2 $ OCTOBER 31, 2025 | VOLUME 16 | ISSUE 23 STEPHANIE DENT #84 YOUR PURCHASE BENEFITS THE VENDORS. PLEASE BUY ONLY FROM BADGED VENDORS. Invest in MI Kids: ballot initiative to fund public schools. page 6 ASK YOUR VENDOR: HOW DO FOOD STAMPS IMPACT YOUR LIFE? 15 YEARS OF NEWS AND SOLUTIONS FROM THE GROUND UP | WASHTENAW COUNTY, MICH. Food stamps will not be distributed in November — Mich. legislators might cover the cost. page 8 Journey for Justice tour brings awareness, hope. page 4 THIS PAPER WAS BOUGHT FROM • Proposal: Housing-development accelerator • Charbonneau: Open your eyes to housing inequity. PAGE 4 @groundcovernews, include vendor name and vendor #
2 GROUNDCOVER NEWS GROUNDCOVER15 OCTOBER 31, 2025 PROVIDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELFDETERMINED INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY POVERTY, PRODUCING A STREET NEWSPAPER THAT GIVES A PLATFORM TO UNDERREPRESENTED VOICES IN WASHTENAW COUNTY, PROMOTING AN ACTION TO BUILD A JUST, CARING AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETY. Groundcover News, a 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in April 2010 as a means to empower lowincome persons to make the transitions from homeless to housed, and from jobless to employed. Vendors purchase each copy of our regular editions of Groundcover News at our office for 50 cents. This money goes towards production costs. Vendors work selling the paper on the street for $2, keeping all income and tips from each sale. Vendors are the main contributors to the paper, and are compensated to write and report. Street papers like Groundcover News exist in cities all over the United States, as well as in more than 40 other countries, in an effort to raise awareness of the plight of homeless people and combat the increase in poverty. Our paper is a proud member of the International Network of Street Papers. STAFF Lindsay Calka — publisher Cynthia Price — editor Gray Connor — intern Lila Kelly— intern June Miller Megha Uberoi ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS Tabitha Almond Elizabeth Bauman Monique Caldwell Pedro Campos La Shawn Courtwright Christopher Ellis Ulrich Jonas Mike Jones David Mitchell Ken Parks David L. Putman Denise Shearer Steven Scoop Stevens PROOFREADERS Susan Beckett Steve Ross VOLUNTEERS Jessi Averill Jane Atkins Sim Bose Jud Branam Libby Chambers Stephanie Dong Glenn Gates Robert Klingler Margaret Patston Ari Ruczynski Mary Wisgerhof Max Wisgerhof Emilie Ziebarth BOARD of DIRECTORS Anna Gersh Greg Hoffman Jessi Averill Jacob Fallman Jack Edelstein Glenn Gates GROUNDCOVER NEWS ADVERTISING RATES Size 1/8 1/6 1/4 1/2 full page Black/White $110.00 $145.00 $200.00 $375.00 $650.00 Color $150.00 $200.00 $265.00 $500.00 $900.00 Dimensions (W x H in inches) 5 X 3 or 2.5 X 6.5 5 X 4 5 X 6.25 5 X 13 or 10.25 X 6.5 10.25 X 13 Mike Jones Hailu Shitaye Shelley DeNeve Steve Borgsdorf CONTACT US Story and photo submissions: submissions@groundcovernews.com Advertising and partnerships: contact@groundcovernews.com Office: 423 S. 4th Ave., Ann Arbor Mon-Sat, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Phone: 734-263-2098 @groundcover @groundcovernews DONATE, LISTEN TO OLD ISSUES + LEARN MORE www.groundcovernews.org WAYS TO SUPPORT 1. Buy the paper, read the paper. 2. Get the word out — We rely on grassroots marketing. Talk to people about Groundcover and share us with your network. 3. Volunteer — You'll learn a lot about our vendors, the newspaper and your community. Interested in volunteering regularly? Fill out the form on our website. 4. Advertise your company, organization, event or resource — see rates below. 5. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram — promote our posts and share your favorite articles and vendor interactions. 6. Donate items — A seasonally appropiate list of items most needed at our office and on the street is available on our website. Drop off anytime we're open. PACKAGE PRICING Three Months/Six Issues: 15% off Six Months/Twelve Issues: 25% off Full Year/Twenty-four Issues: 35% off Only run for two weeks/one issue: 40% off Additional 20% discount for money saving coupons
OCTOBER 31, 2025 ON MY CORNER ASK YOUR VENDOR How do food stamps impact your life? Food stamps will not be distributed in November due to government shutdown and the Trump administration's refusal to mobilize SNAP-specific contingency funds appropriated by Congress for this very purpose. Read more on page 8. Its a major part of my budget for food. I don't have much of a budget without the Bridge Card. We count on it to eat. My UnitedHealthcare food bonus is helpful, too. — Ken Parks #490 It doesn’t really affect me. I only ever had them right after I was homeless. I have noticed that locations to access to free food have disappeared over the years, though. — Cindy Gere, #279 I don't get them, so not at all. I don't qualify and that doesn't make sense to me. — Wayne S., #615 Greatly. It helps feed my daughter and grandkids. — Glen Page, #407 It makes me scared for society. People do things when they are hungry that they wouldn't do otherwise. I'll definitely be selling more papers this month. — Stephanie Duncan, #66 Majorly. Buy food or pay rent? — Mike Jones, #113 I don't get them, but I wish I did. They make it easier to purchase food. — Felicia Wilbert, #234 They make healthy food accessible. Cheap food isn't food. — Jim Clark, #139 Groundcover Vendor Code While Groundcover is a non-profit, and paper vendors are self-employed contractors, we still have expectations of how vendors should conduct themselves while selling and representing the paper. The following is our Vendor Code of Conduct, which every vendor reads and signs before receiving a badge and papers. We request that if you discover a vendor violating any tenets of the Code, please contact us and provide as many details as possible. Our paper and our vendors should be positively impacting our County. • Groundcover will be distributed October 31st October 31st is a special day of the year. Not because of spooky and scary things, but because of pleasant things. It’s harvest time and a time to praise God and Jesus. It’s a time for treats, your favorite meals and fun times. You can look however you want to look and be whoever you want to be on that special day. It's also very pretty and, most of the time, not too hot. October 31st is a good day for people of all ages — babies, children, DENISE SHEARER Groundcover vendor No. 485 teenagers, adults and senior citizens. It's also a good time to decorate buildings and homes. It’s a good time for movie days and movie nights, too. It's also a good time for silly artwork, silly music and other comical things to make you laugh. I like to share candy, popcorn and all types of snacks with my friends and family. It would be nice to have a party at Groundcover on October 31 so friends can get together at Groundcover, too. Those are some good things about October 31st. It's a very beautiful day. Denise: What do you like most about the month of October? Lindsay Calka, Groundcover publisher: The fall leaves, the cool weather and the excuse to eat lots of soup! Denise: How do you celebrate Halloween? Lindsay: I always dress up as a “French press” coffee for Halloween. I wear a beret and a T-Shirt from France, along with my Groundcover News press pass. GROUNDCOVER NEWS 3 Shutdown hurts families like mine I think it's absolutely crazy that just because the government is shut down, the families that count on their food stamps every month to feed their children and themselves are just out of luck. I have no idea what I'm going to do about feeding my babies. I think this government shutdown needs to end so me and thousands of other people don't have to stress about how their children will get their next meal. They already cut my food stamps for no reason months ago; I only get $650 to feed my off, my 2-year-old is the world's pickiest eater ever. I am truly scared about what TABITHA ALMOND Groundcover vendor No. 360 family of four and let me tell you that is not easy. Just one person usually gets almost $300, but me and my family struggle every month with food, and to top it will happen if the government don't open back up soon. I just need everyone to pray that the government gets it together. Hopefully by the time this article makes it into Groundcover the government will be back open and everyone was able to get their food stamps, since there are families like mine that don't have other ways to get food. Thanks for listening to me complain Everyone have a great day! for a voluntary donation. I agree not to ask for more than the cover price or solicit donations by any other means. • When selling Groundcover, I will always have the current biweekly issue of Groundcover available for customer purchase. • I agree not to sell additional goods or products when selling the paper or to panhandle, including panhandling with only one paper or selling an issue more than 4 weeks old. • I will wear and display my badge when selling papers and refrain from wearing it or other Groundcover gear when engaged in other activities. • I will only purchase the paper from Groundcover Staff and will not sell to or buy papers from other Groundcover vendors, especially vendors who have been suspended or terminated. • I agree to treat all customers, staff, and other vendors respectfully. I will not “hard sell,” threaten, harass or pressure customers, staff, or other vendors verbally or physically. • I will not sell Groundcover under the influence of drugs or alcohol. • I understand that I am not a legal employee of Groundcover but a contracted worker responsible for my own well-being and income. • I understand that my badge is property of Groundcover and will not deface it. I will present my badge when purchasing the papers. • I agree to stay off private property when selling Groundcover. • I understand to refrain from selling on public buses, federal property or stores unless there is permission from the owner. • I agree to stay at least one block away from another vendor in downtown areas. I will also abide by the Vendor Corner Policy. • I understand that Groundcover strives to be a paper that covers topics of homelessness and poverty while providing sources of income for the homeless. I will try to help in this effort and spread the word. If you would like to report a violation of the Vendor Code or leave positive review of a Vendor experience please email contact@ groundcovernews.com or fill out the contact form on our website.
4 GROUNDCOVER NEWS INCARCERATION LILY PASTORA MONTEROSSO U-M student contributor Shock. Fear. Hope. Those were the emotions that many people faced when the Journey to Justice bus tour arrived at the Michigan League (University of Michigan student union) on Friday, Oct. 17. Run by the Unlock the Box campaign and Look 2 Justice, alongside local partners such as Open MI Door, a bus-turned-art-exhibition is traveling around the nation to show the injustices people face in solitary confinement. Solitary confinement is a form of punishment where a person in jail or prison is placed in a locked room for as long as 22 hours or more a day. Many people who are in solitary confinement are denied access to family visits, recreational activities and prison programming, leaving them alone in a jail cell that resembles an empty cage. Organizations like Unlock the Box try to raise awareness on how solitary confinement is harmful to those forced into it while working with governments to try to alleviate the issue through legislation or policy. The first part of the event focused on the decorated school bus next to the Michigan League, which was transformed into a portable museum that showcased people who faced solitary confinement and their testimonies. When I walked into the bus, the first thing I noticed was the bare bunk beds, each one cramped and featuring a thin blanket and pillow as the only means of comfort. People were able to lie in the beds while listening to an inmate's experience through a prison phone, allowing them to be immersed in the experience of someone in solitary confinement. Meanwhile, there were lockers at the back of the bus, each one showcasing a person who went through solitary confinement and giving their stories while their personal belongings were scattered around the locker itself. As I was listening to the stories, I could hear the fear from their tone in the stories — the screams of help from the inmates, the crude conditions that people faced and the dwindling morale that made people feel less and less human. These exhibits allowed participants, including myself, to understand how solitary confinement can be dehumanizing and used wrongfully in the incarceration system. While exploring the bus, I met with Hakim Crampton, the Government Relations Liaison for Citizens for Prison Reform and a survivor of solitary confinement. After being wrongfully convicted for a murder at the age of 18, Crampton spent 15 years in prison, witnessing firsthand how solitary confinement harmed him and his community EVENTS ALL HALLOWS ILLUMINATION Saturday, November 1, from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Frog Island Park, Ypsi All Hallows Illumination is a beloved Ypsi tradition where thousands of jack-o'-lanterns create a glowing, magical trail. Bring your creation to Frog Island. Ypsi provides the LED lights for a safe, glowing display — no candles needed! A thrilling performance by the incredible Ypsilanti Youth Choir, spooky DJ tunes, local arts mini marketplace and pet costume parade! Sign up to volunteer and lend a hand today: firstfridaysypsi.com/all-hallows AFRICAN WOMEN FILM FESTIVAL 2025 Wednesday - Friday, November 5-7, select times Michigan League, State Theater, Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor A three-day celebration of the creativity, resilience and global impact of African women in cinema.This year’s festival centers on the theme “Voices of Resilience: The Power of Storytelling in African Cinema."The event features award-winning filmmakers from across the continent alongside University of Michigan faculty experts for film screenings, Q&A sessions, and panel discussions. Full schedule available at ii.umich.edu/asc/news-events/ events/awff2025.html FIRST FRIDAYS YPSI Friday, November 7, 5-11 p.m. Downtown and Depot Town First Friday food court and normal festivities — explore businesses to shop exclusive discounts, attend pop-up events and galleries featuring Ypsilanti area artists and performers. YPSI PULL OVER PREVENTION Saturday, November 8, 10 a.m.- 12 p.m. Masjid Ibrahim, 315 S. Ford Blvd, Ypsilanti Provides free car repairs of lights, tire pressure and fluids to prevent unecessary interactions with law enforcement. Free food, pet food and supplies, A2 COMMUNITY BOOKFEST Sunday, November 9, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. AADL downtown, 343 S. 5th Ave. Booksellers, publishers, authors, and more will be tabling and various activities for all ages, such as keynote author talks, hands-on crafts for kids and adults, storytimes, and discussion groups, will take place throughout the day. Additionally, from 1 -2 p.m., the Fifth Avenue Press annual author reception will celebrate books published by the Library in the prior year. CONCERT FOR PEACE Tuesday, November 11,7 p.m. The Ark, 316 S Main St. Ann Arbor This annual concert benefits the Veterans for Peace Chapter 93 Peace Scholarship Fund. Proceeds will go to scholarships for college students enrolled in an accredited peace studies program and for programs to assist combat veterans suffering from serious trauma. This year’s lineup includes community resources and more. Laith Al-Saadi, Judy Banker, Al Bettis, Dave Boutette and Kristi Davis, Chris Buhalis, Annie & Rod Capps, Rochelle Clark, Lauren Crane, Dave Keeney & Sophie Hanifi, Shari Kane & Dave Steele, Billy King, Pontiac Trailblazers, Maddy Ringo, Michael Smith, Rollie Tussing and Matt Watroba. INTERFAITH COUNCIL FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE CONNECT AND ACT Saturday, November 22, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 120 S. State St., Ann Arbor Join to learn ways that you can get involved in a community that is ready to "Circle Up" and get to work! Build skills together, plan together and act together! Register to attend in-person or online: givebutter.com/CircleUp2025 Submit an event to be featured in the next edition: submissions@groundcovernews. com peers. He said that while he had support from his family during his time in prison, many others who face the same situation do not. “When you don’t have anyone to turn to, there’s no support, then mental illness could even increase tenfold,” Crampton said. He now shares his experience around the state in order to educate the public about the abuses that happen with solitary confinement, while encouraging them to take action in the community and with the government. After the bus tour, the second part of the event was a discussion at the Michigan League. After watching some documentaries about how solitary confinement is impacting people in Michigan, there was a panel discussion with Joel Carter, who faced solitary confinement while being incarcerated; Margo Schlanger, a professor at the University of Michigan who focuses on civil rights with criminal detention; and Barbara Oppewall, whose son Ben passed away due to severe conditions while being in solitary confinement. Each one gave their own perspectives and opinions, and the various ways in which the issue can be tackled through local organizations and the government. This event allowed me to learn more about this staggering issue and understand how it can affect not only the person in solitary confinement, but Inside the tour bus OCTOBER 31, 2025 Journey to Justice Tour brings awareness, hope also the families and friends of the individual. Incarceration is one of the main contributors to homelessness, and when someone is forcefully put into an environment that strips away their individuality, they can develop mental health issues that can lead to poor choices, continuing the cycle of incarceration. Event organizers stressed talking about this issue with others to raise awareness while also contacting representatives to inform them to work on bills that end solitary confinement in Michigan. For survivors like Hakim, grace is a crucial thing for people to give. He concluded, “There’s different times in our lives that we make mistakes. And should those mistakes be backbreaking, life-ending mistakes? You know, I don’t think so. I think that we need to have some grace, you know, forgiveness for people.”
OCTOBER 31, 2025 IN MEMORIAM In memory of James Heed JUNE 21, 1953 - OCTOBER 17, 2025 James “Jimmy” Heed was born in 1953 at St. Vincent Deaconess hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. He came to Mercy House (Ann Arbor house of hospitality) for the first time for a community breakfast sometime in the winter of 2016. He told Peggy, who runs the house, that he was staying at the Delonis Center and when they wouldn’t accept his cat to live at the shelter with him, he arranged to take the cat to the animal hospital where he had to pay a monthly fee. Peggy and Sheri Wander invited Jimmy to the Ann Arbor ecumenical event on homelessness and poverty at Vineyard Church, and he went. After the event, Peggy invited him to stay at Mercy House. Jimmy immediately found a contract job at the University of Michigan hospital; he worked as a valet during the night shift from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., even throughout the coldest months of the year. Jimmy confided in Peggy his medical information after he moved in. He did not share that information with other residents at Mercy House. However, during the pandemic, we noticed he visited the hospital several times, and would spend more than a week or two at the ICU. When he came out of the hospital he revealed he had cancer. Jimmy was the kind of person that kept to himself and didn’t talk very much. He was a very intelligent man and some of the Mercy House residents teased him about how much he remembered from his high school days in Cleveland. He was living in Cleveland during the 1969 chemical fire which sparked the environmental movement. People thought highly of Jimmy because of his generosity and kindness. During Christmas 2024, he bought about a dozen $20 gift cards, which he gave away to his friends and some homeless guests at the Mercy House Christmas party. Jimmy’s death is a significant loss to the homeless community. We will continue to pray for his soul to rest in peace. — Will Shakespeare, Groundcover vendor No. 258 Words from his family, shared at the October 25 memorial at Mercy House He loved beanies and flannels so we all wore them to the memorial. — Cyndey Heed, niece He once shared a one bedroom apartment with 49 cats. He was the pogo stick champ of our family. — Nancy Heed, sister He liked the Bee Gees, Vanity Fair, Lobo and Mary Hopkins. — John Heed Jim fed cats and took care of his mother. He was kind and funny. And gentle. He drove for a career as a cab driver and airport shuttle! Still, he would drive for fun. — Tom Heed He was kind, dependable and honest. He was never afraid to speak his mind or ask questions. He loved cats, both his own and others. — Alex Heed GROUNDCOVER NEWS What’s Happening at the Ann Arbor District Library Open 10am–8pm Daily Visit any of our five locations across town to browse books, magazines, newspapers, and more. Check out movies, CDs, art prints, musical instruments, or even home tools—you name it! Enjoy fast and free WiFi, study and meeting rooms, and plenty of comfortable spaces to relax or hang out. The Big Three As the seasons shift from spring and summer into fall and winter, so do the conditions shift for us who are a part of the homeless community in Washtenaw County. Just last week while enjoying a free breakfast at St. Andrew’s Church on Division Street in Ann Arbor, my friend and I realized the warm summer weather was quickly turning into cool breezes and even colder nights. Surviving a life of homelessness means just that — you don’t have a home. This literally means that there is no roof over your head, nor a warm bed to crawl into at bed time. The elements become very real during the cooler months of November, December and January. I affectionately refer to them as "The Big Three." These three months are also known as our beloved holiday season. During this time, those who can adorn their homes with lights and all types of festive attractions to vendor who you see faithfully outside selling our Groundcover Newspaper. For the small price of the paper plus a little gift of a tip, you can literally change and sustain the life of one of Washtenaw County's finest citizens. Today as I write this article I am DAVID MITCHELL Groundcover vendor No. 661 celebrate love for family and friends. Many of us go one step further and look for those who are not so loved among us whom we can shower with love. The expressions of love appear in the form of a warm sweater given to a cold woman on the street, to a sleeping bag offered to the man we often see sleeping under the bridge near the Delonis Center. An even greater way to share your love during the holiday is to adopt your favorite moved to tears. You see, there is a roof over my head tonight, and hot food cooking on the stove in the kitchen of a friend who has graciously offered me room and board. Hat’s off to the holiday season, the very season of giving that is making it possible for me to live again. By living I mean eating and sleeping inside the comfort of a home. Now may your family be richly blessed this year, and may you rejoice in the abundance of peace and prosperity that is found throughout Washtenaw County and beyond. Saturday, November 8 • 11 AM–5 PM • Downtown Library Print Fest celebrates all forms of printmaking, including a vendor fair featuring letterpress and hand-printed goods. Join us for talks by local printmakers and drop in for printing demos! Learn more at aadl.org/printfest. Book Clubs To Go Book Clubs To Go is a service available at each AADL location that provides the convenience of complete kits for book discussions. Inside you’ll find 10 copies of the featured book, one movie on DVD and a resource folder. Request a kit online or call (734)-327-4200. Byte Club An exclusive club for AADL SUPER FANS and library people like you! Byte Club will help you connect deeper with the Library you know and love, and share special sneak peeks of new things coming soon. The first rule of Byte Club is that you tell everyone about Byte Club! Ready to join? Visit aadl.org/ byteclub to get started. FEATURED EVENT 5
6 GROUNDCOVER NEWS MAKING CHANGE STEVEN Groundcover vendor No. 668 Invest in MI Kids is a statewide ballot initiative aimed at amending the State’s Constitution beginning in 2027. This amendment will place a 5% income tax surcharge on people making up 1% of Michigan’s population. That revenue will be invested into children in Michigan's public schools: reducing class sizes, expanding career and technical education and also recruiting and retaining high quality educators. The 1% of the population that would be impacted are single tax filers with an annual incomes over $500,000, or joint filers making over $1 million in taxable income. It only applies to income over these sums. For example, a single filer’s surcharge if they made $500,001 in one year would be 5 cents. They would only pay tax on the one dollar over $500,000. Invest in MI Kids needs to collect 700,000 signatures over the course of 180 days to get on the ballot. This is ongoing as of this current edition of Groundcover News. Once that is accomplished, 2.8 million Michigan citizens voting YES in the November 2026 mid-term will place $1.8 billion into our public school system yearly: into the State School Aid Fund to be used for specific purposes with yearly audits, all clearly defined in the proposed amendment to the State’s Constitution. I was able to speak with John Weiss, a volunteer who was raising awareness and seeking signatures with other volunteers at Ypsilanti’s annual Holy Bones Festival and Artisan Market (which was awesome — 10/10, will go again). He pointed out to me that a change to the constitution as a ballot measure is much more difficult for the legislature to reverse than a typical amendment would be. He went on to say that, anecdotally, even some those who fall among that 1% are behind this measure and have signed it. Michigan ranks 44th in reading and 44th in graduation attainment rate in the United States. We’ve also been ranked 49th in school funding growth since 1995. Our state is dead last, 50th, in terms of teacher recruitment. Let that sink in. All other states are ahead of us on this important issue. Yes, even that one. The Michigan State School Board voted 5-2 to endorse the amendment. The Detroit Federation of Teachers, the Michigan PTA and dozens more, too many to list in the scope of this article (investinmikids.org/endorsements) have endorsed this amendment. Small business owners find it equitable as well. The average income of a small business owner in Michigan is $52,000 a year. The Fair Share Surcharge starts at $500,000 a year, focusing on a tiny slice of our population. The benefits of forcing the wealthiest in our communities to pay their fair share should be obvious, but since we have to create a ballot amendment to get these people to help our children, it seems to not be so obvious to them. I can’t imagine many of the wealthiest 1% send their kids to public schools so, why would they care? Still, they are a part of our communities, so let's vote to make them pay their fair share. The top 1% currently pay 5.7% in total taxes of family income with everyone else paying between 7.1% and 9.7%. Let's pay our teachers more. I have OCTOBER 31, 2025 Invest in MI Kids: ballot initiative to fund public schools never heard anyone suggest teachers make enough money, ever. Let's reduce class sizes, giving our students more focused attention from high-quality, long-term educators who don’t have to work second jobs. Let’s stop canceling art and band classes. Let's get our state back to work. Michigan is the fourth highest in unemployment. Let’s give our kids a chance to compete with the kids of the ultrawealthy and make their parents pay for some of it. You must be registered to vote in Michigan to sign this peition. Register to vote online at mvic.sos.state.mi.us/ RegisterVoter Peace be with you KEN PARKS Groundcover vendor No. 490 Once upon a time, Father John Nolan, who was the worker priest at St. Hilary Catholic Church in the western Detroit suburbs, offered me a room in the parish house. From 2000 to 2005, I lived there and went to Mass occasionally. Mass ended with community greetings of a kiss and the expression “PEACE BE WITH YOU.” I had been raised in the pietistic anabaptist tradition, which was still suspicious of Catholics because of historical memory rooted in the Inquisition. How many were burned at the stake? Father Nolan and my father the Rev. James K. Parks became friends in the peace and justice movement. As I moved into Cuba solidarity work in 1990, Father Nolan became an important friend and supporter. His timely invitation to live in community was an auspicious opportunity. It was a delight to be in a community which believed in the peace that Jesus taught with a kiss and the words PEACE BE WITH YOU. This conclusion to Mass helps to erase memories of the Inquisition which still live in the bones of Western Civilization. The genocide in Palestine is the latest example of the Inquisition mentality. I joined the Palestine solidarity vigil which gathers at the post office by Fifth and Liberty on Thursdays at 5 p.m. I chose a sign that said “ISRAEL KILLS A CLASSROOM FULL OF CHILDREN EVERY SINGLE DAY.” American exceptionalism, the ideology of American supremacism, continues a kind of Inquisition: it thrived in the neoliberal form that Ronald Reagan advanced, Bill Clinton perfected and Obama represented with his great oratory on American exceptionalism. The U.S.-based war machine has supplied Israeli Zionism from its beginning as a forward military base in the Middle East. In the days of apartheid, Israel and South Africa were encouraged to become nuclear powers. The war machine is global and NATO has been a major player, especially after the reunification of Germany. Alan Haber has one of the best leaflets on this topic titled “End the Whole War System. He is in his 90th year and you can meet him Friday at 6 p.m. at the weekly peace vigil by the Ann Arbor Post Office on Fifth and Liberty Streets. If you read the October 3 Groundcover News, you may have seen the “Make Peace With Yourself” piece. It is an introduction to the struggle for peace and justice in this phase of the American Revolution. Many of us are learning PEACE BE WITH YOU as the greeting and parting phrase of our time. The 400 million Arabic speakers in the world use the phrase “assalamu alykum,” many of them daily. Practice that with Arabic speakers until it flows. For veterans of Standing Rock and similar indigenous-centered awareness campaigns, that phrase is amended with “and all our relations.” If you can say those words to your MAGA fellow citizens, you are practicing Revolutionary Love, which is another article of mine in the Groundcover archives. As we learn to breathe the love that heals, we become mindful revolutionaries eager to do the work that is before us. Daily practice is strengthened by group practice, such as the one led by Khenpo Choephel at Karuna Buddhist Center at 423 S. Fourth Ave. on Parks with Bob and Linda Wan at the Trotter Multicultural Center. Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. May we come together and share in the work that connects. I hope to see you at the Veterans for Peace "Concert for Peace" at the Ark, Tuesday, November 11 (see event details page 4). PEACE BE WITH YOU AND ALL OUR RELATIONS.
OCTOBER 31, 2025 TAXES GROUNDCOVER NEWS Martyna Linartas on inheritance tax: “We need to make the rich pay more” ULRICH JONAS Hinz&Kunzt Hinz&Kunzt is a street newspaper in Hamburg, Germany. Translated by Lisa Luginbuhl, Courtesy of INSP.ngo In her new book, political scientist Martyna Linartas explains why the gap between rich and poor in Germany is widening — and what we can do about it. Hinz&Kunzt: You claim that, contrary to popular belief, Germany is not a meritocracy but a society based on inheritance. What does that mean? Martyna Linartas: That’s not just an opinion; it’s a description of the facts. More than half of all wealth in this country now consists of inheritances and gifts, so how rich or poor I become doesn't depend on what I earn during my life; it depends on whether I inherit anything from my parents or grandparents. You are calling for higher inheritance tax for the rich to make society more equitable. Why hasn’t this been implemented already? There is a lobby of big money working to maintain the status quo. Take the Family Business Foundation, for example: it invests millions in campaigns, communication strategies and political meetings — because billions are at stake. We have had three inheritance tax reforms since the mid1990s. It is regrettable that parts of the legislation correspond exactly to what the foundation wanted. Because of the many exemptions, the tax system is now more full of holes than Swiss cheese. Would reintroducing the wealth tax, which was suspended in 1997 by the then black-yellow [conservative CDU/CSU and liberal FDP coalition] federal government, be an alternative? The wealth tax is not an alternative to inheritance tax; we need both. But it is also important. We need to straighten out the entire tax system according to the principle that strong shoulders should bear more than weak ones. The wealth tax is fundamental because, on the one hand, we have more and more people living in poverty and, on the other hand, more and more who are rich. Every year, the wealth of millionaires and billionaires grows. If we want to tax these people fairly, we need the wealth tax because the income that very rich people earn consists of returns on their assets without them having to work for it. The rich pay more income tax. That is true for 99% of them. But when it comes to the top1%, things get interesting: for three decades, our tax system has heavily favoured income that does not come from work. While a middle-class family pays 43% in taxes and duties on their income, multimillionaires pay an average of 29% and billionaires 26%. Looking at the political debates, one could still get the impression that strengthening inheritance tax and reintroducing wealth tax would hit the middle class harder than the rich. This is a narrative often cited by the economic elite. It makes people afraid: “Oh my God, if inheritance tax is increased, Grandma’s little house will be gone, and my job will be at risk!” That’s nonsense. We had a wealth tax and a higher inheritance tax for decades, and Germany did well. Besides, the rich are not going to leave the country and set up their businesses elsewhere because of a few percentage points of tax. There are many studies on this. In your opinion, is there a model for fairer taxation? Germany. But not today, rather at the beginning of the Weimar Republic. In 1919, we had an inheritance tax of up to 90%. We had a wealth tax, the so-called Reichsnotopfer. And we had higher income taxes. We had all of that after the Second World War, too. You could say that in times of crisis, a so-called window of opportunity arises because people realize that they need to show solidarity with one another as a society. Then they also have more courage to tackle big issues instead of just maintaining the status quo. In the 1970s, we had another phase in which people said, “We must ask the wealthy to pay more, rather than just kindly requesting that they donate more.” Many wealthy people have established charitable foundations. Is that a positive thing? Donations are never as large as the potential revenue from wealth-related taxes. And with donations, the decision-making power over how the money is used remains in the hands of the wealthy. But we cannot believe and expect that they have all the problems in view. We need our democracy, in which the politicians we elect decide what happens to our tax money, 7 Photo by Ashwin Vaswani and invest money in areas that are not trendy. No wealthy entrepreneur would donate money to send a bus to remote villages. Only a state that takes the weaker members of society into account would do such a thing. You are also campaigning for a basic inheritance: all young adults should receive a certain amount of money from the state. Why? In more than 100 years of democracy, the poorer half of the population has not managed to accumulate any significant wealth. Studies also show that taxing the rich in the form of wealth and inheritance tax would not be enough to significantly reduce inequality. The question is: what would be fair? We should also think in a different direction: that not only the top 30% receive inheritances and gifts, but everyone. With basic inheritance, young adults would receive a small fortune at a crucial moment in their lives. There are different ideas about the amount, ranging from €20,000 to €190,000. Which model would you choose? €190,000. Who is going to pay for this? If we make the tax system fair, we can generate additional revenue of over €200 billion. Even with a basic inheritance of €190,000 for everyone, there would still be money left over. What is important to me is that we still need a basic child allowance that is poverty-proof, higher wages and better infrastructure. Because basic inheritance is not a panacea. I see it more as an expression of a new understanding of wealth, namely that it is always built up collectively in a society. A company, for example, needs good employees to be successful. However, business assets usually belong to only a few — even though many have worked to build them up. How do you envisage introducing basic inheritance? We need to introduce children and young people to the topic over many years. I can say from my own experience that when you grow up in poverty, you learn to save, but not to invest sustainably. So we need to talk about it: if you receive such a sum of money, what can you do with it? Do you want to realize a housing project? Start your own business? Or finance a degree abroad? Aren’t you afraid of 18-year-olds buying sports cars with it? There will be some. But I am against general suspicion. If we allow young people to vote, be elected and go to war, they should also be allowed to decide how to spend their money. When you see how we all live beyond our means in Germany, how we far too rarely consider consumption and climate change together; inheritance is also a wonderful opportunity to talk in schools about a more sustainable approach to money — especially since it is often the rich who leave the largest carbon footprint. There are no political majorities in sight for your ideas. Who should bring about change? In a democracy, something like this has to be implemented by politicians. We have two options: either we continue as before and watch the gap between rich and poor widen further and further, or we bring about change. Some countries are cautiously leading the way, such as Spain and Norway, which have introduced or increased a wealth tax. In the United States, billionaires are undermining the pillars of democracy, increasing their wealth and pushing through crude ideas. What gives you hope that things will be different here? We have a different party system. In see TAXES page 14
8 GROUNDCOVER NEWS SHUTDOWN Food stamps will not be distributed in November — Michigan legislators might cover the cost LINDSAY CALKA Publisher The federal government has been shut down since October 1. Annually, Congress must pass legislation that decides the funding for government programs, services and departments. If the Democrat and Republican legislators and the President cannot negotiate and agree upon the budget, the result is a stalemate and consequential “shutdown:” federal workers do not get their paychecks, nonessential government work doesn’t happen and major delays occur in administrative services. Social Security and Medicare checks will still go out, but funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — called SNAP, food stamps, EBT or Bridge Card — is impacted by the federal freeze. On Oct. 23 the U.S. Department of Agriculture ordered the State Departments of Health and Human Services to pause payments in November. As long as the government is shut down, the payments will be too. 42 million Americans will be at risk of losing these food benefits. Nearly 13% of Michigan households, approximately 1.4 million people, receive SNAP benefits. 43% are families with children; 492,225 children benefit from SNAP; 38,513 veterans participate in SNAP; 36% SNAP households have older adults; 51% of households have a person with a disability; 78% of SNAP households include someone with earned income. Earlier this year, the Trump administration's Big Beautiful Bill slashed the SNAP budget by $265 billion (over ten years), increased work requirements and barred immigrants and refugees from receiving assistance. The federal government’s delay of SNAP benefits will place Michiganders at further risk of food insecurity and poverty. SNAP, a critical program for families and individuals across Michigan to access food, is the nation’s largest food assistance program and one of the most effective tools to reduce food insecurity. Michigan House of Representative Democrats, led by Rep. Tonya Myers Phillips, put forward a package of bills on Thursday, October 30 that would put $900 million of state emergency funds into keeping SNAP benefits running throughout the month. Colin Jackson from Michigan Public Radio predicted, “The bills could have an uphill journey in the Republican-led state House of Representatives.” State Attorneys General including Michigan's Dana Nessel are suing the Trump Administration, legislators are putting out formal messages in opposition and community members are organizing to prepare for this attack on food access. In the next edition we will follow up on this story and report on the creative ways Washtenaw County is responding. We invite readers to contribute by emailing submissions@groundcovernews. com OCTOBER 31, 2025
OCTOBER 31, 2025 FREE HOT MEALS hot meal RESOURCE CORNER DAILY Breakfast: Breakfast Program at St. Andrew's, 7:30-8:30 a.m., 306 N. Division Street, Ann Arbor. Also distributes lunches to-go during breakfast. Lunch (only Monday-Friday): Delonis Center, 12-1 p.m., 312 W. Huron Street, Ann Arbor Lunch (only Monday-Friday): Starting Nov. 10, Daytime Warming Centers, 12-1 p.m., Ann Arbor (location rotates) and the Ypsilanti Frieghthouse, 100 Market Place. Freighthouse not open on Fridays. Dinner (only Monday-Friday): Delonis Center, 5:30-6:30 p.m., 312 W. Huron Street, Ann Arbor Dinner (not served on Wednesdays): Hope Clinic, 5-6 p.m., 518 Harriet Street, Ypsilanti. Meals only served to-go. TUESDAYS Lunch: Fed-Up Food truck, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Ypsilanti District Library Michigan Ave. branch WEDNESDAYS Lunch: Fed-Up Food truck, 1-2 p.m., Liberty Plaza, 310 S. Division Street, Ann Arbor. Ends Nov. 10. Dinner: Mercy House Open Hours, 6-8 p.m., 805 W Huron Street, Ann Arbor. Dinner: FedUp Food Truck, 5-7 p.m., Growing Hope, 16 S. Washington Street, Ypsilanti THURSDAYS Dinner: Hospitality House, 5-7 p.m., 169 N. Washington Street Ypsilanti FRIDAYS Dinner: Pizza in the Park, 7-8 p.m., Liberty Plaza, 310 S. Division Street Ann Arbor SATURDAYS Breakfast: Mercy House, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., 805 W Huron Street, Ann Arbor Delonis Center, 3-4 p.m., 312 W. Huron Street Ann Arbor. SUNDAYS Lunch/dinner: Delonis Center, 3-4 p.m., 312 W. Huron Street Ann Arbor Lunch/dinner: Washtenaw Camp Outreach BBQ, every other Sunday, 3-4:30 p.m., 211 E Michigan Ave Ypsilanti Lunch/dinner: MISSION BBQ, every other Sunday, 3-4:30 p.m., 3501 Stone School Road Ann Arbor. Alternates with WCO BBQ. MONTHLY Breakfast: Around the Kitchen Table Peace House Brunch, 3rd Sundays, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., 16 S. Washington Street Ypsilanti. Lunch: Pull Over Prevention, 2nd Sundays, 10 a.m - 1 p.m., locations vary check www.facebook.com/PullOverPrevention/ Lunch: Fed-Up Food Truck 1st and 4th Tuesdays, 5 - 6:30 p.m. at the Peace Hub,1515 South Harris Road. Food pantry information and hot meal schedules for Washenaw County update frequently. For an up-to-date schedule for the following locations visit Food Gatherer's food map and list at: foodgatherers.org/foodresources GROUNDCOVER NEWS 9
10 GROUNDCOVER NEWS LIVING ARCHIVE OCTOBER 31, 2025 Housed, unhoused or homeless? What is “domicile,” and how can we begin to look at that word to see different notions that could describe how we define classes of people? Communities are people, and where people come together, there begins the hard stuff of life, from the ugly, brutal and profane to the seemingly sublime. However, sometimes we seem to get lost along our way when we come together and organize our spaces. Possibly, it’s just our nature as primal beings that our world shows extreme signs of the need to stigmatize, place and categorize to the point of degradation of others in our systems. Homelessness, or as I prefer to call it, “Houselessness,” might in my view, be the frontier ground to see how we are really living our lives in society. It is not hard to identify a homeless person, but it could be, when it comes to seeing that same person as inclusive in our communities, and not as one to just be “humanely” tolerated. The houseless person isn’t dwelling in the shadows, but is living in plain view. They are not hiding in the attic of our collective house peering into dim light on the larger groups of people. Homelessness isn't a non-organic monster haphazardly created out of nefarious thin air; instead, I see it as organic human blood. It could be determined that it is a working residual coming out of an otherwise functioning society; however, I see it as indeed the actual state of the whole collective. A residual could be discarded as CHRISTOPHER ELLIS Groundcover writer lightly as a paper cup, or more massively as a landfill or incinerator. However, houselessness can’t be easily discarded or maintained as a landfill. To me, homelessness is generic to a system that has otherwise well-bodied, intelligent and talented people living in destitution being dehumanized. Homelessness can only be “maintained” if it is not seen as part of the whole. If it is a dreg it might be seen as “normal” while at the same time we see that dreg as shameful, a shame that is useful for us. We can separate in a moral sense the useful need while seeing it as a deplorable. It is deplorable in its actual state, and as we see it, but do we as a society need it? Every individual in our communities is essential in our civic space; he or she is to be valued not as a category or as a species in the system. For a person to be in a category or class implies a situation to be controlled and placed. When I say that a homeless person is generic I mean that their houselessness, being without a house is common. Not that it is common to be without a house, but is the housed person distant from the houseless in that they are not snared in the machinery of political and government control to the ultimate detriment of liberty, health and happiness? How do you define native to the land, air and soil, and how does it come to be that the majority peoples of the world live in utter poverty, filth and degradation? How do you define freedom if it is not to breathe clean air, to live on uncontaminated soil, and to consume healthy and organic foods? Domicile is not to have become a human commodity and cash crop. To maintain a habitation (or to be maintained within a house) isn’t to have become a resource to be commercially recycled from generation to generation. Domicile, as I choose to see it, appears to sound like “docile” when we are willing to live comfortable and convenient where mindless, cruel and human suffering is lived, in a real sense, from person to person. Most of us are not radical, nor harbor desires to disturb the status quo, or even feel a rational need to question the housing or other parameters of our lives. However, we are not given the luxury to be comfortable in silence while the world around us seems to be collapsing. It is a good thing to be civilly good, hopeful and positive in place, habitat and property, but when that comfort and content does not give thoughtful, intent consideration spaces around us, where there is abject poverty and suffering, we have become people that are sterile, placed and ineffectual for the common good. When we begin to see that housed or unhoused can have implications that can better describe the frontier to be innovative, see impoverished circumstances in a new and more productive light, we might at the first begin to be uneasy, timid, perplexed or even frightened; however, if we are diligent we will begin to breakdown iron barriers that categorize. I had a wonderful brother, now deceased, who was also a pastor in the city of Auburn Hills, and later in Rochester Hills. I was not officially homeless at the time, however, while riding see UNHOUSED page 13 to places and Labels matter! Unhoused individuals and families "Homeless population" — such an endearing term, don’t you think? But hey, what’s in a name, right? These times, they are a changin’! WAYNE S. Groundcover vendor No. 615 “Homeless population” sounds so permanent that it’s depressing. Like we’ve just come to accept it as a natural part of our existence. Well, it’s not! Don't tell me I’m part of a homeless population. You might like the statistical value of it, but I find it offensive and demeaning. So, where do we go from here? Well, folks, it is time for us to label ourselves! I’ve decided that I like “unhoused - individuals and families.” It sounds less permanent, more descriptive, less offensive and a kinder way to be addressed. And really, any acts of kindness and terms less demeaning than “homeless population” make a difference. Just like going about your business in town, you try to dress for the location and the occasion. Sometimes what you look like and sound like is as important as what you're labeled as. So folks, let’s take a pause. Let’s really take a good look around us, and decide for ourselves who we want to be identified as. How do we wish to be labeled? Let’s take a minute and decide whether or not we wish to tackle this weighty issue.
OCTOBER 31, 2025 EVENTS GROUNDCOVER NEWS 11
12 GROUNDCOVER NEWS POETRY Ahead of time PEDRO CAMPOS Groundcover vendor No. 652 Waiting for you… I have no time for this. But what is time to have? I time everything I have. This body of mine, forty-eight years young. Today is just a hole in the future, through which the past begins to flow. Once you realize how strong our will is. Why follow the drill? We must draw the line. Wide open your eyes. This is all happening, right before yourself. Think through. Commit to the plan. You stand a chance. In this brief time-lapse we persistently call present, every moment is a gift. Sit back, and enjoy the ride. Time goes on nonstop… stay still, it will run you over. It never waits. So be on time. It isn’t going anywhere. Maybe you are. Crossing time. to the point of no return. Any past is long gone. No sci-fi time machine, only fading memories, pictures in the back of your head. There’s no holding back. I’ll start tomorrow… But there’s no tomorrow. Not yet, nor will there ever be. I’m gonna kick tomorrow so far ahead of the future, it’ll be untraceable, that forever unreachable moment. Don’t you dare kill time! Or it may finish you. Respect deadlines. Stand up. Fight! Well, that’s a start. My feet are rooted, deep in the ground; head above the clouds, flying in the sky. My mind travels outer space. Eyes projected forward, moving beyond we go. The future, a feature of imagination, somewhen yet to be built by you and me, all of us, rational creativity. Keep your speed. Rise up, now. ‘Cause learning takes time, and I’m doing my best. If I can’t stretch mine, I’ll cut it, sliced, divided into smaller pieces, tiny fragments where I can stay, as long as I hold my breath. But hold this thought: as years go by, you tend to intensify processes, always managing to keep your lane, pacing through life. My voice already moves faster than sound. Ideas reach light-years away. The universe sings a song. For copilot, an AI, I feel no boundaries. ultimately ubiquitous. I’m a satellite. I ought to be, ahead of time. Here I am, and already there, moving along, watching over. I've Gotta rake these leaves that are all over my grass Just like the mess that people keep on bringing up From my now, very distant past I've Gotta rake these leaves of my present Cause people are doing way too much, too fast And some erase my worth by compensating my work As if I'm non-existent, just like my past I've Gotta rake these leaves off of my path Cause some piles of leaves have trash in the pile It's not my job to sort it out I've Gotta rake these leaves away They've fallen from their trees The shade they provided, just like them was temporary I've Gotta rake these leaves Sooner or later New ones will be expected to grow I've Gotta rake these leaves and get 'em off my grass fa sho!! These old leaves have just Gotta go You know what I mean You can relate I know I've Gotta rake these leaves Get 'em gone! I've Gotta rake these leaves!! I've Gotta Rake These Leaves We shall meet again. Take all shortcuts. Try teleportation. Until asteroids realign in perfect entanglement a sacred synchronic symphony. OCTOBER 31, 2025 LA SHAWN COURTWRIGHT Groundcover vendor No. 56
OCTOBER 31, 2025 POETRY What we built MONIQUE CALDWELL Groundcover contributor For Sean, I Love You We built this love like a lighthouse— steady, bright, and meant to guide. Through storms, through silence, we held each other like anchors refusing to drift. We didn’t know love would find us— two hearts worn thin, still hoping. But we built something rare: a friendship that bloomed into firelight, a love that held us steady when the world shook. We were never promised forever, but we gave each other everything true. Now, the road bends— not away from love, but into different skies. We’re not breaking. We’re choosing to protect what we made. To walk apart so the bond stays whole. You’ll always be my lighthouse, my once-in-a-lifetime calm. And I’ll carry us like a sacred song— not ended, just echoing in a different key. UNHOUSED from page 10 with him through the city of Pontiac near a homeless shelter downtown, we saw homeless people wandering, even as they crossed our windshield at a traffic light. My brother mentioned to me that his experience has been that the plight of most of the homeless in his acquaintance was due to some character maleficence, or attitude problem. To me this was too broad a brush and probably was the quiet opinion of the majority. I have always seen the best in every person, and no one is without good traits. I could never position people within narrow categories even when there was glaring evidence that could support that view. I have not spoken much about my own experience with homelessness, but I want to mention my first night on the street, with the hope to say something about the nature of mother earth, human goodness and the will and power to survive. It was Christmas Eve. Hopefully, in the future I can reveal those circumstances that brought me there that GROUNDCOVER NEWS Sci-fi mentality? Our future Without prejudice, legal term, court costs Court profit rates, local, state, federal, international Social security growth rates over time. Job opportunities, community outreach, Places of worship, uniform practices of Worship doctrines Medicine Medical costs, profit rates same progression as courts, fair taxation, free lawyers, free Govt. Insurance, Insurance rates by corporate interests Daily time management Fair equality between men and women Organization mentality Organizational charity rates and regions or influence same progression as courts Respect, public image and sufficient work for survival of families, for lifetimes over time Consequences of war De-escalation of nuclear practices Environmental impact of the industrial revolution A peaceful environmental revolution Financial support between NASA and and the departments of local housing regions Stabilizing the economy in times of technological and medicinal advancement Military organizational practices for common citizens and those with abnormally high IQ rates, and discrepancies between IQ progressions over time, Which of our world leaders need more help, where and when? Which occupations do the most good, vs money made over time. Taxing the 1% and American corporations, and impact of non-governmental cooperation The future of international victories, treaties, and potential government shutdowns. Servers, security on and offline, and hackers vs the system, are they breaking their own governments? Whose servers are powerful enough to correlate population expansion rates and repercussions internationally? NASA and whom? How do we abolish outdated practices lawfully and legally? Are our world leaders being ethical, and do they have a common language to communicate peace today? The answer is “yes." DAVID PUTMAN Groundcover vendor No. 679 13 cold wintry night. I was aware that night was coming on, but there is something about the will to survive, self dignity and hope that wouldn't allow me to see the dire situation. For sure, I was scared as I wandered around in the cold, maybe I was naive, I was in a foreign city. As the night grew closer I grew more frightened and apprehensive. Christmas lights lit the trees in a beautiful array, and the rushing cars and people got fewer and fewer. I was surprised at how my survival instincts started to kick in. Thoughts of “Where am I going to sleep”, “Where is a safe place to sleep?” “It's too cold”ran through my head. I began to wonder about personal safety, “Will I be attacked or mugged, killed?” As the night came, I hid in places, any place unsuspicious, or that could conceal me for the night. I thought of trees, bushes, walls — anything. I sat on a grassy area with trees, strangely I felt peaceful, I felt one with the night sky, the cold air and trees. The moon and stars seemed to welcome me as a long lost native son. The universe seemed to say, “What are you afraid of? Where have you been? You are safe here.” I said, “What about thieves, murderers?” Mother Earth seemed to say “All is well.” I suddenly realized humanity is good, and that no one is seeking to do me harm, no bogeyman, no monsters in the grass, no fear. The cold even began to be mild — No really, mild! I felt like some brave mountain man, better like the first man on earth. You might say, “naive” or “stupid,” but I only mean to state that the earth is not, empirically, a dangerous place, and that it is our first house, place and home. We can actually live on and with the earth, have no fear. We are not hopeless chattel to be manipulated against our own true selves. LONG LIVE THE HUMAN SPIRIT!! 12/31/2025
14 GROUNDCOVER NEWS PUZZLES HEAD of FRANCE? by Victor Schmitt OCTOBER 31, 2025 ACROSS 1. Musical conclusions 6. Worked over 15. Path left behind by a lawn mower 16. "Flashdance ... What a Feeling" singer 17. Line at a crowded theater? 19. Vote into office 20. Quarterback Manning 21. "Journeys" from those drunk with authority 26. Spanish liqueur 29. "Right away, boss!" 30. ESPN sportscaster Dick 32. Video game franchise with settings in Vice City and Los Santos, for short 33. Head of France? 34."This ___ well" 35. Fort Collins sch. 36. Texter's "I can't even..." 37. Kwik-E-Mart employee in "The Simpsons" 39. Head-dropping wrestling move 40. Ad ___ 41. Concealed oneself 42. Foamy coffee order 44. Reason to keep trying 45. World Cup cry 46. Steps (on) 48. Big name in laptops 49. Radio host John 51. Upbringings 53. No. on a business card 55. Influencer with an edgy aesthetic, informally 56. Highly desirable property 63. In one's birthday suit 64. Gunpowder ingredient 65. Convention V.I.P.'s 66. Adolescents DOWN 1. CBS forensic drama 2. Pained expressions 3. Fateful encounter 4. Olympian, e.g. 5. More timid 6. Allotted 7. Rage 8. "Breaking Bad" org. 9. Word with army or bullet 10. Ballet jump 11. Central Florida city 12. Ingredient in lava cake 13. Part of a rock band? 14. Grammy 18. Bygone Canadian comedy show 21. Cheap criticism 22. Length of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 23. "Who am ___ judge!" 24. Stereotypical asylum destinations 25. Go downhill fast? 27. "Come in!" 28. U.F.O. shapes, often 31. Winter hrs. in Ann Arbor 37. Spacebar neighbor 38. Trim 43. Sigma follower 44. Scrunchie, e.g. 47. Wise one 50. Shouter of "I have the power!" 52. Dated denial 54. Jared of "Tron: Ares" 56. Neighbor of India: Abbr. 57. Regret 58. Bad place to get stuck in 59. Before, poetically 60. ___ Lingus 61. Bill with Alexander Hamilton 62. Hosp. areas PUZZLE SOLUTIONS October 3, 2025 edition
OCTOBER 31, 2025 PROTEST Gen Z protests! The Gen Z revolution is underway. Throughout 2025, Generation Z, those born from 1997 to 2012, have led worldwide protests that have erupted across multiple countries, particularly in Africa, Asia and South America. Using social media platforms for coordination, young people are voicing outrage over economic inequality, corruption and failing public services. In some cases, these protests have led to the overthrow of governments (see below). The so-called TikTok Generation is leading the way for global political and social change. Key characteristics of Gen Z activism Digital organization: Young activists use social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, as well as gaming applications like Discord, to organize and share information. Transnational solidarity: Although protests are often local, Gen Z activists leverage digital tools and shared symbols, like the pirate flag from One Piece, to create a sense of global solidarity. Online and offline action: Gen Z activism operates on a spectrum, from "slacktivism" (using social media and online petitions only, meaning very little effort is expended) to traditional, on-the-ground protesting. Varied political engagement: Recent election results in the United States have shown a more complex political landscape for Gen Z than previously thought. In the 2024 U.S. election there was a notable shift to the right, particularly among young men. Intersectional concerns: While key Recent Gen Z protest hotspots Madagascar: A youth-led uprising over extended electricity and water cuts led to the ousting of President Andry Rajoelina in October 2025. The protests, which also targeted government corruption, were inspired by international movements and used the "One Piece" anime flag as a symbol of resistance (see below). collectives called ‘GenZ 212.’ Protesters are demanding significant improvements to public education and healthcare, frustrated by government spending on international sporting events like the 2030 FIFA World Cup instead of public services. Nepal: In September 2025, largeMIKE JONES Groundcover vendor No. 113 issues like economic hardship and climate change drive many protests, broader concerns about racial equity, mental health and social justice are also at play. scale anti-corruption protests, initially sparked by a ban on social media platforms, spread across the country. Frustration over corruption and government mismanagement of public funds contributed to the movement, which led to the resignation of the prime minister. Peru: In late September 2025, Gen Z protesters clashed with police over a new bill that would force young people to pay into a private pension fund. The protests reflect broader frustration with government corruption. Other youth-led protests have taken place in Indonesia, the Philippines and Timor-Leste. Underlying concerns fueling the protests Economic injustice and elite privilege: Flashy social media posts flaunting elite wealth have fueled anger among young people who face limited job prospects and widening economic inequality. Corruption and authoritarianism: Protesters frequently cite systemic political corruption, democratic backsliding, and authoritarian tendencies as central grievances. Decline in living standards: A genMorocco: A series of ongoing demonstrations began in late September 2025, organized by anonymous eral decline in the quality of public services and rising costs of living have prompted many young people to take TAXES from page 7 the United States, people had to choose between the plague and cholera. Here, we have many parties, including smaller ones, that have to work together. And we have a growing civil society, alliances and clever minds who can explain the connection between democracy, inheritance tax and inequality. But don’t the super-rich ultimately have the upper hand because of their vast wealth and the resulting influence that they can exert on politicians and social debates? They have very strong cards, but they no longer play alone at the table. We are now demanding our place and saying, “This is not how democracy works.” We must engage in dialogue with one another. What is the first step towards a more equitable society? Becoming informed. If the population is not even aware of how extreme the inequality is, why should people rebel against it? Why should they say, “We want a different policy” if they do not realize that Germany is one of the most unequal democracies in the world? We have the fourth highest number of billionaires and the third highest number of millionaires. We need to spread the word that something is seriously wrong here. When you realise, “Wow, two families own more wealth than the poorer half, more than 40 million people in Germany,” you start to think, “Oh, maybe the problem isn’t with migrants or people on welfare, but with policies that favour the richest.” to the streets. Lack of public accountability: Demonstrators are frustrated by the lack of government accountability for failing public services, mismanagement of funds, and abuse of power. Climate change: Gen Z continues to be highly concerned about the climate crisis. Activists are holding politicians and corporations accountable for their actions. Youth-focused initiatives, such as the Global Youth Climate Summit 2025, are being organized to empower and mobilize young leaders in climate action. The role of social media and independent news media outlets As indicated previously, social media platforms are a crucial tool for these protests, enabling decentralized coordination and communication among activists. Online movements help amplify calls for change, even when governments attempt to censor or block platforms. Independent and non-profit news media outlets like Status Coup, Democracy Now, Al Jazeera, Groundcover News and many other independent news media outlets are alternative news sources utilized because of the lack of corporate media coverage on these protests, and the need for reliable information. Gen Z's’ global protests in an ever changing world are redefining the methodology of dissent with their willingness to challenge old systematic authorities and ideology. GROUNDCOVER NEWS 15
16 GROUNDCOVER NEWS FOOD Delicious apple bread ELIZABETH BAUMAN Groundcover contributor Ingredients: ½ cup brown sugar 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon Dash of nutmeg 2 large eggs at room temperature ½ cup granulated sugar ½ cup butter melted 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 ½ cups all purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda 2 large peeled and chopped apples (Any type apples that are good for baking) Directions: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour an 8 x 5 in loaf pan or line with parchment paper. In a small bowl, whisk together brown sugar and cinnamon and set aside. Whisk eggs and granulated sugar together in a large mixing bowl. Add the melted butter and vanilla extract and mix until thoroughly combined. In a separate bowl mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt just until combined. Add these dry ingredients to wet ingredients and fold in the chopped apples. Put half of the batter in the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle about three quarters of the brown sugar mixture on top of the batter. Spread the remaining batter carefully on top of the brown sugar mixture. Sprinkle remaining brown sugar mixture on top and use a knife or spoon to gently swirl it into the top layer. OCTOBER 31, 2025 Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until lightly golden on top and an inserted toothpick comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. Allow to cool before slicing. This is a new fall favorite! $5 OFF NATURAL FOODS MARKET 216 N. FOURTH AVENUE ANN ARBOR, MI PHONE (734) 994 - 9174 • PEOPLESFOOD.COOP CALL FOR SUPPORT WE’RE HERE FOR YOU & YOUR FAMILY 24/7 mental health and substance use support 734-544-3050 YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES: ELIZABETH SPRING-NICHOLS AND ALYSSA NEWSOME LEARN MORE about programs funded by the community mental health and public safety preservation millage. ANY PURCHASE OF $30 OR MORE One coupon per transaction. Must present coupon at the time of purchase. Coupon good for in-store only. No other discounts or coop cards apply. Not valid for gift cards, case purchases, beer or wine. OFFER EXPIRES 8/22/2025 11/28/25
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