tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21613063.post114007649535122040..comments2023-10-23T11:59:05.278-07:00Comments on Rocket Poetry: My opionated take on the po po, and social services...Israel Bayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03164950270702729406noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21613063.post-1140144081743998702006-02-16T18:41:00.000-08:002006-02-16T18:41:00.000-08:00Kathrine, Wow. Talk about attacking.And, I don't ...Kathrine, <BR/><BR/>Wow. Talk about attacking.And, I don't work with Street Roots currently, I'm with Real Change. <BR/><BR/>I've had this discussion with social service providers before - questioning the ethics of street papers. Why do people have to buy the paper is the most frequent question? Followed by, isn't that taking advantage of poor people and do you really think selling a newspaper is getting people off the streets? <BR/><BR/>People buy the paper because they have co-ownership of the newspaper. Without a vendor program there's no newspaper. People who invest in a cooperative style newspaper for the most part are empowered by the idea they have a stake in a business model. <BR/><BR/>Do street newspapers look at themselves as a solution - depends on who you ask. I personally don't think so, but I don't think a street newspaper is a social service - I think it's newspaper, simple as that. And in a time when media is controlled by large sectors of the corporate world street papers offer a healthy alternative. <BR/><BR/>Have I worked as a social worker. Yes, at a Seven-Eleven, and at Peterson's in downtown Portland. Oh, and at Transition Projects, and for Janus Youth, both in Portland. <BR/><BR/>And, I would like to say that my piece is not about knocking anyone who works in the social services. I was trying to address how institutions have built a world in which poor people are blamed for being poor. I'm not pointing my finger at you Kathrine...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21613063.post-1140131526720661002006-02-16T15:12:00.000-08:002006-02-16T15:12:00.000-08:00I'm a social-worker, and I resent the fact that yo...I'm a social-worker, and I resent the fact that you would compare social workers to the police. Your blog is short-sided, and lacks credibility. Have you ever been a social worker? What are you doing for the poor people you speak of? Attacking social workers doesn't move anything forward. While I respect that you work with a homeless newspaper, what has Street Roots done for anyone lately?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com