Wondering

Why news of the rape of a 12 year old girl in Oakland wasn't reported to the Oakland School District? Why wasn't the community notified back in February?

Why does the public have information on this separate case when we're still unclear as to why Lovelle Mixon was stopped in the first place?

Is the Oakland Police Department trying to justify gunning down another black male?
Yes, I know he shot first with an assault weapon but still...

Quick Tidbit Regarding Lovelle Mixon

I'm not going to go into a full blown opinion on the happenings in Oakland this weekend. My immediate reaction to the police officer shootings was simply, "Finally, someone's fighting back." Anything more than that would just be controversial and frankly, after the past two weeks I've had, there is very little energy left in me to get passionate right now.

What I do want to mention is this little tidbit I read in the news:

"Then, about three weeks ago, Mixon skipped a home visit from his parole officer, his family said. Mixon's grandmother said he had gotten angry at his parole officer because the agent had missed earlier appointments. Gordon Hinkle, a spokesman for the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said the family's assertion that the parole agent had missed a meeting was "highly unlikely," but added that he is researching the matter. He said the department had issued a no-bail, parole revocation warrant for Mixon's arrest after he failed to appear for a meeting with his parole officer."
-SF Chronicle

Its the primary job of parole and probation officers to make sure that their clients are closely supervised while out on parole/probation. But, if the parole/probation officer isn't doing his/her job . . . can they be in part to blame for the chain of events that unfolded? Parole officers are supposed to do regular home checks on their parolees... if Mixon's parole officer had done a home check . . . would he/she have found the AK-47 and thus, have prevented the entire tragedy from occuring?

Today in Women's History

from the KQED Women's History 2009


"Lieutenant Lea Militello began her career in law enforcement in 1981. One of only a handful of lesbians out at that time, Militello recognized the need to further open the lines of communication between the LGBT community and the San Francisco Police Department. She developed a training program for incoming recruits to help bridge the gap, and since then has met with countless police agencies across the country assisting them in developing similar programs, so they may effectively interact and develop partnerships with the LGBT communities they serve.

Militello was one of the founders and is the current president of the San Francisco Police Officers Pride Alliance, founded to support and fight for the rights of LGBT officers in law enforcement. Prior to her recent promotion to lieutenant, Militello was assigned to the San Francisco Police Department Homicide Detail, where her and her partner became the first lesbian and gay team to work homicide. They made numerous arrests in the cases they investigated and have attained a 100% conviction rate. Militello has received the California Police Officers Association Police Officer of the Year, The San Francisco Police Department Silver medal of valor, two bronze medals of valor, 3 meritorious conduct awards, 5 police commission commendations and a purple heart (which she was awarded for being stabbed in the line of duty in 2003).

Militello shares her home with her longtime partner Annamarie and their son Ryan, a sophomore at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo majoring in mechanical engineering."

Read: 100% conviction rate!!!

Alternatives for Conflict Resolution in High Schools

The principal and other staff members at South Oak Cliff High School were supposed to be breaking up fights. Instead, they sent troubled students into a steel utility cage in an athletic locker room to battle it out with bare fists and no head protection, records show.

-Dallas News, "Dallas ISD records show school held 'cage fights'"

Is this an acceptable method of conflict resolution to teach our young children?

I'm not saying it's the best way for two people to resolve conflict, but if the alternative is that a teenager pulls a gun out on the street after school and blasts one round on his classmates. . . I would vote yes. The high school administrators do have a progressive idea for modern youth to resolve conflict between and within themselves: physical activity. In middle school I volunteered as a peer in the conflict resolution program and of course no one took it seriously The conflicts lasted far beyond a half hour session of "he said/she said" finger pointing and I would end up watching the same kids on the basketball courts brawling after school. (That says something about my ability as peer facilitator but hey, I was only 13!)

But given a pair of boxing gloves, head and mouth gear, and an unbiased facilitator who will call the fight when he/she feels that one party is doing too much damage... its like starting a boxing club at a high school. What a grand idea! I hear my colleagues at the NOVA (No Violence Alliance) program, which works with repeat violent male offenders, constantly referring clients to boxing clubs in the City. There must be some positive ends to such drastic means.

And yes, not everyone will benefit from fisticuffs nor would they want to engage in that kind of resolution. I'm sure the high school computer nerd wouldn't want to step into a cage with the young black football player after accidentally stepping on his Pumas.

Today in Women's History

Solveig Barlow, aka Sol, is a 10 year old female graffiti artist. In an industry dominated by men, Sol is celebrated for her work and has recently been compared to another British street artist named Banksy. But the young miss dismisses the comparison in a very Alpha Female-like attempt to be recognized on her own merit as a graffiti artist. To date Ms. Barlow, who began spray painting at the age of 8, has created 20 legal graffiti pieces which can be found in her hometown of Brighton, England.

Utilizing bright colors and cartoon-like characters, Sol's art is a statement of the zestful inner-child as opposed to graffiti that symbolizes gang culture and territorial markings. From zoo animals to breakfast foods, Sol creates dreamworlds underneath highway overpasses and abandoned building walls. In response to the growing popularity of her work, she has also begun to expand the scope of her artistry by dabbling in tattoos. Not only has she been asked to design tattoo art for customers, she's also putting the needle to the skin herself. Who says you can't start a lucrative career before you've even hit puberty!?

I'm diggin little Miss' steez hardcore. Tattoos, graffiti and inner child aside... check the hat, stunna shades and gold chain Sol's rockin! If that isn't a modern manifestation of true 80's hip hop, I don't know what is. Much love, young sistah!

Get acquainted @ Flickr: SuperSolveig


"I have no plans to stop so watch out for me."
-Sol, age 10.

The First Woman

Mama and Auntie Nida in Manila.

2008

Since it's women's history month, I had to do a very loud shout out to my mother who just received a long overdue promotion! What I love? 1) She was so excited about getting her own office. ("I get a door!") and 2) Mama's got a government job in the Department of Social Services in Santa Barbara. Who says that there aren't government employees who don't work for the people?

Initially studying to be a nurse my mother had to drop out of college to travel with my daddy around the world. Sound romantic? It really was. But relocation didn't stop her, oh no. My mother was able to attend classes at a small business college and soon made her name as an accountant. (Typical Filipino, for real.) I remember when I was in grade school she worked two jobs and hustled long enough to buy herself a Lexus.

But it doesn't stop there. My mother's success is a large inspiration when it comes to dreaming my own dreams. Not only has she successfully put two strong Filipino women through college (and about to graduate a little Filipino man) but she's got everything she wants in life, at least from what I can see. Including that new Coach bag. I know that my father's support was integral to the process and I love his story of success equally. But because she is an Alpha and because she is a Female... I want to holler at the First Woman in my life. <3

Today in Women's History

San Francisco's Nancy Pelosi fights for rights of speech as the presiding officer to the United States House of Representatives. Second in the presidential line of succession, she would assume the role of President if something (god forbid) were to happen to Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Representing Bay Area nationwide!! =)

Sara Jane Olson, community organizer, activist, film actress, and former member of the Symbionese Liberation Army was released from the Central California's Women's Facility in Chowchilla, CA today. Olson was was sentenced to two consecutive 10 years-to-life terms for possession of explosives and an additional six years in prison for first degree murder.

Any women you know making the news today?

Tattoo by Victor Trujillo

Activism Right There Festival - U.C. Berkeley

I apologize for the picture quality, I'm no photographer and I could barely stand still through the music. There was a sign outside that said "NO CAMERAS" so I assumed that I couldn't take any pictures and had my flash off for the first couple of performances. But by the the time Bambu came out, I said "Fuck it" and camera flashed away. And, dammit, I failed to catch a flick of Brwn Bflo... but they were pretty effin' sick performers.

My girl, Haze, of 40Love

Los Rakas

Zumbi of Zion I


DJ AmpLive of Zion I

Bambu

(check the story here)



DJ Phatrick



Invincible


And the dance crews!! I only took shots of the B-Girls cause they held it down....

Brown BGirl Representin'

White BGirl Representin'

Turf Fiends

Turf Fiends

My Sistahs!

(not pictured: Ms. Tonya Galvante & Ms. Daphnee Valdez)

All in all, a night well spent. The performances were slappin'. The poets inspirin'. And the vibe was swell all around. My only *ish of the night? Ms. Thang standing next to me loudly complaining, "God! Why do they keep talking about Palestine!? It's making me sad!" Duh, girl this is an activist event! Where the fuck did you think you were at, a Britney Spears concert!?

2nd Annual Activism Right There (A.R.T.) Festival, 3.10.09

Host: JENNIFER JOHNS (Oakland)
DJ: K-SALAAM (Minneapolis)$5 youth under 21 and students $10 non-student adults

Tickets will be available soon at the Zellerbach Box Office, or at http://tickets.berkeley.edu/

The event will kick off with a panel discussion by the Third World Liberation Front. TwLF originated in the late 1960's at San Francisco State University (my alma mater!) as a coalition of the Black Students Union, the Latin American Students Organization, the Filipino-American Students Organization, and El Renacimiento, a Mexican-American student organization. Together these organizations led protests, strikes, and sit-ins that eventually lead to the establishment of SFSU's College of Ethnic Studies and expansion of the Black Studies department. This event will celebrate, honor and encourage student activism through art: music, dance, and spoken word.

Performances by: (not full list)

I'm hella looking forward to catching another set by my new obsession 40Love. I caught their performance last night at Milk and was blown away by the powerhouse female emcee Haze. Not only does this fly Miss have style I can relate to (wife beaters and kicks all day, ya'll) but she has a tongue that spits Bambu-style like a machine gun. AND SHE'S FROM THE BAY. I had to bow down. Last weekend I lost out on the Blue Scholars performance (FML!) and I don't wanna miss out on another chance to get lifted! I haven't heard live music since Hopie and Bambu blew the stage out at FatCity, damn..... My body, my mind, and my soul are awake and alert now. I am ready to be rejuvenated by my favorite love: hip hop.

San Francisco Creates Another Stupid Crime

A San Francisco judge has ordered a dozen of the city's most prolific recycling scavengers to stop looting bottles, cans and cardboard from curbside bins.

The court's order, which came at the request of the city's garbage company, aims to crack down on a problem that residents say creates litter and noise and Sunset Scavenger says costs it millions of dollars a year.

The preliminary injunction is the latest effort to stop a wave of recycling theft sweeping California amid rising metal prices and falling employment. Violators would face maximum fines of $1,000 and up to 6 months in jail for each violation.

Sunset Scavenger, San Francisco's official waste hauler, went to court after receiving thousands of complaints from consumers who said organized crews of recycling "poachers" were becoming hostile and dangerous.

[ read article ]

--

Violent recycling theft? Are you serious?! The only people I see wheeling carts of aluminum cans and bottles around are old Asian people. That's right, Lolo and Lola trying to make an honest buck out of another person's trash. I can just imagine a gang of 60 year old senior citizens attacking the trash man with their walkers and tagging up his garbage truck with spray paint.

Why should NorCal Waste Systems, Inc. have the monopoly on San Francisco recyclables? Is it so wrong that in "a faltering economy" that those who can't work make money by other non-criminal means? Yes, I understand that digging through those black and blue bins can be extremely dangerous considering the amount of bacteria that one would come into contact with... but a health code violation shouldn't warrant 6 months in jail. A monetary fine equal to the amount of loot seems reasonable, don't you agree? It's ridiculous to think that someone who gains income by digging through waste can also afford to pay a $1000 fine. Trust, they do NOT make $2 million a year, not even close.

But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe there is a gang of recyclable theives who run rampant through the City. From my point of view, it's just another example of how a Sucka Free and Green City resident hustles to make a living and how the government tries to punish him/her for doing so.

RIP Francis Magalona

"Mga kababayan ko, dapat lang malaman nyo, bilib ako sa kulay ko.Ako ay Pilipino..."

(My countrymen, you should know I believe in my color. I am Filipino.)

Pinoy Rapper Francis Magalona (aka Francis M.) died today in Pasig City, Philippines. Magalona was diagnosed with leukemia last August. The rapper and his family insisted that his medical condition be kept private but publicly sought blood donations while being hospitalized.

Magalona began his career in the early 1980's as the hip hop movement rose in the Phillipines. Starting out as a breakdancer and DJ, Magalona went on to star in several Pinoy films and his own TV show on MTV Asia titled, "Eat... Bulaga!" Magalona's biggest hit "Mga Kababayan Ko" was the first rap experience for many Pinoy youth on the Islands.

Read more about Francis M. and his last days [here]

"Kung may itim o may puti, mayroon namang kayumanggi, isipin mo na kaya mong abutin ang iyong minimithi."

(If there are blacks and whites, there are also browns, just think that you can achieve what you dream about.)

True Crime Stories of San Francisco

The following are true stories from San Francisco county inmates that I have encountered while working in the City and County of San Francisco jails. Reading police reports on a daily basis, I am slowly (but not entirely) losing my faith in the way our criminal justice system works. Many of the inmates that I have come into contact with have committed non-violent crimes, pose no threat to public safety and are more community nuisances than they are criminals.

"B. is a 63 year old Black female with arthritis in her left leg and a broken left wrist. B. suffers from early stages of dementia brought on by a long history of alcohol abuse. She was evicted from her residential hotel room and was forced to sleep on the streets. With no address, Social Security was unable to locate B. and distribute her monthly disability income. After 6 months on the streets, B. was arrested in the Tenderloin by police officers for sleeping on the sidewalk."

"K. is a 47 year old Filipino male who was petitioned by his family to live and work in the United States. Upon arrival to San Francisco, K. and his partner opened up a salon in Outer Mission where K. worked as a hairstylist. After a few years K.'s partner passed away and K. sunk into a deep depression. He was forced to close the salon and could no longer afford to pay rent for his apartment. After months of transition between the houses of close friends, K. finally ended up on the street. He developed an infection in his right ankle and was unable to receive medical assistance because he did not have health insurance. Eventually, K. had to undergo an above the knee amputation. Among the long list of other medical conditions with which K. suffers are acute renal disease and diabetes. K. has been able to survive on the streets of San Francisco through petty drug sales and kind donations from the Filipino Community on 6th Street. K. was arrested by an undercover police officer for possession and sales of methamphetamine. K. had less than one gram of methamphetamine in his possession."

"G. is a 57 year old Black male. G. is homeless and currently receives disability benefits of $1000 a month. The owners of the building he sleeps in pay him $10 a day to sweep up the building and its surrounding areas. One day, G. walked by an undercover police officer dressed as a homeless drunk. The officer kept falling down and was trying to hold himself up by leaning up against a parking meter. Clearly visible was a $20 bill hanging out of his front jacket pocket. G. approached the man and said, 'Man, you're money is about to fall out of your pocket.' The officer fell down again, began screaming obscenities at G. and the money fell out of his pocket. G. picked up the $20 and walked away. Shortly after, he was arrested for theft."

"P. is a 19 year old Black male. At the age of 2, P. was given over to the foster care system because his mother was unable to care for him due to her drug abuse. P. grew up alternating between group homes and juvenile hall. At age 18, P. was aged out of the juvenile justice system and was brought to San Francisco. He has no contact with his birth family. P. has no employment and the education of a 5th grader. P. spent the past year sleeping on the streets or on BART trains and manages a small income from petty drug sales and panhandling. Currently, he owes $600 in BART fare evasion tickets. At the age of 19, P. was arrested for conspiracy to sell drugs."

Stop. Think about it.

The amount of money spent on housing people in jail compared to the actual cost of the crime they committed is completely unbalanced. A January article posted on San Francisco Citizen states that "the cost per inmate is $170,000 to $230,000 per year." These stats are for state prison inmates, those who have committed serious crimes like murder and major drug trafficking as well as white collar crimes like embezzlement and insurance fraud. (Though white collar criminals usually end up in kush low-security prisons fitted with flat screens and recliners.) On a county level, the cost to house an inmate in the San Francisco County Jail runs between $100-$250 a day, depending on the inmates health needs.

Did these people deserve to be put in jail for their actions? What would you do if you had no job, no home, no family or friends? How would you survive? When I was first interviewed for the job, my interviewer asked, "What do you think is the leading cause of crime in San Francisco?" The answer? Poverty. Not just here in the City but in every urban environment. I met a client once who was rearrested within 24 hours of being released from county jail. He had no money and had nothing to eat, so what did he do? He walked into a liquor store and lifted a sandwich and a bag of chips. Boom, back in custody.

Meanwhile, drive-by shooters in the Tenderloin are escaping down a ONE WAY BRIDGE to the East Bay and 24 port-a-potties have been set on fire with the suspect still at large.

What exactly is the San Francisco Police Department focusing on here?