SHEsaysWITHaSMILE.blogspot.com: August 2022

SO PLEASED TO READ THIS ON MATT MAHAN'S WEBSITE (me!) ~topps

excerpt from my personal post july 21st, 2022:

Our next idea/thought.. The City is in desperate need of clean-up.. and many of these unhoused are in desperate need of wages -why not employ and pay them to help clean up? this is a win/win.. they get a job, they get paid, they do well, they get subsidized housing/housing vouchers.. and san jose gets cleaned up,. They will be directly investing in the city that is helping them.

4

Many people say homelessness is a symptom of unemployment. There is a commonsense approach to this challenge. Matt will expand programs to pay the homeless to clean up our streets so they can work their way to self- sufficiency. For each hour worked, the city can also contribute to an individual savings fund that can only be used to pay the upfront cost of renting an apartment, including the security deposit. In this way we will help our homeless neighbors work their way off the streets.

**************

"Thank You!"

BAY AREA'S BEST BUSINESS LOCATION SCOUT! (me!) ~topps.

three businesses need to exist (re-exist, in some instances) and the sooner the better. i can help.

2. we need a mel's diner, as close to AG as possible. we need it in pleasanton, ca, across from the fairgrounds. -perfect! flashy cars, rollerblade service, fun music..

1. we need another barone's, like the one in pleasanton, except we need one in milpitas. italian restaurant, gorgeous patio, live music, music under the stars, weddings/receptions, outdoor nightclub/dancing; live concerts, special events.. and THE PERFECT LOCATION is on Milpitas Blvd, @ Beresford Square Shopping Center.. there is an abandoned/empty/vacant building, plenty of space, plenty of parking. -think it used to be an Orchard Hardware Store (?). -of course your best consultants would be the owners of the barones in pleasanton today:

3. ricks picks! like the ones i used to work at in pleasanton, & danville, ca. -family owned/operated, and owner retired, but! -what a treasure of a business, of a store! unique, funky, unexpected, intriguing, every changing.. gorgeous gifts, furniture, decor, but at amazing prices! -rick, former owner, used to go to the giant gift shows.. write a check for the trade show floor samples of lots of different vendors to be shipped to the store.. this meant we didn't have duplicates, multiples of items, but it did mean, we ended up with the best variety {the items any vendor wanted to show off, and attract buyers to their booth} plus we had some overstock items from a variety of vendors, and close-outs, etc. the most eclectic selection of items you could imagine.. and customers had to buy quick! -once its gone, its gone.. new items by the week

and i've spied a few vacant stores along piedmont in san jose.. several opportunities for the write person(s).

-sharing a few pix from my photography book, ..the adventures of Ricky & Picky... as posed and photographed by Sandra Harrison Kay

i had so much fun... but what i love about the collection, is how in addition to the charm of the adventures of these two sock monkey toy friends.. it captures the fun and funky variety of items you would find at ricks picks -best consultant, rick hirshberg, retired/former owner.

racing into the digital fine art world (jack kay!)

My Greatest Fear. - laughing at my own writing again, (me!) ~topps.

remember, i get it from my dad.. always laughing the hardest at his own jokes.

***

now what happen, is that i recently wrote about experiencing migraines. -then fast forward a day or so,

and i wondered.. have i written about that before? and my blog being the extraordinary external memory storage that it is.. i typed migraine in the search bar and then was reading this out loud to my sexy, but couldn't really finish because i was laughing too hard:

another gem from the archives:

#vellumdays

"thank you, thank you and you, and you, and you.." in Jesus name, hallelujah & amen

my word! (me!) ~topps

CH /if blogger had a word it would be link. anyway, very rewarding when you land on your word. and it has got me thinkin'... san jose's word? hmmmm gonna be givin' that some thought.

"Thank You Keeshie! Love you!"

"Thank You!" for the San Jose Sonic Runway!!!!! -from (me!) ~topps

let's call it toggle-bloggle,

because i am trying.. making an effort to separate protest specifics, from personal essays, thoughts, etc.

but there's a lotta cross over, overlap.

gotta mention STRESS and STRESS MANAGEMENT & SONIC RUNWAY

i raised my kids with the mantra 'listen to your body' until their eyes would roll. but, over time they understand and appreciate. -it's writeousmom's turn to listen to my own body. now, we each have a way stress will manifest itself in our physical and spiritual bodies. -speaking exclusively physical write now.. stress often presents itself in my back, and through hair loss; long ago through migraines.

the current protest kind of suddenly pulled us write out of retirement and back into full time volunteer work. we have an amazing, talented, dedicated group of neighbors, each doing a great deal,

and we will continue our work.. and i thought i was managing it pretty okay... but then, my back.. and fast forward a couple weeks, and i'm losing hair similar to when i was going through a divorce in 2006.. and i had to pause myself.. pay attention to what my body is telling (me!)

and then, the early signs/symptoms of a migraine.. and it has been.... /CH!

literally, i have a very pronounced memory from 1999, i did an at home pregnancy test, which showed i was pregnant. fast forward to what week, not sure exactly, but to the dr's for a well check kind of thing, and they do an ultrasound, and then tell me i'm NOT pregnant. and went on to tell me, "you just want to be pregnant so badly that you are creating phantom symptoms" -so i went home.. utterly confused, heavy sadness, and then experienced one of the most excruciating migraines of all migraines. -thinking i am not pregnant based on what they said, i took medicine for the migraine. i believe it was the very next day, dr's office called to tell me, "according to the blood test, you are pregnant." -everything worked out.. but any migraine reminds me...

in this most recent experience, i felt those piercing signs.. and did slow way down, lay down, get in a restful, prayerful position, and was repeating, internally only, take care of the responsibility; cast the care.. over and over. i did not take any medicine, and the migraine did not take hold.

hallelujah! praise God!

anyway.. for my back -those 15 minute chair massages at the mall do wonders! and for hair loss.. only the reduction of stress itself will prevent it from continuing.

SURPRISING FUN STRESS REDUCER!: Sonic Runway in San Jose in front of City Hall.

Now, the first time i ever saw it, this art installation of big circles you walk through as you travel the sidewalk, -first time i saw it, i said to everyone within earshot, "great representation of how many hoops you have to jump through to get anything done at city hall" -and it got a good laugh, so of course i keep repeating it. -but do you know, i thought maybe it really was a representation of the amount of hoops you have to jump through

anyway, the first couple times downtown, we were inside the chambers for the meetings. as divine choreography would have it, -our most recent time, we were protesting outside instead of inside. earlier that day, it was like, 99 out.. and i imagined we'd be walking in this terrible heat, with the sun beating down on us.. and i was going to protest rain, shine, or melt, but to get there and land..

in the shade! hallelujah, praise God...

and then.. i didn't realize these hoops light up like they do -awesome!

and then.. where is that music coming from? and i headed closer to the curb because i thought the music was from across the street, but then..

music! -speakers at the base of every hoop.! hallelujah, praise God again..

because honey, in the shade, with lights and good music.. i could protest for hours!

do they really want it this good for us protestors? this might result in a lot more...

but, easy, fun, walking to the beat of the music, through the hoops, moving the protest sign up and down to the beat of whatever song was playing -and one neighbor initiated a kind of parade..

and there is a few second pause between the songs. instinctive from musical chairs as a child i think, when the music stopped; so did i. "freeze"

and then the second the music started again; so did i. i looked around at the others, "it's not like i'm controlled by music or anything"

but music does dictate. i've already written about it.. it dictates how you'll move; pace, ...

and write now, i have the coolest ring/music tone on my phone. dance music! every time my phone rings, -there is dancing. call me.. and my husband busts a move.. very entertaining.

check it out though -sonic runway san jose. every district in san jose should have one of these..

all for now, in Jesus name, amen.

Matt Mahan for Mayor

MATT MAHAN for MAYOR, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA

from a volunteer thank you dinner @ brittania arms in san jose, aug 21st, 2022

and the visit with mahan, his staff, many of our new friends, gained as a result of the NotOnNoble protest -well, the visits were as wonderful as the fish n' chips were delicious

so "thank you!" from us

and.. worth mentioning: the young man, bellermine alumni, -who volunteered to give up his seat, offering it to a woman who was standing and eating nearby. -how, i know he didn't do it for the recognition or praise; he did it because it was the write thing to do; but i had to praise and recognize him anyway -we need more like you..

oh, how i would love to see a notable increase in manners & respect when it comes to young people. what hope it gives us all when we do witness it. "thank you!"

and it connects to the mahan autobiography -how he shared at the perc pond picnic, he was unable to attend bellerman because of the expense -but a deal was presented, and he committed to work/landscaping on the campus, and his tuition was covered as a result. -he was commuting from watsonville (strawberry capital) (by bus?) arriving early to work before classes started..

these are 'content of character' qualities/experiences.

and fun to learn my personal memory techniques are also helpful to a young woman on mahan's staff, who is relatively new to the city of san jose

ok, so hostteter -host/cost, it rhymes.. so i go, hostetter to Cost -co... and the great mall.. how you LAND at the great mall.. landess...

and it's been five years now.. still learning.

hallelujah & amen.

SJ CITY COUNCIL THINKING VS. EVERYONE ELSES THINKING

DO NOT PLACE densely populated caged tiny home sites

near schools, parks, libraries, daycare.

San Jose City Council’s thinking:

What we have heard more than once is this: There are so many schools in San Jose, it is almost impossible not to end up with a tiny home site within a mile of a school. Essentially they tell us, “we have no choice, we are going to have to build near schools. We expect opposition, but we must make the hard decisions”

Our thinking/parents thinking:

We know a percentage of people living in these densely populated caged tiny home sites will wander onto school campuses pandering for money, using the restrooms, wandering into the cafeteria for food. -And the risk for even worse. DO NOT BUILD TINY HOME SITES NEAR ANY SCHOOL, PARK, LIBRARY, DAYCARE. DO NOT RISK THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN/FAMILIES; DO NOT LOAD SCHOOL FACULTY AND PARENTS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN DOWN WITH THIS PREVENTABLE CHRONIC WORRY, CONCERN, & STRESS.

San Jose City Council’s thinking:

Look at us, tough enough to ignore your opposition and make hard decisions.

Look at us, we are getting people off the streets and rescuing homeless people.

Our thinking/parents thinking:

Look at you, SJ City Council, blind and deaf to the valid concerns of your community, willing to put countless children at risk and drown parents in worry and stress. look at you, SJ City Council, willing to pay millions on top of millions placing highly dense populations of people into cages, and millions to maintain these sites. Look at you, SJ City Council.. taking up precious land space, destroying neighborhoods, parks, libraries.. indifferent to the cost, the risk, the safety factors

And look at you, SJ City Council, -should you get your way.. all that risk, land, cost, -squishing 100’s of people into cages in neighborhoods, near schools, libraries, daycare..

And another flux of homeless enters into San Jose.. now what? Now what do you do?

Keep building densely populated caged tiny home sites?

Your intentions may be good, but they are dangerously short-sighted.

What is your plan for when your plan attracts even more homeless?

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Restore San Jose to its former glory.

PROBLEM SOLVING PANEL FOR HIGHLY COMPLEX HOMELESS CRISIS

I know there are hearts/minds out there attracted to solving highly complex problems; and are willing to volunteer their time; share their expertise, knowledge, life experiences toward a comprehensive solution

Come introduce yourselves

I am in the process of creating a new panel of problem solvers, a larger panel, representing a wider range of disciplines.

Our goal, is to address the entire population of homeless in San Jose: to first understand and identify and create a working, agreed upon vocabulary for the diverse group of homeless. i.e., the healthy homeless (exclusively financial reasons for homelessness); the mentally ill; the drug addicted (form of mental illness); the prematurely released inmates; the freeloaders.. etc.

Our goal is to address the current crisis; slow the growth of homelessness; prevent future homelessness.

Our goal is to listen and to share, and regard with respect, the variety of ideas, thinking, imaginings; the pros and cons of each potential solution, per category of homeless. Trouble-shoot for short term and long term solutions. Collaborate with the correct geographic, governmental authorities, law makers, land owners, citizens, leaders, etc. Revisit rules/laws/regulations for their legitimacy in current times; striving to understand which help, which hurt, when it comes to employing a comprehensive solution.

To publicly share the spectrum of ideas, and the spectrum of obstacles; helping all those who call San Jose home appreciate the complexity.

Example:

IDEA: We (average citizens) noticed a large population of homeless living on acres of open land near the San Jose Airport. Our thinking was that this is a good place because of the amount of open land, the distance to resources. Cost effective because it gives one central location for portable restrooms, city garbage pick up, a central location for food distribution and donations. A central location for social services to provide outreach; -and a central location worthy of creating small gardens; investment in landscape improvements, etc. -And we can, in our imaginations, see this really working..

OBSTACLE: This encampment is currently being swept clean of homeless with a deadline of Sept 1^st, 2022. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is demanding the city remove homeless residents living there, due to safety concerns, and is threatening to withhold millions of dollars if the camp isn’t cleared.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: We (average citizens) also recognize that, when people are entering into San Jose Airport, visiting from anywhere else in the world.. A giant homeless encampment is not the best ‘welcome to San Jose’ visual. It is not the first impression anyone wants for San Jose. We (average citizens) also recognize it is not okay for the surrounding gas stations, retail establishments, variety of businesses to lose potential business, sense of safety/security because homeless encampments due include illegal activity and create a significant disincentive for any patronage.

This is in draft form, of course. I am still working out details. But I know we need number/mathematical (geniuses preferred) experts. We need economically knowledgeable; we need city planners; we need authority figures, decision makers, at the state, county, city, district and neighborhood levels.

I know numbers people, even geniuses, cannot solve for homelessness alone.

The number one thing to factor into the equation: People; not numbers. Human beings and all that that entails:

We need humanitarians, social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, everyday neighbors, parents, students, business owners, rigid thinkers, and free thinkers..

This problem involves a plethora of mental illnesses, spiritual issues like greed, low self esteem; biases; prejudice; language and cultural barriers, enabling, drugs, alcohol, PTSD, emotions, -and lack thereof

I am so certain San Jose City’s current plan, current trajectory, building these unjustifiably costly densely populated caged tiny home sites -taking up new land unnecessarily, destroying neighborhoods, children, families, parks, businesses

I am convinced it is a preventable disaster. But what good is it to point out a problem without offering real alternative solutions.

A new, larger, problem solving panel. Solve for homelessness where the absolute most amount of people thrive; addressing the current crisis; slowing the population; preventing future homelessness.

Respectfully listening to, and publicly sharing the hopeful and creative ideas, the very real obstacles, the acknowledgments…

Does this call to problem solve speak to your mind/heart? Introduce yourself to us:

Sandra & Robert type problem solver as the subject and send your basic info; area of expertise or interest to RobertMickanen@Yahoo.com

#VellumDays

GIANT MEMORIES

weakness turned to strength spring training

WOW! & "Thank You!" -family, friends, Jesus.. amen!

"YOU SUSH!" holy spirit intervention for (me!) ~topps

so, my sexy and i.. we were on our morning walk, -write. outdoors, beautiful day, along a park pathway, -wide open space.. and we have a pretty good pace going; healthy cadence

and the cell phone rang.

so, my sexy, he answers.. a conversation gets going

and, true.. he was talking a little on the louder side because we were outdoors and walking/talking at the same time,

and this person also on the pathway.. we were walking faster than her, and so catching up.. and would pretty quickly pass her and be on our way

but before we reached her, she turned around all upset and angry in both facial expression and tone

"SHHHH! HOW RUDE!" -she sushed us.

and what i aim to talk about here is impulse control.. (self control/one of the fruits of the spirit); and holy spirit guidance

because my initial reaction.. "We are not in a library -go shush yourself! look how rude you are being!" with a very unchristian like attitude

but here is what happened:

i let my initial reaction boil internally; turn to vapor and disappear..

and then, what i can only interpret and explain as holy spirit guidance, i ended up walking slowly write up to her, looking her in her eyes, gently touching her arm,

"i'm sorry. sometimes we don't realize how loud we are being."

and i watched her soften.

and we kept walking our healthy pace; never looked back.. and enjoyed the rest of our walk.

and i'm guessing; so did she.

*******

from a Christian perspective, we are flesh and spirit. our flesh; our impulses need to be recognized and discerned and trained to be subservient to our spirit; the holy spirit. remains a life long practice for me.. but i know when i've done it successfully, and it usually ends in a win/win; peace/peace

but is it easy? impulse control? self control vs. circumstances controlling/provoking...

well, depending on the event.. sometimes i can do it in seconds; other times.. a day.. -sometimes a week..

but what is most consistent; i do always aim to recognize my impulsive (default) reaction; evaluate it.. pray about it.. and i do know when i've succeeded in ignoring/taming the impulse to choose a better, higher, more evolved response. "Thank You Jesus!" amen.

speaking of FAQ's (me!) ~topps

LINK TO ARTICLE ON MATT MAHANS SITE

What can we do about homelessness?

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The thing we are most lacking to comprehensively solve this problem: Proper Vocabulary. Here I am only speaking about the healthy homeless, which =’s, those exclusively facing financial crisis; not addicted, not criminals, not mentally ill; not freeloaders

When a person/family who is living pay check to pay check (or, as I once did, cash advance to cash advance) and they are renting an apartment, room, or house -and their rent is increased and they can no longer pay that rent, forcing them to move WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? ARE SAN JOSE TAX PAYERS TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO SUBSIDIZE EVERYONE’S RENT WITH EVERY INCREASE?

Let’s imagine more housing is built to accommodate the healthy homeless. WHAT PREVENTS AN ONGOING, UNCONTROLLABLE, POPULATION OF HEALTHY HOMELESS from making their way into San Jose where records show they will be accommodated?

How does San Jose currently address population control? Do we know, for each of the 10 districts, how many people before valuable finite resources are taxed beyond limits. (water, land.. long list) Is there a cut-off population number per district based on infrastructure and resources?

In regard to these densely populated caged tiny home sites for the healthy homeless: with no one stopping or protesting or slowing it down -How many, per square mile, in each district before you have destroyed middle class and created a caged tiny class? After 1 in each district.. 2? More? After 1 in each district, and then a rent increase and 2000 more people are on the street… ?

If on a park and a nature reserve, across from an elementary, and library, and day care, and a few blocks from a middle school was voted on as a buildable site -What is considered off limits for densely populated caged tiny homes sites?

We have interviewed neighbors where tiny home sites currently exist, they have reported that people from the tiny home sites have approached them pandering for money and/or food. If you are going to build near schools, what is to prevent people from the tiny homes sites from hitting up innocent, young children for lunch, lunch money.. from wandering the school grounds, using the restrooms on the school campus? Showing up in the cafeteria.. Unless..

Does every elementary school now need to have security walls, iron gates, security guards -WHO WILL BE HELD REPSONSIBLE if something consequential happens to a child? And with San Jose having the lowest police staff per capita in the country.. (after demonizing them and making working conditions impossible) Who can even respond to an emergency call?

What are you considering “a success story?” -if an otherwise safe, healthy, neighborhood is destroyed, and a park is destroyed? And the library is no longer safe for children.. and there are hundreds in a cage on a park.. and a water supply facility is compromised.. but a few people/families within the tiny home site transitions into subsidized housing -is that a success?

I repeat, repeat, repeat.. The densely populated caged tiny home sites -if allowed to continue to grow has disastrous short and long term ramifications. WE DESPERATELY NEED A NEW PROBLEM SOLVING PANEL, a larger panel, with many voices, from many different disciplines to comprehensively (not short sighted and quickly) address and resolve the homeless crisis. And address not only the healthy homeless, but the addicted, mentally ill, criminal & freeloader populations.

For this I pray, In Jesus Name, -sandra