank you for any help
with this request.calvin turner. http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6409687389763964448#
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Waking up on the other side of life story by August H Mallory
As I look back on what my life could have been. but never was. I keep thinking about what my family was like, we were very poor in many ways. after my dad became disabled things begin to go down hill. I didn't realize it at first but I had often wondered why we as kids could not afford the things that we did as we were growing up. dad had became disabled due to an injury on his job. and I had often wondered why he didn't go to work everyday like alot of fathers did.
I went through hell in school, getting into fights with other kids because I didn't dress as well as they did. my mother was a chronic alcoholic, everybody knew it. they would make fun of us kids because she wouldn't care how she dressed or what she wore in public, it was really embarassing for us. dad was in and out of the hospital alot. and dealing with an alcoholic mother was not an easy thing.
I don't know how I did it but I managed to survive such horrible times. I later entered high school, this was not an easy ordeal either but it was better than elementary school was. after my four years in high school ended, it was now time to find a new career for myself, what was I going to do with my life now that school was now over with. I was not afraid of growing up like most people were. I really wanted to move on. but as I grew older I saw very little opportunity for myself. I wanted to go to college. but could not afford the cost. so I had to ask myself, what do I do now. I didn't care for the life of being a hustler like many black males in my community had ventured off into. It may be a crime to be a black man in america, and I already had this strike against me, because I was already labled a criminal, even by my own race. so I took another route, I joined the U.S.Armed forces hopefully this would give me the edge on life that I needed. being in the military wasn't too bad of a life, but even then I was confronted by discrimination by whites and even other blacks.
I didn't see this at first but alot of the prejudice I experienced was based on jealousy. and even today the military still has its share of jealousy and prejudice. I have often wondered why I would be confronted by hostility. I always considered myself an easy going person. and I think this was the problem I was a fairly nice guy. and in many cases peo[ple are willing to take kindness for weakness, and this happens in every environment. as I look back on my life today, I have asked my self. how did homelessness happen. it was due to the economy in many cases. jobs were hard to find. jobs at every level.
even temporary employment was on a down low. and I asked myself, I am a veteran of the armed forces why am I having such a hard time trying to find employment. as I looked around many people with the college degrees were getting all of the jobs. at one time if a person was a veteran of the military he or she was given first consideration over everybody. but as times have changed this is no longer the case anymore. as I tried to go to school on the GI bill I ended up dropping out because I had to keep a roof over my head. the money for school helped with school but it didn't help my living situation. and this just put me in a bigger mess than I was already in.
I have now sought the help of credit counselors to keep me out of debt. and help me to resume my payments on what I owe to whom. I now own and operate my very own wholesale and retail business. and I am now getting many, many, inquiries concerning my small business. I have joined the local chamber of commerce, I now help make decisions on various zoning laws and districts. I have just awkened on the other side of life.
I went through hell in school, getting into fights with other kids because I didn't dress as well as they did. my mother was a chronic alcoholic, everybody knew it. they would make fun of us kids because she wouldn't care how she dressed or what she wore in public, it was really embarassing for us. dad was in and out of the hospital alot. and dealing with an alcoholic mother was not an easy thing.
I don't know how I did it but I managed to survive such horrible times. I later entered high school, this was not an easy ordeal either but it was better than elementary school was. after my four years in high school ended, it was now time to find a new career for myself, what was I going to do with my life now that school was now over with. I was not afraid of growing up like most people were. I really wanted to move on. but as I grew older I saw very little opportunity for myself. I wanted to go to college. but could not afford the cost. so I had to ask myself, what do I do now. I didn't care for the life of being a hustler like many black males in my community had ventured off into. It may be a crime to be a black man in america, and I already had this strike against me, because I was already labled a criminal, even by my own race. so I took another route, I joined the U.S.Armed forces hopefully this would give me the edge on life that I needed. being in the military wasn't too bad of a life, but even then I was confronted by discrimination by whites and even other blacks.
I didn't see this at first but alot of the prejudice I experienced was based on jealousy. and even today the military still has its share of jealousy and prejudice. I have often wondered why I would be confronted by hostility. I always considered myself an easy going person. and I think this was the problem I was a fairly nice guy. and in many cases peo[ple are willing to take kindness for weakness, and this happens in every environment. as I look back on my life today, I have asked my self. how did homelessness happen. it was due to the economy in many cases. jobs were hard to find. jobs at every level.
even temporary employment was on a down low. and I asked myself, I am a veteran of the armed forces why am I having such a hard time trying to find employment. as I looked around many people with the college degrees were getting all of the jobs. at one time if a person was a veteran of the military he or she was given first consideration over everybody. but as times have changed this is no longer the case anymore. as I tried to go to school on the GI bill I ended up dropping out because I had to keep a roof over my head. the money for school helped with school but it didn't help my living situation. and this just put me in a bigger mess than I was already in.
I have now sought the help of credit counselors to keep me out of debt. and help me to resume my payments on what I owe to whom. I now own and operate my very own wholesale and retail business. and I am now getting many, many, inquiries concerning my small business. I have joined the local chamber of commerce, I now help make decisions on various zoning laws and districts. I have just awkened on the other side of life.
Friday, November 2, 2007
vendor#2212
9/11 Links:
Other Links:
Richard White: richardbluewhite@yahoo.com
- Full footage from 9/11 PC format: http://www.glennbeck.com/news/11012007.shtml
- 911 blogger has some interesting reads: http://www.911blogger.com/node/10370
Other Links:
- This is an interesting treaty that might bring discussion to this blog (water wars?): http://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/closindx.htm
- This link is a non profit wanting congress to read the bills act before voting and have a bill to forcing the congress to write the laws act rather than the lobbyist: See link for more info: http://www.downsizedc.org
Richard White: richardbluewhite@yahoo.com
Friday, October 26, 2007
The anger, the rage from within story by August H Mallory
What is it like, and what does it feel like to be a person down and out. there is alot of anger and frustration when you hear the many stories circulating around. you can sense the hate for the system. the outrage, the desire to take one's anger out on another individual. as I see this day after day. I can feel the hate, I can feel the frustration and the anger. it it truly the individuals fault to have fallen in such a wretched state. as I have said many times before. what brings on the plight of homelessness, what did it take for a person to fall through the cracks of our society.
is there hope of coming out of such a scary condition.
sometimes yes, and sometimes no. we contact senators and congresspeople of this situation called homelessness, but do the people who represent us really care. we write and write and write, what good does it do. are they really listening to us. but yet it is these very people who want to go to washington to represent the people. the rich, and well to do people, but not the poor people. in Washington DC. our representatives see homeless people every single day. but do they really care. are they truly acknowledging the problem of the homeless, it is the rage that the homeless has, the rage that has built up inside of them. the rage, the anger, can we calm the rage inside of the the street dweller, the squatter, can we calm the rage inside of him.
so many are full of rage. so many are full of hatred. so many have an uncontrollable anger. that the rage cannot be soothed. the rage has overtaken them. the rage has driven to the brink of disaster. the rage has driven them to take the lives of themselves and to others. the rage has blinded their ability to think rationally. drugs, alcohol, has driven to this state of rage. the rage has created a mentally ill state of mind. the rage. has created a walking time bomb in the streets. how do we stop the rage that continues to burn within that very soul whon blames the system for his being homeless and destitute. how do we stop the rage. that tells an individual to kill his fellow man. it is the rage that creates the drifting from place to place. I hear the rage in his voice, I feel the rage in his heart, I can picture the rage in his mind. stop the rage. when there are people who decide to say to hell with society. the rage slowly begins to build. it is the rage that keeps the homeless alive and strong. it is the rage that makes them seem threatening to society. society should be afraid, society created this monster. and society still ignores the angry beast that society created.
and the rage builds, and it builds, and it builds, until the bomb explodes, the anger, the rage from within. I ask you society to calm the rage,
is there hope of coming out of such a scary condition.
sometimes yes, and sometimes no. we contact senators and congresspeople of this situation called homelessness, but do the people who represent us really care. we write and write and write, what good does it do. are they really listening to us. but yet it is these very people who want to go to washington to represent the people. the rich, and well to do people, but not the poor people. in Washington DC. our representatives see homeless people every single day. but do they really care. are they truly acknowledging the problem of the homeless, it is the rage that the homeless has, the rage that has built up inside of them. the rage, the anger, can we calm the rage inside of the the street dweller, the squatter, can we calm the rage inside of him.
so many are full of rage. so many are full of hatred. so many have an uncontrollable anger. that the rage cannot be soothed. the rage has overtaken them. the rage has driven to the brink of disaster. the rage has driven them to take the lives of themselves and to others. the rage has blinded their ability to think rationally. drugs, alcohol, has driven to this state of rage. the rage has created a mentally ill state of mind. the rage. has created a walking time bomb in the streets. how do we stop the rage that continues to burn within that very soul whon blames the system for his being homeless and destitute. how do we stop the rage. that tells an individual to kill his fellow man. it is the rage that creates the drifting from place to place. I hear the rage in his voice, I feel the rage in his heart, I can picture the rage in his mind. stop the rage. when there are people who decide to say to hell with society. the rage slowly begins to build. it is the rage that keeps the homeless alive and strong. it is the rage that makes them seem threatening to society. society should be afraid, society created this monster. and society still ignores the angry beast that society created.
and the rage builds, and it builds, and it builds, until the bomb explodes, the anger, the rage from within. I ask you society to calm the rage,
Saturday, October 20, 2007
are we people or animals by August H Mallory
It is not a very pretty thing when you are down and out. but when you are homeless america can be a very unfriendly place to live in. having to live the experience I can tell you that being homeless can be the pitfall of having to make it in america. people look at the homeless as stupid, dumb, crazy, and aggressively violent. I will admit that mental illness ranges high within the ranks of the homeless, but we are people, not animals, I have written a number of state representatives nationwide to provide more funding to assist the poor and homeless, but it all boils down to the problem in Iraq, and this is where all of the money is going. so there is very little or nothing for those who are homeless. it gets to be very tiresome to keep hounding state representatives about the issue of homelessness, but they need to be aware about the matter that faces their districts.
I do often find time to travel to a city from time to time to talk to people who are homeless in other cities, juist see how wellthat city fares with other cities across america when it comes to serving their poor. but I still ask are we people or animals, in this cruel society that doesn't give a damn about the the less fortunate individuals that surround them.
I have been to many cities across america, and I can honestly say that the homeless are being treated like absolute dirt. as a real change vendor and advocate for the homeless. I took up this cause because I got sick and tired of the poor being treated like last nights trash. many people think that being homeless is a laughing matter, but I want to challenge those very people who laugh at the homeless, those very people who make threats of death to the homeless, I want to challenge them now.
take the urban plunge, which is held in washington DC every year. and you will be asking yourself, are we people or animals. there's this constant hate that the homeless hold for one another. there is so much hate and discrimination even in the ranks of the homeless. it is not a racial thing, because in my experience of being homeless, and being african american, I have seen hate and prejudice within my own group. it is not a thing of race although many african americans will use the race card. but the truth to the matter, is that african americans have such a self hate for themselves that when we fall in such a critical situation we cannot handle it in many cases. so the question remains are we people or animals? what is your take on this.
I do often find time to travel to a city from time to time to talk to people who are homeless in other cities, juist see how wellthat city fares with other cities across america when it comes to serving their poor. but I still ask are we people or animals, in this cruel society that doesn't give a damn about the the less fortunate individuals that surround them.
I have been to many cities across america, and I can honestly say that the homeless are being treated like absolute dirt. as a real change vendor and advocate for the homeless. I took up this cause because I got sick and tired of the poor being treated like last nights trash. many people think that being homeless is a laughing matter, but I want to challenge those very people who laugh at the homeless, those very people who make threats of death to the homeless, I want to challenge them now.
take the urban plunge, which is held in washington DC every year. and you will be asking yourself, are we people or animals. there's this constant hate that the homeless hold for one another. there is so much hate and discrimination even in the ranks of the homeless. it is not a racial thing, because in my experience of being homeless, and being african american, I have seen hate and prejudice within my own group. it is not a thing of race although many african americans will use the race card. but the truth to the matter, is that african americans have such a self hate for themselves that when we fall in such a critical situation we cannot handle it in many cases. so the question remains are we people or animals? what is your take on this.
What propelled me to the streets story by August H Mallory
I guess I would have to go back several years to really figure out what push me to the brink of homelessness, having had the experience of living on the streets, I can clearly say that, the experience has been very challenging, dangerous, interesting, humourous, and in many cases unfair to an extinct.
as I look back I wonder just what brought me out here, and how do I get back to a home that I was forced out of. how do I find suitable employment again, this was a question that I had to ask myself for many, many, months while living on the streets of america. many people come up with all of these suggestions on how to come out of your situation, and believe me its alot easier said than done. there's alot of favoritism in the workforce, try to go to a human resource office in a major corporation. and you will see the suspicion on the faces of many HR representatives.
not to mention the attitudes that follow when you try to look for a job. so what did propell me to the streets. a series of injuries, when I was younger and now faced with advancing age. and constant hospital visits. not being able to earn a steady income the way that I would like to earn.
but I came across the Idea to open my own business, and in doing so I have been able to earn some reasonable income. probaly alittle more than what an employer would be able to pay me for a days or week's work. and this what it will take for many to prosper. and that is to open our own businesses. be our own bosses. do our own thing. work our own hours. be free from the hum drum of a boring forty hour a week job. the freedom of being your own boss is the key to your success. what propelled me to the streets was that after I became ill and injured I could no longer perform the task that I once did. and due to the illness and injuries, my performance ratings begin to drop. and it wasn't long before I was out of a job and no place to live. my recovery is very slow. but I still have my small business which helps some.
trying to get new customers isn't easy it take time to build trust amongst people. and without trust one can be propelled to the street again.
as I look back I wonder just what brought me out here, and how do I get back to a home that I was forced out of. how do I find suitable employment again, this was a question that I had to ask myself for many, many, months while living on the streets of america. many people come up with all of these suggestions on how to come out of your situation, and believe me its alot easier said than done. there's alot of favoritism in the workforce, try to go to a human resource office in a major corporation. and you will see the suspicion on the faces of many HR representatives.
not to mention the attitudes that follow when you try to look for a job. so what did propell me to the streets. a series of injuries, when I was younger and now faced with advancing age. and constant hospital visits. not being able to earn a steady income the way that I would like to earn.
but I came across the Idea to open my own business, and in doing so I have been able to earn some reasonable income. probaly alittle more than what an employer would be able to pay me for a days or week's work. and this what it will take for many to prosper. and that is to open our own businesses. be our own bosses. do our own thing. work our own hours. be free from the hum drum of a boring forty hour a week job. the freedom of being your own boss is the key to your success. what propelled me to the streets was that after I became ill and injured I could no longer perform the task that I once did. and due to the illness and injuries, my performance ratings begin to drop. and it wasn't long before I was out of a job and no place to live. my recovery is very slow. but I still have my small business which helps some.
trying to get new customers isn't easy it take time to build trust amongst people. and without trust one can be propelled to the street again.
Walking through the shadows of the row
It is a very cold and chilly saturday morning in downtown seattle washington, and as I am now wide awake and watching clients come out of the shelters, and many who have chosen to go to the many churches to seek shelter from the cold. people would ask what is the row,
this is the short version meaning skidrow, the term used to describe drunken, alcoholic men lying about in doorways and alleyways, drug user who are on another planet as they smoke up, shoot up, or snort up. looking ragged and beaten down, who now have been given the title homeless or bum.
do you not see what is happeniing around you. do you not care, as you walk from place to place, as you see homeless people lying around and about. do you not have some sense of concern. if your sons or daughters were in such a situation. would you not care. walking through the shadows of the row. for a new generation of homeless times have definately changed. the typical alcoholic on the streets has been pushed to the back of the bus so to speak. the crack smoker, the pothead, is now the issue of the new homeless on the street. as defined by many who are uneducated on the issues.
walking through the shadows of the row. as I see faces change, but the same attitudes and arrogance remains, when will the homeless themselves begin to see the true light on their lifestyles. I have been dealing with the homeless for many years, I have contacted public officials, and I can pretty much tell you that many council people do not give a hoot about the homeless. here4 in seattle, we have council people who are problem drinkers, wife beaters, and god only knows what else. little do these very people know that they are very close to becoming homeless themselves unless, there is a safety net to catch them, walking through the shadows of the row. I have talked with state representatives, but I have yet to see anything come about in their promises. when we elect a person to be our nations leaders, do they really care. do they really see the true problem of what has really happened in the the lives of the individual.
walking through the shadows of the row. many people have been homeless for ten or twenty years. what of their lives. but then many also choose to be homeless, so how do we get them to realize that it is not all bad to be apart of society. and that we all must do our part.
It is very frustrating to deal with life many times, so many people say to hell with this and walk away from it all.
It has happened so many times in life and it still continues to happen. walking through the shadows of the row.
this is the short version meaning skidrow, the term used to describe drunken, alcoholic men lying about in doorways and alleyways, drug user who are on another planet as they smoke up, shoot up, or snort up. looking ragged and beaten down, who now have been given the title homeless or bum.
do you not see what is happeniing around you. do you not care, as you walk from place to place, as you see homeless people lying around and about. do you not have some sense of concern. if your sons or daughters were in such a situation. would you not care. walking through the shadows of the row. for a new generation of homeless times have definately changed. the typical alcoholic on the streets has been pushed to the back of the bus so to speak. the crack smoker, the pothead, is now the issue of the new homeless on the street. as defined by many who are uneducated on the issues.
walking through the shadows of the row. as I see faces change, but the same attitudes and arrogance remains, when will the homeless themselves begin to see the true light on their lifestyles. I have been dealing with the homeless for many years, I have contacted public officials, and I can pretty much tell you that many council people do not give a hoot about the homeless. here4 in seattle, we have council people who are problem drinkers, wife beaters, and god only knows what else. little do these very people know that they are very close to becoming homeless themselves unless, there is a safety net to catch them, walking through the shadows of the row. I have talked with state representatives, but I have yet to see anything come about in their promises. when we elect a person to be our nations leaders, do they really care. do they really see the true problem of what has really happened in the the lives of the individual.
walking through the shadows of the row. many people have been homeless for ten or twenty years. what of their lives. but then many also choose to be homeless, so how do we get them to realize that it is not all bad to be apart of society. and that we all must do our part.
It is very frustrating to deal with life many times, so many people say to hell with this and walk away from it all.
It has happened so many times in life and it still continues to happen. walking through the shadows of the row.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Bat Wielding Youth Attack Homeless Camp
Homeless man in hospital after attack by juveniles
A homeless man is in a hospital recovering from injuries after he was beaten by a group of juveniles early Wednesday.
About 1:45 a.m., the juveniles allegedly assaulted a group of four or five homeless people near the Salvation Army near the intersection of Brook and Breckinridge streets, said Louisville Metro Police Detective Phil Russell.
One of the victims is at University Hospital with head and face injuries. Russell said witnesses reported th e juveniles used a bat.
Detectives are investigating and believe it was an isolated incident. "We do not have reports of this occurring frequently," Russell said.
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070628/NEWS01/70629001/1008
A homeless man is in a hospital recovering from injuries after he was beaten by a group of juveniles early Wednesday.
About 1:45 a.m., the juveniles allegedly assaulted a group of four or five homeless people near the Salvation Army near the intersection of Brook and Breckinridge streets, said Louisville Metro Police Detective Phil Russell.
One of the victims is at University Hospital with head and face injuries. Russell said witnesses reported th e juveniles used a bat.
Detectives are investigating and believe it was an isolated incident. "We do not have reports of this occurring frequently," Russell said.
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070628/NEWS01/70629001/1008
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Homeless Rally in Edmonton
Street people and advocates for the homeless rallied on the steps of the Legislature yesterday, demanding that the provincial government take action on the affordable housing crisis.
"There is a rupture in Alberta's socioeconomic landscape. And those who fall through the cracks are left to spiral further into poverty," said Greg Farrants, a member of Albertans Demanding Affordable Housing (ADAH).
ADAH put on the event with the help of Edmonton Street News, a newspaper sold by street people.
Speakers included ADAH members, Edmonton Street News editor Linda Dumont, street pastor Pedro Schultz and a homeless woman named Diane, who shared some of her experiences with the crowd.
"It is especially important that we help children and people with mental and physical handicaps, who are affected by our homelessness crisis," said Schultz.
Schultz estimated the number of people living on the street in Edmonton at 2,600 and asked for immediate solutions to homelessness in the city.
ADAH members agreed, saying that waiting for the market to solve the problem in time is not an option and that action must be taken now.
The group listed three demands aimed at the provincial government: that 25% of new developments be designated as affordable housing; that rent control be enforced across the province; and that 1% of federal and provincial budgets be set aside for affordable housing.
While NDP MLAs Ray Martin, David Eggen and Raj Pannu showed up to offer support, Farrants noted the visible absence of any conservative representatives.
"It's an issue that I've been on for a long time," said Martin, who is also a member of the Alberta Affordable Housing Task Force.
Martin called Alberta's Conservatives a "party of landlords rather than a party of renters" and said it's not likely the government will change their stance on the issue "unless they feel like they're going to lose seats."
One major contributor to the housing crisis is the conversion of rental properties into condominiums, said Martin.
As of May, there were 4,134 condo conversions this year, a number that is projected to rise to 9,922.
The number of rental spaces already lost this year diminishes the importance of the 3800 affordable housing units the city has promised to build, said Martin.
"Unless they do something significant, it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better," he said. Street people and advocates for the homeless rallied on the steps of the Legislature yesterday, demanding that the provincial government take action on the affordable housing crisis.
"There is a rupture in Alberta's socioeconomic landscape. And those who fall through the cracks are left to spiral further into poverty," said Greg Farrants, a member of Albertans Demanding Affordable Housing (ADAH).
ADAH put on the event with the help of Edmonton Street News, a newspaper sold by street people.
Speakers included ADAH members, Edmonton Street News editor Linda Dumont, street pastor Pedro Schultz and a homeless woman named Diane, who shared some of her experiences with the crowd.
"It is especially important that we help children and people with mental and physical handicaps, who are affected by our homelessness crisis," said Schultz.
Schultz estimated the number of people living on the street in Edmonton at 2,600 and asked for immediate solutions to homelessness in the city.
ADAH members agreed, saying that waiting for the market to solve the problem in time is not an option and that action must be taken now.
The group listed three demands aimed at the provincial government: that 25% of new developments be designated as affordable housing; that rent control be enforced across the province; and that 1% of federal and provincial budgets be set aside for affordable housing.
While NDP MLAs Ray Martin, David Eggen and Raj Pannu showed up to offer support, Farrants noted the visible absence of any conservative representatives.
"It's an issue that I've been on for a long time," said Martin, who is also a member of the Alberta Affordable Housing Task Force.
Martin called Alberta's Conservatives a "party of landlords rather than a party of renters" and said it's not likely the government will change their stance on the issue "unless they feel like they're going to lose seats."
One major contributor to the housing crisis is the conversion of rental properties into condominiums, said Martin.
As of May, there were 4,134 condo conversions this year, a number that is projected to rise to 9,922.
The number of rental spaces already lost this year diminishes the importance of the 3800 affordable housing units the city has promised to build, said Martin.
"Unless they do something significant, it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better," he said.
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2007/06/28/pf-4296790.html
"There is a rupture in Alberta's socioeconomic landscape. And those who fall through the cracks are left to spiral further into poverty," said Greg Farrants, a member of Albertans Demanding Affordable Housing (ADAH).
ADAH put on the event with the help of Edmonton Street News, a newspaper sold by street people.
Speakers included ADAH members, Edmonton Street News editor Linda Dumont, street pastor Pedro Schultz and a homeless woman named Diane, who shared some of her experiences with the crowd.
"It is especially important that we help children and people with mental and physical handicaps, who are affected by our homelessness crisis," said Schultz.
Schultz estimated the number of people living on the street in Edmonton at 2,600 and asked for immediate solutions to homelessness in the city.
ADAH members agreed, saying that waiting for the market to solve the problem in time is not an option and that action must be taken now.
The group listed three demands aimed at the provincial government: that 25% of new developments be designated as affordable housing; that rent control be enforced across the province; and that 1% of federal and provincial budgets be set aside for affordable housing.
While NDP MLAs Ray Martin, David Eggen and Raj Pannu showed up to offer support, Farrants noted the visible absence of any conservative representatives.
"It's an issue that I've been on for a long time," said Martin, who is also a member of the Alberta Affordable Housing Task Force.
Martin called Alberta's Conservatives a "party of landlords rather than a party of renters" and said it's not likely the government will change their stance on the issue "unless they feel like they're going to lose seats."
One major contributor to the housing crisis is the conversion of rental properties into condominiums, said Martin.
As of May, there were 4,134 condo conversions this year, a number that is projected to rise to 9,922.
The number of rental spaces already lost this year diminishes the importance of the 3800 affordable housing units the city has promised to build, said Martin.
"Unless they do something significant, it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better," he said. Street people and advocates for the homeless rallied on the steps of the Legislature yesterday, demanding that the provincial government take action on the affordable housing crisis.
"There is a rupture in Alberta's socioeconomic landscape. And those who fall through the cracks are left to spiral further into poverty," said Greg Farrants, a member of Albertans Demanding Affordable Housing (ADAH).
ADAH put on the event with the help of Edmonton Street News, a newspaper sold by street people.
Speakers included ADAH members, Edmonton Street News editor Linda Dumont, street pastor Pedro Schultz and a homeless woman named Diane, who shared some of her experiences with the crowd.
"It is especially important that we help children and people with mental and physical handicaps, who are affected by our homelessness crisis," said Schultz.
Schultz estimated the number of people living on the street in Edmonton at 2,600 and asked for immediate solutions to homelessness in the city.
ADAH members agreed, saying that waiting for the market to solve the problem in time is not an option and that action must be taken now.
The group listed three demands aimed at the provincial government: that 25% of new developments be designated as affordable housing; that rent control be enforced across the province; and that 1% of federal and provincial budgets be set aside for affordable housing.
While NDP MLAs Ray Martin, David Eggen and Raj Pannu showed up to offer support, Farrants noted the visible absence of any conservative representatives.
"It's an issue that I've been on for a long time," said Martin, who is also a member of the Alberta Affordable Housing Task Force.
Martin called Alberta's Conservatives a "party of landlords rather than a party of renters" and said it's not likely the government will change their stance on the issue "unless they feel like they're going to lose seats."
One major contributor to the housing crisis is the conversion of rental properties into condominiums, said Martin.
As of May, there were 4,134 condo conversions this year, a number that is projected to rise to 9,922.
The number of rental spaces already lost this year diminishes the importance of the 3800 affordable housing units the city has promised to build, said Martin.
"Unless they do something significant, it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better," he said.
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2007/06/28/pf-4296790.html
Palm Springs Homeless Man Robbed at Gun Point
Palm Springs Homeless Man Robbed in Armed Hold-Up, Police Say
June 27, 2007 03:06 PM
KESQ.com news services
A homeless man hoping for a handout by washing a driver's windshield got a surprise early Wednesday morning as the driver allegedly pulled out a plastic handgun and tried to rob the homeless man, police said.
Police arrested the robbery suspect a short time after the incident.
German Reyes Ramirez, 37, was taken into custody about 2 a.m. after a police officer spotted his vehicle and stopped it in the area of Ramon and El Cielo roads, according to Palm Springs Police Sgt. Mitch Spike.
Ramirez allegedly attempted to rob 41-year-old Dion Clark in the parking lot of Ralphs supermarket, 425 S. Sunrise Way, a short time earlier. When Clark approached Ramirez and asked to wash his windshield for money, the suspect instead allegedly pulled out a handgun and demanded money from the homeless man, Spike said.
Clark ran to a pay phone and called police, Spike said.
He said police recovered a plastic revolver when Ramirez' vehicle was searched by authorities.
Ramirez was arrested for attempted robbery and booked into the Palm Springs Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.
http://www.kesq.com/global/story.asp?s=6719210&ClientType=Printable
June 27, 2007 03:06 PM
KESQ.com news services
A homeless man hoping for a handout by washing a driver's windshield got a surprise early Wednesday morning as the driver allegedly pulled out a plastic handgun and tried to rob the homeless man, police said.
Police arrested the robbery suspect a short time after the incident.
German Reyes Ramirez, 37, was taken into custody about 2 a.m. after a police officer spotted his vehicle and stopped it in the area of Ramon and El Cielo roads, according to Palm Springs Police Sgt. Mitch Spike.
Ramirez allegedly attempted to rob 41-year-old Dion Clark in the parking lot of Ralphs supermarket, 425 S. Sunrise Way, a short time earlier. When Clark approached Ramirez and asked to wash his windshield for money, the suspect instead allegedly pulled out a handgun and demanded money from the homeless man, Spike said.
Clark ran to a pay phone and called police, Spike said.
He said police recovered a plastic revolver when Ramirez' vehicle was searched by authorities.
Ramirez was arrested for attempted robbery and booked into the Palm Springs Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.
http://www.kesq.com/global/story.asp?s=6719210&ClientType=Printable
boy 10 gets 'indefinite detention' for attack on homeless man
Judge: Juvenile Juvenile detention for boy, 10, convicted of beating homeless man
Rebecca Mahoney
Sentinel Staff Writer
11:15 AM EDT, June 28, 2007
DAYTONA BEACH
A 10-year-old Daytona Beach boy convicted of beating a homeless man will be kept in a juvenile detention facility indefinitely, a judge ruled today.
The boy named Jordan is a risk to society and needs mental health counseling, Judge John Watson said this morning during the boy's sentencing hearing.
The boy has a history of bullying other students at school, has hit his mother and threatened to harm himself, and needs psychiatric counseling and constant supervision, Watson said.
"If he were to harm another child at school while he is still trying to get his feet on the ground, that would be a tragedy," Watson said.
Jordan apologized to his victim, transient John D'Amico, and wept openly in court.
"I'm sorry for what I did. I wish I could go back to that day," he said, as he struggled to wipe his tears with his handcuffed wrists.
The boy will be held at a juvenile facility indefinitely until he can be placed in a mental health residential program. Jordan was found guilty of aggravated battery in the attack on John D'Amico in March. Prosecutors say he, another 10-year-old, Drew, and their 17-year-old friend, Jeremy Woods, threw rocks at D'Amico, pushed him through a brick wall and smashed a cinderblock into the side of his face.
Drew, who pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge, is scheduled to be sentenced next month. Woods is awaiting trial in adult court.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/volusia/orl-bk-boy-062807,0,3334346.story?coll=orl_breaking
Rebecca Mahoney
Sentinel Staff Writer
11:15 AM EDT, June 28, 2007
DAYTONA BEACH
A 10-year-old Daytona Beach boy convicted of beating a homeless man will be kept in a juvenile detention facility indefinitely, a judge ruled today.
The boy named Jordan is a risk to society and needs mental health counseling, Judge John Watson said this morning during the boy's sentencing hearing.
The boy has a history of bullying other students at school, has hit his mother and threatened to harm himself, and needs psychiatric counseling and constant supervision, Watson said.
"If he were to harm another child at school while he is still trying to get his feet on the ground, that would be a tragedy," Watson said.
Jordan apologized to his victim, transient John D'Amico, and wept openly in court.
"I'm sorry for what I did. I wish I could go back to that day," he said, as he struggled to wipe his tears with his handcuffed wrists.
The boy will be held at a juvenile facility indefinitely until he can be placed in a mental health residential program. Jordan was found guilty of aggravated battery in the attack on John D'Amico in March. Prosecutors say he, another 10-year-old, Drew, and their 17-year-old friend, Jeremy Woods, threw rocks at D'Amico, pushed him through a brick wall and smashed a cinderblock into the side of his face.
Drew, who pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge, is scheduled to be sentenced next month. Woods is awaiting trial in adult court.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/volusia/orl-bk-boy-062807,0,3334346.story?coll=orl_breaking
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
"Just beause we're homeless doesn't mean we're bad people."
A vendor was interviewed about the homeless situation in Ballard for the Stranger on June 20th. Thought people might be interested to see it:
Click here.
Click here.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Driver who hit homeless man to turn himself in
Published Wednesday | June 13, 2007
BY JENNIFER PALMER AND JASON KUIPER
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITERS
Soon after the body of a homeless man was found on the Interstate 480 bridge, an auto glass shop installed a new windshield on a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero in Omaha.
The 39-year-old driver told the glass repairman that he had hit a deer, but the repairman didn't see any fur, which he found odd, so he notified the police.
Council Bluffs police say that man, Jeffrey Rolle of Omaha, has now admitted he struck Robert Fry on May 30. Rolle, of Omaha, said he thought he had hit a deer and left the area.
Police said arrangements have been made for Rolle to turn himself in to police Thursday to face charges of flight to avoid prosecution and leaving the scene of a fatality accident.
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=2400869
Rolle's family has declined to comment.
BY JENNIFER PALMER AND JASON KUIPER
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITERS
Soon after the body of a homeless man was found on the Interstate 480 bridge, an auto glass shop installed a new windshield on a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero in Omaha.
The 39-year-old driver told the glass repairman that he had hit a deer, but the repairman didn't see any fur, which he found odd, so he notified the police.
Council Bluffs police say that man, Jeffrey Rolle of Omaha, has now admitted he struck Robert Fry on May 30. Rolle, of Omaha, said he thought he had hit a deer and left the area.
Police said arrangements have been made for Rolle to turn himself in to police Thursday to face charges of flight to avoid prosecution and leaving the scene of a fatality accident.
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=2400869
Rolle's family has declined to comment.
Gould Hall Public Terminals Made Off-limits
The public terminals on the main floor of Gould Hall on the U Dub campus that were once available to the public, and on which the majority of my unfinished book, Discontents at Rome: 63 B.C. http://indybay.org/uploads/2007/04/15/discontents.1march07.pdf, was written has been closed to public access, though it was open to the public before, the UW police told me yesterday. Now the terminals are available to "U of W students, faculty, and staff." This comes at a rather odd time, since school just got out and there is no waiting for them at this time. There are no other terminals open to public use on the U of W campus which have MS-Word, a necessary program for the composition of any serious document. There terminals there are now plastered with signs stating these new rules.
I think this is really backdoor privitization of public property and underscore its profondly negative impact on freedom of speech and scholarship. I hope that Real Change will take the time to look into this problem.
I think this is really backdoor privitization of public property and underscore its profondly negative impact on freedom of speech and scholarship. I hope that Real Change will take the time to look into this problem.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
TUCSON: Homeless Woman Murdered
Homeless woman found slain in pool of blood downtown
DAVID L. TEIBEL
Published: 06.13.2007
The body of a homeless woman was found this morning lying in a pool of blood behind a downtown law office.
Detective Sgt. Kevin Hall said police are classifying the death as a homicide. He would not say how she was killed. Earlier police had called the death "suspicious," but were not certain the woman had been slain.
For at least 15 years the woman was allowed to sleep behind the office and was regularly seen by workers in the building at 405 W. Franklin St., in Barrio Presidio, said Elizabeth Bingham, a legal assistant to one of some 10 attorneys who share office space in the building.
Bingham said the woman, known as "Sunshine," usually was gone by 8 a.m.
Tuesday morning, about 7:35 a.m., Tracey Hansen, a paralegal for another attorney in the building, said she looked out a door leading outside from a conference room and spotted the homeless woman lying on a wheelchair ramp, apparently not breathing, with a pool of blood around her head.
Paramedics were called, but the woman was dead.
Police have taped off the building with crime-scene tape and office workers are not being allowed to leave in order to protect a potential crime scene, Bingham said.
"She didn't deserve it, she was a nice lady," Bingham said, adding, "she would just sleep out in the open there."
Said Hansen, "She just kind of minded her own business and planted flowers in the front of our building."
Bingham estimated the homeless woman was in her 60s. Neither Hansen or Bingham knew of any trouble "Sunshine" had been having with anyone.
Sgt. Decio Hopffer said the woman has been tentatively identified. Her name will be withheld until it is confirmed and family has been told of her death, Hopffer said.
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/54384.php
DAVID L. TEIBEL
Published: 06.13.2007
The body of a homeless woman was found this morning lying in a pool of blood behind a downtown law office.
Detective Sgt. Kevin Hall said police are classifying the death as a homicide. He would not say how she was killed. Earlier police had called the death "suspicious," but were not certain the woman had been slain.
For at least 15 years the woman was allowed to sleep behind the office and was regularly seen by workers in the building at 405 W. Franklin St., in Barrio Presidio, said Elizabeth Bingham, a legal assistant to one of some 10 attorneys who share office space in the building.
Bingham said the woman, known as "Sunshine," usually was gone by 8 a.m.
Tuesday morning, about 7:35 a.m., Tracey Hansen, a paralegal for another attorney in the building, said she looked out a door leading outside from a conference room and spotted the homeless woman lying on a wheelchair ramp, apparently not breathing, with a pool of blood around her head.
Paramedics were called, but the woman was dead.
Police have taped off the building with crime-scene tape and office workers are not being allowed to leave in order to protect a potential crime scene, Bingham said.
"She didn't deserve it, she was a nice lady," Bingham said, adding, "she would just sleep out in the open there."
Said Hansen, "She just kind of minded her own business and planted flowers in the front of our building."
Bingham estimated the homeless woman was in her 60s. Neither Hansen or Bingham knew of any trouble "Sunshine" had been having with anyone.
Sgt. Decio Hopffer said the woman has been tentatively identified. Her name will be withheld until it is confirmed and family has been told of her death, Hopffer said.
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/54384.php
Homeless Couple Killed Sleeping at Recycling Center
Police: Homeless married couple found dead 1,000 miles apart
The Associated Press
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
ST. LOUIS: The bodies of a man and woman, married and homeless, were found at paper recycling centers more than 1,000 miles (1,609 kilometers) apart after police say they fell asleep in a recycling container in St. Louis.
Thomas Jansen, 53, who had been missing since late last month, was found last week at a paper plant in Arizona. He was identified Tuesday, using partial fingerprints, after workers found a body in a large container used to collect rejected material.
The body of Jansen's wife, Susan, 48, was found May 24 on a conveyor belt at a St. Louis recycling center.
Police believe the couple, who recently had become homeless, went to sleep in a recycling container in St. Louis County when it was emptied into a truck and compacted.
Officials said there were no obvious signs of foul play on either body.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/12/america/NA-GEN-US-Body-Recycling-Center.php
The Associated Press
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
ST. LOUIS: The bodies of a man and woman, married and homeless, were found at paper recycling centers more than 1,000 miles (1,609 kilometers) apart after police say they fell asleep in a recycling container in St. Louis.
Thomas Jansen, 53, who had been missing since late last month, was found last week at a paper plant in Arizona. He was identified Tuesday, using partial fingerprints, after workers found a body in a large container used to collect rejected material.
The body of Jansen's wife, Susan, 48, was found May 24 on a conveyor belt at a St. Louis recycling center.
Police believe the couple, who recently had become homeless, went to sleep in a recycling container in St. Louis County when it was emptied into a truck and compacted.
Officials said there were no obvious signs of foul play on either body.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/12/america/NA-GEN-US-Body-Recycling-Center.php
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Opening some things for discussion
It is the big build up to the Federal Elections, I suppose the poverty issues people and the environmental people and all those out there with ideological axes to grind are going to keep our little street sheet brimming over with content for quite awhile until the big dust ups are all over. We've been informed by Big Real that the format of the sheet will soon change and that is a huge part of what the paper is and has been, the operative "transition", defining it. When I picked up my first copy of RC to vend it is the paper that I vend today that I visualized I was pushing. Sad to say that while there have been some progressive changes made around Seattle due to the advocacy and activism of some of the housing soldiers, (squatters, tent people, etc.), the issue is still viable, problem still exists. I'm still selling RC with no real place of my own to go at night and what I feel really crummy about is that maybe 10 or 12 years later a lot of the same faces that were around and homeless are still there in spite of access to services that were supposed to be designed to get them started on the road to independence and self sufficiency. Well maybe I'm wrong about what these services for the poor are designed to do. We are constantly being informed by providers of the impermanent and stop gap nature of the help that they are intended to provide. "We can only do so much." "It's up to you." "Happy to put you on the waiting list." etc. Some of us will never get off of that waiting list, and I get the feeling sometimes that my providers are too very much enjoying their role as portals and keepers. Hey, we've all got to get our sense of empowerment from somewhere. I sort of feel that if a street sheet can expand and change to such a large extent why not some of these programs? Seattle people are a lot more liberal, about expressing their opinion about you, if you're a visible homeless person with bags and what not now. I hear Tramp! and things like that a whole lot more than I ever used to and what's more shocking is that I hear them from other poor people just as often as I do from the N-franchised. This also jibes with the reappearance of the X-pletive Nig which had gotten to the point of Esperanto, barely ever spoken, now get off the bus in the wrong neighborhood and expect to hear it. People are something else. Bottom line is I make a little coin selling papers for the cause, I can buy a coffee, new change of clothes, afford the bus fare, the little things but I ain't gonna get rich and that's fine. I don't have huge expectations, probably won't meet the love of my life, (see serial killer, cross genocidal maniac) and maybe I'll never get my luggage out of Greyhound, let alone make it to my parent's funeral, (they were waiting for me but...), I know for sure that I am here that I'm only one paper away from .65, and there's free hot coffee for vendors at the RC office... and at the Native casino of your choice. I know for sure that the choice is up to you and on any given day it's one helluva dicey gamble.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Friday, March 9, 2007
Starting Off - Danina
This blog is for the Real Change vendors, to rant, share, plan, create, brainstorm, and generally sound off.
Enjoy.
Enjoy.
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