What Can City Politicians Do For You?

The Notetaker: Thinking Out Loud Tuesday

Do you know what you expect the Mayor or Council to do for this community?  Here's what I want:

1.  Revision of the Pilot Rules 
External Audits; Residency Requirement; Diversity Rules and a second step approval process for the Edge Board.

2.  Supportive Partner for Public Education
I am not one of those who does not want to spend public funds on education.  I just want it targeted and accountable.

3. Quality Public Services 
A thirty-forty year street repaving program is unacceptable when we had a ten year cycle under Mayor Willie Herenton​'s tenure. Sidewalks for school children and a repair sidewalk programs for seniors in low income areas rather than sending them notices to place a lien of their properties. And, we have spent too many millions on bicycle lanes for less than 20 bicycles traveling down Millbranch a whole month. What happened to the pothole repair service in 24-Hours? And, I dare not talk about how Riverside Drive was destroyed.

4.  Government that values labor and keeps its promises. 
If changes must be made it should be with new employees but never, never, punish retirees who severed with honor and then you give them a bouncing check.

5.  Public access to meetings. 
Memphis can't park in your garage and parking downtown at some lots costs $15 and the meters make it costly, too. Why can't we have City Courts in the city and not downtown to provide parking for citizens?  Why can't we have public meetings on a cable station like Nashville's public meetings?  We have a city library television station?  Why can't we have public meetings televised?  Oh I know, the revolution cannot be televised. LOL

6. Reduce our crime stats and align how we measure crime with FBI stats.
Provide the Director with the resources he outlines in his budget. That process starts with the Administration and moves to the City Council.  Allow the Director the opportunity to draft and implement his plan to tackle crime without all the busy corporate hands trying to tell him what to do.  He is the professional.  Sure, he needs corporate and community input but stop trying to lead his effort. Be good team players.

Stop the excuse that we don't count our crime in the same way as the FBI.  We don't believe that crime is down, I don't care how it is counted.  But, we are a part of the state and the federal governments so there should be consistency in our measurement of crime.

We had $8 million given to us by Bloomberg and the tangible results cannot be measured and his input in that was limited. That's my view from where I sit.  We allow the corporate busybodies to convince us because they are business professionals they know what's best in education and public safety.  Respect the professions!!!

7. Income Inequality and Poverty 
The best way to deal with this is to create wealth by dividing the pie of opportunity with minority and women owned businesses, Sybille Noble, Wendi C. Thomas​, Darrell Cobbins​ and others have studied this problem.  Bring new names to the table to tackle this problem.  Sorry, if you have worked on this the last ten years and now we are less than 3% percent.  You are relieved of this burden. Give someone else a look.

I am also a little bored with always having to gatekeepers or Stephens. I am ready to call you out if you fail to do your jobs to improve this community.  I don't care if you get the check and live well, but make sure you do the work for us and can be measured.

Now, to those of you who will read this and think you can just copy what I want as a platform and put no intellectual capital into this process, get ready for me to ask you, "How?" Without that answer, you are just another empty tailored suit.

8.  Support Our Community's Youth Services Programs
As a social worker who worked as an Executive Director for American Cancer Society, Big Brothers and Big Sisters and St. Peter's Adoption Services, I am not one to think that the City must create a program for children.  We have professionals and programs already doing that. But they, need public funds to grow and expand programming.

We have Boys Clubs, Pink Eagles, Girls Clubs, Firehouse Arts Production and others  we need to invest in. Stop giving money without measurable goals and objectives to determine how effective they are in this community and onsite review dates.  You can assess the effectiveness of a program at a Council member in five minutes.  Someone in the administration needs to make those site visits and evaluate those agencies.

I loved the City's Summer Youth Jobs program and it should be restored.

I want the City to provide wonderful libraries and good programs with great security at community centers.  Why can't we offer piano lessons, dance classes, and painting classes to our youngsters?  Why must only the middle class children get a chance to develop their talents?  Now, that's an investment the city can make to offer the schools  for after school learning opportunities in collaboration with community centers.  Take the service to the school.  Brain storm, please.  You have an excellent leader, Director Janet Hooks.  But, this takes money.

Where is the Happy Middle with PILOTS?

I know some of you think my ideas on public policy may be on the extreme left even though you creep to the edge agreeing with some of them.  (LOL) What I appreciate about you is that we never fall out of love over an issue.

I am not opposed to the use of PILOTS. I know some don’t think I understand what a PILOT is but I know that it is “an agreement, generally, an agreement that is used to transfer a public or local government’s tax exempt status to a private entity. The property is not on the local government’s tax rolls because it belongs to a tax exempt entity, even though the property is being leased to and used by a private entity, and the private entity receives the benefit of this tax abatement. These agreements are typically used by local governments as an incentive to induce the relocation of a new business or the expansion of an existing business in the community.” (Tennessee Real Estate Law- Legal Commentary by David Wicker) I was an appointed member of the Tennessee Board of Equalization. Don’t play me “small”, I understand what’s going on.

In 2004 the State General Assembly commissioned a study from Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations to determine the impact of loss revenue for public education as a result of PILOTs and found that abatements resulted in a loss of at least $33 million in Tennessee’s county school systems revenue.  Since that time, the use of PILOTs’ in Shelby has almost doubled, not declined. (The report is interesting and I will attach.)

I am opposed to taking funds needed to educate a workforce and then use the phrase, “We need to lure low waged jobs because our people are under skilled and unemployable”.

I am opposed to:

·        PILOTS without job/employment residency requirements (Why would you use my taxes to subsidize the services of a corporation who does not hire 75% of their employees from Memphis?)

·        PILOTS without independent audits and reviews (Why can corporations give employees performance appraisals but taxpayers can’t have contract appraisals?)

·        PILOTS and Incentives without penalties for violating or failing to meet contract expectations? (Why should Pinnacle Airlines get incentives and then belly up, close shop and somebody walks away with a building renovated and a $3 million dollar government grant for a downtown garage paid for with taxpayer money? Remember, we did not take them to court or even pick a fight in the court of public opinion. Instead, we rewarded them by making the former CEO of Pinnacle our Chamber of Commerce President.  Ouch, that hurts, I know.   Do I need to list the others  companies that left without fulfilling their PILOT commitments. who have done the same?

Sidebar:  The funds to pay for the $3 million garage came from money the City received for the sale of the Depot and was to be used for Small and Minority Businesses.  Instead, they got hijacked for Pinnacle. And there was nothing small or minority about that company. And this media said nothing...

But, I know that it does not make EDGE and PILOTS bad words. What I don’t understand is why we have had PILOTS since 2005 and ten years later our unemployment rate is 7.9%.

The national unemployment rate as of November 2014 was 5.8%, Tennessee’s rate was 6.8% and Memphis’ rate was 7.9%. (http://www.deptofnumbers.com/unemployment/tennessee/memphis/)

For once, I wish we would examine the existing small businesses and be the kind of City that cares enough to help them grow by improving infrastructure and public safety.  Sweetie Pies Restaurant on Beale Street may have be a marketing tool for Beale Street, but after listening to the show on YouTube and the way some family members trashed Memphis, forget them.  Truth is, I would put up Southern Hands, Kountry Kitchen,The Four-Way Grill, Peggy’s and Stein’s to them any day. St. Louis found their jewel and helped them grow.  Let’s find ours.

Why can’t we see a great new opportunity in Whitehaven, O’Taste and See at 2045 East Brooks Road and get Housing and Community Development to help make them the Café Palladio in this area? 

Why can’t we get excited about a 25 year old young man who has opened The Dizzy Bird Jazz Lounge in the Edge District? This business will attract older locals to the area and support live music in our city.  If we want to revitalize the music industry we need to work those investing in the music.

Why can’t we find a way to lend support to Hubbard’s Hardware on Millbranch who did not cut and run when economic climate and clientele changed?  Who helps them grow?

Who rolls out the red carpet for Bogen Communications, a corporate entity that chose Memphis and did not ask for a tax break and will hire 25 people in their distribution center? Why have we not heard from the Chamber and Memphis about this company who chose us because we are the Distribution Hub of America?  Bogen Communications provide audio-Visual Equipment and Accessories. I am loving those who love me and saying to other who snubbed me, " The doors of the Church is still open for new members". 

"I love you, Bogen Communication for choosing MEMPHIS!"  I'll tell your story about how you provide microphones, microphone mixers, amplifiers, loudspeakers, receivers/tuners and other audio-visual accessories for the world.  They chose us, and will pay a living wage. I really love you for caring that your employees will be able to provide for their families.

Now, we have retailers asking for PILOTS and if we are not careful, only homeowners will be left to pay the bills for providing government services.  That’s scary because our tax base is declining, not growing and in the ten year history of PILOTs’, they haven’t helped either. 

There must be a Happy Middle for PILOTS and I hope government will address it soon.  And, please, stop giving away all your power that we voted for you to have.  We did not vote for EDGE to make those decisions?  What's wrong with a two step process like the Land Use Control Board?

I know I reside on the left of most issues, but I will be happy with a middle approach.  Are we there, yet?  Can we at least talk about it?  Can the voices include more than EDGE's?

#OSCARS So White

After seeing SELMA and understanding the unique circumstances in producing a film without the dismantled King Family's authorization, I was almost speechless over the talent of the film's director, Ava Duvernay.

In fact, the only word that came to mind was the title of the movie's Academy Award Nominated song, "Glory".  

I did not see all the films that are nominated for best picture.  Therefore, I feel awkward commenting on who should have been nominated and who should not.  But, what I find odd is how SELMA was nominated for Best Picture and received no nomination for Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenwriter or Best Cinematography. How are you included in the "Best Picture" category when all the individual parts are snubbed and none are label extraordinary?  Somebody needs to address this question or I am left to feel that this snubbed shows some validity in the hashtag #Oscars So White.  

I am not a trained journalist, but I am an opinion guru.  According to a little known source called "Wikipedia The Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director have been very closely linked throughout their history. Of the 86 films that have been awarded Best Picture, 62 have also been awarded Best Director. Only four films have won Best Picture without their directors being nominated: Wings (1927/28), Grand Hotel (1931/32),Driving Miss Daisy (1989), and Argo (2012). The only two Best Director winners to win for films which did not receive a Best Picture nomination are distinctly during the early years: Lewis Milestone for Two Arabian Knights (1927/28), and Frank Lloyd for The Divine Lady (1928/29).

My next question is directed to the African American community.  Why would this movie nationally open with a $11 million in ticket sales? Now, that's on us and, not racism. 

According to the http://www.blackyouthproject.com/2011/12/the-10-highest-grossing-black-films-of-all-time are as follows:

10.  Are We There Yet?                   $97 Million

  9.  Little Man                               $101 Million 

  8.  Ray                                         $125 Million

  7.  Boomerang                             $131 Million

  6.  Big Momma's House              $137 Million

  5.  Bad Boys                                $144 Million

  4.  DreamGirls                             $154 Million

  3.  Big Momma's House 2000     $173 Million

  2.  Bad Boys 2                             $272 Million

  1.  Coming to America                $288 Million

There is a commentary for this list that shows our Top Ten, but I won't bother giving it because you were read my mind. What we are allowing to consume us?  I like many of those films and went to see all of them.  Well, except, Little Man and Big Momma's House. I could not do that to myself and waited for the HBO showing of  them.  But, I also value films with storytelling like Akleelah and the Bee, Twelve Years a Slave, Antwone Fisher, The Princess & the Frog, and yes, SELMA.

So, I have two questions one for the Academy and one for the African American community.  I am looking forward to reading the answer that I am sure they Academy will address. And, I want us to answer the second question with our surge of ticket sales. As I was writing this blog, my daughter called and said the Academy Awards addressed my question that was echoed from thousands. Can't wait to read the response.

P.S.Well, I just read the response from the (African American) Academy Awards' President.  She does not address the merits of the craft or art being critiqued, and its parts ignored.  But, in my opinion she verifies a flawed system, directors nominate directors, actors nominate actors, etc.  It is a peer review concept and the body that is in that that "peer review" lacks diversity.  Therefore the system itself is flawed.  All I can say, after that, is SistahGirl, you have some work to do.

Amendment 2 I'm Voting "NO"

Amendment 2  Vote “NO”

The Notetaker

10/16/2014

Sometimes, I find myself in an opposing position from people I really like.  But, I can't allow personal feelings to alter what I believe is right.   I realize, like I did with the school surrender vote, that we may not support the same position, but we don't have to fall out. 

I am not an attorney, but I am a voter.  I have worked in Government Relations and served as a city government official. In developing a position, I’ve talked to attorneys and legislators about this amendment. But, in a democracy my vote has the same value as that of a 46 year practicing attorney.

Here are my concerns:

1.  Why it is necessary to make changes to the State Constitution when this could be accomplished by State Law?  Is there another motive that is not apparent to me?  That's a reason for me to vote, "No".

 

2.  There is no language in the amendment that requires a committee or commission to present names for the governor for consideration, a process we once used that has expired. This means the Governor will not be required to have attorneys submitting resumes to a committee, a review of those candidates and recommendations made to the Governor.  Without this, the process these appointments become a clique of who you know and patronage.  Citizens deserve to go to court with what appears to be an open and fair process.

That’s a reason for me to vote, “NO”.

3.  This legislation gives the Lt. Governor and State Legislature a role in the approval of the judges.  Currently, they do not have a role. This amendment designs a process to allow a legislator to make administrative decisions.  It is ironic that after a grand jury’s statement that the Lt. Governor and Speaker of the House should be indicted for disregarding the constitution, we now invite them in with this amendment.

4.  It is clear to me that Tennessee will be controlled by Republicans for many years to come, and as a Democrat you are asking me to trust your leadership in being fair with the appointment of judges that are selected by the Governor.

Trust Haslam: This is same Governor that is afraid of the Tea Party and refuses to expand Medicare. I don’t think I can do that.

Trust Haslam:  The same Governor that wants us to allow the legislators to have to power to make decision about a woman’s body in the Amendment #1 and Women’s Reproduction Issues is a target to reverse with his political party.  I don’t think I can do that.

Trust Haslam: Don’t you find it interesting that he appointed his first African American Judge to the Appellate Court right before this election of this amendment to send a subliminal that he can be fair.  Then Haslam does it, a few days after the election to prohibit the voters from electing a Chancellor in the vacancy the Chancellor Kenny Armstrong created after being promoted. I prefer a system that appears fair and would not ask me to trust a personality because, I don’t think I can do that.

Trust Haslam:  Appellate Judges are considered lifetime appointments.  We only vote to retain or not retain them so we could be married to these conservative judges who make it clear that are determined to overturn some gains made in civil rights, labor, public education, and a women’s rights. And for me diversity does not matter when they appoint carbon copies of Supreme Court Judge Clarence Thomas. Sorry, I don’t think I can do that.

I realize some argue that if we don’t settle for this we could get something worst from the General Assembly.  I heard that argument with the school debate and I still say, I would rather vote for something that is fair, consistent, and that I understand rather than something that is suggested will be figured out later.

And although, I just can’t do that, I believe this amendment will pass because the proponents are spreading money around the community like sunflower seeds. They have raised a half million dollars for the promotion of this amendment.  That’s a heavy push for an amendment. But, that’s now how my garden grows.

I’m voting “NO”.

Bravo! David Porter!!

Last Saturday, my husband surprised me with two great seats to the Epitome of Soul Award Show honoring the Inaugural Recipient Stevie Wonder! We had the pleasure of sitting near the owners of the famous Makeda's Cookies.

The Concert was a jam session, a renewal of an industry in Memphis, and so much more. I have long said that there are four reasons Nashville progressed beyond Memphis. I won't discuss all four but here is the number one reason:

(1)The Nashville leaders embraced the country music industry and created a brand. Somehow, they connected that brand from Nashville to Dallas to LA. America began to appreciate the music and town. Nashville didn't care about being called country, trailer park, hillbilly,iced tea sipping, slow talking, beer drinking. pick up truck driving folk. In fact, they started to brand the culture: GRITS (Girls Raised in the South), Redneck's Dictionary, Southern Comfort (Whiskey). They took ownership of the "country music art form" and marketed it,  Long story, short,  America appreciates it. In fact, America loves country music and even I sing, "Jesus, Take the Wheel".

Thanks to David Porter, a Memphian who understands Soul Music. Our sound appeals to those who love lyrics that dig deep into our inner spirit and tells a story of urban life: What's Going On by Marvin Gaye or Higher Ground or Isn't She Lovely by Stevie Wonder.  Those stories are timeless. You hear the sound and feel the message and seldom focus on color. 

Porter understands that soul music has flavor and tells a story of those who are down trodden, working class whose heart bleeds and rejoices just like the wealthy when we find love, grieve a love that's lost, or tiptop in anticipation of a better day. The proof of that is "Hold on I'm Coming".

We finally have a vision for the music industry in Memphis. Stax recognizes our past, but Porter is pointing to the future.  He also understands the music industry and is highly respected by all genres of music.  He has a chance to embrace and brand what we authentically helped develop...soul music.

Let's support his dream because just like Country was Nashville's brand; Soul Music belongs to Memphis.

In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "Something is happening in Memphis". Thanks, David Porter, we had a marvelous time dreaming of Memphis as a music mecca, again.

Children In Poverty

I read this and had to share it with you.  Do you know these children?  I do.  Thanks to my brother in-law for sharing the good read with me.

My best resource for the lessons in the article came from A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D.

Here are some things that poor children know:

Here are some things that poor children know:

1.     A fingernail file can be used to file a jagged edge if a tooth breaks.

2.    We go to the doctor when we’re sick, but mom doesn’t.

3.    We have to move a lot because sometimes we can’t afford the rent.

4.   I don’t always tell my mom when I need school supplies. I can tell it makes her nervous.

5.    Having to print something for school gives me anxiety. Our printer doesn’t always have ink. It’s easier for me to just get a bad grade on the project than admit to the teacher I can’t afford to print.

6.   Ditto homework that requires the internet. Sometimes we have it, sometimes we don’t. People say “use the library” but there’s not always gas money to get there and they are only open one evening a week.

7.    God doesn’t hear my prayers.

8.   The only time I’ve ever been to a store to buy new clothes is when my aunt took me. The dressing rooms were foreign to me.

9.   I learned how to cook ramen noodles when I was six years old. I was hungry when I got home from school and mom wasn’t ever there to cook because she was working.

10.Healthy snacks are expensive. Ramen noodles are cheap.

11.  My grandmother criticizes my mom for not feeding us more healthy food. What she doesn’t understand is that healthy food usually costs a lot more.

12. We can never get the chicken nuggets at McDonald’s. We have to order from the dollar menu that mom calls garbage food.

13. Every day when I get off the bus, I’m scared until I get inside the house. Mom’s at work when I get home.

14.I know I’d be a really good football player, but we’ve never been able to afford for me to play.

15. When I go somewhere where there’s a piano, I love to try to play. I know I’d be really good but we’ll never be able to afford a piano or lessons.

16.I don’t wear different clothes every day.

17. We have to buy all white socks because if one gets lost or torn up, it may be a while before we buy more.

18.We are really good at cleaning our house with stuff that most people don’t use to clean, like bleach and vinegar.

19.I needed colored pencils for a project once. My teacher told me that if I didn’t bring them, I wouldn’t be able to do my project and I’d get a zero. I told the teacher I didn’t have any and she told me I’d better figure it out. On the way to school, my mom went into the grocery store. I was confused because she told me she didn’t have money. When she came out, she had the pencils but they were in  her purse, not in a sack. I think she stole them. She was crying.

20.         Mom keeps her toothbrush in her bedroom so that it doesn’t accidentally brush up against ours in the bathroom. Germs and she can’t afford to get sick and miss work or go to the doctor.

21. I have no idea what other kids are talking about when they’re talking about the latest TV shows. We’ve never had cable.

22.         I sometimes dread the summer and weekends because at school, I eat two meals a day.

23.         I’ve never tasted any of the cool cereals that my friends talk about.

24.         When I get money from relatives for my birthday or Christmas, I use it to buy things I don’t want to ask mom for, like hair products and underwear.

25.         My hair nearly always get too long between haircuts. I got sent home from school once because of it. Mom cut it herself.

26.         Other kids make fun of my clothes.

27.         I know what it’s like to be really cold in the wintertime.

28.         We wear our jackets and gloves in the house in the winter.

29.         When our dryer broke, we had to hang our clothes to dry. It took all weekend for my jeans to dry in the wintertime.

30.         Christmas is about things we need, not things we want.

31. We can never buy cool clothes “just cuz.” They always have to be things that have a dual purpose. We can wear them to school, church, or whatever.

32.         I’ve never been to summer camp. Even if we could afford to go, I’d be embarrassed about my old underwear.

33.         I did go to summer camp. I was the only kid who could never buy snacks from the canteen.

34.         I got my first job babysitting when I was 14. I couldn’t spend the money. We needed it for bills.

35.         Sometimes we have to put stuff back in the checkout line because we don’t have enough money. The cereal always gets put back first.

36.         Cashing a check is hard if you don’t have a checking account. You have to pay to cash it.

37.         I’m an expert on what can and can’t be bought with SNAP and WIC.

38.         One Christmas, we had no money so we went to the Dollar Tree where everything is a dollar Mom gave us each $5 and told us to go shopping for each other. It was the weirdest and funnest Christmas ever.

39.         Sometimes we have to use dish liquid in the washing machine. It works if you only use a small squirt.

40.        Sometimes we get sick and go to the doctor. He gives us an antibiotic and tell us to start it, but if he calls to say that our strep test came back negative, we can stop taking it. When this happens, Mom keeps that medicine so that she can take it if she has an emergency and gets sick.

41.Sometimes we want to pack cool lunches like some other kids do, but it’s cheaper to eat the school cafeteria food. Mom says the food’s not healthy, but we get free lunches so that’s what we eat. Mom gives us money every day so that we can buy an extra milk at school. It’s cheaper than if we bought it at the grocery store.

42.         Sometimes we don’t eat if there’s a mean kid in the line. We don’t want them to know we’re getting free lunch. They’ll make fun of us forever.

43.         Duct tape can fix almost anything. Mom makes a game out of it. If a window gets a crack in it, she fixes it with duct tape and uses the tape to make cool designs.

44.        I sit really quietly when I get an ice cream cone, enjoying every lick.

45.         I share a bedroom with my two younger siblings. It’s impossible to find a quiet place to do my homework.

46.        I didn’t do as well as I should have in math classes because I couldn’t afford the calculator that was required.

47.         I couldn’t be in Boy Scouts because we couldn’t buy the uniforms.

48.        I couldn’t be in Girl Scouts because we couldn’t afford the books and patches.

49.        You can make a whole meal out of gravy and white bread.

50.         White bread is usually cheaper than wheat bread.

51. Spending the night at a friend’s house is awesome. They always have plenty food.

52.         Butter and sugar sandwiches are the best.

53.         We don’t trust the police. We know they won’t treat us fairly.

54.         We eat a lot of: potatoes, beans, and cheap bread.

55.         My mom lies about not wanting seconds.

56.         I’ve learned that when mom says “do you want the rest of this [food]?”, what she’s saying is “if you don’t want it, then I’ll eat.” I’ve learned to say I’m full, even if I’m not, so that she will eat.

57.         Hamburger Helper feels like a gourmet meal.

58.         When I got home one day, I let it slip that the other kids went on a field trip and I stayed behind. She asked why I didn’t go and I told her it cost money and I didn’t want to ask. Later, I heard her crying.

59.         I’ve had to stay home from school when my little brother was sick because Mom couldn’t miss work.

60.        I know what day Frito Lay dumps the expired chips in a dumpster.

61.We can’t always afford to go to the laundromat and we have to wear dirty clothes.

62.         A bottle of Febreeze can be used to cover the smell of dirty clothes.

63.         When my shoes start to become too small, I get worried.

64.        My pants are always too short about two months after we buy them.

65.         I know exactly how many miles our car will go after the low fuel light comes on.

66.        We take blankets in the car because the car doesn’t have heat.

67.         I’ve never had a birthday party.

68.        We don’t always get our presents — birthday and Christmas — at the right time.

69.        When my mom complained to her sister about not having enough money to raise her kids, her sister told her “you should have closed your legs.”

70.         We’ve never been able to take all of the school supplies that we were supposed to have.

71. I’ve never bought a school yearbook or school pictures.

72.         I’ve never bought a book at a school book fair.

73.         One winter when we ran out of propane and couldn’t buy any for a week, mom made us one huge bed in the floor in the living room. She brought every blanket in the house and we stayed in there all the time staying warm.

74.         Our grass gets high sometimes. We don’t have a lawn mower and mom never has enough money to buy one. She usually does have $50 to pay someone to mow the grass but sometimes she has to wait a couple of weeks to get the money.

75.         Mom misses my open houses at school and my football games because she doesn’t always have gas. She has a neighbor friend who I can ride with to my games.

76.         I’ve never had a new coat. Mom says that we’re lucky that someone always gives us one of their old ones just when we need one.

77.         We learned that washing our clothes by hand is a lot of work. Our washer broke and it was two months before we could afford a new one.

78.         When we finally got a new washer, Mom bought it at a place where you can rent to own. It costs twice as much to buy things that way. Mom says it’s expensive to be poor.

79.         One time Mom had to write a check for the electric bill. She said she knew that she didn’t have the money in the bank, but she had to do it or they would cut off our electricity. She said the bank would pay it. They did, but she had to pay them an extra $30 because of not having enough money in the bank. The electric bill was late and we had to pay the electric company $10 for being late.

80.        We’ve never met our doctor. We go to a clinic and a nurse sees us every time.

81.If we go to the grocery store and pay with money, the clerks are nice. When we pay with our food stamp card, the clerks are rude.

82.         We know that if we go to college, it’s going to cost us a lot of money because we’ll have to get loans. Poor kids have to pay a lot more for an education.

83.         We don’t get to participate in some school activities if they cost money. Even stuff like band costs more money than we can afford.

84.        We eat a lot of unhealthy food. Carbs and fats are cheaper than protein.

85.         I have a poor friend who lives in the inner city. He’s afraid all the time. Mom says it’s because he hears a lot of gunshots when he’s trying to sleep and during the day. She says that he doesn’t know how to turn off the fear.

86.        I’ve never ordered a soda at a restaurant.

87.         We never take anything for granted. Whether it’s candy, toys, food, or cool clothes, we know it’s a blessing.