Project Web

                              
In the article "A Growing Percentage of Women on Skid Row Are Older, Survey Finds" by Gale Holland, a reporter that covers homelessness and poverty for the Los Angeles Times, wrote an article about how the women living in Skid Row are older, and are more likely to have poor health, or are disabled.  Holland wants her audience to know that the rise of older women on the streets emphasizes the need to assist the elderly. Holland blames the older women's poor health on the denied access of to clean, safe bathrooms and showers. Holland’s article effectively conveys this issue by using statistics and credible sources. My view on this is that these older women need shelter and protection. They can get hurt by other people in the street and by themselves. The elderly might need medication if they have high cholesterol, diabetes, or alzheimer’s. I chose the song Homeless by Ed Sheeran because the line “I haven’t slept for the past week Two hours aint enough for me I feel inspired a quarter to three am” really spoke out to me. I know teenagers pull all-nighters for they have waited last minute to finish an assignment, but homeless people might do it for they fear what can happen while they are asleep. Not sleeping enough for long periods of time can make a person delusional. I understand that they might be scared to sleep, but once they become delusional it can be considered a mental disorder. Now imagine the homeless that have made it on the streets as an elderly person, that is no good for their mental and physical health and they need medical attention and shelter immediately. If the elderly get to a point where they are delusional it will not go away with a good nights sleep and the medical attention they need can be costly.

Holland, Gale. "A Growing Percentage of Women on Skid Row Are Older, Survey Finds." Los Angeles Times.      Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2014. Web. 7 Nov. 2015.

 **Warning: This song uses inappropriate language.**

In the article "L.A. City Council Committee Votes to Ease Penalties in Homeless Ordinance" by Gale Holland, a reporter that covers homelessness and poverty for the Los Angeles Times, wrote how the L.A. city Council committee passed an amendment to omit arrests and fines to those “who refuse to give up their property or put it in storage.” Holland wants her audience to know participants could have tickets, fines and warrants dismissed in exchange for four hours per citation of programs such as, community service or enrollment in drug counseling. Holland’s article effectively conveys this issue by using credible sources. In my perspective this seems helpful. Too many people do not have money to pay off tickets, especially if they are living in the streets. This shows me there are a lot of people willing to help others in needs. I chose the song Fuck Tha Police by Niggaz Wit Attitudes (N.W.A) released in 1988 because I would like to believe we have come far from 1988 as to how the police act with minorities. Yes, today is not perfect, but it is better. In the song there are scenes and one goes:

[Cop] Pull your god damn ass over right now

[NWA] Aww s***, now what the f*** you pulling me over for?

[Cop] Cause I feel like it!

Just sit your ass on the curb and shut the f*** up

[NWA] Man, f*** this s***

[Cop] Aight smartass, I'm taking your black ass to jail!

Police do not “think they have the authority to kill a minority,” nor can they pull you over without reason. In addition, if they call you “black ass” they could get charged for discrimination because of the fourth, fifth, and fourteenth amendment. Today it is nice to know that if you fairly got a ticket because an officer was doing his job and you cannot afford it you can help make the community better and be freed of the charge.

Holland, Gale. "L.A. City Council Committee Votes to Ease Penalties in Homeless Ordinance." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2015. Web. 7 Nov. 2015.

 **Warning: This song uses inappropriate language.**

             In the article "Los Angeles Puts $100 Million Into Helping Homeless" by Jenifer Medina, a New York Times national correspondent, provides insight on how the Mayor and City Council of Los Angeles propose to spend $100 million dollars in the next year on housing and other services. Medina wants her audience to be aware that rising housing costs in urban areas, and an uneven economic recovery have helped fuel a rise in homelessness. Medina citing Megan Hustings, the interim director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, states “this is the fallout of not having anywhere near the affordable housing that’s needed.” Medina article effectively conveys this issue by using photographs and credible sources. From my viewpoint I support the spending on housing and other services. I one hundred percent agree that the cost of housing is way too expensive.In the song “Jackin 4 Beats” by Talib Kweli the lines:

The nation’s economy is a situation comedy
Corporations are making money while
The people are facing poverty
I rep for the spiritually rich, lyrically rich

This songs shows me that while companies are making money they aren’t helping those in need of money. People are in poverty, yet those who make money don’t give people in need a second look. If you have too much money you should open jobs for others to share your wealth with. The economy is at a bad place, and other countries might laugh at us for how messed up the U.S. economy is. The fact that people cannot afford a place to live, and cannot buy a home because they still have student debt to pay off is a problem in today’s economy. So, the article above shows our economy is slowly changing and is planning on spending one hundred million dollars on housing and other services.

Medina, Jennifer. "Los Angeles Puts $100 Million Into Helping Homeless." New York Times. The                New York Times, 22 Sept. 2015. Web. 2 Nov. 2015.

**Warning: This song contains inappropriate use language.**

In the article "Finding Nutrition in the Food Deserts of California" by Bobbi Murray, a reporter on health care issues for Los Angeles, L.A. Weekly, and the Nation, wrote an article published on Pacific Standard about the “inability of L.A.’s low-income residents to purchase fresh food.” Murray wants his audience to know that there are more fast food restaurants in low-income communities, compared to high-income communities. Murray states that those who are obese and overweight, eat fast food, and have a low income, tend to lose workdays for health related issues, which causes them to bring in an even lesser income. Murrays’ article effectively conveys the urgency of this issue by using compelling statistics and credible sources. In the song Rock Bottom by Eminem, he raps:

My life is full of empty promises

And broken dreams

I'm hoping things will look up

But there ain't no job openings

I feel discouraged, hungry and malnourished

I have noticed when I eat healthy foods I feel different. More energetic. When you don’t eat, or aren’t eating proper nutritious foods it can affect your mood. If you go in to a job interview and aren’t giving them the energy they are looking for, the employers will most likely not want to hire you. If you aren’t making a living you cannot actually live. Food is important it allows you to have energy and go through your day. If you are only making enough money to buy fast food that is bad for your diet. Deep fried or unfrozen foods do not contain the proper nutrients you need to be healthy. I believe schools should have days to give back to their communities and leave gift baskets for families that contains products to make a healthy home made meal that way they can make it when they want, and on their own time.

Murray, Bobbi. "Finding Nutrition in the Food Deserts of California." Pacific Standard. The                          Miller-McCune Center for Research, Media and Public Policy, 2 Mar. 2015. Web. 2                            Nov. 2015.

image link: http://images.bwbx.io/cms/2013-11-26/opening_remarks49__01__300.jpg

             In the article "Los Angeles Confronts aSpike in Homelessness Amid Prosperity" by Adam Nagourney, an American journalist covering U.S. politics for the New York Times, wrote on how although the unemployment rate has dropped, the homeless rate has sky rocketed. Nagourney wants his audience to be aware that the many are homeless because they can’t afford a place to sleep based on their income. Nagourney states “some business leaders and neighborhood groups dispute the idea that gentrification and rising housing costs are the main causes of the increase in the homeless population.” Nagourney blames biggest factor of the rise of homelessness is the gap between housing costs and income. Nagourney’s article effectively conveys this issue by using photographs and credible sources. My view on this is that they need to raise the minimum wage because not everyone can attend a college and earn a degree. In the song Rock Bottom by Eminem he raps:

 I feel like I'm walking a tight rope, without a circus net
I'm popping percocets, I'm a nervous wreck
I deserve respect; but I work a sweat for this worthless check
'Bout to burst this tech, at somebody to reverse this debt
Minimum wage got my adrenaline caged
Full of venom and rage
Especially when I'm engaged
And my daughter's down to her last diaper
That's got my ass hyper

This shows that when Eminem was working a minimum wage job it barely covered the cost of his daughters diapers and when he got his checks and payed off what he needed to he could barely get by. How was he suppose to pay for rent if the check he got from his job barely covered the daily essentials he needed? It was not possible and is still not possible for others working minimum wage jobs today. I am very glad that the minimum wage is going to increase from nine dollars to ten dollars, and in a few years rise to fifteen dollars, but will the cost of products increase with it as well, or are we trying to even it out so people can buy the resources they need and not feel like they are “walking a tight rope, without a circus net?”

Nagourney, Adam. "Los Angeles Confronts a Spike in Homelessness Amid Prosperity." New York Times. The New York Times, 13 June 2015. Web. 2 Nov. 2015.

Image link: http://cdn2.drprem.com/parenting/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2012/08/56529692.jpg

In the article “Pre-K, The Great Debate”by Nicholas Kristof, a columnist for the New York Times since 2001, states that the U.S. needs to make an investment in prekindergarten. Kristof provides insight that “President Obama called again in his State of the Union address for Congress to support high-quality preschool for all, noting that 30 states are already moving ahead on this front.” Kristof quoted Obama who said, ““Research shows that one of the best investments we can make in a child’s life is high-quality early education.” Kristof found that in a poll ran last year sixty percent of Republicans and 84 percent of Democrats support expansion of pre-k. Those whom start school early were more likely to complete high school and attend college, and were less likely to be jobless and “out of school.” The United States ranks “28th out of 38 industrialized countries in the share of 4-year-olds in preschool.” Kristof explains Obama proposes a “broad investment in young children.” Kristof tells his viewers that parents who read to their children benefit their children and that there are programs that will “coach low-income parents on reading to their kids and other parenting skills” which will leave strong impacts on their children. I believe parents who read, sing, and play educational games with their children at a young age helps them gain knowledge. Do not underestimate those little balls of sunshine, they are smarter than they look. We gain the most knowledge when we are children. I have heard that when children are younger that’s the best time to teach them to speak multiple languages. For example, when I was younger my parents put me in pre-k, and spoke to me in English, Hebrew and Farsi, and to this day I continue to speak the languages they taught me when I was young.

Kristof, Nicholas. "Pre-K, the Great Debate." New York Times. The New York Times, 29 Jan. 2014. Web. 3 Dec. 2015.

Image Link: http://cdn3.freedomoutpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/628x471.jpg 

               In the article “Intensive Small-Group Tutoring and Counseling Helps StrugglingStudents” by Motoko Rich, who writes about national K-12 education for The New York Times, states “by the time they reach eighth grade, according to federal tests, half of all African-American schoolboys have not mastered the most basic math skills that educators consider essential for their grade level.” Rich explains the National Bureau of Economic Research suggests a promising approach that helps students in high school who are behind their peers in knowledge. Rich states there is a program conducted by a team led by Jens Ludwig, the co-director of the University of Chicago Urban Education Lab, that helps low income African American high school students learn three years of math in an eight moth period.  Rich states that the cost of tutoring is very expensive. Rich explains that in the program there is a tutor for every two students and that they work more and understand better when there is a person in front of them. Rich explains that it is hard for students to learn in a class of twenty five to thirty people. I can see how this can be helpful because my math class right now has about sixty students, and sometimes it can be hard to focus. I don’t want to interrupt the professor because I don’t understand something, so I go to my professor’s office hours, and he explains it to me until I understand the concept. I thankfully did reach college ready math, so I cant compare to these students because I am at the math level I need to be. I hope this programs grows and can eventually help more students of other ethnicities, because it should not be about the students ethnicity, it should be about helping those struggling in math overall.

Rich, Motoko. "Intensive Small-Group Tutoring and Counseling Helps Struggling Students." New York Times. The New York Times, 26 Jan. 2014. Web. 3 Dec. 2015.