EXCELLENT Holiday Slide Show with audio--**Please Watch**!!

[bobbolink]

Please watch this slide and audio show, and remember how so many are spending this holiday:
http://photos.denverpost.com/photoprojects/specialprojects/motellife/motellife.html

Then, please check these two DU threads, and take the SMALL action that is being asked.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4656815

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=4509397

Thank you.

and Merry Christmas.

[OneGrassRoot]

1. Huge K&R. It's heartbreaking, but it's reality and we must.....

keep it at the forefront and ACT.

That old phrase, "there but for the grace of God go I," is closer and closer for more and more of us....

There are excellent action links provided by bobbo as well.

Thank you!

[bobbolink]

2. "there but for the grace of God go I"

Isn't it interesting that we don't hear that phrase anymore?

This was done by an excellent photo-journalist with the Denver Post... he's done a whole series now on homeless people living in motels. The comments on the website are really horrendous.... I hope we can prove here on DU that "progressives" have a lot more heart and compassion than the people who post on the paper's website!

Thanks! :pals:

[JeffR]

10. Some of the comments on the Post site are breathtakingly ignorant.

Fortunately, there were a few comments that showed empathy and understanding of the plight these people are in, but it just sickens me that there are so many idiots out there who have bought into every myth about poverty and homelessness the Right has been trumpeting for thirty years or more.

[bobbolink]

11. Yes, It hurts to read them. THAT'S why JUSTICE is so important... and education!

We've let these excellent photojournalists get away with these human interest stories with no backup for far too long.. they MUST start educating people. And that's why I wrote to this one.

What he's done with this series is fantastic! But it can't stop there, and the ugly comments show why.

I invite you to also write to him, for that reason.

He's been GREAT, but needs to broaden his effort to include background information about lack of housing!

[Lyric]

3. Thank you, bobbolink

Homelessness and poverty are issues that all too often get lost in the midst of the political argument, when they SHOULD be at the forefront of the discussion. So many of these people are families with children, veterans, and people with serious illnesses--people that society has simply left to fend for themselves with whatever meager, temporary help that they can scrape together on a day-to-day basis.

Basic shelter, medical care, and food security are things that all people should be GUARANTEED as a right--not just a privilege for those who can afford it. I beg all of you, please take the time out of your day to take the actions suggested in the above posts.

It really is THAT important.

[bobbolink]

6. "I beg all of you, please take the time out of your day to take the actions suggested "

Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.

Its simple justice, isn't it?

JUSTICE should be what we're all about, eh?

Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.

:pals:

[Wetzelbill]

4. k and r

[Beaverhausen]

5. Thanks for posting this Bobbie. Merry Christmas to you!

:hug:

I hope you are doing OK.

[bobbolink]

7. It's an excellent series this photojournalist has been doing and deserves a wide audience.

Merry Christmas to you, too!!

:hug: :yourock: :hug:

[JeffR]

8. K & R

Thanks for this post. This is required viewing.

[bobbolink]

9. "This is required viewing." That's what I think... this is right out of Barbara Ehrenreich!

I strongly feel like it deserves much wider audience than just the Denvoid area.

Thanks! :hi:

[JeffR]

13. Glad I got to see this today, Bobbie

It's a reminder of how powerfully the media can be a force for good. It's all too rare nowadays.

[saracat]

12. Thank you Bobbolink. K and R

[bobbolink]

14. Thanks saracat! Good to see you again!

:yourock:

[Blue_In_AK]

15. kick

[trof]

16. King's Inn motel at LaGuardia.

Many years ago I was a pilot for TWA commuting from Boston to JFK and LaGuardia.
Sometimes my trip of several days terminated at one of those airports too late to catch the last shuttle (out of LGA) back to BOS.
So I'd call the Kings Inn and they'd send the van for me.
I'd be up at dawn the next morning to get the 6 a.m. Eastern shuttle.
I did say this was several years ago.
;-)

The Kings Inn was CHEAP.
AFAIK the cheapest motel near LGA.
It wasn't very clean.
I wouldn't walk barefoot on the 'questionable' carpet.
OK, it was yucky.
It seemed to be relatively 'secure'.
It was rumored that the place was a money laundering operation for the Mafia.
I would believe that.
NOBODY messes with the Mafia.

Anyway...I called one night to get a room and the guy who answered the phone told me they were 'closed'.
Closed? How could that be?
He then told me that the place was now operated by the city and was a homeless shelter.

And I remember thinking "Homeless shelter? People are LIVING there? Poor bastards."

I could get through one night, especially for the price, but I was on the way HOME. A nice, comfortable, warm, CLEAN home.

I understand your post.
Completely.
K&R

[bobbolink]

21. Beautifully written, trof! This is what many cities are doing... "Outsourcing" homelessness!

It's a scam, and it's a horrendous way to treat our citizens!

Thank you for expressing it so very well!

:yourock:

Now, I hope you'll give a call or two from the one link, and write a short note to Obama's Transition team at the other link.

And then ask your friends and family to do the same.

You have the insight, and I hope you will carry through on this one!

[trof]

50. Done and done. Thanks for your post.

[bobbolink]

51. Thanks so much for taking the step for action!!

Everything we can do to get people housed is worth the effort!

:yourock:

[G_j]

17. K&R !

[grantcart]

18. When I travel to Yuma I stay in a cheap motel where there are families

that have lived for 7 years - the kids have no place to play.

There are millions of families living in run down motels next to the prostitutes and the pimps.

[midnight]

19. Good idea. I wrote a suggestion for building green low income

housing to the transition team..... bobbolink thank you for remembering the homeless.

[bobbolink]

34. Thank you for writing to the Transition Team!

Much appreciated!

:yourock:

[Delphinus]

20. Kicking and Recommending

Thank you.

[JeffR]

22. Kick.

Anyone looking for brilliant documentary photography need look no further. Hearing the words of these folks that accompany the images makes for an incredibly powerful presentation.

[bobbolink]

24. An artist as a journalist! And, one with a heart.

What a combination!

I hope you sent him an email!

I've just spoken with a librarian here, and decided to also send a thank you to the editor of the Post, because this was on the front page, ABOVE the FOLD! (The story, not the slide show...)

We must acknowledge when the journalists come through for us, and it must have had the OK of the editor to get this far.

:bounce:

[JeffR]

26. You're right. They both deserve huge plaudits for this.

:dem:

[NanceGreggs]

23. Beautifully done, Bobolink ...

:kick: & REC'D!!!

[bobbolink]

28. Thanks, Nance.... it wasn't me.. I was just the one who was determined to see the photos

get larger appreciation.

Thanks for your support! :yourock:

[Fireweed247]

25. K&R

:kick:

[intheflow]

27. I've been thinking about you today, bobbolink.

Heard a story on NPR today about the huge increase in homelessness in Denver, and I sent prayers out to you for the good work you do up in Weld County. The slide show was very powerful, had me crying. :( K&R

[bobbolink]

31. Your kind words come at a really important time... Thank you!

I"ve been really down.

BUT... although I really appreciate your support, I'm not accomplishing ANY works, good or not. It's just not a sexy issue, and people don't want to hear about it.

I hope you will share that slide show with many others!

Thanks! :hi:

[intheflow]

33. Don't sell yourself short, bobbolink.

You are accomplishing more than you realize by being an ceaseless fair housing advocate here on DU. I actually don't know what you do up there, but I can't imagine you're not talking about this issue to every person you meet every day. Little pebbles eventually make big ripples in a pond. It's just that sometimes, it takes years for those ripples to spread--which of course doesn't help the folks who need help right this moment. The work of justice is long and relentless and disheartening, but dammit, somebody has to do it. You not only do it, you live it on many, many levels. So give yourself a break and a hug. And this one is from me for caring so deeply about your fellow humans. :hug:

[JNelson6563]

29. K&R for the many

I do believe many a DUer would be surprised to learn how many souls out there are but a moment away from this. Remember, if you grew up and/or have lived in a much more priveledged world, you can more easily play a part that isn't really you but helps you to survive in the world of the haves (and by haves I mean have a place to live and some stability, not yachts and private jets). Still have some decent clothes, have proper diction and read lots of books? Then you can more easily overcome dire circumstances than the dear souls in the slide shows you just watched.

There are so many who are living a lie, pretending to have it together, looking and acting the part, only to know desperation and near panic at every turn.

Oh and the shame, don't forget, those living the lie, fitting in with "normal" society, they are often ashamed to be in the same situation as those who never stood a chance. Society judges harshly and understands only success.

Be kind, don't judge and remember, that fine looking, reasonably well dressed soul you just passed could be but a moment away from homelessness and hopelessness.

Hugs and encouragement to all, we are all part of the human family. :grouphug:

Julie

[bobbolink]

35. YEs, many people are "hidden" and others don't know they are homeless.

Who WANTS to feel the shame and prejudice?

I sure don't.. but I speak up because it's the only way to get people to understand!

Thanks, Julie! :hug:

[varelse]

30. I'm afraid that one day, this will all "hit" me at once and I'll start screaming

and I won't be able to stop :grr:

Despite what the New York Times on Dec. 2 (2007) called an "acute rental shortage," HUD plans to spend $762 million to demolish public housing and replace it with only 744 new units of affordable housing. HUD will spend an average of $400,000 for each new mixed-income unit, while statements by HANO'S own insurance company have shown that many of the multiple-unit buildings to be demolished could be repaired for less than $10,000 per building

What the shit is this???

For the price differential, they could fucking GIVE every homeless person a home of their own. Oh, and meanwhile, let's make sure we pay some private contractors 400k per building to TEAR DOWN badly needed public housing so that it can be gentrified and re-sold at (knowing our government) a LOSS to the taxpayer and a gain for some contractor buddies of whoever in HUD dreamed up this "plan".

Goverment math - somehow the numbers always come up short for the people who need the most help, and there's always funds waiting somewhere for a no-bid contracter, there's government-owned instutions, services, or property for sale to a private company (for a "reasonable" price of 1/3 to 1/10 the real value), while ever increasing numbers of us go without.

Oh, yes, and we should all be mad enough to call our incoming government officials and demand a change of direction. I hate calling people (really! I don't ever answer my phone, either!) but I'm ready to dive in. This is fucking ridiculous.

[bobbolink]

45. Yes, that is indeed one of the best kept secrets.... it needs to be fought!

Another best kept secret is that MUCH more is spent on housing for muddleclass folks by the government... 4-5 TIMES the amount spent on housing for low-income folks!

Someone buying a million dollar house can get TAX CREDIT... which comes from you and me.

Yet poor folks are ware-housed in "shelters" or left on the street and in their cars.

Wadda country....

Does it matter?

[varelse]

52. I can't help but wonder

how we are supposed to be "proud" of this country.

I can't see it.

Not while a single veteran of one of our wars sleeps in the streets and spends his days begging for food money. Not while our elderly and disabled choose between rent, food, or medicine, cut their pills in half or turn the heater off or starve - or "choose" homelessness. Not while we tear down the homes, starve out the small businesses, destroy the communities and obliterate all traces of dignity and equal rights for our poorest citizens, in order to serve at the whims of the insulated 1% - the moneyed and untouchable elite at the controls of what we fondly and mistakenly refer to as a "democracy".

[saltpoint]

32. A kick.

A strong kick at that.

[JeffR]

36. Kicking again.

:kick:

[bobbolink]

37. Thanks for kicking for the night crew...

Hopefully there will be a few overnight Recs!

:hi:

[JeffR]

38. I hope so!

:hi:

[Shardik]

39. As someone who was homeless and felt that staying in a cheap hotel was a good day,

I applaud your posting this.

Sorry, I can't write more but this really does choke me up.

[JNelson6563]

40. Thanks

for kicking this and caring. :toast:

Julie

[bobbolink]

43. Thank you, Yeller Dawg!! Your voice is important!!

Please speak up to Obama on housing, and to your congresscritters on the legislation scheduled.

It would be much appreciated!

[undeterred]

41. Kick!

:kick:

[tishaLA]

42. Thanks for posting this. K&R

[asdjrocky]

44. Good work here bobbo.

I haven't been checking in much lately and I'm glad I got a chance to see this. K & R.

[bobbolink]

47. Thanks for watching it... please share it with others!

:hi:

[bananas]

46. k&r nt

[JeffR]

48. Kicking again

:kick:

[Joe Chi Minh]

49. To depressing to contemplate, Bobbo. I can't bring myself to watch

those videos. Still, it's never far from my mind a heart. Keep up the good work, matey.

[bobbolink]

53. I understand completely. What's important is taking the action!

Being very sensitive myself, and always on the side of the underdog, there are many things that I just can't watch. BUT... when there is something I can do about it, then I can take that on and feel much better.

"Still, it's never far from my mind a heart."

Thank you for caring.

Thank you for your loyalty to those on the bottom rungs! :hi:

[Joe Chi Minh]

54. Not at all. The same here. When I can do something about it.... there is no

substitute.

[tosh]

55. WOW!

This is beautifully done.

I know that stories like these are taking place everywhere right now - cities, suburbs, small towns.

So sad and so unnecessary.

Kick.