Text Box: I woke up one morning to find I had become a jersey girl, the white particles spraying out of my hair was not lice, but the bitter remains of cheap hairspray used to glue my bangs to the clouds in remains of cheap hairspray used to glue my bangs to the clouds. born in new york city. Bred in new jersey. Reborn in new york city. For the time being I am living in San Francisco figuring out the best way to reheat refried beans—longing for the mother city—enjoying the mist and the fog. I came out of my mothers womb asking questions and haven’t stopped since. So where can we speak. What kind of conversations can we have and where can we have them? I went to urban planning school to gain an understanding of how communities are planned. I have worked with communities in the South Bronx, in the Westside of Chicago, in San Francisco. I have learned that the best planning is, many times organic and spontaneously arrived at. Urban planning school turned me into an anti planner. I am a fan of Human Choice. Why do we have more options in selections of Orange Juice then we do of places to gather with our friends? I have spent a lot of time traveling to cities all over the world looking at dwellings, gathering spaces, and town centers. I have found that some of the most amazing stages are those that we use and see in our every day life. The best theatre is that which mimic’s life’s every day activities. I am a poet who likes to perform in public settings and likes to watch others perform in public settings and thereby reclaiming our spaces as potential staging for life activities. As Shakespeare told us, the world is a stage and it is. Let’s use it. During the Republican National Convention I will be protesting with my sisters in crime the Missle Dick Chicks in New York City. Don’t sit still when you can go and Protest a greedy administration that has put the livelihood of America, Iraq, and everyone in between in exchange for cheap oil. Laurie  

Text Box: THOUGHT POLICE IN NYC I spent 40 hours in jail during the Republican National Convention in New York City. I, along with 2400 other Americans were silenced by the New York City Police Machine which were told by the Bush Machine that all dissent was to be quelled. I was taken away from Union Square Park on East 16th, one of New York City’s Greatest Public Spaces—in handcuffs. Our Public Spaces, our Parks, our Streets, our Bodega’s and Front Stoops need to be protected from the Thought Police—those in power that are trying to scare and shame us into silence. We can not let this happen. We must protect our Liberties to speak freely and with protection from those in power—not insult and arrest. Please, pick up your favorite piece of writing: a poem, a verse, the Constitution. Bring it to your local park and/or favorite street and Read it Aloud. Do Not go silently into this Gentle Night! VOTE VOTE VOTE