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YouTubeHomeless people aided by selling new publicationMonday, March 24, 2008 3:04 AM
By Rita Price
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Buy a copy of Street Speech for $1, and 75 cents goes into the pocket of the homeless person who sold it to you.
In exchange, the reader receives local and national perspectives on poverty and social-justice issues.
The street-newspaper concept has been around for decades. Now, advocates say, Columbus is big enough and poor enough to support the relationship.
"I think it was time," said Brandon Brooks of the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless. "We know the paper can sell here. We just need to get the word out."
The Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District, which represents Downtown property owners and works to discourage panhandling, said the Street Speech launch appears smooth.
Sales are approved by the city's licensing department. Vendors must go through training and agree to abide by a code of conduct, Brooks said. They also are to display badges when selling.
Barbara Poppe, executive director of the Community Shelter Board, said she is pleased to see the coalition's project moving forward.
"We certainly are wishing them well," she said. "I know that when I visit other cities with a street newspaper, I buy one."
According to the North American Street Newspaper Association, the roots of street newspapers stretch back to 19th-century Cleveland, when the Salvation Army created the weekly War Cry.
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion
Street newspaper unfolds in city
[7 posts] [5 contributors]
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DawonHawkins
Sixty Spring (Downtown Columbus)
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Posted 4 years ago # -
columbus native
Columbus the indie art capital of the world
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They do this in Oakland it it seems to be a bit harmless and if it helps the homeless then why not. Hell it may even train them to actually retain a job down the line if they can get good at selling the papers.
kudos!
Posted 4 years ago # -
adap2k
43205
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One Saturday, not to long ago, the Dispatch Mafia / Chairty Newsie shake down was going on S. High St. There were 8 men in white jumpsuits, running in and out of lanes while cars zipped by at 35-45 mph.They appeared to be dazed, possibly drunk, as they fought each other to sling that rag. It was so dangerous I just couldn't believe my eyes. Was this a test run? I have seen fire fighters out selling the Newsies but they were out of the road while traffic was moving. This might make a nice reality... bums hit by bus?
Posted 4 years ago #
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