Walgreens to start offering Healthcare...finally a real solution for those without Health Insurance and real healthcare....

This Snippet from the Huffpost article:::
"The program is expected to last through the end of 2009. Walgreen runs 341 Take Care clinics in 35 markets around the country, including Chicago, Atlanta, Miami and Cleveland.Free services will be offered only from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Walgreen said it will not offer free checkups, vaccinations or other injections because it is focusing on providing services patients might otherwise get at an urgent-care center or even an emergency room.Patients must present proof they are unemployed, including a federal or state unemployment determination letter and an unemployment check stub. They will have to sign a form at the clinic saying they have lost their jobs and health benefits. If they find a new job or get new health insurance, they will no longer be eligible for free care.Spouses and children are also eligible for free services if they don't have insurance of their own.Medical lab operator Quest Diagnostics is participating in the program by offering free tests for step throat and urinary tract infections."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So if you are working and don't have Insurance it looks like you can also go for care or for simple prescription refills. If you need more information , this is the number you can call to find a Take Care Clinic near you Please call us at 1-866-Take-Care (1-866-825-3227).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am hoping this idea spreads across the country and that more pharmacies do this to help people and provide more service and care, it makes sense that people will come and are needing care. Sometime people can not afford both the Doctor Appointment or the Meds.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wednesday Morning Update 4.1.09
So I called the Take Care Line, and it turns out that the Care they are offering is ONLY for people that have recently been laid off or lost their healthcare, or health insurance through being laid off, and have been patients at Take Care PRIOR to March 31st. I did suggest that perhaps they should think on expanding coverage to OTHERS that are are Uninsured and or Underinsured but working. She said that there are "policies" that won't allow that. I also tried to locate care for Downtown Cleveland Residents- but it turns out the "clinics" are ONLY the suburbs, NONE are in Downtown Cleveland.

EPA to test 62 schools in 22 States for Air Quality and Pollution

For the First time in over 8 years Childrens Health will be assessed in a meaningful way, studying the air near schools, measuring Toxic Loads in the air, measuring Heavy Metals and Other Chemicals of Concern....Many of these schools are near Industry or downwind from Industry.I hope they correlate this data with other health stats- ie. asthma and Lead Poisoning, and ADD and Learning Disabilities....Click the Title to learn more,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Enigma's thoughts::: When I lived in the Northwest I submitted a Multimedia Investigation Request for the Town and County that we lived in that had been suffering under a huge Toxic Industrial Burden for many decades as it was downwind from a Chemical Company....and yes, I submitted it in person to the EPA, and one section was dedicated to Children's health, and yes, I requested that Schools be checked, and tested for heavy metals and toxins, as there was Measurable Illness that warranted the request.....EPA Officials sat and looked at me like I was from Mars and had requested the Moon to be delivered on a platter.....so this News made me smile all day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EPA website explains the Study and Where and What they will be testing.....

Improved Mental Health Care for Vets, Legislation Proposed by Baucus....

It should be ordered for ALL -so No One has to ask for it ( just like Physicals and regular Medical Care). And this bill should go one step further, it should allow them to seek Outside Help , as there is a Huge need and Not Enough Practioners. It should also offer care to the Families. It must also treat PTSD as an Anxiety Disorder, NOT a Mood Disorder , and NO More Testing of meds on Our Vets. And it must be given to those with Traumatic Brain Injury as well, and there must be monitoring on a continued basis. But atleast the Legislation and Dialogue has begun...Finally. ( Now we just need to get them home).

American Healthcare Reform at Critical Juncture... ( click title to Reuters article)DHHS released report on Monday

This Reuters article points out that Employers and Small Companies are suffering attempting to try to offer Health Insurance, and a new report that DHHS has just completed recognizes the Doubling of Costs in the past SIX years. ( * Do NOT link to the report- there is a Looped Virus attached to it on the DHHS site, hopefully it will be fixed soon, I will keep checking it and eventually post the Link to the Report that it sites). The Reuters article shows that the problem involves spiraling costs for ALL involved, it also silently raises questions as to why the Insurance Companies are dictating the Costs and the Care that we all pay.

Barack and Michelle arrived in London for the G20.....

I watched this video...and I was again amazed he is really Our President....and what a relief, I used to watch these under Bush and just cringe that he was representing us in the World....no more...Now we can have some pride. No More Terra Talk or Axis of Evil Crap.....it's Over. Finally......It Really is a Brand New Day....

Ford to give free car payments up to One Year for Unemployed or those that have lost their jobs...

wow...read this article, and WHAT Ford is offering...it is pretty amazing....and definently will help Unemployed keep Job Hunting if they have a car...

And as we approach April Fools Day- Al Franken's Battle rages on, read the article attached- it shows that EVERY Vote really does Count....

Geez poor Al....this has gone on forever..and the latest part is still dragging on...and is down to a few hundred votes....read the attached artcle it really hits that each and every vote really does effect an Outcome...a Result....Maybe sometime soon Al will finally be declared the winner ?

Alberto Needs a Job....too bad..

Usually I have much sympathy for Un-Employed....except in this case....good, looks like his calendar will be free for his trial...good.

So today Obama made Announcements about the Auto Industry.....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am curious WHY Wagoner was shown the door....other than Billions was Lost on His Watch...BUT and WHY the Auto Industry is being treated so "firmly" and yet the Wall Street Banker club is well, treated "differently".....This I do know it sends a questionable message to Unions, Workers and even Retirees....And on another level it is not just about Michigan, the Auto Industry effects One in Ten American Workers.....In the Whole Country.

On another level...I keep thinking WHY was Wagoner given the Door ? Did he line his pockets ? Did he gfit himself some bonuses ? Does he have 8 very nice Houses ? and 20 Cars ? 4000 Dollar Suits ? WHAT don't we know.???......And on another level, here's the thing, Banks are NOT lending Money for Anyone for Anything...so of course the Auto Industry is really hurting...Shouldn't the Banks and the Bankers have to answer About WHY the American People are not worthy of Loans ? On another level, to be honest there have been very few car ads on TV these past 3 monthes, and really very few special Deals for Americans....add that to No Loans...and guess what, No Car Sales...

But tonight we did learn from an ABC report that Wagoner was given a very nice 20 Million Retirement Package....
Snippet from the ABC story:::
"Wagoner will leave his post as CEO of bailed-out General Motors with a $20 million retirement package, the company's financial filings show.Although the Treasury Department has barred GM from paying severance to Wagoner or any other senior executive, Wagoner is eligible to collect millions in retirement benefits from his former employer, according to the documents reviewed by ABC News.The Obama administration asked for Wagoner to resign Sunday, as part of its restructuring of the auto industry. President Obama said this morning that forcing Wagoner out indicated it was a time for new leadership.Under Wagoner's leadership, GM lost tens of billions of dollars, took billions in taxpayer-financed aid, and cut tens of thousands of jobs, including announced plans to cut 47,000 employees by the end of 2009."

America has had Hard Times before, but the Car Industry survived...we need to research What was Done in the Thirties...I really don't want to be driving a Chinese car 10 years from now...

And sadly people are also not buying cars because they are worried about their Homes and their Jobs....and because they have seen no ReCovery Money or Stimulus yet....YET...

Click the Title for a Guardian Article that unfolds the story simply....I will link more updates and articles tonight....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is the Text of Obama's Announcement today.....
New GM CEO admits " Mistakes Were Made"
And of course.....Reuters has started reporting that Workers have angst....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So here's a video clip from the Obama Announcement ( sorry it's Fox):::

And this GM Superbowl Ad now seems so sad...and prophetic...truly sad..the one with the "un-employed" robots...

Federally Insured Retiree Pensions of 44 Million Americans worth 64 Billion were switched to Stocks monthes before Economic Collapse....

This story is not getting enough coverage....and should be scrutinized.....

Snippet From Boston Globe::::
WASHINGTON - Just months before the start of last year's stock market collapse, the federal agency that insures the retirement funds of 44 million Americans departed from its conservative investment strategy and decided to put much of its $64 billion insurance fund into stocks.Switching from a heavy reliance on bonds, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation decided to pour billions of dollars into speculative investments such as stocks in emerging foreign markets, real estate, and private equity funds.

The agency refused to say how much of the new investment strategy has been implemented or how the fund has fared during the downturn. The agency would only say that its fund was down 6.5 percent - and all of its stock-related investments were down 23 percent - as of last Sept. 30, the end of its fiscal year. But that was before most of the recent stock market decline and just before the investment switch was scheduled to begin in earnest.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay.....so I know Nothing about PBGC.....but I was curious,and it turns out that they do have a relationship with the Automakers, and have been making announcements and having meetings this month....( and Now I am really curious WHY this has not made the news or CNBC ? ) Read more here and then ponder if this has any effect on the Auto Bailout Negogiations ? and were Mistakes made with the Auto Retirees Pensions ?

Then it was Monday....Bitter winds blowing through....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I worked all weekend and am battling an eye infection...so I am a bit behind in the news....so my Apologies...High Winds here, bitter cold....I hope this means Winter is being swept out the door....I will be back later today after I get caught up...the Song is "Unfinished Sympathies " by Massive Attack....a song about moving amidst the Noise...I will put lyrics in the Comments...more later....

VA and Patient Contamination....( And today Miami is added to the list)

Snippet From the Article:::
"CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Thousands of military veterans across the South are waiting to find out if they were exposed to infectious diseases by government clinics that performed colonoscopies and other procedures with equipment that wasn't properly sterilized.Veterans Affairs spokeswoman Katie Roberts said officials are working to determine if mistakes that may have exposed patients to infections at medical centers in Tennessee and Florida and a clinic in Georgia could have also happened at other VA facilities.

"We don't know for certain," Roberts said.

The VA recently warned some veterans who had colonoscopies as far back as five years ago at its hospitals in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Miami that they may have been exposed to the body fluids of other patients and should undergo tests to make sure they haven't contracted serious illnesses."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am concerned HOW this could have happened- it is inexcusable and questionable, and beyond Negligence. Roberts "Answer" about being Certain makes NO sense, How could they be so vague and uncertain as to how this happened. I don't understand HOW patients in three different Medical Areas could have been exposed to such terrible conditions.Patients were exposed to Infections while getting care.WHY was the Equipment NOT sterilized properly and for so many years and WHY was no one told until now. These patients now must be tested for HIV, and Hepatitis.

Why Ashcroft thinks torture is legal....just click and read and cringe....

Ex State Dept Lawyer said that Bush tortured after 911....

More On Torture....and how Bush's team and Bush himself felt justified in his actions....

Iraq Soldiers with Cancer .....click the title.....another worry...

Our Vets need much better care and monitoring...

Obama Sending FEMA Head to Fargo today.....Updates on the Flooding in Fargo....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bloomberg Update from this as the Red River Reaches Historic Levels.... It is expected to exceed records of 112 years, 41 feet above Flood Stage as off 3 PM,expected to reach 43 feet within 24 hours.......Obama has already declared it an Emergency and is sending Aid, and there are 700 Guard Troops helping with the situation, 500 more on the way and 160 Red Cross setting up shelters, and mandatory Evacuations have begun. Voice of America has more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2:30PM:
(NECN/ABC: Moorhead, Minn.) - At 40.37 feet, it is a new record that the Fargo-Moorhead area could do without.
It is predicted that the Red River will make more history in that area on Saturday, and so the around-the-clock sandbagging continued on Friday.The Coast Guard have saved nearly 70 people so far. Friday's focus: shoring up the main dike and building contingency dikes.Still, there are homes in between that would have to be sacrificed."We are in uncharted territory," Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker said. "No one has ever seen the river at this level in the city of Fargo since the beginning of history.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Latest CBS Video:

92,000 residents still are worried about their homes....

Friday Post...We Do Need WPA Work Projects to begin as soon as possible.....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"In every bit of honest writing in the world there is a base theme. Try to understand men, if you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and nearly always leads to love. There are shorter means, many of them. There is writing promoting social change, writing punishing injustice, writing in celebration of heroism, but always that base theme. Try to understand each other."
– John Steinbeck in his 1938 journal entry..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plenty Down below...the Repugs "Budget" Brochure and a complete analysis of the 16 pages of drivel...Job Numbers, a post about Eric Cantor was at the Brittany Concert the night Obama gave his Press Conference on the Economy,and more.....
I have been thinking alot about the Economy and the Jobs situation and so I will start posting about the WPA projects....
Down below is some videos on the Projects in the 1930's....and some music...Click the title a Garden Video, today's is on Soil and getting the garden soil ready ( our's is still too hard, but within the week, I need to start digging my Hope Garden)...
I will be posting about Some New Books this weekend, and also updating on Fargo....have a good rest of the Friday....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nick Taylor an author explains HOW and WHY the WPA Projects helped our Country:

About WPA Works Projects : Art

Music for the night, John Mellencamp " Pink Houses"...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And for Something Completely Different.... Ayn Rand being interviewed by Mike Wallace in 1959..... ( 6-6 and I have been talking about her all week, I encouraged him to read "Anthem " and "We the Living" before "going Galt" and reading Atlas Shrugged or The Fountainhead...

Jobless Rates of March 21, 2009...652,000 Number of New Jobless Claims week ending March 21st

"The number of new jobless claims in the United States rose by 1.2 percent to 652,000 during the week ending March 21 as the country reeled from recession, the Labor Department said Thursday.The initial claims for unemployment benefits was roughly in line with the 650,000 figure forecast by analysts and marked an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 644,000.The claims peaked two weeks ago at 657,000, a 26-year high.The four-week moving average of initial claims, a more reliable indicator of unemployment trends, was 649,000, down by 1,000 from the previous week's revised average of 650,000, the department said.It said that the number of people receiving unemployment benefits for the week ending March 14 increased to a new record high of 5.56 million, an increase of 122,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 5.43 million."
Raw Story Snippet , do link to title for more....

~~~~~~~~~~~
Do read the Comments on this post:::
Fran brought up a really Important Point below, for each of those laid off there is Now More People without Health Care and Health Insurance, it is really true...I am working on a post right now that I am actually trying to revise the Un-Insured Numbers and Under-Insured Numbers, it should be up this weekend.

Also Walking Man who lives in Michigan makes a point about Un Employment and in Michigan it is 22%....he is right that we NEED the Infrastructure Projects to start NOW...I agree we need WPA projects....and they need to start SOON...otherwise we are in for a long hot devastating summer....

Eric Cantor went to the Brittany Spears Show,claiming it was a "work related" event ? really ????does this bother anyone?

When Katrina happened- Bush was on Vacation ( although he found time to have Cake With McCain) and Condi Rice was watching Spamalot....AND now we learn that Cantor was at the Circus ? Britneys Lusty Teen Circus and no it was not a family outing where he took his daughter...he went he claims doing GOP Business ? We are in the Middle of a HUGE Economic Crisis and he was at the titilating Britney Performance ??? He skipped Obama 's 2nd Presser to focus on What ? on Brittany's Dancing ? Virigina you deserve better representation...you really do.

Maybe this is WHY the GOP Budget they unveiled today is partly Brittany's fault....Eric was too busy at The Circus...

GOP Budget, the Repugs Unveiled their "budget", the Republican Road to Recovery is what they named their 16 page pamphlet of talking points...

Page One of "the Budget"....
"Republicans believe that there is a far better way—one that promises freedom and prosperity. Our economic plan curbs spending, creates jobs and lowers taxes, and controls the debt; and it will soon have our economy growing again."

Think Progress has a great post up about this where they point out ALL that is Missing..... How can they submit a Budget with NO Numbers or Charts or Data sited ? Did they think no one would read their Budget Proposal ? 16 pages of Drivel about how to further enrich the Rich....do read...it is some mighty fine Kitty Litter.....It's full of silly line-bubble diagrams and photos of White People.It is like a badly done Cruise Broshure....

Perpetrators of this Piece of Drivel:
John Boehner, Eric Cantor, Mike Pence,Thaddeus McCotter, Pete Sessions,Cathy McMorris,John R.Carter, Roy Blunt, David Drier
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Page 4: ( and yes, that is ALL that was on Page 4....Three Sentences ????)
Republicans seek to ensure that the federal budget cannot grow faster than families’ ability to pay the bill. Republicans also seek to provide universal access to affordable health care and offer common-sense reforms to address our entitlements and ensure that our children and grandchildren can secure future benefits. The republican plan curbs spending."

Enigma Question:::: Since when do Repugs support A UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE PLAN???? BUT they want to "curb spending" ??HOW will they pay for their NEW "Universal Healthcare" ??? This makes No Sense....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 5-8 : The pages are supposedly dissecting Obama's Plans for Healthcare...except....they site stories of Problems with healthcare in England as their "worry" about Healthcare, and then at the bottom of page is this little statement::
"House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman alluded to Medicaid’s problems when he recently stated
that, “it is highly unlikely you are going to find millionaires who would like to go on Medicaid.” Republicans do not believe that a health care program which wealthy individuals would not “like to go on” is acceptable for 60 million poor and vulnerable Americans."

ENIGMA Question::: Where did they get the 60 MIllion Number, because here is the thing, if 48 Million were without insurance before the Election ( and they were) , then now with 5.9 Unemployed, the number of Un-Insured could indeed be close to 60 Million ...so Maybe when we have this Debate about Healthcare for ALL- we should try to access the True Un-Insured Number- it might be higher than we think or know.... And if we are going to talk about "Poor And Vulnerable " Americans- like they suggest- then we should also count those Under- Employed and making minimum wage or who are Under-Insured.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Page 8:::
"With regard to entitlements, Republicans support the notion that wealthy seniors like Warren Buffett and George Soros can afford to pay $2 per day more for their Medicare prescription drug coverage. But we would go further to save Medicare, by simplifying the current benefit structure in traditional Medicare to include a catastrophic cap on out-of-pocket expenses for the first time in the program’s history.LIMITS FEDERAL SPENDING..."

Okay I am confused ???WHAT is the Cap for ??? Capping Care ? or Costs ? Or what the Feds will pay for ? So when a patient reaches a certain level of cost for their care What will happen? Like a patient like Christopher Reeves - what would happen when he reached his cap ? ( I mention Chris Reeves because he fought long and hard to STOP Caps and felt they limited care....)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Page 9 ( and yes, that is ALL that is there on the page- 3 Sentences.....):::
Republicans seek to reduce the tax burden on working families and small businesses, in order to create jobs and unlock private capital. Republicans also want energy independence with increased development of all our natural
resources, including renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar.The republican plan creates jobs & lowers taxes.

( This is the Lead in to the Energy Section of their "Budget".....Hmmm, expect to see Some Drilling...)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Page 10 Lots of Misquoted Numbers and strange statements, but the best is the photo of a homeless man next to a Bubble stating Something about Helping Small Businesses ????Omg...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Page 11

"But facts are stubborn things. Rather than oil and gas companies “blocking” wind power, Democrats have a track record of playing “not-in-my-backyard” politics with these renewable energy projects. Senators Ted Kennedy and John Kerry, for example, have long fought a renewable wind project in waters off of Massachusetts. The project, Cape Wind, would provide 75 percent of the electricity demand for Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket island. According to Senator Kennedy’s
campaign website, the project would undermine “the ecology of the Sound and will jeopardize the public interest.” The Senator once remarked, “Don't you realize — that's where I sail!” The Senator’s son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, opposes another wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island that would generate up to 15 percent of the electricity used in the state. Rep. Kennedy thinks the
energy project would negatively affect “tourism, the fishing industry and everything else.”

( So they find a way to Dig at Kennedy as he fights cancer, they don't even mention him in their Healthcare section, so it shows how limited they are in their Knowledge and their attacks...pathetic. They of course whip out the 2008 Election Hype about drilling and the outer shelves etc etc).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Page 12...
Yeah..they go Nuclear :::
In order to bring online a safe, inexpensive, and clean American energy source quickly, Republicans support removing government barriers to new nuclear reactors as long as they meet strict security and safety criteria. Efforts to streamline the hearing and judicial review process for nuclear permitting to place reasonable limits on arduous anti-energy litigation would be pursued as well.
( Just a reminder for them about History, America has built NO New Nuclear Reactors since 1979...because there was a BIG Safety Incident...and then when 1986 Chernobyl happened, yes MANY safety issues were Relooked at....it was not a matter of Pesty Legal Manuverings getting in the way of Cheap Wonderful Energy....it was all about Safety..and I love that they also do not mention anything about the Dangers of the Radioactive Waste...they never do..remember McCain on the Campaign Trail wanted 40 NEW Nuclear Plants...)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Page 14 "Republican Plan Controls the Debt" is the title, flied by TWO sentences...yup...that's it.
Republicans want to end the bailouts, protect taxpayers, and provide a transparent recovery process. Republicans support maintaining the cost of living after witnessing the booms and busts triggered by loose monetary policy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I could not possibly regurgitate or explore the last three pages and waste any more of your time...

Dumbass Of the Week Award goes to Chuck Todd for his "Sacrifice " Question.....

Now just to be fair I should clarify that Chippy Reid and Ed Henry and Jake Tapper also were competing heavily this week....BUT Chuckie really outdid himself with the " Sacrifice" Question.....So in case you missed his Stellar Moment from the President's Press Conference.....( Scroll down to the post on it- I have the Presser posted, and Chuck's "Question" is right in the beginning of the video...)

Chuck"s Question ( and yeah he was serious):::
Chuck Todd : "Why haven't you asked for something specific that the public should be sacrificing to participate in this economic recovery?"

So here's the thing....Atleast in my hood...Everybody has already "sacrificed ", they have "Sacrificed" Jobs, and their Cars and their Homes, and College Kids are putting off College,Christmas Presents, and people have given up Nights Out and Dinners and "Vacations" and NEW Anything.....and gee, it wasn't planned or anything- but I guess they are really "Patriotic"...the Amount of "Sacrificing " is Overwhelming and Heartbreaking...

So Chuckie I know you are wondering WHAT is the prize from the Snippy UnderEmployed Nurse in Cleveland...( I work three part time jobs - only one is nursing...) Well, I was thinking since you are having a hard time Understanding American Sacrifices, I am attending TWO very large Job Fairs in Downtown Cleveland in April and I would love for you to join me...you could meet Some Wonderful Americans and ask Questions.....I think it would really give you a New Perspective...and Hell, if you want, do bring Chip and Ed Henry and Jake Tapper...because all of you are still asking irrelevant senseless questions from the Bush Era....we need you all to be Better Journalists and Stick your heads out of the DC Bubble.....

Here was my First Thought after watching the Press Conference- President Obama should stick with Town Hall Meetings- WE the People ask Much Better Realistic Questions .....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thursday Update::::
Thursday 11:30 AM is the Online Town Hall with President Obama, an opportunity for Real Americans to ask important Questions ( do check the Whitehouse Website for the Questions).

Do read this Update From Daily Kos and the Amazing Deluded Self Rationalization of the Presser by Ed Henry.....

Also

Still Watching ND and the Red River....click title for more from ABC.

CBS.....

EPA finally does Something to Protect Water, they are going to stop Mountain Top Mining.....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Really wonderful news especially for the folks in Appalacia...and for all of us that support Water being protected.....and understand How Coal Mining effects Water quality in the region...In Coal Country much of the water is contaminated, it is one of the reasons that Appapalacian families drink alot of soda....( I reported on Diane Sawyer's Story earlier this year about Mountain Dew Children losing their teeth..)

Postmaster General- MrPotter says PO due to Run Out Of Money this year...????

Click the title for more and do read the article down below about Planned Layoffs....I am a little confused....the Post Office has never run out of money before....that I know of...even in many of the Past Depressions and other Economic Crises we have had in the past 150 years....

US Postal Service to Cut Jobs, Thousands facing Job Loss......click the title.

From Reuters:::
Posted 2009/03/20 at 2:13 pm EDT...Mar. 20, 2009 (Reuters) — "The U.S. Postal Service said on Friday it is closing six of its 80 district offices. In addition, administrative staff positions at district level nationwide are being reduced by 15 percent and nearly 150,000 employees nationwide being given opportunity to take an early retirement."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
150,000 facing EARLY retirement ?????? An "Opportunity"??? Or Pink Slip ? This story has barely gotten mentioned in the news, and yet it impacts so many thousands. I am wondering have ALL options been examined to help this situation ? Reduced hours ? Different schedules ? Merging Offices.

AND YET The Bonus Question Once again Rears it's ugly head......Postal General is still giving Bonuses even in these Economically struggling times.... In this February 19th article we learn that even though the Post Service has lost over 2 Billion dollars the Management rewarded themselves with Bonuses....even though there is No Performance that deserves Rewarding ? Read the snippet below...

"As the U.S. Postal Service considers cutting delivery service in the face of dwindling mail volume and rising costs, the postmaster general received a big pay raise and a performance bonus last year, all authorized by Congress.Postmaster General John Potter's base salary climbed to $265,000 last year from $186,000 in 2007. He also received a performance bonus of $135,000. In all his total compensation -- salary, bonuses, retirement benefits and other perks -- topped $850,000, a spokesman with the U.S. Postal Service told FOXNews.com on Wednesday.

At the same time, the Postal Service, an independent federal agency, is crumbling alongside the economy and as online communications increase competition. The Postal Service lost $2.8 billion last year when total mail volume recorded 202 billion pieces of mail, its largest single drop in history -- down more than 9 billion pieces from a year earlier."

Stunning AIG Resignation Letter....click and read....

NY Patterson fires 8900 Employees....click title to read more.

This is Really sad..I hope that ALL options were examined for the State Employees....Early Retirement, Monthly or weekly furloughs etc.... It sounds like all options were pursued...
Snippet:::
"NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- New York Governor David Paterson ordered 8,900 state layoffs after employee unions refused concessions.In a time of "unprecedented fiscal emergency," New York state was "left with no other option" than a state workforce reduction of about 8,900 employees to achieve the savings it needed, according to a memo from the governor's office.In October, Paterson reached out to state employee unions to reach cost-cutting concessions together, according to the memo from director of state operations Dennis Whalen.The state looked into a number of ways to deal with the "record budget deficits" and called upon the unions to partner with the state to reduce costs in order to avoid large-scale layoffs, Whalen's memo said.

But the labor organizations representing the state employees rejected all of Paterson's options, the memo said."

Tuesday Night Music.....New UK Music...

Sistiana " What IF"....lovely song, new artist...

An Important Post on the 20th Anniversary of the Valdez Oil Spill.....please click and read.

I am encouraging you to read Shannyn Moore's post about the Incident and it's after effects all of these years later. She is an Alaskan Resident and Blogger that has a unique perspective, it is a piece written with heart and insight. ( You may remember her from her interviews on Countdown with Keith during Sarah's VP run .....)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Most Videos on Youtube are sadly not embeddable on this Subject....
An amazing video about the Spill.
October 1993 Documentary on Youtube -18 Minutes.

8 PM Obama's 2nd Press Conference....Notes in the Comments on the Questions and Answers

He speaks to us like adults....like we have thinking brains...the Media ? only 4 economic questions after Obama repeatedly said that we are in Economic Crisis.... and Chuck Todd's Question took the Cake...
Chuck Todd : "Why haven't you asked for something specific that the public should be sacrificing to participate in this economic recovery?"

( Gee , Chuck let me answer that for you....We Americans - the Working Class have sacrificed plenty- jobs, homes, vacations , food, meals out, movies,healthcare and meds, Holidays, new Anything, College and you think people have NOT sacrificed ??? What planet do you live on ?????ohhhhhhh, that's right- you live in the DC bubble....silly me..)

And Obama's response to Ed Henry- I would LOVE to have it on a Bumper Sticker.....

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Obama wrote an Op Ed to the World today......Click and read.

Annette posted this, and it really shows how amazing Obama is, that he is speaking to the World and she listed where it was printed today. ( Sad that it got little attention from local media or Google News..) I hope the Media uses this OpEd to ask some Questions tonight.....

Bailey Boushay : A Story about a wonderful AIDS Program that may lose it's Day Program due to Budget Cuts.....

This Article linked to the title is about Bailey Boushay House in Seattle, it is an amazing AIDS Care Program, that includes all levels of medical care and coordination, Hospice and a thriving Day Program.And now their Day Program is now possibly looking at elimination due to a Funds Deficit and Budget Cuts from the State Level.I am highlighting this Program and these cuts because it is one of the premier programs in the Country.

For some that don't know, I was an AIDS Nurse in the 80's and 90's, and worked with AIDS care in Seattle for over 10 years caring for hundreds and also caring for my neighbors with HIV and AIDS.I worked ER and also Homecare and Hospice with AIDS patients.( and yes, I also worked with ACT Up and teaching HIV classes and at the First Needle Exchange in the Country). In Seattle in the late 1980's there was an AIDS Hospice that we put together in an old house, and gave care to 6 patients at a time. It was called Rosehedge, and it created a community of care. All of us that worked there educated ourselves and families and we did more than nurse, it was a place that nurtured and cared for many people.Outreach and Advocacy were critical parts of our job at that point in those early years.It was one of the few nursing jobs I ever had where I cooked at 3 am, read all kinds books to patients,and dressed patients for a Drag Show,planted a garden and painted rooms.It was not an ordinary Hospice, it extended Life and made Life enjoyable for many of the patients.

The other side of working at RoseHedge was learning that HIV was still a mystery ignored disease, Thank You President Reagan.What was stunning was recognizing that many of our Hospice Patients there could have had longer fuller lives if they had had better medical care, including Day Care. Day Care would have helped them get to Medical Appointments and most importantly help them take ALL of their meds every day and also nutritionally make sure they did not waste. For with AIDS patients, the critical issue was the more malnourished the patient, the more damage to the immune system ( this was not really documented at the time, but most AIDS nurses watched it occur as a process). Also most patients could not manage their medical care at a certain point, to be honest it is very difficult for anyone to remember to take 30-80 pills a day ( and in the proper order).

So in my 3rd year working at Rosehedge, the HIV and AIDS numbers in Seattle were staggering, and Much More Hospice was needed than a 6 bed facility and so a local Hospital began plans for a Fuller Facility that could provide Hospice and Day Care....hence the demise of the lovely Rosehedge Hospice. It was sad to see the End of RoseHedge, but it was good to see that Something Better was on the Horizon for the HIV and AIDS Community of Seattle. It was and is a Program that is recognized for it's high quality of care, and that it treated HIV as a disease that needed better care at ALL levels. HIV was finally treated as a continuum, and with a multi faceted approach from spiritual care to nutrition to mental health, as well as all levels of medical care.

And I site this article and their economic situation because around the Country under Bush AIDS and HIV programs fared poorly suffering huge cuts in aid, even though he was making flashy Trips to Africa stating that he was giving MORE aid. The Aid was only abroad, here in the States he was forcing much of the costs onto State budgets that were already overburdened.
Let's Hope that Obama and his new DHHS Administration relook at HIV and AIDS budgets and care so that places like Bailey Boushay have don't have to cut their Excellent Care or programs.

The Inspiration Cafe is a Homeless Project from Chicago that could help thousands if it was taken Nationwide...

Inspiration Cafe, a Project that is helping Homeless in Chicago and should be implemented in many parts of the Country, and would help the Recession Refugees.

Lisa Nigro is the founder of Inspiration Cafe, and other restaurants that serve the Chicago homeless population with dignity and respect, as well as Inspiration Corporation which provides job training, housing and fellowship to its customers.
The :60 film was directed by Oscar winner Helen Hunt and aired during the 2009 Academy Awards. Here is more about it, and also more is linked to the title.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I really want to work on a project like this here in Cleveland....there is a need. When I lived downtown I used to make sandwichs and freeze water bottles and got take them around....but the Radio Flyer idea is amazing....and the idea of a resturante, or even a soup place for coffee and tea and soup would really warm some souls...I would also like to make up packets of toiletries...there are so many empty buildings here...on the Bus Routes...If I get the job at the Free Clinic....I am going to work on this project.....We need to think of a way to take Lisa Nigro's idea nationwide....it's needed...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Homeless Project in Portland that is working, Dignity Village....we need More Communities set up like Dignity Village

This is just one village that has been set up as a community for those that are homeless...there are rules and organized existance.

BLOG of the day....really amazing blog from a great Bloggeress..

Many of us know Diane she is an amazing part of Blogland.....knowledgeable on so many issues and has lived all over, and now lives out West, she is a breath of fresh air or at the end of the day a soothing sunset.....she too has a variety of Blogs, but this Blog is a Must See , Where in the Hell is the Magic School Bus.....

AIG Six Year History of Fraud....Click the Title to read more

Snippet from Huffpo:::
"AIG has a culture of complicity. "You don't get into these kinds of problems by having a good corporate culture," said Peter Morici, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Business and the former chief economist at the US International Trade Commission. "Clearly this company has had endemic problems and it'd be best if we broke it up and sold it off so others can run its parts."AIG is currently facing investigations by the New York Attorney General's office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the British Serious Fraud Office.And that is only in the last six months."

See this is what my neighbors and I have been discussing...it is not just about the Bonuses....it is a culture of "We Do What We Want - When We Want ....Rules or Ethics Be Damned"....THAT is a mindset that creates a Culture of Distrust....and Bad Practices. Whether it be 165 Million or 211 Million, that is alot of money...Money that belongs to tax payers and could even fund programs for Food and Housing....

A Tragic Story out of Pennsylvannia about the Economic Plight causing the Deaths of two brothers.....heartbreaking.

It breaks my heart to report these stories, click the title to read about the Graham Brothers...but I report them because we need to recognize that MSM will not willing cover this type of tragedy.....it would further raise questions are we in a Depression. I have been saying for monthes that there are NO loans available here in Ohio, and I have wondered if there are loans in other economically crippled states...These two brothers were beyond devastated....beyond hope....And DC needs to know that there are Americans that are truly this broken.

Robin Williams had Heart Surgery here in Ctown....

click the title...

Dave Letterman married this week......Darn another good man gone....Hmmm, there's always Keith I guess...

And now for Something Completely Different.....Best 80's Band Competition......

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a contest I am having with 6-6...( okay let's be real...he's a teenager- expert on ALL music...so I am screwed...) But that being said....HERE is my nomination...yes...Duran Duran......yeah,..Almost None of the their songs is available to Embed ( boy that sounds funny...) Sooooooo Here is my Nomination- an Unreleased Version of "Reach up for the Sunrise"... I am betting 6-6 picks Foreigner.... So WHO do you think was the best 80's Band ??
( photo is Harry waiting for Keith to come on ( he likes to snuggle up with the TV and yes, this is my son's cat- the 7 pound wonder that we saved summer of 2007....and NOW he weighs 19 pounds...yup..well loved...)

Have a Good Night ...be back later...

Mt.Redoubt has Erupted 5 times Today ....more to come...

This photo is from 3.15.09.....Will post new photos later today.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Need Something Fun to do today ? why not call Kenneth Jindal and remind him that THIS is WHY we need Volcano Monitoring Equipment......( it's as important as Hurricane Monitoring..)
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal - give him a call! 225-342-7015
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Also go visit Gryphen at Immoral Minority, and check in with him for updates....click title to go to ADN for updates...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You know it's funny SarahPee was soooooo fired up about that BIG Pipeline Deal that she manuvered- I do wonder did she happen to do Seismic Studies and Geological Studies for that Deal ? Did she do ANY Hazard and Safety Checks.....you know living somewhere where you can see Volacano's from her porch- I just wonder.....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

photo from 1989

Obama to release The Bush Torture Memos....click and read...

Well, this is GOOD news...considering the CIA Tapes were destroyed earlier this year , maybe this will be needed.....I personally think they should be called the Bush-Cheney Torture memo's.....I do wonder if Bush and Cheney will both try to Blame the Other....( or they might try to blame Yoo ?...Rummy ?...or Campbone ? or others...)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bush-"We don't Torture" ( he says this 2007, slumped in a chair...)

Now watch this Matt Lauer Interview where he gets Real Testy and Snotty...and Defensive about it.

Read this UK Banking Story...really interesting.....Makes One Think twice WHY these Big Companies are handing out "bonuses"....

DO read the the whole Guardian article linked to the title about RBS...very interesting. Makes one think about Our Banking Situation and raises some Questions......
Snippet:::
The scandal engulfing the Royal Bank of Scotland reaches new heights today with serious allegations from a senior Labour politician that at least three of its former non-executive directors may have been intimidated and threatened with the sack for asking searching questions about its financial affairs.

The Observer can reveal that a former government minister, Lord Foulkes of Cumnock, who has been extensively briefed by former bank insiders, has written to the Financial Services Authority, the City watchdog, asking it to pursue the claims which, if true, could trigger a criminal investigation.

The intervention by Foulkes, who is also a member of the Scottish parliament and sits on the Commons security and intelligence committee, comes amid fears that the bank will be exposed as the UK's equivalent of Enron - the US trader that collapsed amid systemic fraud.

Last night Foulkes said there was "widespread public anger among the public and Parliament that bankers in the midst of this financial crisis appear to be profiting and no action is being taken in relation to action which could constitute criminal offences".

Conan O'brien Bloopers for 6-6.....( click the title)

geeez we are going through Bad Conan withdrawl here...really miss him....sigh...

I Am Worried that President Obama 's Economic Advisors Don't GET IT, How bad it is Out Here on Mainstreet....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buddy Can You Spare a Dime, is About Empathy.....and Listening to Each Other.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wrote a post the Other Day , actually it was a Letter that I sent to David Plouffe that reflected my feelings about being asked to go Canvas and Promote The Obama Budget to my neighbors. I wrote some of my concerns, I hinted that I am worried that Obama's People, his Advisors, don't get How Bad it is out here on Main Street. When I say "Obama People" , I mean Geither, Romer, and Summers. I realize Obama inherited a Titannical Mess, but I worry his people, his Team are not recognizing the damage and pain on Mainstreet.My Expression of Concerns in no way means I don't support Our New President that we all worked So hard to get to the Helm.

One once loyal reader of almost 4 years wrote me and said that I "don't understand Politics" and that I was "moaning", and that he "gives up on me", according to him I am "petulant and have let my own life/Personal problems WARP my view". I was really struck that he has the Same Problem as Some of the Obama Administration, he is not Listening to me as a Virtual Neighbor, although he is Sure Judging My View of What is Going on in Our Country. He is not seeing what I see Everyday Around me..... But on another note Obama's people should come to my hood and listen to People and talk to People, We The People. Obama is right to have Town Meetings, but His People should be attending them and walking neighborhoods too...and coming to Joblines,Tent Cities, Soup Kitchens and Homeless Shelters and Listening to The People.

When I blog .....I blog about The People around me Everyday, I Blog the Human Condition,because I see it as a Nurse, always.I Blog My Neighbors, the Older Folks paying for food with spare Change,The VET around the Corner who can't look me in the eye and limps to the store to buy beer and the classifieds with a broken heart, I see that his spirit is crippled.I blog about the Unemployed New Nursing Graduates, who I encouraged and gave advice and now they can't find work, because there is a Hiring Freeze at the Hospitals Here.I Blog about Neighbors that have lost their homes, and I still look at their empty homes...... I Blog about What is Real, From Homelessness, to Joblessness, to VETS with PTSD to Folks, Millions of them without Healthcare....And yes, I blog about How Politics Effects and Collides with Our Lives....

But I also Blog Hoping to Keep Our Collective Soul Alive, Our Hearts and Minds Open, that ALL still Listen to Each Other and take of Each Other. That We The People work on Our Humanity, and Our Empathy....because we are In Hard Times. Our Grandparents got through the Depression because they took care of each other....It is a Spirit that is worth Preserving. That is why I encourage all of us to "Tend Souls". It is about Nursing Our Spirits. And most of all I encourage us to Listen to Each Other....and Not Give Up On Each Other...we need Each Other to get through these Hard Times.

Instead of asking us to hit the Streets this week, Obama Administration, and yes Our Elected Reps should have hit the streets this weekend, and visited Some Soup Kitchens and some Tent Cities and some neighborhoods full of foreclosed homes and come to some Job Fairs and JobLines and listened to What People Are Going Through....MainStreet Is Hurting Right Now, Badly and Worse than the DC Bubble seems to want to admit. Empathy, the Empathy Deficit that Obama always spoke of on the trail does extend into DC, and that is The Problem. DC seems to be in a Bubble and not able to see What is Really Happening....8 years of Hell , of an Illegal EXPENSIVE War has drained people's bank accounts and Spirits. People are tired, but also Tired of DC Not Listening....

Do read Distributor Cap's post "A Free Man in Paris"....it really captures how alot of people are feeling right now. And also let him know he not alone in his angst.( Also Frank Rich's post is up this am linked to the title and worth the read)....We The People need to take care of each other....BUT that Means that DC, those we elected and Obama's People also need to Wake Up....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please do read my Posts Below on Tent Cities and Homelessness, I am covering them from ALL over the Country. Tonight Chris Hanson is covering The Financial Foreclosure Mess tonight on Dateline at 7PM ( Chris Jansing has also been covering on NBC morning segments)..and also more and more of the Media has finally been covering, CNN, MSNBC,ABC and CBS and for that I am grateful...very. Do also read the Article by Frank Rich linked to the title.

Also Obama is on 60 Minutes tonight....and just to be clear, I am still very grateful to Obama, and have faith in him, but that doesn't mean that I can't worry about his Team and the Titannical Mess they have inherited from Bush and Repug Leadership and the GOP Obstruction that is continuing ( and Dem Passive Syndrome)....and Obama has done alot in 60 days...but I also see that Time is of the Essence and we are running out of time for DC Ostrich Syndrome.....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This Video has been seen by Obama , I don't know if his People Saw It. the story of this video has been told on ABC and MSNBC.
Highschool students share with Heart and Honesty what the Economic Plight has meant to their lives, it is haunting, it is called " Is Anybody Listening ?".....

Do Read LuLu Maude's Post about AIG....and how it has Effected Her Life....

Do read her post about how the AIG Debacle has effected her life, it is linked to the Title....and yeah do go give her a hug,...no one should go through what she is going through......Thank you for Utah Savage for bringing this into the light...

Friday Hopemongering and Thoughts about gardening and tending souls...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's Friday, there is much posted below, Michelle Obama's Hope Garden at the Whitehouse,Posts Covering Homeless Issues and Tent Cities ( Seattle, Reno and Sacramento), The Anniversary of the Iraq War and smaller articles about Whitehouse Criminals and other atrocities and agony that Obama has inherited....When I researched the story about Michelle's Whitehouse Garden I realized that we all need to Nurture Something right now, that the garden is not just about feeding mouths, it is about feeding souls....We are going through Hard Times, and yes, I blog it, but I also blog that we are strong and can help each other get through These Times. I am home working on "Silent Fallout",and watching Some March Madness.... stop by and visit.....but know that I believe in us, We The People. Think of ALL the Change that we pushed for these last few years....IT is Happening.

For the Friday Funny.....Click the title for George Carlin and ..."Stuff"...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John Legend " If You're Out There"....a really amazing song about us helping each other and Change we can make Happen....these are Hard Times...but in a funny way we are Better than we were a year ago...remember that.

Neko Case..."Hold On, Hold On"....

DOWN BELOW ARE UPDATES FROM TENT CITIES AND HOMELESSNESS CONDITIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY.....

I will continue to update and document about Tent Cities, Homeless-Ness Living Conditions (tents,squatting,RV's,etc). When you read and watch these videos below, remember Many of these folks were living in a home less than a year ago, many were working and were Regular Normal Families. It is easy for many to think that Homeless are Lazy or are on drugs or that they Want "to Live like that" ( I heard one Politician call them "Campers")....It has been estimated that 40% of the New Homeless Population are "Recession Refugees".They did not choose this Life, they are trying to survive What has happened to their lives. Many are Families and also Returning Iraq Vets, that have lost Jobs and Homes simultaneously. Please also understand Our Shelter Situation is Broken, many shelters are only Single Gender, so they seperate Families, others don't take or allow Children.Another issue is that many of these Shelters are FULL,night after night, so people are having to set up their own Shelters, and Homeless Communities. Also many Shelters are not set up for Working Poor, or those that are Job Hunting, some are not even available to the UnderEmployed Impoverished. We need to start thinking on Solutions for these people. Closing Tent Cities will not solve the Problem unless there is Adequate Shelter provided for Families and Working Poor.They are Real People with Real Stories and a little while ago....Many were Our Neighbors...

It is ALL Connected...The Loss of Jobs, Healthcare, and How Much the War has Cost ALL of us.In many ways it feels like ALL of us have been Katrinaed at this point.....

Do Watch the Videos Below....in many of the videos People tell their Stories and they are poignant, they are real people with Faces, Names and Histories....and Ponder this...165 Million Dollars would Feed and House Alot of Families. ( Or 218 Million as it is now up to as of today....)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Resident of Sacramento Tent City....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~..

A Tragic Haunting Homeless Shelter Story from Oregon......( from Fran at Ramblings...)Click the title....

The name she has aptly given this story is " No Room at the Inn " it is a serious issue that needs more attention...How Many Shelters are TOO full.....there are many issues we need to consider, about people being turned away, some have pets or families or children, others get there too late and have nowhere to go.

Sacramento Tent City Update:::Mayor of Sacramento has promised to find Shelter for his Largest Tent City....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I read this story last night that the Tent City in Sacramento is about to be facing changes, and it is inspiring that the Mayor realizes that this is an intolerable situation and is trying to remedy it....I hope the Media publicizes it as it would inspire Other Mayors to also create safe haven for People that have lost Everything.Tent Cities are imerging because many shelters are Single Gender and do not allow families or families with pets.Another problem is that many that are homeless are still trying to work and save money to find an apartment or home to rent. But for folks living in shelters, they have to wander from shelter to shelter during the day to claim a "sleeping spot". Tent Cities also allow people to keep their possessions and cook for themselves, it allows some independence. For women and children and families Tent Cities also offer some limited degree of Community and safety. We must watch this and see what happens to these families.

Click the Title to read Reuters Article on it, here is a snippet:::
"Tent city residents and police say the camp had existed for at least a year and had expanded after several smaller clusters of homeless settlements were shut down.Johnson said his plan included enlarging existing shelters, opening a short-term tented shelter area at a fairground, and creating "permanent housing opportunities" for an additional 40 homeless individuals.He said city officials would meet individually with each of the tent dwellers to discuss options, and a special task force would finish devising a long-term strategy for all the city's known homeless.The plan, which will be financed from various public funds, will be submitted to the City Council for approval next week."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
March 9th Video of the Sacramento Tent City( NBC) shows the economic plight of these Families.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




Previous Video this month posted Down Below, raises Questions is the Sacramento Tent City being closed due to Embarrassment, or are they really acting in good faith to help these Homeless Families and provide better shelter. In the Video the City Attorney speaks of "cleaning" the area, and that the area is "Private" Land, someone needs to ask WHO owns the Land. I think in some ways, maybe their tented Community should be respected and proper water and bath facilities provided.....What will happen to the Tent City Residents, are they going to be merely "removed" by Law Enforcement....Remember this is their "HOME" , their Community- Hundreds have lived there for monthes.....It is true during the day many of the Tent Residents do travel during the day, either to work, or job hunt, or yes some do panhandle. People in these Tent Cities are doing what they need to do to do to survive, or attempt to survive. They are not "druggies" or vagrants or lazy people, they are people who have suffered an Economic Devastation.....and they need to be Remembered as People. Real people...and maybe once Our Neighbors not long ago.

3.20.09 4 PM Update and new video from the Mercury News.....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Video about The People of Tent City in Sacramento....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Governor visited the site March 19th, yesterday , the same day the President came to California. ( I wonder if Arnold shared this story with Obama on the Place back to DC last night ?). I am still hoping that all the attention to this Tent City will show America and DC How Bad the problem is....

***ABC 20/20 Tonight is Covering People losing their Homes, Hotel Families and Shelter Families, I will post the Video when I find it.It was called "Life on the Edge : the New Homeless" by David Muir.
****Chris Janson is also doing more followup on People Losing their Homes on Sunday on NBC Dateline.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On a Personal Note:
I first saw this Sacramento Tent City in 2005 - it is visible by Train, and it was smaller about 100 tents/occupants. Now it is up to about 400 people, and perhaps 40% are "Recession Refugees" that have arrived this year. The Tent cities are not new, merely growing - silently and at an increased alarming rate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday Update:::
( thank you Betmo) Here is another update on this tent city, and it is good that it is getting more and more coverage....this also helps the other tent cities.

And in Venice California the Homeless live in RV"s, that line streets....

More On Venice made by a local....

It's Not Just Tent Cities that are Spreading...It's Families Moving to Hotels

CBS did this story and it is about the families that can not afford Rent so are moving into hotels....this is Costa Mesa California..