Street Sheet Love

by Quiver Watts

Tim J noticed a problem living in San Francisco: while the city has poured hundreds of millions into trying to solve the homeless problem, more action needed to be taken for those that are in need. He was a regular reader of Street Sheet, so he knew that this paper puts money directly into the pockets of those able to work for it, and he knew from talking to vendors that selling the paper made a huge impact on them.

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ERIC

by Nellie Wong

July 18, 2015

Sells the Street Sheet from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm
In front of Books Inc on Van Ness Ave
Born in Algeria 77 years ago
Algerian father, Black American mother,
Sixth wife
But didn’t want to be
Sixth wife
Brought Eric at seven years to the United States.
Lived in New York, Kansas and Texas
Before arriving in San Francisco in 1989.

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The Three Musketeers of Calvary Church

Charles Davis sat down with Victor Floyd, Minister of Spiritual Care, and Joann Lee, Associate Pastor for Community Foundation at Calvary Presbyterian Church, a local church that has invited Charles to sell Street Sheets to their congregation every Sunday.

When asked why Calvary had decided to invite a vendor into the church, Floyd spoke of his connection with the paper, saying “I have followed the Street Sheet for 20 years, and it is the best thing ever written.

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Stolen Belonging

A Brief Introduction

By Leslie Dreyer

If you see DPW, you see that truck, you know that something’s getting got. Yesterday they took my tent and tarp…  Why would you take someone’s shelter in the rainy season? That makes no sense to me. It’s cruel.

I really miss the altar they took. I’ve had that for six years and I’d gotten it the year after my ex-husband’s death.

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City Sweeps Retraumatize Women and Survivors

By Meghan “Roadkill” Johnson

Sweeps in San Francisco have been keeping many houseless residents cautious and afraid at the looming uncertainty, “Is today the day? Am I going to be targeted again?” We are seeing a hike in the number of women and queer folks slowly coming forward. Revisiting open wounds surrounding their traumatic encounters of sexual harassment and assault while on the streets and at the hands of the city. 

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Stolen Belonging: “My Dad’s Ashes …”

Thief: The City of SF – DPW, SFPD and Caltrans

Interview with Crystal by the Stolen Belonging team, January 31, 2019, Bayview District, San Francisco.

Crystal: My name is Crystal and I’ve been here since 2002, but I grew up in the North Bay. I’ve been in every district and neighborhood in the city at one point or another.

The sweeps really suck. It’s happened a few times in the last month or two.

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Stolen Belonging: “Pictures of My Daughter …”

Thief: The City of SF – DPW & SFPD

Interview with Angel Amador by the Stolen Belonging team, January 4, 2019, Soma District, San Francisco.

Angel Amador: My name’s Angel. I’ve been in San Francisco since 1998. I ran away from home at 15, and San Francisco was one of the first places on my things to do, places to go list. [The sweeps have been] an ongoing thing where they’ve taken my belongings over and over and over and over.

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Stolen Belonging: Poetic Text

By the project’s core team members: TJ Johnston, Shanna Couper Orona, Meghan “Roadkill” Johnson and Sophia Thibodeaux

Performed at the Stolen Belonging: A Public Reclamation action at the DPW yard, June 22, 2019

Edited by artist Jadelynn Stahl in collaboration with the Stolen Belonging team through a series of creative writing workshop, using interviews taken by Leslie Dreyer of each team member

TJ: My name is TJ Johnston.

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Celebrating 30 Years of Street Sheet

We are so excited to kick off our 30 Year Anniversary with this issue, featuring reflections from former and current writers, contributors, vendors, and editors.

And we are SO honored to finally release to you this incredible image created by local artist Alejandro in honor of this special anniversary!

Artwork by Alejandro (they/them)
web: aledelacosta.net
ig: @aledelacosta

This image celebrates the thousands of people like yourselves who have donated and read the paper,

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Are You Unsafe, Or Just Uncomfortable?

by Quiver Watts

OAKLAND, CA — On October 24, BART’s Board of Directors declined to consider a proposal to formulate a new ordinance that would criminalize people for panhandling or busking on BART platforms or on trains after hearing public comment from a variety of patrons, including a rapper who performs on trains, an ACLU lawyer, a career musician and a human rights organizer for the Coalition on Homelessness.

If the board had decided in favor of a panhandling ban they would have tasked the general manager and staff of the Bay Area-wide transit agency with formulating an ordinance that would make it an infraction to panhandle or perform,

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