Category: Voices from the Streets
-
The Rocking Chair
She was leaning over the railing at the baggage claim. That was the first time I had seen my mother in over two years. I had my luggage in my hand and came around her from behind, surprised that she hadn’t seen me yet and wondering why she hadn’t seen me waiting for my bag…
-
Money and Houses: State Rep. Marjorie Decker Tackles the Issues at Spare Change News’ 21st Anniversary Gala
State Representative and Cambridge City Councilor Marjorie Decker was one of a handful of speakers at Spare Change News’ 21st Anniversary Fundraiser and Celebration. She also acted as an enthusiastic, quick-witted auctioneer. Raised in Cambridge, she shined, entering dialogues with the diverse group of attendees at the event. A democrat, and self-proclaimed “Cambridge progressive,” Representative…
-
A Dishonor to All of Us
Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer. A time for thinking of ice cream, school vacation, and so on. It’s also a time to honor our veterans, our heroes, those that made the ultimate sacrifice to keep us all free. But not all of our vets who survived the wars they fought are so honored;…
-
This Is a Tragedy
Last Friday night, after news reports that one suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings had been killed and another was captured, the media became fixated on crowds of Bostonians taking to the streets to “celebrate.” There is nothing to celebrate. This week has been a tragedy at every level. It began with the horrific bombings…
-
How About Our Mental Health System?
You can’t turn on the news today without hearing about the debate on gun control. With our nation divided between regulating the sales of firearms and our second amendment, where we stand in regards to laws in the coming months is still up in the air. One thing that is not being talked about is…
-
In the Blink of an Eye
“ The Marathon, are you kidding me,” That’s what I wrote on my Facebook page as I watched the events unfolding on TV the day of April 15, Patriots Day. I felt the same way as I felt on Sept 11: that I must be watching some type of movie. This couldn’t be real, but…
-
Bullets
Listening to the news about the broken bodies in a school, I was waiting for my wife not taking anything for granted. have we gone too far, are there too many of us, a behavioral sink, that we turn on each other, gun in hand, weapon in hand, innocent eyes burning with blood, tears in…
-
Detox Blues, Part Four
(At this point in the story, my wife has just gotten out of detox and we’re both high, driving down the highway. I just cut someone off on the road, accidently, but he’s after us now.) The guy was on us again, like maggots on garbage. Coming real close and looking real grim, when I…
-
Our Lunch Counter Moment
Dark and cold we may be, but this Is no winter now. The frozen misery Of centuries breaks, cracks, begins to move; The thunder is the thunder of the floes, The thaw, the flood, the upstart Spring. Thank God our time is now when wrong Comes up to face us everywhere, Never to leave us…
-
So Long, Mr. Mayor
I met Tom Menino not long after he had become mayor of Boston, during my days as editor of Spare Change News. He probably doesn’t remember it now, and I remember that he didn’t put on any airs like most politicians do. He wasn’t self-important. He just seemed like the type of person you could…