Street Spirit is an independent newspaper in the East Bay dedicated to covering homelessness and poverty from the perspective of those most impacted. Est 1995.
Street Spirit is an independent newspaper in the East Bay dedicated to covering homelessness and poverty from the perspective of those most impacted. Est 1995.
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In Dialogue
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In Dialogue is a column in which Street Spirit speaks with community leaders.
It’s time to rethink eviction policies in light of the coronavirus crisis, says author Matthew Desmond, who has been tracking eviction moratoriums, utility cutoff bans and other renter protections during the pandemic.
Dr. Jay speaks about how unsheltered people can protect themselves during these tough times, and what their housed neighbors can do to provide support.
In 1995, Sally Hindman wanted to start a home- less advocacy newspaper in the East Bay. Street Sheet already existed in San Francisco, and she saw an opportunity in Berkeley and Oakland. She quickly enlisted Terry Messman to be the founding editor and together, they got to work.
Jesse Arreguín has been the Mayor of Berkeley since 2016. He ran on a platform of building more affordable housing, raising the minimum wage, and changing the city’s approach to addressing the homeless crisis. In the years since, he has been met with both praise and criticism: while some have embraced his leadership, others have argued that he is not as progressive on the issue of homelessness as he led his constituency to believe—such as with his yes vote on the council’s recent overnight RV parking ban.
Boots Riley is a veteran of Oakland’s political scene. Frontman of hip hop group “The Coup,” Riley has lived in the area ever since his family moved there when he was young. As he grew up, he became interested in activism at an early age.
"What’s forming in my mind is Jesus in the temple when he became angry at the unjust and very exclusive systems of society. That is the very reason that there are the poor and the marginalized. It is not enough just to provide food, clothing and housing."
This atrocity was happening in a very wealthy city. It was happening right under our noses. It was very visible. And there was not the united voice of the faith community speaking out. That was the spark of Religious Witness. From that moment, I knew what I had to do.
The depth of the love and resistance and solidarity and strength that keeps people going in the face of this horror is really incredible. Even with all the horrors and the violence that the state inflicts on people, still there is something about the human spirit that doesn’t surrender.
“Love is ultimately the force that conquers death. Love is where the resistance comes from. If we love one another, we will help one another.” — Amir Soltani
