Opinion by Matthew Dixon (Matthew.d@streetbeacon.com)

Less than a year after its inception the Milwaukee’s Housing Trust Fund is being attacked from within city government.

Currently in the deliberative stages of the cities 2008 budget, Mayor Tom Barrett is considering drastically cutting one of the trust funds three main funding sources. The source in question involves revenue derived from the Potawatomi gaming compact. HTF legislation states that fifty percent of money exceeding the current gaming compact of $3.38 million is to be dedicated for the HTF, based on ‘08 estimates that figure would be $1 million.

But upon the advice of City Attorney Grant F. Langley, Barrett may decide to cut the Potawatomi revenue stream by nearly 60 percent. According to the Interface Council of Greater Milwaukee, Langley advised Mayor Barrett that he was not obligated to comply with the HTF legislation. As a result of Langley’s contrite council, Barrett is now considering only designating $400,000 of excess Potawatomi revenue for the HTF in ‘08, a $600,000 decrease.

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The poor will continue to struggle but iPod downloads may see an increase.

By: Matthew Dixon (matthew.d@streetbeacon.com)

In an attempt to tout themselves as champions of the poor, earlier this year Democrats pushed for, and got, the first increase in the federal minimum wage in over a decade. With the unfettered enthusiasm of a blind squirrel who mercifully stumbled upon a nut, Democrats touted the increase as the new congress following through on a campaign promise. But, lost amongst the self-congratulations and back patting, is the simple fact that a minimum wage increase misses the point.

Framed in the context of a family trying to survive on minimum wage, the increase is an obvious imperative. But this oft used portrayal of the average minimum wage earner is a misrepresentation. The numbers indicate that many minimum wage earners are not hard working heads of households, but are instead the iPod addicted, Facebook dependent youth of America.

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“Since January 2007, the SOHI District has assisted 74 businesses (both
existing and potential start-ups) for a total of 158 hours. There have
been 976 documented volunteer hours, 6 district events and $917,000
worth of investment this year. The district has also had two façade
renovations and approximately $11,000 in grants to assist local
businesses,” according to Main Street Manager Keith Stanley.

By Paula Lomazzi
(Courtesy of the Homeward Street Journal)

Disclosure: The Milwaukee Street Beacon is a member of the North American Street Newspaper Association. Due to budget reasons, we could not afford to send a representative to this annual meeting.

The North American Street Newspaper Association held a three-day conference this July in Portland, Oregon, hosted by Street Roots. Homeward Street Journal sent a representative, along with representatives from across the United States, Canada and a European representative from the INSP. These annual conferences are a chance for those involved in the street newspaper movement to share experiences, knowledge and technical support.

This year’s theme was “Changing the World One Newspaper at a Time”. Most member papers have an advocacy side to them promoting affordable housing, adequate shelter and civil rights for homeless people. Content varies, from homelessness and housing articles to current events and entertainment. All papers include a vendor program, where homeless people are able to sell the papers to earn money.

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(Courtesy of Street Roots)

WASHINGTON D.C. - A record 47 million Americans did not have health insurance last year, while the percentage of children without insurance rose for a second consecutive year, according to US Census Bureau data released at the end of August.

The census data showed that 8.7 million American children were uninsured last year — 1 million more than in 2004, according to the data.

The census data found that, compared with 2005, the number of uninsured Americans rose 5 percent last year to 47 million, due in large part to cutbacks in employer-sponsored health coverage. It also found that 11.7 percent of US children under 18 lacked health insurance, compared with 10.9 percent in 2005.

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By Paula Lomazzi
(Courtesy of the Homeward Street Journal)

SACRAMENTO, CA — A lawsuit was filed August 2, 2007 in the federal court challenging Sacramento’s anti-camping ordinance and confiscation of property without prior notice or proper storage.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of 11 individual plaintiffs who have had their property taken by City and County work crews and/or have been cited for camping on public property. Loaves & Fishes, Sacramento Homeless Organizing Committee (SHOC), and Francis House have joined the suit as plaintiffs. The lawsuit charges that the City and County practices are an ongoing violation of rights guaranteed by the 8th, 4th and 14th Amendments to the U. S. Constitution. Class action certification is being sought.

“City and County governments in Sacramento have a long history of taking basic survival equipment from homeless people without proper notice,” said Mark Merin, the principal attorney for the group. “Tents, sleeping bags and blankets are tossed into County dumpsters by Sheriff’s work crews and homeless people are left to shiver in the night. Deputies then write them tickets for sleeping. It is our goal to get these practices stopped before the onset of winter.”

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By Matt Johnson (Courtesy of Street Sense)

Chronic homelessness has dropped by 70% over the past two years in the Portland, Oregon region, a result of the area’s 10-year plan to end homelessness by increasing permanent affordable housing and access to social services, according to a national group that advises local governments on such plans.

A chronically homeless person is defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as an “unaccompanied disabled individual who has been continuously homeless for over one year.”

Beginning in December 2004, Portland and Multnomah County adopted a “Housing First” approach which quickly moves the region’s homeless into permanent affordable housing linked to supportive services, including medical care and mental health services.

This approach allows the homeless to bypass stays at temporary shelters and secure a stable foundation and network of support to manage their condition. Portland’s plan included the support of the nonprofit, public and business sectors.

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By: Mia Boyd (Courtesy of Street Sense)

The nation’s supply of affordable housing could expand by 1.5 million units under a bill introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), chairman of a congressional committee that addresses housing issues.

Introduced in late June, the bill, H.R. 2895, would establish a national affordable housing trust fund to “produce, preserve and rehabilitate” 1.5 million housing units for low-income citizens over the next 10 years.

“The growing shortage of affordable housing is one of the most serious social and economic problems facing our country,” Frank said. “Given our severely constrained fiscal realities, we are today doing the best we can to address this - creating a low income housing trust fund that will be paid for in ways that do not draw from federal tax revenues.”

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Scheme to buy votes one of twelve counts levied against McGee.

By: Matthew Dixon (Matthew.D@streetbeacon.com)

“I have one great political idea. . . . That idea is an old one. It is widely and generally assented to; nevertheless, it is very generally trampled upon and disregarded.” Can you guess which “political idea” that abolitionist lion and American statesmen Fredrick Douglas was describing in an 1852 speech?

No life lines, but here are a couple hints: In a political environment saturated with complex issues such as immigration and healthcare reform, it is an idea genius in its simplicity. Also, it is an idea not reserved exclusively for the political elite, but, at least in theory, is a device used to level the political playing field.

Give up? The answer is the institution of voting. That’s right, the “great political idea” alluded to by Douglas is the often overlooked act of voting.

Douglas, renowned for his eloquent contribution to the abolitionist movement, moonlighted as an equally outspoken proponent of voting rights for both African-Americans and women. He was a leader who held in sacred regard the idea that a healthy democracy necessitates a voting system free of racial and gender bias.

I mention Douglas’ contribution to the fight for voting equality as a conduit for which to address the awkwardness that is the Michael McGee situation. The differences between the two men are obvious. To summarize, McGee’s controversy plagued 15 minutes may be up shortly, while the passage of time will never succeed in outdating Douglas’ transcendent contribution to the contemporary social fabric.

But, oddly enough the two do share a common thread.

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The following is an update on the current funders for the camera initiative and the current progress of it, courtesy of Keith Stanley, Main Street coordinator for 27th Street.

“This program could not move forward without the support of these major
contributors, the ATT Foundation, Avenues West Association, Local Initiative Support Coalition and the Potawatomi Foundation. We are excited to see such city-wide
support.”

“The law firm of Foley and Lardner has offered their services to deal with the issue of liability. This is a major step and we thank Foley and Lardner for their commitment to this
community and the SOHI District.”

“Seen in the picture below, on Tuesday, July 17th many SOHI partners met
to discuss our overall security strategy. ”

The partners to the project are listed below:

1. Kilbourn Kitchen - 901 N. 27th Street
2. Shah Haqqi - 949 N. 27th Street
3. 27th Street Optical - 921 N. 27th Street
4. Furniture “R” Us - 965 N. 27th Street
5. Brother’s Food - 966 N. 27th Street
6. Judy’s Red Hots - 2635 W. Kilbourn
7. SOHI Building - 758 N. 27th Street
8. Grifols PlasmaCare - 2522 W. State Street
9. Aisha Hair Braiding - 829 N. 27th Street
10. Victoria & Urie Kapustin - 958 N. 27th Street
11. Chuck Hausmann - 954 N. 27th Street
12. Sunshine Beauty Supply - 804-806 N. 27th Street
13. China Taste - 749 N. 27th Street
14. Ricky’s on State - 2601 W. State Street
15. Ambassador Hotel 2300 W. Wisconsin Avenue
16. Avenues West BID - 2301 W. Wisconsin Avenues
17. Laabs Pharmacy - 911 N. 27th Street
18. Potawatomi Foundation
19. AT&T Foundation
20. Local Initiatives Support Corporation

“Organized and hosted by SOHI Main Street, in attendance on July 17th
were representatives from Milwaukee Police Department, AT & T, Marquette
University, City of Milwaukee Department of City Development, LISC,
Avenues West, West End Development Corporation, and various business and
property owners along 27th Street. National staff from LISC facilitated
a discussion on best practices for neighborhood revitalization.”

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