1Matters – 1Votes Update
October 1, 2008Posted in: 1 Comment
10/1/2008 - Yesterday was an unqualified success. There is a very high level of interest in this election cycle.
While the Republicans and Democrats are out with vans working to move people to vote for their party, 1Matters.org is NON-PARTISAN, working to just remove any barriers so the unhoused that desire, can REGISTER, and if ready, vote.
In 2004 too many people could not vote for “technical” reasons. This year, we are eliminating those reasons in advance, and providing objective information.
Quick recap:
- Almost 90% of the people we talked to are already registered.
- Over 85% have voted in past elections, half those every election.
- The ones that have not voted in the past usually are under 25.
- The most popular presidential candidate - ”None of the Above.”
- 30% or so don’t want to vote at all, disgusted with the whole system.
- 70% don’t want to early vote, preferring to wait to Tent City to find out what the candidates will do for us, the rest have made up their minds prior to us arriving.
- 100% were shocked there are 14 people are running for president, of those, 100% knew only 3 or 4.
- Biggest comment? “Why is there only 1 choice for most of the local, and judges races?” Most are disgusted that there are NO CHOICES!!!
- Out of the 17 county and judicial races, ONLY 1 HAS OPPOSITION!
- Looking at the statistics above, I hope people realize these numbers probably reflect what the housed voters think. In other words, housed or unhoused, we are ALL the same, no difference.
- Out of the 493 early voters yesterday, 22 were with our group. Thats 4.5%.
- We would have done more, but we were limited on the van and could make only 3 trips @ 7 each, plus me. Today we have 2 vans, and 5 volunteers, 2 of whom are formerly homeless or in a transitional shelter.
- Our Goal Is: We have no goal, other than to make sure our friends that want to vote can vote. Either now, or November. And that they have all the information they need to make an informed decision. In other words, we want to make sure they can Matter to those that Matter in the election process.
As for the Civil Rights lawsuit 1Matters and others filed, yesterday an appeal was denied in appellate court. That lawsuit was not about the un-housed voting, it is about YOUR right and mine. Justice is! Sometimes.
Victory in 2, oops, 3 of 3
September 29, 2008Posted in: 1 Comment
9/29/2008 3:58 pm - Southern District abstained as the matter was decided by the Ohio Supreme Court.
9/29/2008 2:44 pm – The Ohio Supreme Court voted 4-3 in favor of SDR, and the Northern District Federal Court favored SDR as well. Southern District Federal Court in Columbus is yet to rule, but that is expected shortly.
Law Suit Update: Early Voting Schedule
September 28, 2008Posted in: 0 Comments
9/29/2008 7am — On the recent press section I have added a link to the Ohio Supreme Court fillings for that case for those that want to see how sausage is made.
Last night the Ohio Republican Party started encouraging Republican voters to use the 1 week SDR window as well.
9/28/2008 – To me this is not political, no matter your party overturning the SDR affects your rights, no matter the party.
The hearing on our suit in Northern District Federal Court in Cleveland is Monday at 12.30 pm.
Meanwhile, on Friday a suit was filed in Southern District Federal Court by those opposing SDR.
Plus I would expect the Ohio Supreme Court finding on Monday.
Barring a court order to the contrary, every day next week from 10 am – 2 pm we will be providing free transportation to anyone who wants to vote, or to anyone that wants to register and vote at the same time. We will be visiting all of the normal places, shelters, kitchens, the eatery, library, river and others.
As a consistent standard we will start our rounds at the Downtown Public Library at 10 am every day, Tuesday to Friday, and again on Monday the 6th. The rest of the schedule will be fleshed out on Monday. People have now offered 5 vans and a bus over the course of the next week. This will help us to deploy what we need as we need it.
TAAEH and TLC had been planning a voter registration drive this week. We do not know yet the extent of their activities, but my hope is we can tie the efforts this week together and not only register, but also be sure they get to vote.
This past Saturday we heard more stories about our friends not getting to vote in 2004. This past Saturday we also found out, that thanks to the various campaigns and initiatives, almost all of our friends are already registered to vote, and now we are ready to make sure they can.
And by the way, though “most” of the people I polled are leaning Democrat, many did claim Republican and the other parties. By the way, nearly all of them watched the debate.
1Matters…. Will You?
1Matters, NEOCH File Suit in US District Court
September 25, 2008Posted in: 1 Comment
1Matters, along with the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless and others filed suit in Federal District Court, as well as an amicus curiae brief with the Ohio Supreme Court, both filed yesterday by the ACLU over ”Same Day Registration” (SDR).
They Matter Dammit!
I have been involved with the homeless, well, I guess since I was homeless myself.
Then in 1990, after headlining clubs around the country as a comedian (professionaly homeless?) and seeing more and more people on the streets, and even more families with children, decided to do something about it. The Tent City project was born.
Since then, it seems that at every election cycle the homeless get attention from politicians, and other than some local pols, not much action.
Ok, NO action.
Then in 2004 things changed – from bad to worse. Not only were the uh-housed not listened to, a LOT of our friends were prevented from voting at the last minute for a variety of “technical” reasons. Personally, this made me sick to my stomach, and in fact still does. I swore I would do all I could to not let this happen again.
So this year we are working to be sure every single one of our friends can Matter in the election process by working to remove every single barrier that might prevent one who wants to vote from voting.
Because of laws that have been on the books, FOR 25 YEARS – YOU AND I can register to vote, and then absentee vote the same day from 9/30 – 10/6.
Now THAT’S customer service. Sure, why not make it EASY for us, the citizens, to vote? That is just smart.
BUT, two voters filed a suit with the Ohio Supreme Court, on September 12th, alleging this is not REALLY what the law means, well at least not what it means this year. The law has worked for 25 years, but this year, not so much.
I guess the idea of “voter customer service and convenience” is so appalling and contradictory to the essence of government, that these two figured it MUST be stopped at any cost?
So all citizens, including you and I, housed or un-housed might no longer have the rights granted by the LAW???
According to an objective Ohio State University – Moritz Election Law analysis:
“What this lawsuit could mean for absentee voting: Every newly registered early and absentee voter in Ohio — not just those who apply to vote an in-person absentee ballot– could be affected if the court decides that the Republicans’ interpretation of the law is correct and that a voter must be registered for 30 days prior to applying for an absentee ballot. Local officials probably do not currently check all absentee voters’ records to make sure the voter has been registered for 30 days before issuing an early or absentee ballot. However, with this lawsuit, the Republicans are now seeking to make that the practice. Changing the process by which local officials process ballot applications and distribute absentee ballots this late in the election season could cause substantial confusion and disorder.”
Our “1Matters – 1Votes” is a non-partisan program doing all it can to be sure our friends, the one’s our society tells they do not Matter, CAN and WILL Matter by eliminating any barriers that might prevent those that want to from voting, and providing non-partisan voter education.
Apparently there is a belief that if you are homeless, you will vote Democrat. As if that is a union rule?
Sure is! All un-housed people are required to Vote “D”, it’s in the manual, and it is in the oath one takes when they lose their home. It fits in right between seeing all your possessions thrown on the curb and figuring where you and your children are going to sleep tonight.
Just the same as the union rule that says all hockey mom’s have to vote Republican! That’s in the manual too! Right between signing your child up for hockey and going to the hospital with the first hockey injury.
Clearly these people have never talked to the homeless. We have R’s, we have D’s, (And in Toledo there are even A and B team D’s, swear! lol), Independents, Libertarians and even the Green Party. Just like the rest of the freaking population! As if the un-housed are somehow different? As if becoming un-housed automatically changes one’s political opinion? Bull-pucky!
I gave a speech Monday to 500 students at Central Catholic High School. I asked them what are the stereotypes of the homeless. I heard the usual, addicts, alcoholics, crazy, they stink, lazy..
Then I asked them, by a show of hands… How many of them know any students that are:
Lazy? Crazy? That stink? That do drugs? That Drink?
For every single answer at least a third, and for most answers, a half of the students knew a STUDENT who was one of the above. See the point? We all know people that are all of those things, the only difference being either housed or un-housed.
So why shouldn’t they Matter? Why do they not count?
They Matter Dammit!
1) We want to make sure the voices of the un-housed citizens are heard in the Electoral System, whether Republican, Democrat, Independent, Libertarian or Green Party. For that reason 1Matters has joined the others in filing an amicus brief with the Ohio Supreme Court as well as a suit filed in Federal Court to try to assure these voices can Matter!
2) All next week we will be using a multitude of vans and buses to pick up and deliver every citizen we can — housed or unhoused – to the polls. Mildred Bayer, Cherry Street Mission and Salvation Army are providing vans for a day each, and we are looking for more, so if you have a van and driver, (or a small bus), or money for gas, email us.
3) Separately, Lisa Renee Ward and Liz Simon are continuing the primary 1Matters – 1Votes campaign: Voter information from all candidates at Tent City, and then 500 of us, guests and volunteers voting together over Tent City weekend.
We want, need and seek your help! Help us Matter to those that Matter!
Got Plans Friday Night?
There is this really awesome thing this Friday night at the University of Toledo Student Union. It is the UT Habitat chapter’s Cardboard City. Students spend the night in self designed cardboard boxes to bring attention to the plight of the homeless.
The coolest thing is the creativity that goes into them, especially from the engineering students. There was a yacht last year, as well as a castle.
The opening ceremonies will be at 9:00 pm Friday night, and I will be delivering the opening keynote. Join us!
In Conclusion…. Why We Roll
The Tent City volunteer sign up list is now open in the Tent City Forum. Post or email us with what you would like to do.
For some, it is hard to comprehend why we all do what we do. Why we feel we NEED to Matter to those that MATTER!
Got this email this morning….. nuff said!
“I vowed last year at Tent City, this year I would be able to serve the homeless and not be one of them. Through God and A.A., I have achieved that goal. Today I’m clean and sober!! I saw Michele Ross’ video and everything she said is so true. I wonder if you all know what an impact you have on us? Last year was AWESOME. It was the start of my road to recovery and the start of being a productive part of society. The compassion, dignity and kindness I was shown last year will forever leave my soul indebted. The only way to pay it back is to come back October 31 and pray I can touch even one lost human being.
Please let me know what I can do to help. I would love to just “mingle” amongst my former “peeps” and maybe tell them my story. Or just LISTEN. They MATTER.
Looking forward to seeing you all again!
Love,
Amy”
Help us Matter to those that Matter with your clothing drive, time volunteering, or cash.
