My idea of what speaking truth to power means…
At times the world of political blogging is caught up in bullshit and hypocrisy and you risk losing your true focus as how you can make a difference. Being involved with 1Matters and volunteering last year at Tent City as well as my involvement this year keeps me centered on, beyond the partisan bickering, false promises and games people play, that real lives are at stake. While the even the phrase “speaking truth to power” has been over used by politicians, it was the Quakers who used the phrase because, “it’s important that we keep witnessing to what love can do” that what is needed to “transform that power was bold and uncompromising truth.”
It’s impossible to not see the love at Tent City, it’s impossible to not see the love at Food for Thought and it’s impossible to not watch this video and see what is possible, not just through 1Matters but so many places in Toledo and outside of Toledo.
Only a few blocks from the RNC is; Dorothy Day Center
Meals, food shelf and medical care for homeless and near-homeless individuals in the Metro area.
http://www.ccspm.org/dorothy_day_center_info.aspx
But remembering back to many posts, people think that the people that use the shelter should just get jobs, stop asking for handouts, it’s not so bad out there as the commentator dines on steak and a nice salad, people are socialists for caring about others, don’t use my tax dollars for them….etc…
“Day to Day, September 3, 2008 · We visit the Dorothy Day Center, a homeless shelter across the street from the Republican National Convention. Father Estrem, who runs the shelter, discusses how the RNC has impacted homeless life and where poverty stands on Republican and Democratic agendas.”
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94235621
September 4th, 2008 at 8:47 amIt turns out that there is a hearing today about the “Lucas County Homelessness Board Case Plan.” Let’s hope 1matters is front and center today at Government Center.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:50 amThanks Frances, that was announced at last week’s Toledo City Council meeting. I didn’t think anyone on Council was in opposition of the TLC Homelessness Board Case to Care plan that would necessitate 1Matters making this a huge issue, it’s not something Ken mentioned on the 1Matters site. I would hope that none on Council would be in opposition to this…
September 4th, 2008 at 12:46 pmI doubt there will be an issue, but there certainly was an issue last year.
See this Blade article from December 2007:
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071219/NEWS16/712190362/-1/NEWS
Some pertinent quote from the story above demanding accountability:
“Ken Leslie is accusing the board of bureaucratic sluggishness, wasteful spending, and possible fraudulent activity.”
Here is another:
“That is one of Mr. Leslie’s more sweeping allegations, that the homelessness board has been fixated on generating one planning document after another, rather than carrying anything out.”
Finally:
September 4th, 2008 at 1:58 pm“The Rev. Dan Rogers, the Cherry Street Mission’s president and chief executive officer, said Mr. Leslie’s complaint “has merit.”"
True, that did happen last year but somethings have changed since then and from what I understand Ken is in support of the Case to Care plan, moving forward while still concentrating on accountability.
I understand your concern, but what I was trying to do was share why I think Tent City is important and to try to encourage the positive things that happen there as well as by groups like Food for Thought.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:12 pmThanks Lisa and Frances,
Yes, there certainly ARE outstanding issues, and we (1Matters) still have problems with several items, and are still nudging them in the ribs asking “what about the people?”
But we need to judge each item separately.
In this case today’s hearing was about the Community Ten Year Plan. This plan is required by HUD to get funding. We (1Matters) always try to do what is best for the homeless, which in this case is to support the plan.
Now, the next question is, and I asked this at the hearing, with this federal money that is coming, are we doing with it the best we can? How do we know? What are the performance measurements?
ONE agency is in line to get 44% of the 5 plus million in this year’s application, is this the best use? Do they handle 44% of the homeless? Or do it 44% better? How do they know?
As for “bureaucratic sluggishness”, that will never go away. But we certainly can keep prodding them, keep asking, “What about the people? They matter!”
September 4th, 2008 at 6:35 pmThanks Ken, and the video in my opinion…rocks!
September 4th, 2008 at 8:11 pm