JULY 26, 2024 POETRY Of poets poor, of poets richer PHILIP SPINK Groundcover vendor No. 630 I like the poetry of the poor, Often the most. This is because the poor, Perhaps because having the most need to speak truth, Seem to speak truths the most; While more well heeled poets As if wanting to be as high and enigmatic as the Gods, Seem often interested in speaking in ways Full of mind powers and mazes Struggling to tower More than to speak. intent cares "a poem" BUK'E WYRM Groundcover contributor The Values we share are there . Must mean something To care . The relative, the states we make ourselves to be demonstrating. Behaviors in assertion to attain With how we value. With our value, One values to just pen this in the Space allotted we may become as We are with how we are. And a major phase of changing seems to allow meaning full experiential transactions of exchange of self with the other the referencing the the values we’re Embodying the vantage and this happens with our values. this is a way. "another poem" BUK'E WYRM True to how we sense with Self The same old same old same old day in and day out. still we seek to change with self for what it’s worth and all that works out for all we could achieve these themes still remembering the same self purpose has been writing the place these dreams on their own ways just to re turn with self again. GROUNDCOVER NEWS 11 PRIDE from page 8 "It would take commitment and mation from Wikipedia.) Baker, who died in 2017, wrote on gilbertbaker.com that he chose the six rainbow colors for hope. The pink triangle was Adolf Hitler's way to mark the LGBTQ community. Hitler’s ideas still flourish today in the form of Hezbollah and Hamas, who murder LGBTQ and Jews for existing. Hitler’s ideas flourish today when non-conforming vendors have to hide from everyone at Groundcover. Or when there are mass shootings. courage and tenacity to end this [Vietnam] war, but not an imitation of the government’s own destructive tactics," wrote Ellsberg, who died in 2023. That is what will win the war against "only my life matters," too. On Dexter Ave. in Ann Arbor in June, there was an Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride flag planted in the lawn next to a Little Free Library box. An American flag flies from the house. "It's showing support of all different types of people," resident Bridget O'Connor-Ranta explained. "I want to give credit to the artist. It's flying at the Smithsonian." Designed in 2021 by Valentino Vecchietti, the Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride flag incorporates the elements of five other flags: the Intersex flag designed in 2013 by Morgan Carpenter; the Pride Progress flag created by queer, nonbinary artist Daniel Quasar in 2018; the Transgender Pride flag designed by Monica Helms in 1999; the Philadelphia Pride Flag of 2017 and the original rainbow Pride flag. On June 11, 2023, the Smithsonian Institution of Washington D.C. flew the Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride flag for the first time in history, according to cooperhewitt.org. James Smithson founded the Smithsonian in 1846 for "the increase and diffusion of knowledge," according to si.edu. Knowledge shows seriousness and effectiveness, not violence and bullying. Ann Arbor Pride is an opportunity for everyone to connect, learn and have fun. Editor's note: This essay reflects the opinion of the author. SHERIFF from page 7 people do find themselves there, they are leaving with better support. This will reduce recidivism. “In addition to all this, as sheriff, I will work with local and statewide partners to support enacting rent control to keep rent affordable, and will support more housing investments especially for people leaving our jail. My whole platform can be found at Dyer2024.com.” Jackson: (was unavailable to answer) Magee: “Being homeless is not a crime. Law enforcement is asked to respond to the issues the unhoused are victimized by — such as getting mugged or committing crime / being victim of a crime due to mental health concerns. I cannot stress the importance of this enough. But the Sheriff's Office wouldn’t [oversee it], but if [a community-led shelter] would reduce police calls, victimization and actual crime, then I agree to that.” On Defunding Law Enforcement Dyer: “Yes, I believe that diverting some funding from policing to community mental health care is essential. The Sheriff's Office currently receives $6-7 million annually from the Community Mental Health and Public Safety Millage, in addition to their already large budget. They used some of this money to buy rifles and upgrade their infrastructure. My goal is to use flexible funding to prioritize investments in mental health services, substance use treatment, housing and preventive measures. As a therapist, licensed social worker, and former police officer, I understand the importance of increasing access to mental health treatment. Police officers are not equipped to handle mental health crises, and expanding community mental health support and alternative responder programs will better serve our community's needs. This also allows law enforcement to focus on emergency 911 calls for service that need immediate attention for safety reasons. It shouldn’t be the case that in Wash-tenaw County people can’t get preventative mental health support. These gaps have real consequences on families and our whole community.” Jackson: (was not available to reply) Ken: [Long pause] "I do not believe we should divert [police] funding to community mental health, but should provide training to officers to respond to mental health emergencies.” Magee believes that after taking away crime (that is caused by mental illness and acts of survival) there are still predators. “I believe we need a strong police presence to prevent crime,” Magee said. Magee is an advocate of restorative justice — with principles and limitations. He believes restorative justice should not apply to sex crimes and domestic violence.
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