Vida: bookworm, caretaker, mountaineer
By Julia Irwin on In West Berkeley, not far from Fourth Street’s bright, bustling retail mecca, rows of old trailers hide in the shadows
Street Spirits
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Street Spirits is a monthly feature in which someone who lives on the street tells us their story.
Tokuchika Nishi: Dancer and street vendor in Tokyo
By Mariko Kazuki on Tokukicha Nishi, 39, has a purposeful gaze and long hair that he has been growing out since his beloved cat passed away. He became a Big Issue Japan vendor in July 2017. Monday through Friday, Mr. Nishi sells papers from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in front of the ‘Konaka The Flag’ store, near JR Shimbashi Station’s Ginza Exit and from 8 to 10pm in front of the bus terminal at JR Shinjuku Station’s South Exit.
Domongoe Scott: writer, musician, mentor
By Lulu Orozco on Domongoe Scott wants to lead by a good example. At 44 years old, the Oakland native believes there is no better opportunity than the present to change the direction in one’s life.
Cella Jones: Mother, sci-fi lover, Richmondite
By Kate Wolffe on The first time I meet Cella Jones, she popped her head out of her tent at the 22nd Street Richmond encampment, the largest camp in Richmond. The camp, where about 60 people live, has been ‘posted’ for two weeks later, which means the residents have been scheduled to be evicted soon, and all their belongings will be cleared away.
Moon Dog: Producer, postmate, provocateur
By Julia Irwin on As I approach the Here/There encampment on Adeline Street, two men lounge under the communal canopy tent while a third
Tim Nishibori on addiction and optimism
By Julia Irwin on Tim Nishibori disappears into the depths of his cramped but cavernous shack, which sits near the end of a strip of trailers and tents in West Oakland. His gray pit bull, Lady, plays hostess, entertaining me with enthusiastic kisses by the makeshift gate as Nishibori rummages around. Eventually, he emerges with two chairs, and invites me into his home. “Sorry about the mess,” he says
Marion Morris: Street Sheet vendor, role model
By Sylvia Sawislak on Marion Morris, also known as “Red,” sells Street Sheet in Downtown Berkeley, just outside the BART station. He wears bright
Street Spirits Rosalind Smith
By Lulu Orozco on She walks to Sweet Adeline Bakery four times a week on an injured leg and waits. With a stack of
Geno the barber: look good to do good
By Julia Irwin on The first thing I notice about Geno is his impeccable sense of style: standing by the tent encampment under I-580 at Magnolia and 35th, he’s wearing khakis and a fitted olive-green sweater, boot-laced sneakers as clean as they come, and a spiffy straw fedora. He sports a large stud in one ear, and his beard is pristinely groomed. He looks like a suave sentinel, a GQ model moonlighting as—in his words—“the tent city’s point person.”
Scooter: sailor, musician, dog person
By Alastair Boone on In 2008, Scooter was working as a veterinary technician in Connecticut when a friend offered to fly him out to
Douglas Freitag: singer, gardner, bookworm
By Kate Wolffe on By Kate Wolffe Douglas Freitag, known by his friends as Double Digging Doug, has been sprucing up gardens around Berkeley