Trendsetting.

Johny Williams, a homeless LA gentleman being wheeled into a service center near Skid Row. Believe it or not, this photo was taken by the LAPD, who have been trying to bring charges against city orgs for illegal "dumping." You can read more about the charges here.

In the 1980s, massive cuts to health and human services and reductions in affordable housing stock nationwide, not to mention the advent of the retail era, caused this country's homeless population to grow exponentially, reaching levels previously unimagined in this country. Somethings never change. Some things only get worse.

LA is a disaster waiting to happen. Ask anyone who's been to Skid Row – they will tell you stories of homeless camps that stretch from block to block, housing (maybe hundreds of) thousands of human beings. It's nothing that can be effectively written about. It must be seen.

LA is a monolith symbolizing the terrifying trends being set in North American poverty. One would do well to pay attention to this growing cancer. It is alive, it can be spoken to, and it puts a face to something that's too easy to ignore.

10.26.06 Edition of Spare Change News

The new edition of Spare Change News went on sale four days early once again! We keep selling out, perhaps because of the continued relevance of our reporting. Or maybe it's the pretty colors, who knows? Whatever it is, we're happy you like to buy our paper and in that spirit, we want to give you a paper worth buying, as will be evident in the latest issue:

EXCLUSIVE: Deval Patrick Shoots on Homelessness and Poverty in Massachusetts

Get the details of Patrick's plan for helping downtrodden human beings in the state, in a Spare Change-only interview with the democratic candidate.

Columnist James Shearer Has Words For Berklee "Groove"

Shearer tackles anti-homeless sentiment in Berklee College of Music's student-run newspaper.

Shocked out of Childhood

SCN's own Amanda Morley writes about her experience with electroshock therapy, the memories of childhood she lost, and the moments of light through the darkness of her multi-year experience.

Everyone, let's be safe out there. It's a dangerous world and we want you all to come home to your loved ones and sit by the fire, reading the paper, even if it isn't Spare Change. We want you to be happy, more than anything, we want you to love living your life, because you're the only one who can do it right.

Yours,

-SCN

Who's the strongest candidate on important issues?

The John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies has a website devoted to the gubernatorial candidate's views on homelessness and poverty. We have our interviews posted along with relevant Globe and Herald articles about each one's stances. Check it out!

SCN in today's Globe

Scams hurt newspaper's mission

By April Simpson, Globe Staff | October 12, 2006

Ever since homeless and poor people started hawking the Spare Change News, impostors have tried to interlope on the action.

But in the alternative newspaper's 14th year, the scams have reached such a level, cutting profits and tainting the paper's image, that its staff is trying new ways to distinguish the real vendors from the fake.

"It amazes me when people try to rip off an organization like us," said Lee Mandell , vice president of the newspaper's board. "All we're trying to do is help people who are homeless and have economic difficulties. A scam off of us is just really mean."


Click here to jump to the rest.

10.12.06 Edition of Spare Change News

Wow, we are out super early this week! Due to excessive sales, we sold out of our Sept. 28 edition early last weekend, so the new edition went on sale today, a whopping two days early. Oh, and a big thank you goes out to the Weekly Dig, for milking some "bumor" out of our recent press release. Way to go guys. Regardless, expect to find some fascinating content in this issue, hopefully enough to tide you over until the next installment.

Teasers:

Skin Peel: A former skinhead burns away the demons under his flesh

Growing up, Jason Mitchell got every possible tattoo he could, covering his flesh with spiderwebs, anarchy symbols, swastikas and white power phrases. Now he's a changed man, and is going under the laser to remove the legacy of tattoos that cover his body. We are reprinting this intense story, courtesy of the lovely Joanne Zuhl, editor of street roots in Portland, Oregon.

New Trash Bins Leave Low-Income Canners Feeling Dumped

New solar-powered trash receptacles are raising concerns from individuals who make a living on the recycling of cans and the reclamation of trash downtown.

All this plus your favorite columns, SU DOKU & crosswords, a scintillating editorial on sex in the news, as well as the chance to interact with one of our lovely vendors. DIG IT!

Yours,

-SCN