Stop Prison Expansion

At the time when youth truancy and inter-racial violence are a fixture plaguing our youth in schools and communities across the state, we are in dire need of educators and resources to address the problems. How can we say that the youth are our future when more money are spent on building more prison beds than education. It sickens me to know that some Correctional Officers can make over two hundred thousand dollars a year as babysitters in human warehouses the state called "California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's (CDCR)." "Thirty-six state prison employees - from corrections officers to doctors, nurses and other medical staff - earned more than $100,000 in overtime pay during 2006...Statewide, prison employees were paid more than $500 million in overtime during the year, a 35 percent increase for the previous year." (SF Chronicle 7/15/07)

When the governor approved over 7 billion dollars to build 53,000 new prison beds, we know where his priority lies.

The community has to come to together and speak up for our youth. Let's stop the expansion of prisons and start the empowerment of our youth. Let's listen to our youth and ask them what they want. Power to the youth.

Where is my Traveling Affirmation Book?

Hello everyone. I know I haven't been consistently updating my blog since I've been out, but I'm going to change that. I hope everyone is still interested in what I have to share. Your support is extremely important to me.

I just recently thought about my Traveling Affirmaiton Book (TAB). Does anyone has any idea where the TAB could be? Can the friend who has the book please release his or her Kung Fu grip and send it to the next person or to me?

Thank you very much for your love.

Washington D.C.

Yes. I've been doing some traveling lately. I'm fortunate to have an awesome big sister who love me. She's been taking me on trips to see the U.S. I want to do as much traveling as possible since I don't know when I'm going to get deported. It is about taking life one day at a time.

I only had one full day in Washington D.C. for sightseeing so my choices are limited. I decided to take a bus tour just so I get to see all the landmarks. I was able to go to the Smithsonian Areo Space Museum and American Indian museum. I also walked to the Capitol, the historical Reflecting Pool, and the White House. I wanted to go visit the White House, but I didn't have time to get clearance to go inside before my trip. I took the Metro train just to experience it. Between California, New York and Washington D.C., I like the New York subway better because it's cheaper and runs 24/7.

Overall, I had a great time. I still don't like the humid heat. Again, I wish I had more time to go to all the museums. Hopefully there'll be a next time.

My trip to Big Apple

There's no way I can keep up with all the things I'm doing everyday. I just have to accept the fact that the pace of time is moving faster than when I was incarcerated. That's why it's so wonderful that I can just go with the flow.

On the 4th of July I went on my first trip out of California to New York. It's also my first time flying on the air plane in 25 years. I know, I'm experiencing many first times in my life. I thought I was going to be scare flying, but it's cool. Of course, flying business class helped.

My first impression of New York was that there's people everywhere and they walked fast. Then I noticed the high rise buildings and giant neon billboards. Maybe that's just because I was in Times Square. Also, people don't care about the traffic lights. They just walk.

I must share this encounter I had with New Yorkers. My personal cell phone didn't work because I have Metro PC plan. There's no service at all. Luckily I had my work cell phone with me with the Cingular plan. However, I brought the car charger with me rather than the wall charger. Low and behold, the battery went dead on me while I was talking to a friend who's giving instruction to the Bronx, where I'll be staying. So, with the car charger in my hand I went frantically around the block to find someone who can give me some juice for the phone. I asked a Latino guy who operates a cell phone store to help me. He said no. Then I asked an African American who was sitting in a tour bus doing nothing for a charge. He said the bus doesn't have a charger. I thought every vehicle has a charger. I went to a store that sells phones to buy a charger, but it costs $30. That's too expensive for me. I decided to walk around the blocks to see if I can find any good Samaritan to help me. That's when I came upon Steve, a Caucasian who's sitting in a Mercedez Benz. I knocked on his car window and explained my situation to him. He said his wife was shopping inside the fabric store so he's glad to help me. I stood on the street for 20 minutes to get my phone charged up. Steve was a life saver. Later on I brought a wall charger for $8 in Chinatown.

I stayed in Stanten Island with my childhood friends. I haven't seen them in 25 years. Too bad I didn't get to see my friends Dad before he passed on a week earlier. My friend showed me around New York. Then I was able to meet up with some friends whom I haven't seen for many years. I went to all the places that any tourist would go. The subway was my best friend. I didn't get to go watch a Broadway show because there's too many people waited in line for thickets. I also didn't go to any museum because there wasn't enough time.

One thing I didn't like was the humid heat that stuck to my body. Besides that, I wish I had more time in New York to explore and visit with friends. I do hope that there's a next time.

I'm grateful for the generous hospitality of my childhood friends, Bernice and her supermodel roommate.