Constintine relied upon gimmicks to draw people into
the early Christian church. Since then there have been
many types of promotions used in the church to attract
new followers. For a long time the civil rights movement
was used by the church to fill the pews. Well the civil
rights movement is old-old school to todays youth and of
course the church is going to have to find ways to relate to
youn folks if it is to continue to prosper. Drop me your
comments on this issue of hip-hop and the church.
He goes by the name of Pastor Flo. As he stood in the pulpit of the Hip-hop Sanctuary
New Generation Church, all eyes were on him."They say we can't have hip-hop and church," said Flo, a lay preacher whose real name is Roosevelt Sargent. "I say this is real church. It's just presented by and for the hip-hop community, but don't get it wrong, this is a place of praise and worship."In the dimly lighted church, a chorus of agreement rang out. Murals of the Last Supper dangled from the wall. A deejay scratching bass-booming, wall-thumping music worked from the pulpit.
Churchgoers wore do-rags and New Era fitted hats, and clutched worn Bibles. With traditional churches seeking ways to revitalize interest in worship — particularly among the young — the distance between hip-hop and religion is closing.And although some churches in mainly urban areas of the U.S. devote portions of services roughly every month to hip-hop congregations, this Baptist church in Moreno Valley is one of the first to present its worship services in hip-hop terms."What this indicates is the fact that the black church recognizes that hip-hop has more of an appeal than religion to black youth," said Todd Boyd, a professor of critical studies at USC and author of "The New H.N.I.C.: The Death of Civil Rights and the Reign of Hip Hop."
"It's a case of them recognizing that their message is old and tired, and hip-hop gives them an opportunity to reach a new audience."The movement has been applauded by some as a means to draw in those who otherwise show no interest in religion. It has also been called a fad and a shallow take on Christianity. Felix Roger Jones III, pastor of All People Unity Baptist Church in Redlands, says he has concerns about hip-hop-oriented churches based in large part on the mainstream segment that glorifies violence, street gangs, lavish lifestyles and misogynic views."My ears are up as to what individuals who call it hip-hop church are about," he said.
"It is a gimmick to an extent. Are you preaching from the word of God, are you disciplining people like Jesus did, or are you just trying to experiment with hip-hop?" Flo, 33, says he has received plenty of e-mails and phone calls discounting his methodology. "You already have rock 'n' roll Christianity, old-school Christianity, country Christianity," he says. "How can there be all these different types of Christianity and no room for hip-hop Christianity? And these kids who go to church and sit in the back will only be there for so long. The next step is out the door."Flo used to be one of those kids out the door. He fathered his first child at 15, messed with gangs and saw three brothers and his father incarcerated for long periods.
He moved from Portland, Ore., to the Inland Empire to escape the culture that had seduced him.He has dabbled in the hip-hop church movement for more than a decade, after his former girlfriend's grandmother asked him to read the Scriptures with her. He dreamed of starting the church last year, opened it in January and plans to open a branch in Compton soon. More than 300 people packed the church's grand opening. The event featured hip-hop pioneer Kurtis Blow, who tours the country establishing hip-hop churches. "We were messing with some fire codes that night," Flo says. After finishing the opening greeting on a recent Thursday night, Flo introduced Young Pro, born Santiago Abarca.The 21-year-old Riverside artist travels from church to church performing and testifying about his faith.
This Article Continues Here:
Get your copy of the award winning King:
"From Atlanta to the Mountain top
It's the 3-Hour Docudrama that
tells the story of the Civil Rights
movement and the life of its
Drum Major for Peace,
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
To learn more and hear
excerpts from this treasured
program,click here:
http://www.kingprogram.net
Monday, April 2, 2007
Friday, March 30, 2007
From The Box To The Boardroom
No longer just a black face on a box of rice Uncle Ben
has been elevated to board chairman of his famous
rice and side dishes. And along with the promotion
he's got his own website. Read the article below and
feel free to comment.
A racially charged advertising character, who for decades has been relegated to a minor role in the marketing of the products that still carry his name, is taking center stage in a campaign that gives him a makeover — Madison Avenue style — by promoting him to chairman of the company. The character is Uncle Ben, the symbol for more than 60 years of the Uncle Ben’s line of rices and side dishes now sold by the food giant Mars. The challenges confronting Mars in reviving a character as racially fraught as Uncle Ben were evidenced in the reactions of experts to a redesigned Web site (unclebens.com), which went live this week.
“This is an interesting idea, but for me it still has a very high cringe factor,” said Luke Visconti, partner at Diversity Inc. Media in Newark, which publishes a magazine and Web site devoted to diversity in the workplace.
“There’s a lot of baggage associated with the image,” Mr. Visconti said, which the makeover “is glossing over.”Uncle Ben, who first appeared in ads in 1946, is being reborn as Ben, an accomplished businessman with an opulent office, a busy schedule, an extensive travel itinerary and a penchant for sharing what the company calls his “grains of wisdom” about rice and life. A crucial aspect of his biography remains the same, though: He has no last name.
Vincent Howell, president for the food division of the Masterfoods USA unit of Mars, said that because consumers described Uncle Ben as having “a timeless element to him, we didn’t want to significantly change him.”
“What’s powerful to me is to show an African-American icon in a position of prominence and authority,” Mr. Howell said. “As an African-American, he makes me feel so proud.”
The previous reluctance to feature Uncle Ben prominently in ads stood in stark contrast to the way other human characters like Orville Redenbacher and Colonel Sanders personify their products. That reticence can be traced to the contentious history of Uncle Ben as the black face of a white company, wearing a bow tie evocative of servants and Pullman porters and bearing a title reflecting how white Southerners once used “uncle” and “aunt” as honorifics for older blacks because they refused to say “Mr.” and “Mrs.”
Before the civil rights movement took hold, marketers of food and household products often used racial and ethnic stereotypes in creating brand characters and mascots.
In addition to Uncle Ben, there was Aunt Jemima, who sold pancake mix in ads that sometimes had her exclaiming, “Tempt yo’ appetite;” a grinning black chef named Rastus, who represented Cream of Wheat hot cereal; the Gold Dust Twins, a pair of black urchins who peddled a soap powder for Lever Brothers; the Frito Bandito, who spoke in an exaggerated Mexican accent; and characters selling powdered drink mixes for Pillsbury under names like Injun Orange and Chinese Cherry — the latter baring buck teeth.
“The only time blacks were put into ads was when they were athletic, subservient or entertainers,” said Marilyn Kern Foxworth, the author of “Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben and Rastus: Blacks in Advertising Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.”
After the start of the civil rights movement, such characters became “lightning rods” in a period when consumers started to want “images our children could look up to and emulate,” Ms. Kern Foxworth said.
This Article Continues Here:
Get your copy of the award winning King:
"From Atlanta to the Mountain top
It's the 3-Hour Docudrama that
tells the story of the Civil Rights
movement and the life of its
Drum Major for Peace,
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
To learn more and hear
excerpts from this treasured
program,click here:
http://www.kingprogram.net/
has been elevated to board chairman of his famous
rice and side dishes. And along with the promotion
he's got his own website. Read the article below and
feel free to comment.
A racially charged advertising character, who for decades has been relegated to a minor role in the marketing of the products that still carry his name, is taking center stage in a campaign that gives him a makeover — Madison Avenue style — by promoting him to chairman of the company. The character is Uncle Ben, the symbol for more than 60 years of the Uncle Ben’s line of rices and side dishes now sold by the food giant Mars. The challenges confronting Mars in reviving a character as racially fraught as Uncle Ben were evidenced in the reactions of experts to a redesigned Web site (unclebens.com), which went live this week.
“This is an interesting idea, but for me it still has a very high cringe factor,” said Luke Visconti, partner at Diversity Inc. Media in Newark, which publishes a magazine and Web site devoted to diversity in the workplace.
“There’s a lot of baggage associated with the image,” Mr. Visconti said, which the makeover “is glossing over.”Uncle Ben, who first appeared in ads in 1946, is being reborn as Ben, an accomplished businessman with an opulent office, a busy schedule, an extensive travel itinerary and a penchant for sharing what the company calls his “grains of wisdom” about rice and life. A crucial aspect of his biography remains the same, though: He has no last name.
Vincent Howell, president for the food division of the Masterfoods USA unit of Mars, said that because consumers described Uncle Ben as having “a timeless element to him, we didn’t want to significantly change him.”
“What’s powerful to me is to show an African-American icon in a position of prominence and authority,” Mr. Howell said. “As an African-American, he makes me feel so proud.”
The previous reluctance to feature Uncle Ben prominently in ads stood in stark contrast to the way other human characters like Orville Redenbacher and Colonel Sanders personify their products. That reticence can be traced to the contentious history of Uncle Ben as the black face of a white company, wearing a bow tie evocative of servants and Pullman porters and bearing a title reflecting how white Southerners once used “uncle” and “aunt” as honorifics for older blacks because they refused to say “Mr.” and “Mrs.”
Before the civil rights movement took hold, marketers of food and household products often used racial and ethnic stereotypes in creating brand characters and mascots.
In addition to Uncle Ben, there was Aunt Jemima, who sold pancake mix in ads that sometimes had her exclaiming, “Tempt yo’ appetite;” a grinning black chef named Rastus, who represented Cream of Wheat hot cereal; the Gold Dust Twins, a pair of black urchins who peddled a soap powder for Lever Brothers; the Frito Bandito, who spoke in an exaggerated Mexican accent; and characters selling powdered drink mixes for Pillsbury under names like Injun Orange and Chinese Cherry — the latter baring buck teeth.
“The only time blacks were put into ads was when they were athletic, subservient or entertainers,” said Marilyn Kern Foxworth, the author of “Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben and Rastus: Blacks in Advertising Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.”
After the start of the civil rights movement, such characters became “lightning rods” in a period when consumers started to want “images our children could look up to and emulate,” Ms. Kern Foxworth said.
This Article Continues Here:
Get your copy of the award winning King:
"From Atlanta to the Mountain top
It's the 3-Hour Docudrama that
tells the story of the Civil Rights
movement and the life of its
Drum Major for Peace,
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
To learn more and hear
excerpts from this treasured
program,click here:
http://www.kingprogram.net/
Thursday, March 29, 2007
A License Today-Insurance Tomorrow !
I can't recall how many automobile accidents
I've seen and heard about where the illegal
immigrant that was at fault didn't have insurance,
because they didn't have a drivers license. I've
also seen a few take off running, leaving the scene of
an accident because more than likely they had
no drivers license or insurance. So whats the harm
in letting these people drive legally instead of
illegally by granting them a drivers license? This
would lift financial burdens off those involved in
accidents with illegal immigrants. Say they won't
buy insurance? Well I don't know about your neigh-
borhood but in mine small insurance agencies have
sprung up everywhere. Right-On Illinois!
Illinois would become one of only a handful of states that authorize illegal immigrants to drive under legislation the House passed Wednesday to create a special driver's permit for undocumented residents. Immigrant advocates called the 60-54 vote an important victory."Today we make history," said Rep. Edward Acevedo (D-Chicago), the measure's sponsor. "Immigrants can drive to church, to work, and take their children to school legally and without fear."The controversial proposal for a driver's certificate for immigrants, which proponents say would encourage many of the state's undocumented immigrants to get proper training and automobile insurance, now goes to the state Senate.
A Senate committee approved a similar measure earlier this year, and supporters believe they can muster enough votes for passage by the full Senate. Gov. Rod Blagojevich has pledged to sign the bill. Seven states — Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington — grant driver's licenses without demanding proof that people are in the country legally, according to Jim Reed of the National Conference of State Legislatures.Tennessee created a special class of driver's permits for undocumented immigrants in 2004, but suspended the program after unearthing problems with identity theft and fraud. In March 2006, the state created a new program requiring applicants to prove a "legal presence," such as a work or student visa.
Now lawmakers are retooling the program again.In what may be the closest program to what Illinois envisions, Utah issues "driver privilege cards" instead of regular licenses for undocumented residents. Officials said the program increased the number of insured motorists. Illinois insurance regulators expect the same type of boost.California has debated a similar measure since the 1990s. In the wake of last year's immigrant rights marches, which drew hundreds of thousands to the streets of Chicago, organizers have tried to channel that energy into political action. Last week, thousands arrived in Springfield on buses, filling the Capitol rotunda with a chanting, flag-waving demonstration.
The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights estimates 250,000 uninsured illegal immigrants are on Illinois roads. Advocates believe as many as half of them would apply for the driving certificates.
This Article Continues Here:
Get your copy of the award winning King:
"From Atlanta to the Mountain top
It's the 3-Hour Docudrama that
tells the story of the Civil Rights
movement and the life of its
Drum Major for Peace,
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
To learn more and hear
excerpts from this treasured
program,click here:
http://www.kingprogram.net/
I've seen and heard about where the illegal
immigrant that was at fault didn't have insurance,
because they didn't have a drivers license. I've
also seen a few take off running, leaving the scene of
an accident because more than likely they had
no drivers license or insurance. So whats the harm
in letting these people drive legally instead of
illegally by granting them a drivers license? This
would lift financial burdens off those involved in
accidents with illegal immigrants. Say they won't
buy insurance? Well I don't know about your neigh-
borhood but in mine small insurance agencies have
sprung up everywhere. Right-On Illinois!
Illinois would become one of only a handful of states that authorize illegal immigrants to drive under legislation the House passed Wednesday to create a special driver's permit for undocumented residents. Immigrant advocates called the 60-54 vote an important victory."Today we make history," said Rep. Edward Acevedo (D-Chicago), the measure's sponsor. "Immigrants can drive to church, to work, and take their children to school legally and without fear."The controversial proposal for a driver's certificate for immigrants, which proponents say would encourage many of the state's undocumented immigrants to get proper training and automobile insurance, now goes to the state Senate.
A Senate committee approved a similar measure earlier this year, and supporters believe they can muster enough votes for passage by the full Senate. Gov. Rod Blagojevich has pledged to sign the bill. Seven states — Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington — grant driver's licenses without demanding proof that people are in the country legally, according to Jim Reed of the National Conference of State Legislatures.Tennessee created a special class of driver's permits for undocumented immigrants in 2004, but suspended the program after unearthing problems with identity theft and fraud. In March 2006, the state created a new program requiring applicants to prove a "legal presence," such as a work or student visa.
Now lawmakers are retooling the program again.In what may be the closest program to what Illinois envisions, Utah issues "driver privilege cards" instead of regular licenses for undocumented residents. Officials said the program increased the number of insured motorists. Illinois insurance regulators expect the same type of boost.California has debated a similar measure since the 1990s. In the wake of last year's immigrant rights marches, which drew hundreds of thousands to the streets of Chicago, organizers have tried to channel that energy into political action. Last week, thousands arrived in Springfield on buses, filling the Capitol rotunda with a chanting, flag-waving demonstration.
The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights estimates 250,000 uninsured illegal immigrants are on Illinois roads. Advocates believe as many as half of them would apply for the driving certificates.
This Article Continues Here:
Get your copy of the award winning King:
"From Atlanta to the Mountain top
It's the 3-Hour Docudrama that
tells the story of the Civil Rights
movement and the life of its
Drum Major for Peace,
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
To learn more and hear
excerpts from this treasured
program,click here:
http://www.kingprogram.net/
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
The Vietnamese Are Comming !
Congratulations are in order for Janet Nguyen and for two
reasons. One she is the youngest person to ever hold this
job in Orange county history and two, she is of Vietnamese
descent. But there is a bit of irony to this story and that is
that her long fought battle was with another person of
Vietnamese descent-Trung Nguyen (not related).
For those of you not familar with Cali, Orange County
is a very affluent community and the home of the first
Disneyland and many more Southern California attractions.
So you can look for more Vietnamese to become elected
officials as their power base continues to increase.
After a marathon election battle that required a judge to determine who won, a beaming Janet Nguyen, Orange County's first Vietnamese American supervisor, was sworn in Tuesday. Nguyen, also the youngest supervisor in county history, received a bouquet and a standing ovation from an audience dotted with supporters from Little Saigon."Only in America can you find a 30-year-old Vietnamese woman given the opportunity, who can run and become a supervisor," she said.
The special election that landed Nguyen in the 1st District seat took place Feb. 6, but the legal wrangling over the results didn't end until Monday when Superior Court Judge Michael Brenner ruled that the recount of the election ballots was proper and should stand. Trung Nguyen, a Garden Grove school board member, was the initial victor, winning by seven votes. But after a recount, Janet Nguyen pulled ahead by an identical number.
That lead was narrowed to three votes when the matter landed in court after Trung Nguyen filed suit. An attorney for Trung Nguyen said they were considering an appeal. Nevertheless, Janet Nguyen is — officially now — a county supervisor. The two rivals split nearly half of the 46,000 votes cast in the special election, upending the political establishment and signaling the emergence of Vietnamese American political power. Board Chairman Chris Norby, who introduced Nguyen, said she was the victor in the "longest, most difficult and certainly closest vote" in the history of the board.
"It's been a short election but a very, very, very long election day," said Nguyen, who added that she would work hard to unite the district.She becomes the first woman to represent a supervisorial district from the county's central area, which has cities with the most minorities, such as Santa Ana, Westminster and Garden Grove, where Nguyen served as a City Council member.Nguyen came to the United States from Vietnam when she was 5. While at UC Irvine, she took a political science class that changed her life.
Her instructor, William Steiner, who administered the oath of office, is a former supervisor and later became Nguyen's mentor. "She was a 20-year-old premed student who got an 'A,' and changed her major to political science," Steiner said.After graduation, Nguyen was an intern in Steiner's office, then worked for various elected officials including then-Republican Assemblyman Ken Maddox before she decided to run in 2004 for the Garden Grove council and won.
This Article Continues Here:
Get your copy of the award winning King:
"From Atlanta to the Mountain top
It's the 3-Hour Docudrama that
tells the story of the Civil Rights
movement and the life of its
Drum Major for Peace,
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
To learn more and hear
excerpts from this treasured
program,click here:
http://www.kingprogram.net/
reasons. One she is the youngest person to ever hold this
job in Orange county history and two, she is of Vietnamese
descent. But there is a bit of irony to this story and that is
that her long fought battle was with another person of
Vietnamese descent-Trung Nguyen (not related).
For those of you not familar with Cali, Orange County
is a very affluent community and the home of the first
Disneyland and many more Southern California attractions.
So you can look for more Vietnamese to become elected
officials as their power base continues to increase.
After a marathon election battle that required a judge to determine who won, a beaming Janet Nguyen, Orange County's first Vietnamese American supervisor, was sworn in Tuesday. Nguyen, also the youngest supervisor in county history, received a bouquet and a standing ovation from an audience dotted with supporters from Little Saigon."Only in America can you find a 30-year-old Vietnamese woman given the opportunity, who can run and become a supervisor," she said.
The special election that landed Nguyen in the 1st District seat took place Feb. 6, but the legal wrangling over the results didn't end until Monday when Superior Court Judge Michael Brenner ruled that the recount of the election ballots was proper and should stand. Trung Nguyen, a Garden Grove school board member, was the initial victor, winning by seven votes. But after a recount, Janet Nguyen pulled ahead by an identical number.
That lead was narrowed to three votes when the matter landed in court after Trung Nguyen filed suit. An attorney for Trung Nguyen said they were considering an appeal. Nevertheless, Janet Nguyen is — officially now — a county supervisor. The two rivals split nearly half of the 46,000 votes cast in the special election, upending the political establishment and signaling the emergence of Vietnamese American political power. Board Chairman Chris Norby, who introduced Nguyen, said she was the victor in the "longest, most difficult and certainly closest vote" in the history of the board.
"It's been a short election but a very, very, very long election day," said Nguyen, who added that she would work hard to unite the district.She becomes the first woman to represent a supervisorial district from the county's central area, which has cities with the most minorities, such as Santa Ana, Westminster and Garden Grove, where Nguyen served as a City Council member.Nguyen came to the United States from Vietnam when she was 5. While at UC Irvine, she took a political science class that changed her life.
Her instructor, William Steiner, who administered the oath of office, is a former supervisor and later became Nguyen's mentor. "She was a 20-year-old premed student who got an 'A,' and changed her major to political science," Steiner said.After graduation, Nguyen was an intern in Steiner's office, then worked for various elected officials including then-Republican Assemblyman Ken Maddox before she decided to run in 2004 for the Garden Grove council and won.
This Article Continues Here:
Get your copy of the award winning King:
"From Atlanta to the Mountain top
It's the 3-Hour Docudrama that
tells the story of the Civil Rights
movement and the life of its
Drum Major for Peace,
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
To learn more and hear
excerpts from this treasured
program,click here:
http://www.kingprogram.net/
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Police Captains Have Opinions Too !
I once ventured to downtown Los Angeles on more
than one occassion before the mayor and chief of
police decided to clean house. I can tell ya that it
was like being in a third world country. But then
I wonder if third world countries put up with drug
use that was on display there. A few month ago I
went through downtown LA and was amazed.
The whole place had changed and for once I was
not so afraid. No bodies laying on sidewalks in
cardboard crackhouses, instead the people that
were on the sidewalks seemed to be trying to make
a legitimate living selling merchandise. So Captian
Andrew Smith is allowed his opinion to since he is
partly responsible for the tranformation of skid row.
I AM THE CAPTAIN for the LAPD's Central Division, which encompasses downtown and all of skid row. Like the police officers who patrol skid row, I was sorely disappointed by Ramona Ripston's complete distortion — in a column on this page — of our efforts to stem the lawlessness, suffering and human misery that was commonplace on skid row just a few months ago. I am outraged that Ripston, the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, implied that our officers are violating the very Constitution they are sworn to uphold and protect.
The officers in skid row, who all volunteer for the assignment, have one of the lowest rates for the use of force in the city. And I am even more appalled by her views because she walked skid row streets with our officers and rode around in a black-and-white last year and was shocked then at the horrific conditions under which our most vulnerable citizens survived. How quickly she forgot!How quickly she forgot that convicted murderers, rapists, robbers, 3,800 parolees and 300-plus registered sex offenders called the 50 square blocks of skid row home. How quickly she forgot the dealers dangling narcotics in front of those trying to kick drugs.
Many other predators were hiding among the street population, preying on the weak, addicted and mentally ill. Fortunately, the terrible culture of lawlessness that was once the norm on skid row is quickly changing for the better. Despite the efforts of the ACLU and other self-appointed champions of the homeless to thwart us, the Los Angeles Police Department is succeeding in protecting the vulnerable on skid row and in curbing the lawlessness: Fewer people are dying of drug overdoses; paramedic calls are down; crime has plummeted 36% so far this year, on top of an 18% reduction in 2006, and nobody who has wanted a bed and follows the rules has been left on the streets.
Moreover, missions report that more people are seeking beds and treatment, and our Streets or Services (SOS) program is diverting misdemeanor arrestees away from jail and into treatment and housing programs. The people living on the streets and the people living in the missions, hotels and apartments in the area report that they are feeling safer — because they are safer. Ripston referred to several people on skid row who claimed that they were "harassed" for no reason. She decried the "jaywalking tickets" our officers write. We write traffic tickets to change behavior, not to harass the homeless. Consider that, in 2006, four out of six traffic deaths in the Central Division were caused by pedestrians in the roadway, as were all three traffic deaths so far this year.
Just a few months ago, skid row was where "anything goes" — an open-air drug bazaar with blatant outdoor acts of prostitution. Today, about 1,200 of those dealing (selling heroin or rock cocaine) are in jail. Hundreds of parole violators are back in prison. Ripston asks: Where did all the homeless people go? I am sure some people have chosen to go to other communities where they can continue their criminal behavior. But many others who used to hang around skid row actually had a home; they just chose to stay on skid row because of the cheap and plentiful drugs, alcohol and prostitution.
This Article Continues Here:
Get your copy of the award winning King:
"From Atlanta to the Mountain top
It's the 3-Hour Docudrama that
tells the story of the Civil Rights
movement and the life of its
Drum Major for Peace,
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
To learn more and hear
excerpts from this treasured
program,click here:
http://www.kingprogram.net/
than one occassion before the mayor and chief of
police decided to clean house. I can tell ya that it
was like being in a third world country. But then
I wonder if third world countries put up with drug
use that was on display there. A few month ago I
went through downtown LA and was amazed.
The whole place had changed and for once I was
not so afraid. No bodies laying on sidewalks in
cardboard crackhouses, instead the people that
were on the sidewalks seemed to be trying to make
a legitimate living selling merchandise. So Captian
Andrew Smith is allowed his opinion to since he is
partly responsible for the tranformation of skid row.
I AM THE CAPTAIN for the LAPD's Central Division, which encompasses downtown and all of skid row. Like the police officers who patrol skid row, I was sorely disappointed by Ramona Ripston's complete distortion — in a column on this page — of our efforts to stem the lawlessness, suffering and human misery that was commonplace on skid row just a few months ago. I am outraged that Ripston, the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, implied that our officers are violating the very Constitution they are sworn to uphold and protect.
The officers in skid row, who all volunteer for the assignment, have one of the lowest rates for the use of force in the city. And I am even more appalled by her views because she walked skid row streets with our officers and rode around in a black-and-white last year and was shocked then at the horrific conditions under which our most vulnerable citizens survived. How quickly she forgot!How quickly she forgot that convicted murderers, rapists, robbers, 3,800 parolees and 300-plus registered sex offenders called the 50 square blocks of skid row home. How quickly she forgot the dealers dangling narcotics in front of those trying to kick drugs.
Many other predators were hiding among the street population, preying on the weak, addicted and mentally ill. Fortunately, the terrible culture of lawlessness that was once the norm on skid row is quickly changing for the better. Despite the efforts of the ACLU and other self-appointed champions of the homeless to thwart us, the Los Angeles Police Department is succeeding in protecting the vulnerable on skid row and in curbing the lawlessness: Fewer people are dying of drug overdoses; paramedic calls are down; crime has plummeted 36% so far this year, on top of an 18% reduction in 2006, and nobody who has wanted a bed and follows the rules has been left on the streets.
Moreover, missions report that more people are seeking beds and treatment, and our Streets or Services (SOS) program is diverting misdemeanor arrestees away from jail and into treatment and housing programs. The people living on the streets and the people living in the missions, hotels and apartments in the area report that they are feeling safer — because they are safer. Ripston referred to several people on skid row who claimed that they were "harassed" for no reason. She decried the "jaywalking tickets" our officers write. We write traffic tickets to change behavior, not to harass the homeless. Consider that, in 2006, four out of six traffic deaths in the Central Division were caused by pedestrians in the roadway, as were all three traffic deaths so far this year.
Just a few months ago, skid row was where "anything goes" — an open-air drug bazaar with blatant outdoor acts of prostitution. Today, about 1,200 of those dealing (selling heroin or rock cocaine) are in jail. Hundreds of parole violators are back in prison. Ripston asks: Where did all the homeless people go? I am sure some people have chosen to go to other communities where they can continue their criminal behavior. But many others who used to hang around skid row actually had a home; they just chose to stay on skid row because of the cheap and plentiful drugs, alcohol and prostitution.
This Article Continues Here:
Get your copy of the award winning King:
"From Atlanta to the Mountain top
It's the 3-Hour Docudrama that
tells the story of the Civil Rights
movement and the life of its
Drum Major for Peace,
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
To learn more and hear
excerpts from this treasured
program,click here:
http://www.kingprogram.net/
Monday, March 26, 2007
Pets Now-Humans Next ?
The recent problem in the pet food industry is one of
catastrophe and grows worse as it is revealed that the
source of contamination is rat poison! So the next question
is how did it get there and could it happen in the human
food chain? This incident has to be investigated vigorously
and questions answered to the fullest. Check out the article
below and feel free to comment on this serious matter.
Rat poison was identified Friday as the substance suspected of contaminating pet food that has killed or sickened dogs and cats across the nation, although it is still unclear how the deadly chemical got into the food.Federal officials, meanwhile, reported an expanded recall of dog and cat food produced by Menu Foods of Ontario, Canada. The company last weekend voluntarily recalled 60 million cans and pouches of potentially contaminated products — including popular brands such as Iams and Eukanuba and private-label brands sold by large retailers.The expanded recall and the findings released by New York state health officials raised concerns that the death toll from the contaminated food could rise significantly as more cases come to light.
"This is a massacre," said Valerie Marz, a Pasadena elementary school teacher whose 15-year-old cat, Zenith, was euthanized a week ago after suffering suspected kidney failure, which is the cause of death linked to the contaminated food. "I think the number of deaths here is going to turn out to be much higher."The Food and Drug Administration estimated that the contaminated food has caused 14 pet deaths in the United States. However, the agency said it had received 4,400 complaints and inquiries from pet owners and veterinarians about the matter, and others say the death toll may be higher.As of midday Friday, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported 10 confirmed pet deaths — five cats and five dogs — from kidney failure in recent days and 15 additional cases of very sick animals with similar symptoms.
Dr. Jonathan Fielding, the county's public health director, said the department was investigating 86 suspicious cases in which pet food might have played a role in an animal's recent illness."It's going to take a while before this stops," said Madeline Bernstein, president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Los Angeles. The number of victims "could be in the thousands."Health officials in New York said laboratory tests of pet food made by Menu Foods found aminopterin, a substance that is used to kill rodents in other countries but is banned in the United States. The tests found levels of at least 40 parts per million. "Any amount of this product is too much in food," said New York Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker.
The pet food samples were tested by the New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University and the New York State Food Laboratory, which identified aminopterin as the toxic substance. The labs are part of a nationwide network set up after the 2001 terrorist attacks to test for contaminants in the nation's food supply.
This Article Continues Here:
Get your copy of the award winning King:
"From Atlanta to the Mountain top
It's the 3-Hour Docudrama that
tells the story of the Civil Rights
movement and the life of its
Drum Major for Peace,
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
To learn more and hear
excerpts from this treasured
program,click here:
http://www.kingprogram.net/
catastrophe and grows worse as it is revealed that the
source of contamination is rat poison! So the next question
is how did it get there and could it happen in the human
food chain? This incident has to be investigated vigorously
and questions answered to the fullest. Check out the article
below and feel free to comment on this serious matter.
Rat poison was identified Friday as the substance suspected of contaminating pet food that has killed or sickened dogs and cats across the nation, although it is still unclear how the deadly chemical got into the food.Federal officials, meanwhile, reported an expanded recall of dog and cat food produced by Menu Foods of Ontario, Canada. The company last weekend voluntarily recalled 60 million cans and pouches of potentially contaminated products — including popular brands such as Iams and Eukanuba and private-label brands sold by large retailers.The expanded recall and the findings released by New York state health officials raised concerns that the death toll from the contaminated food could rise significantly as more cases come to light.
"This is a massacre," said Valerie Marz, a Pasadena elementary school teacher whose 15-year-old cat, Zenith, was euthanized a week ago after suffering suspected kidney failure, which is the cause of death linked to the contaminated food. "I think the number of deaths here is going to turn out to be much higher."The Food and Drug Administration estimated that the contaminated food has caused 14 pet deaths in the United States. However, the agency said it had received 4,400 complaints and inquiries from pet owners and veterinarians about the matter, and others say the death toll may be higher.As of midday Friday, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported 10 confirmed pet deaths — five cats and five dogs — from kidney failure in recent days and 15 additional cases of very sick animals with similar symptoms.
Dr. Jonathan Fielding, the county's public health director, said the department was investigating 86 suspicious cases in which pet food might have played a role in an animal's recent illness."It's going to take a while before this stops," said Madeline Bernstein, president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Los Angeles. The number of victims "could be in the thousands."Health officials in New York said laboratory tests of pet food made by Menu Foods found aminopterin, a substance that is used to kill rodents in other countries but is banned in the United States. The tests found levels of at least 40 parts per million. "Any amount of this product is too much in food," said New York Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker.
The pet food samples were tested by the New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University and the New York State Food Laboratory, which identified aminopterin as the toxic substance. The labs are part of a nationwide network set up after the 2001 terrorist attacks to test for contaminants in the nation's food supply.
This Article Continues Here:
Get your copy of the award winning King:
"From Atlanta to the Mountain top
It's the 3-Hour Docudrama that
tells the story of the Civil Rights
movement and the life of its
Drum Major for Peace,
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
To learn more and hear
excerpts from this treasured
program,click here:
http://www.kingprogram.net/
Friday, March 23, 2007
Movin On Up!
Since the weekend is almost here, I decided
to get into something a little less negative.
You know to show that the world isn't all bad.
One of Japan's wealthiest decided to open up
eight of his twenty-two homes in Hawaii to
homeless or low-income familes. Since their
were no details I was wondering will the
families have to maintain the residences or
is that part of the deal? Anyway check out
the article below and enjoy the weekend.
Dorie-Ann Kahale and her five daughters moved from a homeless shelter to a mansion Thursday, courtesy of a Japanese real estate mogul who is handing over eight of his multimillion-dollar homes to low-income native Hawaiian families.
Tears spilled down Kahale's cheeks as she accepted from billionaire Genshiro Kawamoto the key to a white, columned house with a circular driveway, a stone staircase and a deep porcelain bathtub. Her family will live there rent-free, but must pay utility bills.
"I'm shocked. I'm overwhelmed," Kahale said. "From the little box we had to what we have today." Kawamoto, whose own eyes started welling up as Kahale cried, handed over two other homes Thursday to homeless or low-income families. Kawamoto, one of Japan's richest men, said he planned to open eight of his 22 Kahala homes to needy Hawaiian families. They will be able to stay in the homes for up to 10 years, he said.
This Article Continues Here:
Get your copy of the award winning King:
"From Atlanta to the Mountain top
It's the 3-Hour Docudrama that
tells the story of the Civil Rights
movement and the life of its
Drum Major for Peace,
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
To learn more and hear
excerpts from this treasured
program,click here:
http://www.kingprogram.net/
to get into something a little less negative.
You know to show that the world isn't all bad.
One of Japan's wealthiest decided to open up
eight of his twenty-two homes in Hawaii to
homeless or low-income familes. Since their
were no details I was wondering will the
families have to maintain the residences or
is that part of the deal? Anyway check out
the article below and enjoy the weekend.
Dorie-Ann Kahale and her five daughters moved from a homeless shelter to a mansion Thursday, courtesy of a Japanese real estate mogul who is handing over eight of his multimillion-dollar homes to low-income native Hawaiian families.
Tears spilled down Kahale's cheeks as she accepted from billionaire Genshiro Kawamoto the key to a white, columned house with a circular driveway, a stone staircase and a deep porcelain bathtub. Her family will live there rent-free, but must pay utility bills.
"I'm shocked. I'm overwhelmed," Kahale said. "From the little box we had to what we have today." Kawamoto, whose own eyes started welling up as Kahale cried, handed over two other homes Thursday to homeless or low-income families. Kawamoto, one of Japan's richest men, said he planned to open eight of his 22 Kahala homes to needy Hawaiian families. They will be able to stay in the homes for up to 10 years, he said.
This Article Continues Here:
Get your copy of the award winning King:
"From Atlanta to the Mountain top
It's the 3-Hour Docudrama that
tells the story of the Civil Rights
movement and the life of its
Drum Major for Peace,
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
To learn more and hear
excerpts from this treasured
program,click here:
http://www.kingprogram.net/
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