San Diego, CA
Tents Changed Everything About Homelessness. Will San Diego Acknowledge It?
One thing occurred 10-15 years in the past to homelessness. I don’t know precisely what triggered it. However I keep in mind strolling via the Occupy San Diego protests – the tent encampments that sprang up at Metropolis Corridor in 2011 demanding Wall Road accountability for the recession – and realizing most of the campers weren’t essentially activists however homeless individuals who had come to stay in what grew to become a supportive village.
After that, the tent – the non-public tent, the nylon or polyester Coleman, Marmot or REI tenting tent – got here to outline road homelessness throughout the nation. It drastically modified the visibility and expertise of road homelessness.
Tents and homelessness aren’t a twenty first Century mixture. Tents and campers as soon as stuffed everything of Mission Valley within the early Nineteen Forties as migrants from throughout the nation clamored into San Diego to get the various jobs the protection business created.
However the tent encampments that sprang up in East Village, alongside the Navy Broadway Advanced and all through San Diego’s lots of of canyon river beds, began to border the dialog right here otherwise. It was as if the unsheltered inhabitants had been uninterested in two issues: uninterested in hiding and bored with being chilly.
The tents privatized public rights of method and asserted homelessness into the general public consciousness.
They had been a protest – a manifestation of our failure.
The tents helped folks create neighborhood and supply mutual help. They created a way of security, privateness and even household life but additionally provided cowl for crime and violence.
Worse, although, are the concentrations of dying and illness. An outbreak of the feces-borne hepatitis A led to struggling on such a scale in 2017 that it provoked metropolis and regional leaders to take homelessness critically in a method that they had not, although the tent villages had expanded for a number of years. Now, even these most sympathetic to the tent encampments and the plight of their residents can’t deny the grotesque deaths they usually host, whether or not it’s by the hands of murders and traffickers or errant drivers who lose management of their automobiles. Greater than 10 years on, we’re solely now, barely, grappling with what the tents modified about homelessness.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria stated one thing not too long ago about them that ought to provoke hundreds of conversations and a wholesale rethinking of what we’re doing about this disaster.
In an op-ed within the San Diego Union-Tribune March 28 concerning the homeless disaster plan he’s pursuing, Gloria acknowledged the fact the tents have created:
“One of many central challenges we face is that most of the of us tenting on our sidewalks or in canyons don’t need to stay in a congregate setting – which most of our shelters are – in order that they refuse gives of beds in these services,” he wrote.
Town, proper now, has 1,468 beds underneath contract in congregate or shared settings.
Individuals who have been engaged on homeless outreach and companies have recognized that many individuals favor their private tents to congregate shelters for a few years. There’s nothing notably insightful concerning the mayor’s declare, besides that he stated it. And if he believes it, and he ought to, then it has monumental implications far past town of San Diego. If others agree, we have to rethink how we’re deploying thousands and thousands of {dollars} meant to handle the issue and the way we’re speaking to folks on the road.
It’s like a taboo has lastly been damaged. People who find themselves residing in tent encampments don’t need to transfer to shelters. The information is overwhelming. Each time town sweeps out an enormous encampment, the overwhelming majority of individuals outreach employees provide shelter to refuse. Why? Not as a result of they need to stay homeless essentially. However as a result of their private tents provide them dignity, privateness and sufficient shelter to outlive.
The congregate shelters, in contrast, can usually be dystopic, harmful and restrictive. Their incompatibility with wholesome residing grew to become apparent, once more, when illness struck. The very very first thing former Mayor Kevin Faulconer realized as COVID-19 started spreading in the USA was that he wanted to clear the congregate shelters. A bunch of individuals jammed right into a poorly ventilated setting would have been supreme for the unfold of the illness.
COVID left homeless residents even much less fascinated with these choices as alternate options to their very own camps.
“If the atmosphere they’re coming into isn’t secure, clear or snug, what makes that totally different than being on the road?” stated Hanan Scrapper, the regional director at Individuals Aiding The Homeless, town’s major accomplice in lots of homeless outreach and help efforts. “After we do conventional shelters and response efforts, we’re not all the time desirous about dignity.”
It seems, unhoused residents are lots like individuals who have houses. They need privateness. They need, although, to be near neighborhood. They like pets. They like being along with family members. And sure, a few of them love to do medication or drink. All of these items, nonetheless, could be restricted or tough in a congregate setting.
So what are we even doing? Simply final month, County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher introduced the county was going to assist prop up a brand new mega-tent shelter for 150 folks within the Halfway space. The mayor is supportive. But when the mayor agrees that congregate settings can’t compete with the tent encampments, why are we nonetheless supporting them? I requested his group.
“Our purpose on shelters is to not create the best scenario however to place them in place to entry companies to change into a part of the system that in the end leads them to housing and to get them off the road. It’s not secure on the road,” stated Rachel Laing, the mayor’s spokeswoman.
However, the mayor himself stated that’s not working?
“Properly, that’s the place enforcement is available in. If now we have sufficient beds, we’re allowed to compel folks to maneuver,” she stated.
Now we’re getting someplace. We’re saying the quiet elements extra loudly now. The congregate shelters, whereas serving to some, present a instrument to town. In a world the place the non-public tents modified all the things and the widespread adoption of leisure tenting gear by the homeless made life simply snug sufficient, with simply sufficient dignity, the massive shelters enable town to make homeless residents uncomfortable once more.
That’s what the mayor has determined to do. The tents make sense to some, he wrote.
“However we merely can’t be a metropolis that lets folks arrange camp wherever they please. It’s unsafe, it’s unsanitary and it speaks poorly of us all if we do nothing to handle the destitution and despair,” he wrote.
He’s additionally proper about this however merely uprooting encampments units off an countless cycle of uprooting and re-rooting. The folks don’t disappear, they only regroup. The method is difficult on the folks on the streets, onerous on the police who’ve to hold it out and if the continuing presence of a lot human struggling on our streets is itself a type of violence that traumatizes all who’ve to maneuver via it, then the strategy ensures the most individuals doable expertise it.
It could be price, as a substitute, rethinking this paradox. Typically when you’re preventing one thing, it’s a must to channel its power quite than maintain attempting to destroy it. The non-public tents aren’t good. However they signify a human want to deal with oneself and to construct neighborhood. The tents reveal not a want to be on the road however a really human want to construct a house.
There’s no purpose our unsheltered inhabitants wouldn’t proceed to try this on their very own if given the area.
“From our expertise, what we’ve seen is when purchasers come right into a clear, well-kept atmosphere with good meals and wholesome tradition, they attempt to deal with it. They see folks look after them and it offers them hope,” stated Scrapper.
They need to construct houses and but we’re spending a lot of our sources and power on attempting to tear them down and drive them into our system.
It might be one factor if it had been working nevertheless it’s not. Regardless of a mobilization of metropolis, county and state sources, it’s getting worse. Extra individuals are struggling. Extra are dying. Extra live in filth.
It’s no coincidence that our already extraordinary value of residing is skyrocketing simply as the issue deepens. Homelessness is the bottom rung on the housing ladder. Instead of low cost housing, they’re placing up private tents.
The mayor doesn’t need to accommodate them in a secure tenting village, Laing says, as a result of town and suppliers can not afford the assist personnel wanted to maintain it secure. However he has additionally confirmed incapable of successful the conflict on the tents within the streets.
In the event you’re dropping a conflict and losing cash preventing it, it might be time to rethink it.
The folks on the streets are telling us they need area to arrange their very own lives.
No matter {dollars} we spend forcing them to contemplate our strategy as a substitute could also be higher spent conserving them secure and clear as they pursue their very own.
Fact: Think X is not a Pink Floyd tribute band.
“We’re not trying to be,” said the group’s sax player and driving force, Scott Page. “We want to do an exploration of Pink Floyd. We try to mash things up, create some entertaining ways of presenting the music.”
The title of the band’s show, which comes to San Diego for the first time on Sunday at the Music Box in Little Italy, is “An Exploration of the Music of Pink Floyd with Original Electronica Transitions.”
Speaking about Think X’s approach to the familiar canon of Pink Floyd, Page said “We play it heavier and we let our people solo and blow over it.”
Besides Page, who has backed up the David Gilmour-led Pink Floyd in concert, the group includes guitarist Kenny Olson, best known for working with Kid Rock (“He’s got this Hendrix-y, crazy vibe” touts Page); bassist Norwood Fisher (co-founder of Fishbone); drummer Stephen Perkins, whose resume includes Jane’s Addiction and Porno for Pyros; young guitarist Derek Day (“One of our secret weapons”); keyboardist Will Champlin; and vocalist Roberta Freeman, who Page says knocks the Floyd’s “The Great Gig in the Sky” out of the park.
Page says he learned much about music and his craft from working with Floyd guitarist David Gilmour.
“He is the master of melody,” said Page. “He can kill you with one note. He changed my way of thinking. Sax players play all this crazy stuff, and he made me realize melody, how I can sing with my instrument.”
If you want to hear what Page is talking about, revisit for example Gilmour’s bluesy guitar solos on Pink Floyd’s “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” from the “Wish You Were Here” album. Timeless. For tickets, visit musicboxsd.com.
Comedy
Like me, comedian Kathleen Madigan went to college and earned a B.A. in journalism. Unlike me, she must have decided that standup comedy was more rewarding.
It’s certainly been rewarding for Madigan. She’s been doing it since the ‘90s and has starred in comedy specials on both Netflix (“Kathleen Madigan: Bothering Jesus”) and Amazon Prime Video (“Kathleen Madigan: Hunting Bigfoot”). Both are still streamable.
But you can catch her act in person Friday when she comes to the Magnolia Theater in El Cajon. Her show’s titled “The Potluck Party.” Does that mean somebody’s supposed to bring the potato salad?
Theater
Here come the holiday shows. Previews are under way at New Village Arts Theatre in Carlsbad of its production of “Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio Play.” Adapted by Lance Arthur Smith and with original songs and arrangements by Jon Lorenz, this festive show was previously produced at San Diego Musical Theatre in its former Gaslamp Quarter location.
I remember enjoying it there and finding the nod to the days of Lux Radio Theater much preferable to a straight retelling of the “Miracle on 34th Street” story that’s been filmed a couple of times.
Opening night, incidentally, is Nov. 30, so here’s something to do over the Thanksgiving weekend.
More music
For many years, music fans have mused about a “club” of artists that nobody wants to belong to.
It’s the 27 Club, named for the famous musicians who died at the peak of their fame at age 27, for reasons that include drug and alcohol overdoses, suicide or other causes. They include 1930s blues artist Robert Johnson; ‘60s rockers Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison; ‘90s grunge-rocker Kurt Cobain; and British singer Amy Winehouse, who died in 2011.
San Diego’s own Six String Society is paying tribute to all six of those gone-too-soon artists next week in Escondido with the return of their thematic concert “27 Club.” The concert imagines all six of these artists gathered together in a mythic Greenwich Village apartment circa 1969, and each takes their turn performing. The performers will include Whitney Shay (as Winehouse), Lauren Leigh Martin (as Joplin), Trevor James (as Hendrix), Tony Suraci (as Morrison), Austin David (as Cobain) and Robin Henkel (as the spirit of Johnson).
Since Six String debuted “27 Club” at the Belly Up concert hall in Solana Beach in 2016, it has sold out virtually everywhere it goes. At this point, the 7 p.m. show on Nov. 29 at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, is sold out, but there are still tickets available for the 2 p.m. show that afternoon. Visit artcenter.org/event/six-string-society-presents-27-club.
Jazz concert
If there was a Mount Rushmore of jazz singers, three of the four spaces should be taken by Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan. Each unique. Each unforgettable.
On Saturday, the San Diego Symphony presents at the new Jacobs Music Center “A Tribute to Ella, Billie and Sarah.” The concert features vocal performances by one of jazz’s best contemporary vocalists, Jane Monheit, along with Sherry Williams and keyboardist/vocalist Champian Fulton. The band behind then includes the great Rickey Woodard on tenor sax.
Local jazz icon Gilbert Castellanos’ Young Lions Jazz Conservatory All Stars open Saturday’s show. For tickets, visit purchasing.sandiegosymphony.org
Rock music
A couple of veteran San Diego bands, Switchfoot and P.O.D., are on the bill Saturday at Petco Park’s Gallagher Square when Long Beach’s ska kings Sublime with Rome (formerly just Sublime) headlines what they’re billing as their “last California show ever.”
The farewell has to do with singer/guitarist Rome Ramirez, who will embark on a solo career once this tour is over.
This concert is scheduled to begin at 7:35 p.m., which sounds like one of those odd Padres start times at Petco. For tickets, visit petcoparkevents.com.
U-T arts and dining stories you may have missed
UCTV
University of California Television invites you to enjoy this special selection of programs from throughout the University of California. Descriptions courtesy of and text written by UCTV staff:
“A Conversation with Artist Jeff Koons”
Renowned artist Jeff Koons joins Kathryn Kanjo, director and CEO of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, for a conversation about his provocative and influential work. Known for his glossy, oversized sculptures of everyday objects like balloon animals and household items, Koons blends pop culture, consumerism, and art history to challenge traditional notions of art. In this discussion, he reflects on his artistic evolution — from early inflatable rabbits to iconic large-scale metal sculptures — and explores how his creations raise questions about cultural value, mass production and the line between high and low art. This program offers a unique glimpse into the mind of one of the most celebrated and controversial artists of our time.
“Greatest Anime Pioneer in Japan: The Osamu Tezuka Story”
Discover the legacy of Osamu Tezuka, often called the “God of Manga and “Father of Anime,” whose groundbreaking work set the stage for modern manga and anime. Tezuka was a visionary Japanese manga artist, animator, and founder of Mushi Production, one of Japan’s first anime studios. In 1963, he produced “Astro Boy,” the first Japanese TV anime series, which introduced limited animation techniques still widely used today. Rachel Costello, an anime enthusiast from UC San Diego’s Innovating for National Security Academic Program, presents a retrospective on Tezuka’s life and influence. Her dedication to anime and storytelling also inspired her role as executive producer of the U.S. Navy’s “Sea Strike 2041” comic project, merging her passions for art and national security.
“Movement and Strength Training to Improve Metabolic Health”
Learn how to build a strong foundation for lifelong health with Dr. Natalie Marshall, as she explores the crucial link between muscle mass, metabolic fitness, and chronic disease prevention. Aging often brings metabolic changes and muscle loss, raising the risk for many chronic conditions. Marshall emphasizes the importance of movement, strength training, and balanced body composition in maintaining metabolic health. With practical tips on how to get started, she shares strategies to help you ‘build muscle for life’ and boost overall well-being. This program offers valuable insights for anyone looking to take proactive steps toward healthier aging.
And finally, top weekend events
The best things to do this weekend in San Diego: Nov. 22-24
Originally Published:
Spanish star and World Cup champion Juan Mata has joined the expansion San Diego FC’s ownership group, making him the first active international soccer player to hold an ownership stake in Major League Soccer.
Mata joins David Beckham as only the second international player to be involved in MLS ownership.
“Joining San Diego FC as a partner is an exciting opportunity to help build something truly special in a city and league that are experiencing incredible growth,” Mata said in a statement. He added that the commitment to the community by both the club and the Right to Dream Academy “aligns perfectly with my own values. I look forward to contributing my experience and passion for the game and working alongside everyone here to build a club that inspires both on and off the pitch.”
He has been with the Western Sydney Wanderers of the Australian A-League since September.
Mata has been a big name in international soccer for years. He won club honors in England, Spain, Turkey and Japan, and was a key player in the golden era of the Spanish men’s national team which won the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 UEFA European Championship.
A product of Real Madrid’s youth academy, Mata began his professional career with Real Madrid Castilla before transferring to Valencia CF in 2007, where he won the Copa del Rey the following year. Mata signed with Chelsea FC in 2011, where he was pivotal in helping the London club capture the UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, and UEFA Europa League titles, earning Chelsea’s Player of the Year honors twice in that span.
He joined Manchester United in 2014, winning the FA Cup, Europa League and EFL Cup in nine seasons. He joined Turkish side Galatasaray in 2022, where he celebrated his first league title, before signing with Japan’s Vissel Kobe in 2023, where he won the league again.
Mata founded the Common Goal initiative, pledging 1% of his salary to social causes.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
While no one won the $40 million jackpot in Saturday’s SuperLotto Plus drawing, someone in San Diego took home a ticket worth thousands.
A winning ticket matching all five numbers of Saturday’s numbers except the Mega number was sold at the Shell gas station at 6695 Mira Mesa Blvd, the California Lottery said. The ticket is worth $18, 534.
Saturday’s numbers were: 2, 11, 15, 25, 43 and Mega: 16.
The lottery did not disclose if someone has yet claimed the winning ticket.
The next drawing for the SuperLotto Plus is Wednesday. The current jackpot is estimated at $41 million.
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