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Cops Get Tough With UC Berkeley Protesters
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Truffle Season, It Is Here
SFist Tonight
While Gavin Newsom tours California to tout his successes as mayor of San Francisco -- not to mention spending the weekend at the insider-baseball-y Democratic Convention in Sacramento, along with practically every other SF progressive and wonk -- he hasn't solved San Francisco's ails as thoroughly as he might want you to think he has.
Take, for example, the story of Kelaya and her family. Kelaya took her family and ran away from an abusive situation. She was, as of earlier this month, begging for cash to get a motel room and food for her and her three (3) kids, Dorian, Kameko and baby Marcus. Local photographer and blogger Tangobaby has the full story.
I met this beautiful family on my way home from a photo shoot today. I walked past them, just like the other people on their way home. I admit it. I saw her and sailed on by. I read her sign ($60 for a motel room... you know what kind of motel room $60 will get you in this city).But I had seen the tears in her eyes, too, and so halfway down the block, I yelled at myself inside my head for being an asshole and went back. I had $30 in my wallet and gave it to her.
Tangobaby updates the story with a few signs of hope: Kelaya temporarily found shelter and will be receiving assistance, which includes "a small stipend ($635 a month) plus food stamps and health care." But it's still not enough.
While finding anything about homelessness on Newsom's site has proven fruitless, the San Francisco mayor talks about 'care not cash,' saying the numbers have improved. But 'care not cash' just isn't working, at least in this case. Yes, Kelaya has a social worker, but it sure doesn't sound adequate to keep her family on its feet. (She doesn't even have a way to keep milk/formula for her baby!)
Here's where you come in. You can donate a few (or more) dollars to help Kelaya, right here. Because she really does need it. (100% of the money donated goes directly to Kelaya and her three children, says Tangobaby, who has taken control of this mini charity.) Tangobaby has even made a helpful list of Kelaya's needs.
So, this is where you come in, if you want to join Team Tangobaby and the Do-Gooders (I just made that up)!1. Post about Kelaya and her story. Link to this post and the first post about her on your blog.
2. Tell all of your friends who don't read blogs.
3. You can donate money here (see sidebar) and that money will go directly to Kelaya for housing, clothes and food. I will be able to give her the money directly until we can set up a bank account for her. Sooner is better, though. Like now.
4. Kelaya wants to work. She has experience doing clerical work and can answer phones and do office work. She would love to have a part-time job while the kids are in school. So if any local employers can help with that, please let me know.
5. She wants to find a place to live. Having a home will mean everything to her.
6. Write her an email and I will print it out and give it to her when I see her. She feels so alone in the world, and I have promised her that there are many many people who are proud of her and wish her all the best. Write her an email and send it to me at tangobaby2 AT gmail DOT com.
Yes, we know this is bigger than a "this one woman needs help" thing; but it's also a "what are people supposed to do when things go wrong" thing. And, hopefully, this one post is a start to something better -- ofr at least one person, maybe more.
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