From The Editor

On September 11, 2001 around 7:30 am, I was at P.S. 22 on Sanford Ave. in Flushing, Queens interviewing voters for “The Edison Media Research.” Things were going along smoothly until a supervisor told me that a plane hit one of the World Trade Center buildings. I said, “Oh my God” ‘n then I remembered that a plane had crashed into the Empire State building many moons ago. I mentioned it to her and we both went back to doing our work. Minutes later, she informed me that another plane had crashed into the second building at the WTC ‘n she walked away quickly to other workers. Within minutes, parents were storming into school to get take their children home. The phones were dead but we were able to listen to the report of the disaster on the radio. We didn’t know if the elections were to be continued, if we were going home, if anybody was saved, just so many Ifs.

They say a man isn’t supposed to cry. I CRIED! Then, I became angry ‘n started asking myself how could this happen? How could our people in government allow this to happen again? Not one time but TWO! I thought about all of the jive explanations ‘n excuses on who whose fault ‘twas. The flip would begin ‘n come down to the same old thing that I’ve been printing in our paper for many moons. The same old NOT MY JOB!

This is a story about 4 people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody ‘n Nobody. There was an important job to be done ‘n Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry that because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have.

I could mention the organization(s) or people that could replace Everybody, Somebody, Anybody ‘n Nobody but I won’t. However, you may replace those, if any, that you think should be entered. Moving right along, “‘Tis the season to be concerned ‘n I wonder “whether ‘tis nobler in my mind to suffer the slings ‘n arrows of outrageous fortune or take arms against an ocean of troubles?” Yeah, that came from Mr. Shakespeare many moons ago. Ms. Julia Ward Howe said a few moons ago; “We women of one country will be too tender of those of another country to allow our children to be trained to injure theirs. From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with our own. It says, "Disarm! Disarm!"

I think most of the women ‘n men of the world are saying, “Get your arms don’t disarm! Arm against all of these oceans of troubles!” I have recently think about the word shit. Yes, that's right, shit! Shit may just be the most functional word in every language in this world.

We have so many differences dealing with ecological shit ‘n environmental shit, differences in viewpoint shit, rural vs. urban difference shit. Socioeconomic status shit such as class, occupation, income levels ‘n class identification shit, ethnic or minority characteristics shit, race, nationality ‘n religion shit. There’s voting behavior shit, native ‘n foreign born shit, groups of diverse national origin shit. There’s a lot of shit with the person that wants to help the homeless; the person that will fight against abortion, police brutality, racial profiling increasing the minimum wage, allowing medical coverage for all Americans, building more safe ‘n affordable housing, educational opportunities for all shit!

Paying back Native Americans, Black Americans, Asians Americans ‘n others groups for all of the cruel inhuman shit done to them. We can be shit faced, shit out of luck or have shit for brains. We can smoke shit, buy shit, sell shit, lose shit, find shit, forget shit ‘n tell others to eat shit. Some people know their shit, while others can't tell the difference between shit ‘n shine. We can throw shit; slings shit, catch shit, shoot shit ‘n duck when shit hits the fan. We can give a shit or serve shit, be happier than a pig in shit or find ourselves in deep shit. There are times when we feel like shit, have too much shit, not enough shit, the right shit, wrong shit ‘n a lot of weird shit. We can carry shit, have a mountain of shit or find ourselves up shit's creek without a paddle. Sometimes every thing we touch turns to shit ‘n others times we fall in a bucket of shit ‘n come out smelling like a rose.

With a little effort, we can get our shit together, find a place for our shit ‘n decide to shit ‘n get off the pot. If you stop to consider all the facts, shit could be the basic building block of creation! We all need to get our shit together! Remember, once you know your shit, you don't need to know anything else! The bull weighs over 2000 lbs. ‘n a lot of shit is still being defecated in our great Country ‘n throughout the world. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. It's time to wake up, get those cobwebs out of our cerebral cortex ‘n make a positive move for our race, “The Human Race!”

We at Street News have been put on the pay – you no mind list by city officials to come offer recommendations that could assist the homeless as well as other issues within the community.

The main media are afraid to allow us to speak our mind also. Have us visit your school, college, university, community meeting, radio, TV, park bench or wherever. Our Street News Family has been there ‘n done that! We all have a Ph.D. in STREETOLOGY, BOOKOLOGY ‘n SHITOLOGY! Time to get those cob-webs out of your cerebral cortex ‘n urinate, defecate ‘n regurgitate the Good, Bad ‘n Filthy McNasty! Pass this shit along, if you give a shit!

Enjoy the REAL DEAL! 143, Indio

16 YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, Street News is still the oldest active homeless paper in the world. Founded by Mr. Hutchinson Persons with its first publication in October but printed the date November 1989. At one time, circulation was close to 100,000 every publication. However, after Hutchinson appeared on the Chris Wallace TV show, circulation went down because of allegations that he had taken funds from vendors that were put in a trust fund. The allegations were never founded but the damage was done.

Circulation went down ‘n a lot of staff left ‘n a few formed another homeless paper called Crossroads. It didn't last very long because of low advertisements ‘n the editor gave up ‘n enrolled at Columbia University to obtain a degree in Journalism.

Mr. Persons sold Street News to Mr. Sam Chen ‘n changes were made such as going to a profit instead of a non -profit business. Circulation still went down to as low as 3,000 a month. The so-called reason was because of the Mayor and or President of Transit or both, directed the Transit Police to arrest anyone selling our paper on the subways. The Port Authority, Grand Central Terminal, Staten Island Ferry ‘n other agencies jumped on the bandwagon. We lost nearly 80% of readership.

Mr. Chen, could no longer afford to provide printing services for free as well as salaries ‘n decided to close down. However, five staff members (Lee Stringer, John Hart, Barbara Bales, Pat ‘n I) stayed on. We refused to let the paper die. We worked without pay ‘n circulation began to rise some. Mr. John Hart ‘n Mr. Lee Stringer became Co-Editors in chief of Street News. Ms. Barbara Bales left; Pat ‘n I made up the rest of the staff. Then, Mr. Hart joined The Spirit.

Mr. Lee Stringer became the first Black Homeless Editor –in chief of our paper. I became managing editor ‘n Pat, our girl Friday.

We lost our rent-free office space that twas provided by Mr. Seymour Durst because of his death. We were forced to vacate the premises. We relocated to Delancey Street as a sub- tenant, stayed a few months ‘n had to relocate to Allen Street, also in Manhattan. That's when the shit hit the fan. The legal tenant sold his lease to some negative dudes ‘n we were told (Lee, Pat ‘n I) to pay the rent to the new negative dudes.

As we are told about the rent, people kept coming inside buyin’ drugs. They wanted to use Street News as a front to cover their negative dealings. We refused to stay ‘n demanded our rent ‘n security funds back. We were told that the rent would be returned. We only received a thousand dollars. So, I rented a truck, moved out to Queens ‘n tried to re-group. It started to get very tight ‘n Street News twas back in the red again.

Since that time, Lee left because of a substance problem, became drug free ‘n has a written two books ‘n should have another coming out next year.

I became the first Native American Indian Editor of Street News in April, 1996. Sales went up to 20,000 per issue thanks to our staff of reporters, vendors ‘n of course, YOU, our readers! We are still a For Profit Homeless paper ‘n received an award from The North American Street Newspaper Association, “ For Inspiring the Modern Street Newspaper Movement” in Seattle, Washington on September 11, 1997. Street News has been interviewed constantly by the college students, domestic ‘n International media. We even had our own Internet audio ‘n video program on Pseudo Programs. Now, with lots of features on the Homeless, National, International, Comics, Poetry, Health ‘n Street Sheet, Sports ‘n our Street News Gear, we still have more pages than any other active homeless on this planet!

Street News gives out 30 free papers to all new vendors ‘n has kept the tradition for 13 years. We still are the voice of the voiceless, the heart, soul ‘n spirit of the streets that tells the Real Deal like ‘TIS!

Thank you for sticking with us ‘n continue to get those cobwebs out of your cerebral cortex.

Please join us with Mr. & Mrs. McDonald, THE DOE FUND, READY WILLING & ABLE and others at Grand Central Terminal on Xmas day at 11am to honor JANE DOE, a homeless woman that froze to death at the terminal 20 years ago. All of our crew at Street News wishes YOU a Peaceful, Happy Thanksgiving, a Peaceful Blessed Holiday on Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa ‘n a Peaceful Sober NEW YEAR!

Still in the struggle, 143, Indio

Many stuhave graduated from school to the work world. Other students are just graduating from one class to another or graduating from homeless to welfare or from workfare to working with the mainstream.

In any case, I wanted to write some grand words about Graduation. Instead, I went back to Ms. Mary Schmich famous words of wisdom again. I read her column in the Chicago Tribune in 1997 and it was also printed in Reader’s Digest in June 1998.

Anyway, I think all of the graduates ‘n our Street News Family graduates should think about these words of wisdom by Ms. Mary Schmich.

Ladies And Gentlemen: Wear sunscreen.

If I could only offer one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientist, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they’ve faded. But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall how fabulous you really looked at the time.

You are not as fat as you imagine. Don’t worry about the future. Or worry but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing gum. Real troubles are apt to blindside you at 4 pm on an idle Tuesday.

Do one thing daily that scares you. Sing. Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts. Don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours. Floss. Remember compliments, forget insults. Keep old love letters.

Dance. Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they’ll be gone.

Be nice to your siblings. They’re the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you.

Understand that friends come and go but with a precious few you should hold on.

The older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Travel. Accept these certain truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander.

You, too, will get old. And then you’ll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders. Don’t expect anyone else to support you.

Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you’ll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair or by the time you’re 40, it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off and recycling it for more than it is worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

Throw away old bank statements. Stretch.

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life. Some of the interesting 40-year-olds I know still don’t know what they want to do with theirs knees. You’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll have children, maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll divorce at 40; maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary.

Whatever you do, don’t congratulate yourself or berate yourself too much. Your choices are half chance, like everybody else’s.

Dance. Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they’ll be gone.

Be nice to your siblings. They’re the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you.

Understand that friends come and go but with a precious few you should hold on.

The older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Travel. Accept these certain truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander.

You, too, will get old. And then you’ll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders. Don’t expect anyone else to support you.

Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you’ll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair or by the time you’re 40, it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off and recycling it for more than it is worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

The Filthy McNasty: Nothing new, same old sugar warmed over. The homeless has been served with the same cruel agenda, many have been killed, beaten and most are put on the pay you no mind list.

The hardening of the heart tis still on. The city still treat homeless families with children that attend school with the same hardening of the heart because they just don’t care what any judge or judges mandate in spite of fines and so on.

The people in charge don’t care because you see; most of them blame the victim for being the victim.

A lot blames the people that are sleeping in the dust. When a lot blame those who suffer to be responsible for their suffering, they are hardening their own heart ‘n trying to harden our own. This has happen in America when decent people were hardened during the time of slavery. It ‘s happening right now, this hardening of the hearts in New York ‘n the rest of our United States ‘n other places thru-out the world.

Those people that are suffering must be able to reach our hearts. And, the way they are kept out of our hearts is when our heart is hardened.

I finally was able to receive “The Action plan For New York City” ‘n found the Contributing Factors affecting Staten Island, Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn ‘n Queens twas factors such as poverty, unemployment rates ‘n mental illness among others affect rates of homelessness. Don’t give me some of the reasons. Give me the “AMONG OTHERS” In other words, Stop the bull, do your job ‘n TELL US ALL THE FACTORS! And don’t wait until VOTING TIME TO DO IT. GIVE US THE FACTS JUST THE FACTS MR. MAYOR, MISS COMMISSIONER OF THE HOMELESS ‘n ALL OF YOUR HIGH PAYING FOLK THAT’S SITTING ON THEIR ASS ACTING AS IF!

Most of us can go down the street ‘n see a sick dog, cat, bird ‘n so on ‘n say, “Oh that poor animal.”

Yeah, that’s pertaining to the dogs, cats ‘n things ‘n stuff like that. But right here in New York ‘n thru-out most of the United States when we can see a human being a.k.a. brother or sister unconscious on the street most will step over or go around that human a.k.a. brother or sister. Why?

Cause most just don’t care! This is the type of hardening of our hearts that can kill our country because America is the greatest country to believe that all people are created equal ‘n endowed by their CREATOR certain inalienable rights.

These rights include life, liberty ‘n the pursue of happiness. These rights do not include the right to have food, the right to stay away from the cold, snow, rain ‘n so on. No, it’s that survival of the fittest. Or is it?

We really are responsible for each other. In Exodus, we read about the pillar of smoke ‘n fire that lead the Jewish people out of Egypt. Why did GOD have the pillar of smoke and fire in front of them?

A lot of scholars say that it was meant to slow the people down. The pillar of fire ‘n smoke would only move forward at the speed of the slowest person.

Here is the lesson- unless all of us get out of Egypt together, Nobody can get out!

Are we allowing America turn into a country where the only people who do well here are the people that can run fast, get a great education, make a lot of money ‘n the Devil takes the high post ‘n forget about everybody else? Is this the kind of country that we will allow America to become?

It’s not the kind of country that America twas ‘n it’s not the kind of country that America should be.

Right now America has the strongest hand in the world. The question is, ”Will America give a hand to get up? The ones that they can control ‘n make money off.

You see, around 32 million HIV positive people are in Africa, over 80% of the 16 million people that have died of AIDS are in Africa. Yet the giant pharmaceutical companies keep the cost of life saving medications high ‘n out of reach of the sick ‘n dying. What kind of Bullshit is that?

There’s a saying: “Six in a bundle are unbreakable, six alone can be broken by a child.”

Unless we all stand together, we will all stand separately. Unless we all work together, we cannot achieve our goals. Unless we all bundle together, we are loss.

The homeless are part of our community ‘n they should not be alone. We can bundle the homeless with people that have more than them materially but these people may not have as much as the homeless have in courage ‘n strength to face each day. It deals with the common good.

We must stop stereotyping folk because of the way they look, dress, talk, date ‘n so on. Then, maybe, just maybe we might break out of being THE STUPID RACE!

(P)

Whether’ ‘tis nobler in my mind to suffer the slings ‘n arrows of outrageous fortune or take arms against an ocean of troubles? You still can’t urinate or defecated in most of our subway stations because most don’t have any latrines open for the public. Case-in-point, on the duce, (42nd St. ‘n 8th Avenue) in the subway, the toilets have been out of order or clo0sed. Yet, the Transit Authority has a surplus of funds. So, what they’re saying is that you have to hold it or do it on yourself.

Police violence is nothing; same OLE shit warmed over! Prisons in the United States has over 2 millions men, women ‘n juveniles.

The Public schools are on the decline ‘n we are so stupid to just put all of these things on the PAY U NO MIND LIST!

Prisons are being put away because of the bullshit law of “3 STRKES ‘n YOU’RE OUT!

This isn’t any ball game. There are people paying big money to speak with their love ones on the telephone. Private Jails are also taking over!

The only way you ‘n I can make change is to let the politicians ns know about it. But they will not do diddle-squat unless it affects the vote of their crew in their community ‘n money!

The people in jail need to be educated! This a RACE Issue! If you ain’t white, you ain’t right!

At lease I have the positive sick need to report about the negative stuff that’s going on regardless whose agenda it upsets.

You see, we at Street News care about making you aware of the Real Deal.

How bout YOU? Well, what do we do about it? Nothing! Why? Cause ‘TIS NOT MY JOB! OR IS IT?

Tis four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody ‘n Nobody.

Twas an important job to be done ‘n Everybody twas sure that Somebody would do it.

Anybody could have done it but Nobody did it.

Somebody got angry with that because it was Everybody’s job.

Everybody thought Anybody could do it but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it.

Ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have.

Hello out there in La- La Land, am I telling it to the hand?

“The only thing that is permanent is change,” said ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus. His words remain an appropriate maxim for the year 2005.

Columbia Presbertian Hospital in Manhattan, the same one that took care of former President Clinton has abused foster children with AIDS! Doing almost similar defecation that big Brother twas doing to Blacks not too many moons ago dealing with cephalous.

The bull weighs over 2000 pounds ‘n your so-called leaders in our great country are telling a lot of negative bull to us.

We need to have all political leaders in our government have social security monies taken from their paycheck. I bet OUR PRESIDENT ‘n the rest of the crew would be on point then!

‘Tis the time to open your eyes, get those cobwebs out of your cerebral cortex.

Make It Your Job to start a new direction towards positive ways to bring about food, clothing, shelter ‘n love in our domain ‘n in the whole world.

Show Mr. William Shakespeare that he can be wrong when he said:

“Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;

AND thus the native hue of resolution

‘Tis sicklied o’er with the pale case of thought,

And enterprises of great pith and moment –

With this regard their currents turn awry,

And lose the name of action.”

Thanks for letting me share. Enjoy.