ELECTIONS,LIES,and other POLITICALLY CORRECT BULL

 I originally wrote this before elections, for some reason it didn't post. I think it's still relevant.
 In this blog I wish to clear the air. My profile has little info on me except anti government blurb. The reason being, this blog is about homelessness in the richest nation on earth. I believe our leaders are the main cause. I am a chef by trade, unable to ply my craft any longer, but I can spew my mouth off.
Not being a professional writer, I really don't care about political correctness. If I think I have seen a spade, I will not call it a heart. If I hurt someone's feelings, I'm sure there are plenty of other blogs that will rub your ego the way you want them to. If you want to comment ,complain, complement, correct my spelling, feel free, I barley know how to type and post pictures here. Someday I will figure out the site. Meanwhile read my post, talk to others ,bring awareness to the fore front of national discussion. People just like you and me are being swept under the rug more and more daily. We must stop this. Everyone is worried about Ebola, a massive undertaking underway, you need to come in contact with the infected fluids to get it. What do you have to come into contact with to get starvation and homelessness? Next time you are eating out and a homeless person walks by, be thankful and remember somewhere,not far,a dinner is being held that cost thousands of dollars a plate , so one guy can pretend to care for what ?
Unlike my other post, this one will force the reader to read my ranting first than view some of my shots.

 Election time is fast approaching,take a minute to listen and observe. Look at the millions and millions being spent on campaigns in your backyard and across the nation. All we hear or read or see  from the hopeful electors are the same sound bites Madison Ave. has determined the masses want to hear. How can one justify spending millions on a $70,000..00 a year job.
HAS THE MASSES BECOME LAMBS UNABLE OR WILLING TO THINK AND SEE ...ORWELLIAN VISIONS HAVE OVERCOME. ??

Easy. Wake up and look. When was the last time someone went into a elected position as an average person, and left that position without a great amount of wealth and personal advancement.

I have interviewed hundreds of persons living in the streets, none have held public office, none have received any visits from hopeful representatives,though many have the right to vote.
 None receive the kind of aid our politicians receive. Of all the political ads this season I have only heard one, once ,address the homeless issue. Are these people on the streets citizens represented the same as us? Do they matter to those who don't even answer their own phones? My opinion ....NO>>>NO>>>NO. We are barely represented as it stands when we are hard working individuals. These people lose more connection the longer they are on the streets. Those in plush offices with finely polished mahogany doors and furniture do not even see them.

Someday never comes

In 1977 ,a pretty naïve girl and the saying " head west young man" filled my head with a desire so strong, only death would have prevented me from venturing to the state I was born in , yet didn't remember. I was 22 years old, had a strong home base, had my eyes set on full forward, LIFE, that was it. It was the end of whatever started in the mid sixties , then sort of ...sold out...for lack of a better description. I had planned well for my new life. My girl and I talk about it for a year and saved.. We had started planning on new years eve 1976. We both worked two jobs, of course it was bi-centennial year in Boston so we had to stay here for that too. New Years 77 was a different story,
Time to go.

D and I were indestructible.
Beautiful  L.A.  About to be conquered by D and Al. Bold ,young, idealist with plans. Our plans were to head north to Carpentaria, her cousin was there all set up. We had a nice nest egg ,we should have been all set to establish ourselves, so we thought.  I was well into a restaurant management career by this time with 4 years of Friendly's Ice Cream' management on my resume. D could work any farm, handle any animal hands down. Neither one off us were lazy, just over eager and new to a cruel world. Lessons were about to come hard and fast. Dees' cousin Drew and his girl Lisa had a place by the ocean 12 miles north of Santa Barbara, said they could get us in if we headed that way. Told us Sambos, a restaurant chain headquarters was up the road to send along my resume , he would carry it ahead for me. Our first view of L.A. above, on the overnight stay, waiting, for the bus to Carpentaria the next morning. Little did we know or did we even imagine that in a few short months we would be homeless on these very streets and actually miss the cold comfort of our homes in the wintery northeastern states.

Jim, ironically, from Vermont, was the only person from the Santa Barbara area who did not rip us off. I took this in Drew's' apartment one morning shortly after our arrival. Across the street from this window is a campground that led to the Pacific Ocean with a view of drilling platforms in the distance. Somewhere in my 45 years of photographs' I do have shots but I doubt I have enough life left in me  to find them. We lived in the campgrounds. I gave Drew $1700.00 to process  with management ,for our own apartment, he was working there. D got a job on our second day in town, in a sandal factory, got paid by the piece, daily, cash. Sambos', that restaurant chain, I looked like an ass, had no resume for me , so the process was starting from scratch. Drew apologized, he forgot to walk the three blocks up the street  the previous month. Back then it was all done by snail mail. Still  all was good, we were young ,following our dreams, living the virtual hippie life. making sand candles to sell on the beach walks, involved with the peace and the love thing. In Californian in the 70's  it was  the same as it is today only worse, if you had no car, phone, or no place to call home, an employer did not want to talk to you. To get around proved hard and time consuming. The scenery in lower Ojai Valley is beautiful as my eyes can attest to, film was expensive, my shots were few, my skills were not well developed if you will excuse the pun. Aside from the restaurant headquarters, there were no other food service institutions within 15 miles, and Rapid Transit District or RTD was anything but. A month went by, still no prospects for sustainable work on my end ,D still had piece work. Savings getting low, no apartment open yet. We were meeting some great people along the way, one of whom would be instrumental in preventing two souls from becoming lost. Jill and Alice are two girls we met camping and Jill's' mom Jean Menagay.  I'll get back to "Saint Jean " later.

 April 4th saw D's birthday so a celebration was called for that night. We had been there three months by then and never caused a problem, nor had we that night except for the fact that when the new park ranger went by and seen beer cans on the table, she stopped to check our id's .Lisa and D were only twenty so they got arrested. Had to go to Santa Barbara jail overnight, courts the next morning ,plead them out and pay their fines. Drew didn't have it. Just about all of our nest egg gone.
No transport back to Carpentaria  that night, walk 12 miles. Next morning campground informs us when our rent runs out we are out. Go over to the apartment complex Drew "worked' at, he and Lisa are gone ,they only subbed. Rent down payment to. So much for blood loyalty.   Quick thinking young and agile, we wasted no time and took up Jill moms offer and headed back to L.A. A couple a weeks earlier when we met Jean, she gave us contact info should we get into her neighborhood. She knew we had been waiting for a place to stay. She owned rental units in N. Hollywood. She had made sense when she said jobs would be easier to get for me there. Said she should have a place open soon , keep in touch. We Greyhounded back to LA, de-boarding below the iconic Columbian record building not knowing it would be our view in a tough few months time. I had contacted Jean to see if her offer was still open she said yes next month upstairs was going to be open and we could use her phone and address for apps and check with her there in the meantime. We grabbed a room at a flop hotel for a week and  had enough cash for flop house weekly rentals for 2 weeks if we didn't eat at this point. L.A., EVEN IN THE SEVENTIES  WAS VERY EXSPENSIVE. we stayed the first week in a courtyard motel on Lankershim Blvd, not to far from Van Owen and started pounding pavement  for work. Jean was right, restaurants were plentiful, I couldn't count that high, write that much or handle enough territory in one day. Luckily I have always had a good sense of direction, and always found our way back at night. That city is HUGH. By the end of the first week ,we realized we would have to make contingency plans to expand our resources and make them last in case. While in the campground we lived fairly normal ,kept clean, fed, regular routine type situation. Now.............
Money was getting real tight, we had Jeans' address and phone to use for on applications, but we were not living there yet ,we had no car, we did not know our way around, we had no local work reference, cell phones were on Star Trek only, I was 22 looked 17, D just turned 20 ,looked even younger, I'm sure we were making a big impression on L.A. We decided to keep our stuff in the lockers at the bus terminal,(pre9-11 thing) while we search for work. This way we were able to eat a little more. We would snooze in parks in the afternoons or at the libraries, then wander at night. When we would run out of clean cloths, I carried the dirty backpack, her the clean, we would splurge, get a room wash cloths, bathe , out the next day till next cycle. Five weeks in, Jean is having trouble getting her troubled tenant out. D and I are down to doing Safeway supermarket shopping fakes. Not proud of it ,but scared children are very creative. In the days before surveillance cams we went in the supermarket got a cart like we were doing regular shopping , picked from said cart till cravings ceased ,left cart full in aisle ,out door we went. For five more weeks we ate like this. Just about every supermarket in walking distance of Sherman Oaks, Thousand Oaks, Van Nuys, North Hollywood, Glendale....I don't know a long time ago, one tries to forget the bad ,emphasis on the good.
We got to the point we could no longer afford the lockers or rooms. It was roaming, all of our worldly goods were with us 24/7.  D was withdrawing more than I, I believe.




U-Haul became one our favorite snooze spots. Not fun to awaken to them being moved. This shot left was right before we had to get out of one real quick. Next shot was taken by pawn shop guy to make sure my camera worked. That was the last shot it took in L.A. until a week before we left a few months later when I got it out of pawn. When I had to pawn my camera we were scared by then, D had been doing the checking in with Jean all of a sudden. Then things started happening fast so forgive me if my sequences are off ,almost 40 years have since gone by.
 One Day I had just applied at a place on Roscoe called Naugles.  We were on the corner of Van Nuys & Roscoe  in front of a Bobs' Big Boy ,a lady seen us with backpacks and sleeping bags and asked if we were hungry. We denied it and thanked her. She boarded a bus. Later we found fifty dollars stuffed in our sleeping bags. We both broke down, that was big money in 77. D called Jean that night ,Naugles called, wanted me for graveyard shift, start in 3 days. Still no luck with apartment, but D and I were to come and stay on her couch for the interim, free, especially with D's problem! WHAT !   That is what she and Jean were talking about.  Jean helped her through Ca. law.  Roe vs. Wade just became law. I am even dumber than I ever realize. Females instinctively know things males will never understand. I have never questioned or judged, just given my blessing and asked your forgiveness. We stayed on Jeans' couch another month while she fought battles with her upstairs occupants. I worked graveyard, which disrupted her household, a single mom ,running an apartment complex ,a 10 year old girl, and I believe 3 teenage girls too. Jean Menagay , you  were a  SUPERWOMEN , I will never forget you ever, thank you. is so little to repay you with. One afternoon I was sleeping, D woke me up, said someone is outside with a rifle, I said call LA finest, they surround 6700 Kraft Ave . It was the black rubber around the wire on a tree. Jean laughed so hard she dropped all her pills out of her huge vitamin box. The disruption was disturbing us, making us feel uncomfortable, so we made arrangements to stay at Jeans boyfriend, Genes', house until things worked out. That took another couple of months, D would come to work with me at night, we sleep days, then we got our apartment, but by now we had become so homesick and jaded it was a very very bittersweet joy. At this point we were making rent. Food we took care of at the restaurant. I managed to get my camera out of hock. The last two shots taken were of Camille and her friend which I did not develop till long after I was back at the right coast and the young lovers had forever forged a new destiny.

 My blogs are not story land images being put into words, only very distant memories, how accurate?
From my view, anyway. My friend Roger has letters I wrote him then , he said he didn't know how we survived. What I regret the most is the way we thanked SAINT JEAN. I hope in her infinite wisdom and goodness she knew and understood and forgave me and D when on that Sat morn. of the third month , when our rent was due , We took her rent and boarded a Greyhound back to our homes.



1989

 



1999

2009

2014

Nothing has changed since then , homelessness, is homelessness.

For many,its' not a choice

Started out by the senators offices again. I can always find someone new here. Almost like setting up a barrel with hundreds of fish in it.
By this time on a beautiful fall morning it was warming up nicely, but this man was still bundled up shaking from the cold night. I sat next to him and tried to get him to speak. Asked all the usual questions, and got" no comprender",
Then I said, wish I had ten bucks to throw your way, should have seen how fast he spoke English. I continued on.

When out in the streets one must keep in mind at all times, how he  is being viewed by those who live here. All sorts of head games are played by very crafty individuals out here. I dress to fit in, bring as little notice to myself as possible, the camera I use is decent but inexpensive. Even a throw away camera would make me a target to the not so honorable. When my instincts kick in, and I feel I may be getting sized up, I make sure they notice the heavy hard walking stick I have made, and how well I handle it. I also try to show some empathy. Some of the alcoholics and junkies have done it to themselves, true, no arguing.

 




 But once their particular drug of choice takes hold, the rest of us only see an alternate versions of the "Walking Dead". Many if they survive, become disconnected.....from everything.............
Family if any left willing to deal with them, society in general, what you may call reality. For some they remain on the streets by choice, others....???? Who are real, who are scamming.
Not for me to judge, only to document, and share. I do know ,from the numbers out here,
many of them vets, that society has a problem, not being addressed by those who represent us.

The two shots of the man with the patch were taken as he approached me from the next block. When he seen he was my subject he came straight to me, saying" I'm eyeing you too." I told him why and he became quite affable. Mitch, gave direct answers to my questions. Yes, booze is why he ended up here for six or so years. Has fought it most of his life . Has worked, has no military. As we talked this couple were going by when they did a double take. Mitch introduced  Peanut and Melanie, who are proud occupants of a real apartment in Chicopee these days. They use to run in Mitch's' circle when they were on the streets. They gave their condolences to my host, on a loss of a companion that was part of their group, then they gave me their story. He was out here because of bad situations, no military or real skills a slight handicap, for a few years. She was a rebellious young girl in Buffalo, tossed out by parents, wandered out here, met Peanut, wandered for almost three years.  They are real proud of how far they've come. Mel is working and with a little help, was able to secure a apartment they can sustain.

Best of wish's were exchanged, we parted ways.
Pointing my lens across the street, barley make out a figure sitting on the curb.

Daniel, 6 years out here. Served in the Marines in the South Pacific. Worked the American Dream at Waste Management,
married one day, the next, wife dies of cancer, gets laid off, bills are huge, benefits ran out, on top of that brother and sister passed within a few months of each other. He was the oldest, that wasn't how it supposed to be. No drink or drugs, plenty of grief, in my opinion, unrequited, with no help from Uncle Sam. Was lucky enough to get into Taylor St shelter for winter. Won't go near Worthington St shelter. Doesn't like the clientele there.   

He points to these doors, "they give me work when they can, that's' the most anyone has helped". Indicating a women who came up behind me he said talk to her, so I did. Tina, out here because of drink, has no plans on stopping, likes it out here, has worked 56 jobs in her life. Just repeating what I'm told. Has a son in Westfield State 

Going to be late for a doctors appointment, so I gotta run , come back in a few days.

Beginning at MickyD's in the south end, Walter becomes the first victim of my inquiries today. 56, Navy ,Aviation Support. Did drink and drugs 25+ years ago. 9/23/79 he was a hit and run casualty  on Suffield St. Stuck with all those bills for life. He has worked as a millwright for many years , Allston Local #1121. Been out of work since April 2013, nothing coming in, 7 months behind on mortgage , nothing running at his place in Agawam, he leaves at 5am to walk across the river for 7:30, Bliss street breakfast. Spends the rest of the day walking a beat of open pantries. He knows he will return to his home someday soon and find it padlocked but for now he is thankful to his deity that he has a." heartbeat and can walk ". Walt pulls out his wallet, shows me his union card and a insurance card, puts them back in his wallet. All useless he exclaims. Pulls his cap off to show the scars on his scalp from the hit and run. All benefits exhausted, can't pay dues or premiums,let alone co-pays.

Points to the carriage saying it won't be long.
What can I say to this man.
Wish him well ,thank him, walk off in thought.

   



Two Hours till lunch, line starts early .

Approaching the bus terminal I spy Roger, who I met a few weeks back at the senators office.

When asked what happened he said he was hiding his cans and got jumped. He didn't want to dwell on it and moved on.

walked home along bikeway

this is not thrash

a riverfront apartment

well concealed

Quick check under North End Bridge
            still there

climbed down and up on my butt
no elevator

 Noticed the roof  may be giving these tenants trouble.
 Noticed also I am not as limber as I once was.
After this last trek, my only thought is to get these pegs raised. Hobble across the bridge to my bus stop and home.
So far I am still lucky.

How to slip through the cracks

My wife and I took a trip to Northampton for an appointment she had.

As we got off at exit 18,we came upon this man.

`
 Her business was
                                         

                                          4 tenths of a mile                                          

                                                      away 

                so I decided to hoof it back and see if I could get his story.

Meet Jay

 

                                                              Jay wasn't shy about talking to me.
First thing I said to him was that he didn't look homeless, in fact you look as if your in better shape than me. His hair and body showed no signs of being on the street, his clothes were clean and in good repair. I had seen him smoking a cigarette when I drove by, so I said you seem to be able to afford a very expensive habit , along with good clothing and how clean his body was , he seen where I was heading with that , and started opening up. Jay admitted he wasn't completely on the streets yet , but fears being there shortly. He says he has two part time jobs ,which he walks to , and between the two of them he has trouble clearing $100.00 a week. He used to work construction at a high rate of pay. When he and his baby momma broke up ,child support was determined on that amount. When the good job ended he couldn't keep up. He claims he filed for amendments but the mother doesn't show up for the hearings , and the courts will not pursue it without her, in the meantime he just keeps getting further behind. Between that and stupid stuff he did in his younger days that gave him a record , makes staying afloat harder and harder each day. Jay says he floats from friend to friend for a place to stay, but he's not sure how long he can keep that up. Jay was born in the U.S., he did not serve in the military, gets no help from our government, and doesn't have a drug or drink problem.
I'm not here to judge or determine who is for real or not , but Jay looked me straight in the eye, if that means anything, as he told me his story. I told him I would probably be using his pictures and story publicly, he said all was good and I thanked him and moved on. There were other personal details he shared with me , putting them out here will not help him or his situation, they only made me believe him a little more.
 Could this be a scenario that is plausible? Is this the beginning of the spiral into the streets?
The problem is not a new one.

This was Paul 25 years ago along the banks of the Conn. River.

His dog Oscar

He asked me to not use his face

An out of work carpenter built his quarters along the banks of the river

                                            built a pier for fishing, a large part of his diet.

 

                                              even had his own bank deposit box and secure living space
 
                                                 
           

                          

     

 

I don't know what became of Paul, but I do know his problem started a lot like Jay's.

Once he lost what he once had , only his own skills would keep him and Oscar alive.

 

THIS PROBLEM IS NOT GOING AWAY.

Each passing day it continues to get worse , while the ones who represent us worry about overseas and illegal aliens.

Much more to come on this ongoing problem. 

Wave machine for sleep

 

 

                 This is 18 seconds, imagine, sleeping with it all night ? How hard you got it?

All of them are alcoholics or drug addicts.......

..........Said the security guard at Tower Square in downtown Springfield, in response to my questions about the homeless problem. Asked what problems they encounter and panhandling was the biggest, When I commented that most homeless I  have spoken to tend to avoid the public areas for multiple reasons such as ,law enforcement, not wanting to bring attention to themselves, and even pride and shame all rolled into one.

 I mentioned that a lot of the panhandlers I have come across are dressed better than me and many have vehicles somewhere nearby and many are scammers and this individual with a secure job and home insisted they all did it to themselves.I left this closed mind, in search of my true quarry. Although it was pouring cats and dogs, I continued , I still have a home to go to

At the bus station I encounter my first of the day. The man in blue asked me for change,(pic 1)
At which point my instincts kicked in. I told him I was sorry for his bad luck,but he had better shoes than I did and I carried nothing with me but my camera and cane. My instincts were vindicated about an hour and half later. These are the same two cooking heroin, for the needle the one in green is holding.

.
Before I was vindicated I came upon this man who didn't want to talk to me. Next to
this place is the North End Bridge,off I go. Once again instincts paid off.

I found waterfront real estate. This wasn't here last week,but then again most of the sites I documented last week are gone. The river is low , the last shot was taken from the next bridge abutment which is usually under water  Water level is up to the green area normally.

This place has all the amenities including a wok.  MORE TO COME!