Life In The Brokedown Lane
Here's a human interest story that is an everyday occurrence on Skid Row:
In late April I was approached by Tommy Little to help get his property back. He had been cited two weeks earlier for committing the crime of “sleeping on the sidewalk.” His arrest in late April, at his tent on the sidewalk, was for the crime of failing to respond to the earlier citation two weeks earlier. Tommy was released four hours after this arrest but his tent and all his belongings had been confiscated by the city’s Sanitation Department. He was told he could reclaim his property at a designated site by showing a claim slip.
Armed robbery by one of L.A.'s many "City Services Divisions" with assistance from the LAPD, of course.
Finally the clerk brought out a large bag from one of the containers and at the very bottom of the bag were two of Tommy’s possessions: a plastic tarp, still in its original packaging, and a clay figurine of Jesus.
Tommy could hardly believe what he saw. He wept. Before the Sanitation Department’s confiscation, all of his property in his tent was new. He had carefully folded his belongings in his tent at the time of his arrest. Now only these two items remained.
This is a stealth war against the homeless, powered by real estate billionaires and messaged by Democrats who weep about the homeless and then evict them—or evict them and then weep to their constituents.
http://peoplestribune.org/pt-news/2016/07/l-skid-row-blueprint-outrage/
Tommy is the guy in the photo with ample love handles chillin' in the shade. He's a friend of mine who serves meals for the Senior Meal Program at The Ellis Hotel on Skid Row. Tommy does not do drugs or have a problem with alcohol. He's simply surviving the best he can with the tools the Good Lord gave him.
Fuck the LAPD, Chief Beck and Mayor Garcetti.
Comments
March For Our Lives in Philly
Another story about a homeless American protest against cold hearted fuckin Dems:
Check it out:
http://peoplestribune.org/pt-news/2016/07/voice-poor-will-heard-outside-...
"They'll say we're disturbing the peace, but there is no peace. What really bothers them is that we are disturbing the war." Howard Zinn
It is easy to abuse
the poorest among us. Best of luck to your buddy Tommy (and you).
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
"Whatever you do unto the
least of these, you do unto me." ~Jesus Christ
Proof positive, IMHO, that this is NOT a Christian nation, so religious zealots should shut up.
"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"
Just wow! Both of these stories.
I'm at a loss for words.
I feel like such a selfish f*ck.
Everything I can think of
Everything I can think of involves a lot of swearing... psychopaths must be cleaned out of the public service, NOT voted in or with cheating left to lie as a 'done deal'.
Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.
A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.
Same old shit, different zip code
The war against homeless Americans is nationwide. No media coverage, no problem.
"They'll say we're disturbing the peace, but there is no peace. What really bothers them is that we are disturbing the war." Howard Zinn
One fine day in Portland, Oregon
I made it on my own . . . If you work
hardsmart enough you will succeed . . . Nobody gave me anything for free, so get a job . . . You're homeless because you don't try hard enough . . .I know this genius in Portland, Oregon who happens to be homeless. If I had been in his (particular) situation I would have died long ago. He has heard it all, seen it all, lived it all yet somehow he just keeps surviving. One aspect of the problem is that there are some grifters about who complicate the situation. I can usually, but not always, distinguish a grifter from the real deal. It's that "but not always" part that really messes with my head.
As Meteor Man points out, this "is an everyday occurrence". There are a lot of stories to be told, each more compelling than the last. I only know one truth, the genius I know in Portland wants these stories to end . . .
A Story From The Barrio
I think you'll like Tribuno Pueblo Price Rip:
http://www.tribunodelpueblo.org/2016/07/case-of-nico-gaete-how-social-me...
"They'll say we're disturbing the peace, but there is no peace. What really bothers them is that we are disturbing the war." Howard Zinn
"I dread that phone call" is real for some of us.
Tribuno Pueblo Rocks!
Link to English speaking version:
http://www.tribunodelpueblo.org/tribuno-del-pueblo-in-english
http://www.tribunodelpueblo.org/2016/07/disappearance-of-jobs-demands-ne...
"They'll say we're disturbing the peace, but there is no peace. What really bothers them is that we are disturbing the war." Howard Zinn
So much tragedy. So lacking in hope. I am very sorry.
It's not a perfect place, no place is. It won't help the homeless or others subject to the brutal, heartless treatment by the American government. But if you've reached the limit of what you can do or tolerate, take a look. It's still a place you can make a difference, and live more sanely. It's difficult to emigrate to, but maybe worth the effort to try.
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/tools...
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/documents/forms-and-guides/inz1101.pdf
http://www.workpermit.com/new_zealand/point_system/points_system.htm
theft from homeless people is the lowest
Here in Tucson they keep passing laws about where people can sleep, where they can sit, and how much square footage their possessions can take up. And our city is run by so-called Democrats. The gentrifying downtown area has hired private security guards to keep homeless people moving because god forbid the white middle class spending money be confronted by some of the folks their craft breweries and boutiques have evicted.
This is another example of why cops make things worse, and why voting Democrat doesn't solve real problems.
Shameful
There is no justice in America, but it is the fight for justice that sustains you.
--Amiri Baraka