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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04B-Public Comments - '-' - :~ov. 21. 1994 t-1\'<- 'i)O-.} ~ X(LD)lf<t! 1200 H'; 11 Drive San Bernardino, CA Mayor and Common Council 600 "D" St. San Berna rd i no, CA am addressing you today in behalf of the homeless of San Bernardino. For the last two years at Court Street Square, and for three years before that in other parts of the city, the students at Cajon High School have been helping to feed homeless people in San Bernardino. For two years before that students from Colton participated in feeding homeless people. For at least five years before that students from other schools where I have worked have fed homeless people. Throughout this time r have been involved in this project I have not seen solutions for this problem. The poor continue to live in boxes, under bri'dges, in parks. in abandoned autos. They don't go away. Mostly they live in the downtown area. They did not arrive in San Bernardino when I did; they were already here. r noticed them on the streets, at stop lights, standing in lines hoping for a warm meal. They are dirty, unwashed, poorly clothed, and poor. My heart is moved with compassion as I see them. That poor person could be me. Or you. ~ /l A _ A _I ~- ~ _ . rp\.V ///:v/'t Y " - ".,-""", 2 About fifteen years ago I saw a Donahue show that changed my life. He interviewed a number of homeless people who described their lives in graphic detail. They told about climbing into dumpsters to obtain food. As a result of that program I began to try to eat as a homeless person might eat. I climbed into dumpsters, waited outside of fast food places, and rescued "good" garbage for' one week. I had a place to go, and after my excursions into the dumpster. I returned to a warm, safe home where I took a shower. washed my clothes. scrubbed and peeled the vegetables. boiled them thoroughly, seasoned them, and then ate them. They still smelled like a dumpster. My intellect told that the food was nourishing and no longer contaminated, but my emotions told me I was eating food that was unfit for human consumption. It was one week too long for me. I hated everything I ate. It was all repulsive and disgusting to me. There is an Indian proverb that says something to the effect that you should not judge the way a man walks until you have worn his moccasins. After one week exploring dumpsters, I have a feel for what the homeless have experienced, and I had a roof, shower, washer and dryer, and cooking facilities. At the end of that week I promised that I would do whatever I could to help those in need. You have Donahue to thank for my presence here today. Without that program I would be unaware of the depth and omnipresent need. "'-' - ~ ~ I mentioned that the students at Cajon have been participating in helping the homeless. They are doing much more than that. These students visit the elderly in convalescent hospitals. They sing and dance and make valentines for the elderly. Mrs. McGregor's choir classes are presently collecting cans to buy food for homeless children. She also puts on a Christmas program each year' . Price for admission, just one can of food for the hungry. Peer Leadership collects stuffed animals for the children of AIDS. Student Council puts together Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets for those in need. I am sure similar programs exist in the other schools in San Bernardino. I know that at Pacific, several teachers coordinate an International Picnic to celebrate the beauty and diversity of the multi-ethnic cultures we find on our campuses. When I started this program of feeding the homeless at Cajon, one parent gave me thirteen turkeys and 100 pounds of potatoes. Other parents participated. Yearly, about fifty students and parents from Cajon turn out to help with the meals we fix for the needy. This is not the same group year by year; these kids graduate. We have a new group each year. These students have a vision that they can do something to make a difference in this world, in San Ber'nardino. They know they make a difference in this ........ .~..,...,. 4 world. They have seen hungry people fed. They have touched the face of a child wearing a dirty poncho and a dirty smile. I've overheard them say. "I wish I could take off my clothes and give them to these people." These are the leaders, not of tomorrow. but of today. I say of today, because I believe that because of what we do here today, you will be changed and want to do more to help those in neec. We live in complicated times. I read in the Sun recently that San Bernardino is the second worst city in the U.S. in regards to crime. That's r'ight. isn't it, Or'. Carlin? I'm sure I remember you reading that statistic to the Council. Which of us hasn't been touched by family or friends whose lives have been ravished by drugs? Which of us doesn't know of a teenager who has been murdered? As if what is happening in our immediate neighborhood isn't enough. we watch or read the horrible news about what ,s happening in Los Angeles. My point is we ~ make a difference in our community. Last year I had a quintuple bypass. There are action steps to take for recovery. You will easily follow my analogy, 11m sure. Part of my heart is not functioning cor'r'ectly. But the muscle of my heart must be exercised regularly and patiently. I must continue to lose weight. Of course, watch my diet, and drink plenty of water. The part of my heart that does work must carry the load for the rest of it. The working part is not sitting _.. ...,......' 5 around complaining that it has to work harder, it is just overjoyed that it is still beating and that it is getting blood to the rest of my body. Even my hair is growing better. Last year when I wanted to use Court Street Square to feed the homeless, Tim Steinhaus gave me tons of reasons why I shouldn't. . no food, mind you, just lots of excuses, He said that the Square didn't have bathroom facilities for 200 people. Well, shortly thereafter there was a carnival and later yet there was snow and ice. I think that there were 2000 people there. Tim said that the Square was designed to entertain people. I told him that he would be happy to know we would entertain them. We had a Sunday brunch and fed about 200 people and had IT Day (that's International Togetherness) and held a five-hour program put on by people from allover San Bernardino, the bulk of whom School. Tim was not happy. were students from Cajon High This week he suggested that I put on the Thanksgiving Dinner at Cajon High School, that's way out by the University, probably about eight miles. I don't think the calories produced in food would cover the sixteen-mile trek. -~ 6 But it's become a bigger issue than calories now. It's a matter of discrimination. One thing Tim said was that the Square was not made for "those people" to come to. He said that the Mayor and Council told him that the Square could not be used to feed the homeless, that they didn't want to encourage Ilthose people" to come to the square. Although Tim says that the Square is not designed to feed large groups of people, every Friday night you can see people kickin' it, listening to music, drinking beer, and EATING. I believe they even used the bathrooms. I found myself not believing Tim Steinhaus. The Mayor, himself attended IT DAY and saw the homeless there, yet he wrote a proclamation supporting IT DAY the following year. What in more international than the group of homeless who inhabit the streets of San Bernardino. You see all cultures, ages, sexes, religious faiths. You see a microcosm of San Bernardino; you see the heart of downtown San Bernardino. Yes, it is the part of the heart that is not working, but it is still alive. We who are working should rejoice that this group lives. We who live in the periphery of the downtown area should rejoice that we work and can pump life into the non-working part. Imagine what would happen to my body if the working part of my heart said, "I'm not sending any more blood to you in that left ventricle. You're not sharing the work of the heart, you're just dead weight. Boy. are you a piece of junk'" In addition to the analogy about the physiology of "'..- -.... 7 heart. we must think of the heart in the matter of having heart, of Ilaving compassion. Tim Steinhaus told me on Thursday afternoon that the Mayor and Council told him that the homeless could not be fed at Court Street Square. He wants to know why J and students from Cajon High School want to use Court Street Square to feed the homeless a Thanksgiving dinner there. There are lots of reasons: a covered place in case of inclement weather. electricity. tables, central location. We are taking the food to the heart of the problem, and if we can't do some little thing to help these people occasionally, then just what is the purpose of all of our computerized programs and giant expenditures to improve the downtown area? The benchmark of a society is the manner in which it treats its weakest members. those who cannot speak or fight for themselves. Look around, do you see the homeless here? Which of you campaigned for the vote of the homeless? Which of you encouraged them to register to vote? Why not? These are the disenfranchised. J've heard the homeless comment that they appreciate so much what the kids are doing for them. They appreciate the smiles. the caring. the loving preparation of that food. Why do you go home for Thanksgiving? You can get 4 '......~ 8 calories at the Salvation Army, and they are doing an awesome work. But the love comes from the heart of these young people who know they can make a difference in one little part of their world. What I want to know is this, did Tim tell me the truth? Did the Mayor and Council tell him that the students of Cajon High School, or any high school, could not use Court Street Square to feed homeless people. Can the Square be used to sell booze and food, but not to give a Thanksgiving meal to those who have no home to go to? I don't think you want that. I think you have more respect for those homeless human beings than that. I believe that the people of San Bernardino, and the Mayor and the Council are actually inspired by the work of young people like this, young people that sometimes come from an environment that is no more than one board removed from the people they are going to help. And that board could be the one you are sitting on today. Isn't this what we all want to see, young people trying to make a difference in their community. This is what this generation of youth has to offer their community and their world. We are taking heart to the heart of San Bernardino to give heart to people who have lost heart.