Dear Friends,
It has been a long, rough road that has finally started to
smooth out. It all started when I went to ask for an endorsement for my run for
the People’s District 3 school board seat that has turned into a direct action.
The months of planning and preparation became my sole focus. Though there has
been a frequent difference of opinions, I believe I see truth in both sides and
have never backed away from calling it as “I see it”. The action ended poorly despite
having the success of holding the space with such minimal support from the
actual community, and showing that “Occupy Oakland” is a movement not an
organization. The action proved that you have to actually find information
yourself (most of the local public did) and not trust the corporate media idea
that “Occupy Oakland” is a group of unruly youths. It did that and more in my
thoughts. We also had a wakeup call, realizing how far we have to go just among
ourselves. I have concluded that we need to change the way we engage because
the type of action that occurred at Lakeview is the kind that wins struggle,
but only if it can be staffed fully. One flaw was that we had minimal support
and needed to communicate better with those that do support.
After the action, a decision was made to move having been a
few signatures short to get on the ballot and the drama around a bank mistake
with rent, The recent month it took to move out was the toughest time I have
ever gone through with the added mistake of lying costing me the obvious pain
to my LPP, the separation of a dearest family member, and the realization Ihad
lost another long before. So the main reason we had to over stay our lease was
because of the loss of twins which I directly connect to the constant
harassment by a house hold member. After repeated discussions about the
difficulty with the pregnancy, he targeted my partner everytime I was away. All
the way up to threatening to change the locks while we were at the hospital
during the miscarriage. In direct result, we were not able to move on the 7th
because in panic I paid for September to be safe. I am in a court case with him
right now. It was the most difficult thing not to become my mother and take
violent retribution for his direct attack on a person that had nothing to do
with what was going on. I thank two of my brothers for being there to listen to
me and help deflect the anger.
Now we are moved into a nice place in East Oakland, and I
will get to run for the 2014 election for school board. This is better for me
since the district I live and will run in now is the same district where I
taught at Parker Elementary School in the OUSD. I know the struggle is not
over, still living in the poverty line but I am looking into getting my class A
license for driving tour busses as well as moving forward with looking for
grants to start T.I.O. sports complex. We will be really on track after next August
with the driving gigs to Monterey, but until then we will play economic
juggling. Hopefully with a blessing, positive energy, and getting out to the
people, we will win this November and we will be the loud people’s voice from inside city hall.
It feels good to be back
From love Peace Vicente
