With an amalgam of Occupation demonstrations scheduled and already in action for today, January 20th, 2012, here are some observations from downtown San Francisco.
(8:30-8:50 am)
1. Upon exiting Embarcadero Station, several police officers (6-8), some of whom were visibly wearing kevlar (bullet-proof) vests stood conversing with one another. Two of the men were wearing black jackets that read "Department of Homeland Security" on the back. As I stood there and watched them for a moment, they seemed to be unclear about their duties. The men in DHS jackets were trying to give them instructions, but couldn't seem to make up their minds.That is, they would tell one or two officers to go down the stairs toward the BART trains, but then call them back. Not frantic, but confused.
2. Upon reaching the street level, in front of the Federal Reseve Building at 101 Market Street, there was no encampment in front of the building, but one block further west, there was a large group of protesters marching in the west-bound lane of traffic. It had a large (affiliated?) bus lurching along behind them. Behind the bus were two SFPD bike cops. The group looked to have at least 50 people,and seemed to be undetered by the morning rain.
3. At the Ferry Plaze (not Justin Herman)at the end of Market St., where the vendors usually set up, were three tents and a large group of people, both milling about and organizing for the day's events. In front of the plaza were rows of vans, meter maids cars, and a couple of cop cars parked. As I walked toward the gathering and past the City vehicles, I overheard one of the employees greet another who'd just come on duty, "It's been like this since 6 in the morning!"
A group of about 15 people was gathered around two individuals who were giving instructions for safety and action. They suggested forming groups, finding a buddy, and gave out the legal phone number they could call if they happen to get arrested. In the background, others were organizing signs and bull horns, while others still were already holding signs in the open walkways of the plaza.
4. For several weeks, Occupy SF was camped out in Justin Herman Plaza, and now deferentially refer to it as Bradley Manning Plaza in solidarity with the young American enlistee who released information to Wikileaks early last year. The OCCUPY SF camp at JHP/BMP was shut down a few weeks ago and has been blocked off by barricdes. The entry steps to the park are blocked with Park & Rec signs that read "Closed for Renovation" and the internal grass area is blocked off by metal barricades. Apparently, the "renovations" are to re-grow the small lawn area...so, of course, they had the SPRINKLERS running in the rain. Ahhhhh, City governance!
Friday, January 20, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
2012 Intentions
With 2012 being a year that many have been anticipating as a time of change, I want to talk about some ways we can change the world. This can be both a top-down and a ground-up road to a healthier world.
Start BIG...
1. Nuclear Disarmament: War over weapons is absurd and hurts all of humanity and the planet. If humans can't get together and demand that the governments that purport to represent or protect us immediately HALT the manufacture and begin to disassemble all nuclear weapons, what else can we expect of ourselves?
2. Independent & Community Organic Farming: For the immediate benefit of self/family/community, this is something you can start in a pot of dirt smaller than your television. If anyone hopes to dislodge Big Agriculture - an industry that bullies American farmers and floods the market (and our bodies) with genetically modified, dusted with pesticide, overly processed foods - then you can start at home.
3. Stop Buying Crap You Don't Need with money You Don't Have: In other words, don't misuse your credit card to buy (plastic) crap that might only bring someone a 'disposable' moment of joy. There are better ways to make the people in your life happy. Furthermore, invest in what you need and not what you don't. Think about our shared environment, and be inspired to reuse and recycle as much as possible.
4. Human Reconnection via Less Dependence on Non-Human Contact: Let's use technology as a tool and not as a substitute for socialization. Teach your children to make eye contact and to step outside the boxes.
5. Reclaim Citizens' Rights in this Country: Refuse to accept the legitimacy of laws that work against the People by trying to compromise our birth rights. Brush up on The Bill of Rights and compare it to, say, The Patriot Act, the Supreme Court's decision in 'Citizens United', and the recent Defense Authorization Bill that tries to trump Habeus Corpus...and ask yourself, which one makes you feel safe?
6. Don't freak out!: If you're waiting for "the apocalypse" to bring fire & brimstone, you're gonna wake up the next day in a smokey wasteland...
...because we will become what we envision, find ourselves face to face with our focus and our distractions. So, look up, look deep and remind yourself of what we all want:
Peace in our communities. Healthy Resources. Love to nourish us.
Can you picture that...?
*This can be heard on The Common Thread Collective at www.mutinyradio.org on the Podcast from December 30, 2011. These will be running themes that will appear in future shows.
Start BIG...
1. Nuclear Disarmament: War over weapons is absurd and hurts all of humanity and the planet. If humans can't get together and demand that the governments that purport to represent or protect us immediately HALT the manufacture and begin to disassemble all nuclear weapons, what else can we expect of ourselves?
2. Independent & Community Organic Farming: For the immediate benefit of self/family/community, this is something you can start in a pot of dirt smaller than your television. If anyone hopes to dislodge Big Agriculture - an industry that bullies American farmers and floods the market (and our bodies) with genetically modified, dusted with pesticide, overly processed foods - then you can start at home.
3. Stop Buying Crap You Don't Need with money You Don't Have: In other words, don't misuse your credit card to buy (plastic) crap that might only bring someone a 'disposable' moment of joy. There are better ways to make the people in your life happy. Furthermore, invest in what you need and not what you don't. Think about our shared environment, and be inspired to reuse and recycle as much as possible.
4. Human Reconnection via Less Dependence on Non-Human Contact: Let's use technology as a tool and not as a substitute for socialization. Teach your children to make eye contact and to step outside the boxes.
5. Reclaim Citizens' Rights in this Country: Refuse to accept the legitimacy of laws that work against the People by trying to compromise our birth rights. Brush up on The Bill of Rights and compare it to, say, The Patriot Act, the Supreme Court's decision in 'Citizens United', and the recent Defense Authorization Bill that tries to trump Habeus Corpus...and ask yourself, which one makes you feel safe?
6. Don't freak out!: If you're waiting for "the apocalypse" to bring fire & brimstone, you're gonna wake up the next day in a smokey wasteland...
...because we will become what we envision, find ourselves face to face with our focus and our distractions. So, look up, look deep and remind yourself of what we all want:
Peace in our communities. Healthy Resources. Love to nourish us.
Can you picture that...?
*This can be heard on The Common Thread Collective at www.mutinyradio.org on the Podcast from December 30, 2011. These will be running themes that will appear in future shows.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
The Big Deal
The following poem appears in The Beat Museum Poetry Anthology, Volume 1 (2009), and is in response to the first $700billion Wall Street bailout in October 2008. It was written the evening before Congress voted in favor of the bailout.
"The Big Deal"
-Valerie Ibarra 10/03/08
buh-buh-buh billions 'n billions
go billowing out
well-funded measures
held only by clout
go whizzing away
as the printer press sticks
- remnants of abandoned industry -
but the grease is stuck onto the palms,
as we go begging alms.
"buh-buh-buh-buy me out!"
they scream and they shout
purveyors of crooked accounting
accredited with creating credit
- just so someone else can be indebted -
ditches dug & mudded out
steamy swamp
whose stench's time has come
let's now invert the 'ayes'
that have gone too far.
Unmatched blumbering
equivocal, but more pronounced stumbling
into treasure traps
and further laundering
power grasping its tail between its legs
so they can go on pestering & festering
slime on the walls confessing
to a hollowed face of Justice,
which must remind us
that it's time to take our vitamins
and redefine us!
buh-buh-buh-buh-bring back the color!
to the cheeks of Principle
spread good ideas without becoming criminal
purge the arteries
of this gluttonous construct
rise above the Placebo
the curtain is drawn
it's as clear as the fence on the
White House Lawn,
green as the eye hidden in fog
on the back of your $1 bill.
buh-buh-buh Black Tuesdays
looming up above
the tale's shaky
and I clearly felt a shove
somebody's pulling at the wool above
our eyes
- sheepishly sidestepping wolves in disguise -
tip-toeing to tip the scales
one more time
before the fix is in,
but the jig is up.
-VI 10/03/08
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
"I READ THE NEWS TODAY, OH BOY!" _ A Poetry and Art Collaboration
"I READ THE NEWS TODAY, OH BOY!"
Poets and Visual Artists Respond the News in a Creative Collaboration of New Works
A Unique Media Exhibit
The Benicia Public Library/Marilyn O'Rourke Gallery
June 22-July 29 2011
Twenty-eight poets and visual artists (including myself) were selceted from a national competition by Benicia Poet Laureate, Ronna Leon, to colllaborate in a creative response to the news.
I am paired with Photographer, Rebecca Martinez, and we are responding to a news story on the topic of Politics and Immigration. We are responding to a NY Times story from March 29, 2011, titled "Arriving as Pregnant Tourists, Leaving With American Babies"
Poets and Visual Artists Respond the News in a Creative Collaboration of New Works
A Unique Media Exhibit
The Benicia Public Library/Marilyn O'Rourke Gallery
June 22-July 29 2011
Twenty-eight poets and visual artists (including myself) were selceted from a national competition by Benicia Poet Laureate, Ronna Leon, to colllaborate in a creative response to the news.
I am paired with Photographer, Rebecca Martinez, and we are responding to a news story on the topic of Politics and Immigration. We are responding to a NY Times story from March 29, 2011, titled "Arriving as Pregnant Tourists, Leaving With American Babies"
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Doing the Math on a Disservice
Former San Francisco Giant, Barry Bonds, has been in the public eye for nearly two decades: first as a power slugger, then as a home run record breaker, and most recently as a defendant in a federal investigation for purportedly lying to a Grand Jury about his use or non-use of performance enhancing drugs. In April 2011, he was convicted on obstruction of justice, with more court action to follow.
In the latest case, the federal government spent $55million dollars trying to convict Bonds of purjury by gathering scandalous heresay evidence that failed to convict him of that offense. Thanks to the media spending so much of their valuable time on this - instead of other relevant topics - we will all recall not only Bonds's glorious days as a baseball phenom, but also as a parking lot womanizer who may or may not have had testicular shrinkage. Bonus!
Incidentally, a new mark can be made in the Book of Barry, and this one reveals a more friendly human side to his public persona.
Most people in California have heard about the tragic story of Brian Stowe, an S.F. Giants' fan who fell victim to a physical altercation with an Dodgers' fan at a home-state game in L.A. Stowe, a local father of two, is still in a coma as a result of the severe incident.
It was just announcded that Barry Bonds has offered to pay for Stowe's children to go to college. This is a gesture that will directly affect Stowe's family in the long run, and won't hurt Bonds's public image to boot. In sum, we salute you, Barry.
Now, let's do the math. Let's consider that an undergraduate education at UC (in 2011) could cost about $100,000 for four years. So, the federal government essentially wasted $55million trying to convict Bonds of purjury. Divide that by $100,000, a generous amount that Bonds is likely to pay twice over out of his own coffer. What's the result? Five hundred and fifty.
That is: $55,000,000.00 / $100,000.00 = 550
Thus, instead of the government wasting $55 million on lawyers and court fees that failed to serve its entitlement to truth, justice and the American way, OUR government could have sent 550 people to college for four years. That would have been a major investment in the future of our country, our economy, and the potential success of a 550 American families. Instead, we have nothing to show for it but a calloused finger of shame.
In the latest case, the federal government spent $55million dollars trying to convict Bonds of purjury by gathering scandalous heresay evidence that failed to convict him of that offense. Thanks to the media spending so much of their valuable time on this - instead of other relevant topics - we will all recall not only Bonds's glorious days as a baseball phenom, but also as a parking lot womanizer who may or may not have had testicular shrinkage. Bonus!
Incidentally, a new mark can be made in the Book of Barry, and this one reveals a more friendly human side to his public persona.
Most people in California have heard about the tragic story of Brian Stowe, an S.F. Giants' fan who fell victim to a physical altercation with an Dodgers' fan at a home-state game in L.A. Stowe, a local father of two, is still in a coma as a result of the severe incident.
It was just announcded that Barry Bonds has offered to pay for Stowe's children to go to college. This is a gesture that will directly affect Stowe's family in the long run, and won't hurt Bonds's public image to boot. In sum, we salute you, Barry.
Now, let's do the math. Let's consider that an undergraduate education at UC (in 2011) could cost about $100,000 for four years. So, the federal government essentially wasted $55million trying to convict Bonds of purjury. Divide that by $100,000, a generous amount that Bonds is likely to pay twice over out of his own coffer. What's the result? Five hundred and fifty.
That is: $55,000,000.00 / $100,000.00 = 550
Thus, instead of the government wasting $55 million on lawyers and court fees that failed to serve its entitlement to truth, justice and the American way, OUR government could have sent 550 people to college for four years. That would have been a major investment in the future of our country, our economy, and the potential success of a 550 American families. Instead, we have nothing to show for it but a calloused finger of shame.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
"Bay Area People"
“Bay Area People”
Conscious connectivity
Bay Areability
grooving & maneuvering
to the crowd-pleasing sounds
of revving up
evolutionary agility,
where the idea of conquest
is a contest
& we strive
to rise
above
~ eyes of the hawk
hearts of the dove ~
Getting down & dirty,
but keepin’ it real
RESPECT!
We reflect
on bygones
& the upsets
Restless & yet nesting
in our Bayside aviary
no fence too high over which to carry
the throngs of our songs
salty, sweet, & sour
we don’t allow time
to define our hours
Yours & mine
year round
& chiming in to:
release
research
& rethink
all we’ve been given
to celebrate & recalibrate
Always willing to:
make the next move
improve
this situational misuse
of moments that are best used
to remove
the barriers,
we Bay Areaers relinquish nothing
but the stale energy
that, occasionally, builds up
like walls in which to cage us
But we are timeless & priceless
& so you will not cage us!
Conscious connectivity
Bay Areability
grooving & maneuvering
to the crowd-pleasing sounds
of revving up
evolutionary agility,
where the idea of conquest
is a contest
& we strive
to rise
above
~ eyes of the hawk
hearts of the dove ~
Getting down & dirty,
but keepin’ it real
RESPECT!
We reflect
on bygones
& the upsets
Restless & yet nesting
in our Bayside aviary
no fence too high over which to carry
the throngs of our songs
salty, sweet, & sour
we don’t allow time
to define our hours
Yours & mine
year round
& chiming in to:
release
research
& rethink
all we’ve been given
to celebrate & recalibrate
Always willing to:
make the next move
improve
this situational misuse
of moments that are best used
to remove
the barriers,
we Bay Areaers relinquish nothing
but the stale energy
that, occasionally, builds up
like walls in which to cage us
But we are timeless & priceless
& so you will not cage us!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Public Transportation in Crisis_Save the Paper FastPass and Don't Trust Clipper!
The following is an excerpt of a letter that I wrote to the S.F. Board of Supervisors, the City Attorney, and even Governor Brown. I have gotten a response from my supervisor, who put me in contact with someone from teh SFMTA, but I have yet to receive a follow-up response after my initial contact with the SFMTA.
*~*
As a native San Franciscan who has relied on public transportation for the near entirety of my life, I am writing to inform you that the push into the Clipper system and the elimination of the paper Fast Pass has more than a few serious flaws.
1. Eliminating the paper FastPass would be wasteful, useless, and discriminatory. The paper Fast Pass is the sign of a responsible rider. You show the driver, it is the proof of purchase, and it allows smooth transfers. They are durable if you keep them in a safe place, reduce delays when boarding vehicles, and require no financial accountability from a central company. They are already designed to slide through the new gate “readers” and so there is no need to remove them from the market.
2. Clipper creates noise pollution. For a small City who tries to pride itself on being “green” and accessible, the chip activated by the Clipper card readers are a menace to those who rely on Muni every day. Not only do we have to sit there and listen to people beep themselves in like items at a grocery store, but also the machines are too sensitive and often require patrons to try again. It’s bad enough the streetcars were designed to host a screeching siren sound when the doors can’t close on time, but now patrons are being subjected to aggressive and headache-inducing beeps for every person who enters a Muni vehicle. This does not promote a healthy lifestyle and makes taking the bus even more taxing than it already is. Although I don’t use my Clipper card anymore, I have been carrying it with my FastPass… and it’s quite disturbing that I can set off the card reader from my pocket.
3. Clipper makes travel by Muni LESS efficient. Long lines at machines downtown create a hassle for patrons. (Not to mention that you can’t just add $1, but you can add $2 or $5.) Furthermore, since trains and busses often only run at long intervals, it makes it harder to catch the train on time because you have to stand in line at the machine. Why not just load a month’s worth of credit onto your Clipper card? Read on…
4. Clipper creates paper waste. I know it sounds ironic – how could a reloadable plastic card create paper waste? Well, the answer is that the thick-coated one-way and round trip passes sold out of the machines are more wasteful than the original paper transfers; and because people do not trust the Clipper accounting system, almost everyone prints a receipt for each purchase.
5. Clipper accounting system is unreliable and untrustworthy. In my personal experience, a receipt does little good, as Clipper was unable to access my records for a cash fare purchase I made that was never credited to my account. I called three times and was finally asked to fax my receipt to them, as if having a card number and receipt in my possession was insufficient. They were unwilling to refund me for the cost of the fax, so I declined to follow through. Since then, I have not used Clipper at all. Why would I give my financial information – in the form of a credit or debit card – to a company that cannot look up a simple receipt number in its own system? I barely trust Muni as is, let alone an outsider company like Clipper who has botched up an already weakened transportation system.
6. Clipper gates can be hazardous. The fact that people are now being subjected to Sensors at the abdominal level is alarming enough, but I have been crushed by rapidly closing doors. Luckily, I’m a young, healthy person…but it was painful. Now, imagine an elderly person who moves slowly. They could be seriously injured. This would not only be a terrible ordeal for them, but also has the potential to cost the City if they were to sue the MTA or the City itself.
*~*
As a native San Franciscan who has relied on public transportation for the near entirety of my life, I am writing to inform you that the push into the Clipper system and the elimination of the paper Fast Pass has more than a few serious flaws.
1. Eliminating the paper FastPass would be wasteful, useless, and discriminatory. The paper Fast Pass is the sign of a responsible rider. You show the driver, it is the proof of purchase, and it allows smooth transfers. They are durable if you keep them in a safe place, reduce delays when boarding vehicles, and require no financial accountability from a central company. They are already designed to slide through the new gate “readers” and so there is no need to remove them from the market.
2. Clipper creates noise pollution. For a small City who tries to pride itself on being “green” and accessible, the chip activated by the Clipper card readers are a menace to those who rely on Muni every day. Not only do we have to sit there and listen to people beep themselves in like items at a grocery store, but also the machines are too sensitive and often require patrons to try again. It’s bad enough the streetcars were designed to host a screeching siren sound when the doors can’t close on time, but now patrons are being subjected to aggressive and headache-inducing beeps for every person who enters a Muni vehicle. This does not promote a healthy lifestyle and makes taking the bus even more taxing than it already is. Although I don’t use my Clipper card anymore, I have been carrying it with my FastPass… and it’s quite disturbing that I can set off the card reader from my pocket.
3. Clipper makes travel by Muni LESS efficient. Long lines at machines downtown create a hassle for patrons. (Not to mention that you can’t just add $1, but you can add $2 or $5.) Furthermore, since trains and busses often only run at long intervals, it makes it harder to catch the train on time because you have to stand in line at the machine. Why not just load a month’s worth of credit onto your Clipper card? Read on…
4. Clipper creates paper waste. I know it sounds ironic – how could a reloadable plastic card create paper waste? Well, the answer is that the thick-coated one-way and round trip passes sold out of the machines are more wasteful than the original paper transfers; and because people do not trust the Clipper accounting system, almost everyone prints a receipt for each purchase.
5. Clipper accounting system is unreliable and untrustworthy. In my personal experience, a receipt does little good, as Clipper was unable to access my records for a cash fare purchase I made that was never credited to my account. I called three times and was finally asked to fax my receipt to them, as if having a card number and receipt in my possession was insufficient. They were unwilling to refund me for the cost of the fax, so I declined to follow through. Since then, I have not used Clipper at all. Why would I give my financial information – in the form of a credit or debit card – to a company that cannot look up a simple receipt number in its own system? I barely trust Muni as is, let alone an outsider company like Clipper who has botched up an already weakened transportation system.
6. Clipper gates can be hazardous. The fact that people are now being subjected to Sensors at the abdominal level is alarming enough, but I have been crushed by rapidly closing doors. Luckily, I’m a young, healthy person…but it was painful. Now, imagine an elderly person who moves slowly. They could be seriously injured. This would not only be a terrible ordeal for them, but also has the potential to cost the City if they were to sue the MTA or the City itself.
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