September 2020 - Street Spirit

Month: September 2020

Toxic air prompts Berkeley and Oakland to open temporary emergency respite centers

By Alastair Boone on September 11, 2020

As the air quality climbed into the “very unhealthy” range on Friday, both Berkeley and Oakland opened clean air respite centers for unsheltered people and others who need a break from the toxic wildfire smoke. Here's what we know about where they are and how to utilize them.

Protestors demand ‘housing not barricades’ after UC Hastings settlement

By Jiffy Phan on September 1, 2020

Commentary Opinion

Community organizations such as House the Bay, Gay Shame, Coalition on Homelessness, Senior and Disability Action, Do No Harm Coalition, Every 28 Foundation, and more joined together for the march and rally to decry the settlement between UC Hastings and the City of San Francisco, which promises to remove all tents in the area with no offer of housing.

Late night on the Berkeley campus in the time of COVID-19

By Ace Backwords on September 1, 2020

First-person Opinion

When the Berkeley campus first went into lockdown, it was great for me. Because I had the whole campus to myself. But gradually, more and more people realized there was this big expanse of unoccupied green space right in the middle of the city. So more and more people are hanging out here every day.

A strange young woman appears on the Arcata street scene

By Ace Backwords on September 1, 2020

First-person Opinion

The street scene is like watching a movie. Except you only get the middle act of the movie. You don’t get the first act or the third act. You don’t know their life story—what led up to them being the people that they are. And you almost never find out how their lives turned out.

Remembering Ronnie Goodman: an artist with a ‘visual voice’

By TJ Johnston on September 1, 2020

Features News

After a lifetime of creating art while homeless or incarcerated, Ronnie Lamont Goodman was found dead in his tent on August 7. He was 60 years old.

Artists from around the Bay bring Youth Spirit Artworks’ tiny house village to life

By Jilly de la Torre on September 1, 2020

Arts and Culture Community Events News

As the Tiny House Village edges closer to its long-awaited opening date, many community groups are hard at work helping different pieces of the Youth Empowerment Village vision come together, including the vibrant artwork that has been popping up around the site over the last few weeks.

Twisted image

By Ace Backwords on September 1, 2020

Arts and Culture Cartoons

Each month, Street Spirit publishes excerpts from Ace Backword's comic strip, Twisted Image, originally published in the '80s and '90s.

Village of Love: a new kind of shelter in Alameda

By on September 1, 2020

News

The city of Alameda opened a brand new safe-parking site on August 17. It’s nestled within Alameda’s former Naval Air base, also called Alameda Point, where a 34-acre supportive housing community was established in 1999. Village of Love is operating both the new safe-parking site and the new adjoined Alameda Day Center, which provides a blend of peer counseling and supportive services for unsheltered people.

Remembering Mike Lee: organizer, activist, ‘Old Bum for Mayor’

By Zack Haber on September 1, 2020

News

Activist and former Berkeley mayoral candidate Mike Lee died at age 64 of complications related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in mid August. Housing activists and many people experiencing homelessness across Berkeley, Oakland and San Francisco reported sadness at his loss and admiration for him in the wake of the news.

We were locked in our rooms due to COVID-19

By Gary Child on September 1, 2020

First-person Opinion

We were locked in our rooms due to COVID-19 but allowed to use the restroom with, at times, 10 to 15 inmates. We line up for meds four times a day at least 10 to 20 deep. If you ask the correctional officer (CO) to wear gloves, they’ll refuse your meds.

Smoke leaves no escape for the unsheltered

By Kate Wolffe on September 1, 2020

News

The smog-like conditions that have settled over the Bay Area in recent weeks are unavoidable for all Bay Area residents. However, unhoused people face a disproportionate burden when the air quality is bad.

Month: September 2020

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