MAY 2, 2025 ON MY CORNER MEET YOUR VENDOR I Have A Stigma SCOOP STEVENS Groundcover vendor No. 638 Pedro Campos, vendor No. 652 In one sentence, who are you? Human, druid, poet, journalist, chess player, social scientist and cosmonaut. Where do you usually sell Groundcover? The corner of State and Liberty, outside Starbucks. When and why did you start selling Groundcover? It's been eight months already. I identify myself with the people, the writing, the circumstance, struggling for housing as I am — the project as a whole. What is one place in Ann Arbor that feels like your own personal sanctuary? I like going to the U-M Law School. I like the way it looks, like Hogwarts. It’s quiet and I would like to go to classes there. What’s your life motto? Keep it real. What advice would you give to your younger self? Never hold back. What is your comfort food? Lasagna. If you were stranded on a desert island and could only bring three things, what would they be? Water, food, lighter. If there was a theme song for your life, what would it be? "The Great Gig in the Sky" by Pink Floyd. See page 14! If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? Outerspace. What is the weirdest food combo you swear by? Le Big Mac! What change would you like to see in Washtenaw County? Housing first — for real! What’s one question you wished you were asked more often? How are you feeling? April showers bring may flowers ROBERTO ISLA CABALLERO Groundcover vendor No. 347 We don’t know what to sow in the fall. When the white spring storm with salty, wintery, low-temperatures comes, only the sun will protect us from the sun-flecked dark clouds. By the lake we eat fish; we don’t know what to sow in the soil affected by warm winters and dry rains. We have downpours but the trees are still thirsty. On dry mornings we keep working with parched thoughts — frustrated our work counts for so little to ICE and corrupt police officers. They sell themselves like fatherlands that have no mothers, only prostitutes. As with international laws, they don’t believe in oaths or promotions; they only believe in stupidity. With a third world war this world is lost. Only the powerful will survive. The helpless will look at love’s smile and the earth’s hope. The seas will open their doors, and rivers full of the fortunate will rejoice with their intimate forefathers. Only the angel and its creators will see the new day rise. No sabemos qué sembrar en otoño. Cuando vienen las blancas primaveras con invierno salados y con storms con bajas temperaturas, solo el sol nos cobija de las nubes negras con pintas soleadas. En lagos comemos pescado y en la tierra no sabemos qué sembrar con invierno acalorados y lluvias secas. Pero con árboles secos tenemos aguaceros, pero en mañanas secas y pensamientos frustrados seguimos trabajando, pero no tenemos cuenta, solo letras de ICE y policía corruptos. Y se venden como se vende pátrias que no tienen madre solo putas. Lo mismo que leyes internacionales, no creen en juramentos ni promociones, solo creen en estupideces. Con una tercera guerra mundial este mundo está perdido. Solo el poderoso sobrevivirá. Y el desamparado mirará la sonrisa del amor y la esperanza de la tierra y los mares abrirán sus puertas y ríos llenos de afortunados gozarán de sus íntimos antepasados. Solo el ángel y sus creadores mirarán el día de ver nacido. Anonymous: You have a stigma. I do? Anonymous: Once you are homeless you are always homeless. I have a home that I live in. Anonymous: You have a mental illness. I do? Anonymous: Once you are homeless you are always homeless; you have a stigma. I do not understand. Anonymous: Stop thinking for yourself, you have a substance abuse problem. I do? Anonymous: Once you are homeless you are always homeless. I have a home that I live in. Anonymous: You are in denial; once you are homeless you are always homeless; you have a stigma. What should I do? Anonymous: Work more, make more, consume more, conform more, stop thinking for yourself and pay rent. I do not have to pay rent. Anonymous: You are in denial; once you are homeless you are always homeless; you have a stigma. I have a stigma, you told me so. GROUNDCOVER NEWS 3
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