Congresswoman (Jackie Speier, D-Calif.) sleeps in a homeless shelter
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Democratic Rep. Jackie Speier is gearing up for what she hopes is the next big fight in Congress balancing out the growing economic inequality that has ravaged the middle class for years so she reckoned shed do a bit of ground-level research first.
And since you cant get much more ground level than a homeless shelter, thats where she went last Friday to spend the night.
The Maple Street Shelter in Redwood City was the destination. Speier had actually been there a week before to chat with the residents, and the fact that a well-off Hillsborough member of the Washington power structure was hanging out with the penniless was lost on nobody, least of all the member herself. That was the point, she said.
Im still kind of reeling from the experience. Every member of Congress should be required to do what I did, Speier said this week. It would help us appreciate who we are talking about. We rattle off numbers, but it doesnt speak about the people themselves.
Read more: http://blog.sfgate.com/nov05election/2014/02/06/congresswoman-sleeps-in-a-homeless-shelter/
eggplant
(3,911 posts)sheshe2
(83,786 posts)The fact that she trusted the scene enough to sleep by herself, made sure she wasnt taking a bed from someone who needed it, and slipped easily into conversation left a big impression. This was no stunt, shelter staffers said.
Her entire demeanor was very unassuming, said Mila Zelkha, director of strategic relations for InnVision Shelter Network, which runs Maple Street. I mean, she is an elegant, graceful person in how she communicates, but she dials into important things right away, and she creates a space where people confide in her.
Shes straight up and real.
adirondacker
(2,921 posts)eggplant
(3,911 posts)red dog 1
(27,817 posts)Javaman
(62,530 posts)I have personal experience with those "shelters". I'm glad she's highlighting this.
I have stories I could tell you...
handmade34
(22,756 posts)I applaud her and others that try to put themselves in other's shoes... although, there is no way to really understand the day in and day out of poverty, homelessness, loss of hope, etc. that the disenfranchised and marginalized experience everyday
riverwalker
(8,694 posts)and lay on the tarmac 22 hours after the assassination of on Congressman Ryan, during the Jonestown/ Peoples Temple investigation. One strong woman.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Speier
Tx4obama
(36,974 posts)frylock
(34,825 posts)love this woman!
tblue
(16,350 posts)A very strong, courageous, admirable person.
sheshe2
(83,786 posts)Solid OP!
Tx4obama
(36,974 posts)During a U.S. House debate (seen on C-SPAN) on 2011 Federal Spending, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) comments on abortion, in response to comments made by Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ). Included in her comments, "I had a procedure at 17 weeks pregnant with a child...that procedure is a procedure that I endured. I lost a baby. But for you to stand on this floor and to suggest, as you have, that somehow this is a procedure that is either welcomed or done cavalierly or done without any thought is preposterous." ...
-snip-
I think she is awesome!
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)closeupready
(29,503 posts)Thanks for posting that clip.
blue14u
(575 posts)About ber. Thank you for the video. She blew me away with that
speech. I can see how her going to a homeless shelter would
be a natural and comfortable experience for her. She has class!
Democrats really do have many great Representatives. I count her as one.
red dog 1
(27,817 posts)San Mateo County is fortunate to have her representing them.
One good Dem, that's for sure!
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)todays Rs must be jealous as hell
renate
(13,776 posts)Wouldn't it be incredible if all our representatives were so genuinely focused on honest-to-goodness public service? She's right--it is so important that they understand that there are real people behind the numbers they talk about.
valerief
(53,235 posts)regular working class people's homes instead of fancy hotels. Not quite the same as a homeless shelter, but that blew me away. Speier is doing the same.
red dog 1
(27,817 posts)They both could be described as "Populist"...IMO.
Kind of like West Coast versions of Bernie Sanders
red dog 1
(27,817 posts)like Uncle Bernie.
valerief
(53,235 posts)red dog 1
(27,817 posts)..single-payer health plan like they have in Canada, the U.K. and all the "Socialist" countries of Northern Europe.
The big insurance companies can all go to Hell.
valerief
(53,235 posts)bucolic_frolic
(43,176 posts)If the GOP was worried about new voters - let's give them some to worry about!
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)31 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy[a] angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.
37 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? 40 And the King will answer and say to them, Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.
41 Then He will also say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.
44 Then they also will answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You? 45 Then He will answer them, saying, Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me. 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A31-46&version=NKJV
closeupready
(29,503 posts)K&R
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)Although I am in SoCal.
Tx4obama
(36,974 posts)Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 12th district: April 8, 2008 January 3, 2013
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 14th district: Assumed office January 3, 2013
BIO: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Speier
WillyT
(72,631 posts)JackInGreen
(2,975 posts)the cost of living almost ANYWHERE in the Bay Area right now....I'd love to move home, but there is no way I will ever be able to afford it.
Joe Shlabotnik
(5,604 posts)and throw some eggs at the Google buses.
I keed.
red dog 1
(27,817 posts)Last edited Fri Feb 7, 2014, 05:18 AM - Edit history (1)
And thank you, Congresswoman Speier.
TDale313
(7,820 posts)ck4829
(35,077 posts)hamsterjill
(15,221 posts)Tough and in touch with reality.
I think what she did was fabulous.