Why - this year - it was a relief to take down the Christmas tree.

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While taking down the tree, I thought about why the 2019 holidays didn't seem festive. Here's my conclusion, written as a post-holiday carol that riffs on "Silver Bells."
City sidewalks, shitty sidewalks
It's no better to drive
In the air, there's stink from car emissions
Selling plasma, kids with asthma
Working way, way past five
All around this great nation you'll see
(Chorus)
Road-side tents, *Old RV's
Christmas trees in their tarped windows
Endless war, more ODs
But the economy's great!
Cuts to food stamps, Send- 'Em-Back! chants
Drinking water with lead
In the air, record carbon dioxide
Kids in cages, piss-poor wages
Can't keep families fed**
More reports of spikes in suicide

(Chorus)
But you'll find fulfillment
Center work if you are lucky
No pee breaks, no week-ends
Just grueling work and Depends***
*There should be something like a "Cry Me a River" (CMR) Act. CMR would enable homeless folks to use the D.C. offices of certain Congress members as overnight shelters. I refer to those members who veto funding for shelters and other taxpayer-funded "handouts," whine about how they can't afford D.C. rent (on $174,000-$192,000/year), and use their offices as de facto apartments (i.e., taxpayer-funded housing handouts).
** Hundreds of people (and lawyers, in case folks get arrested) could show up outside of the fundraising dinners of candidates for public office who advocate cuts to food assistance (e.g., SNAP). They hand arriving dinner guests empty to-go containers on which is written: "Please help us eat tonight: After dinner, get your uneaten steak/lobster/other to-go. On your way out, while waiting for the valet to bring your car, just leave it under the sign that says, 'Let Them Eat Leftovers - the new SNAP.' Thank you!"
***I wonder if labor rights groups could walk up and down the sidewalks in front of the worker entrances of Amazon fulfillment centers and hand out Depends.

Authors Website: http://www.lisaarnoldconsulting.com

Authors Bio:
For 25 years, Lisa has worked for and with nonprofits, sharing her expertise in organizing, fund raising, and community outreach.

Organizing:
Lisa has worked as a community, tenant, and labor organizer, on both local-level and statewide campaigns in Chicago, Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane. Highlights of her organizing experience include:

" Directing a campaign that resulted in Chicago Police Department's agreement to track 8th District police response to 911 violence calls and make results available to the public;

" Directing a campaign to obtain City of Chicago's permission to build 80 units of affordable housing -- and obtaining permission to build 160 units;

" Co-founding a statewide advocacy organization (Equal Rights Washington);

" Launching a program to develop civic leaders in Chicago, one of whom was chosen by local foundations to represent them at the Fourth World Conference On Women in Beijing, China.

Fundraising:

Lisa has written successful grant applications for work on a wide spectrum of issues - from affordable housing, to urban day camps for teens, and for a wide variety of activities from capacity building to obtaining technical assistance.

Related Experience:

Lisa has attracted media coverage of her clients and projects by numerous major TV, radio, and newspaper outlets (Chicago and Seattle), including ; the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun Times, the Chicago Daily Southtown, La Raza, the Puget Sound Business Journal, The Seattle Times, Slog (Stranger Blog), Crosscut, and the Tacoma News Tribune; WLS, WGN, WBBM, CLTV, KOMO TV News; and more.

She has produced and/or taught numerous fundraising and other nonprofit workshops throughout Puget Sound, including a six-day training series in conjunction with the Gill Foundation, and workshops at The Evergreen State College, the University of Washington, Highline Community College, and South Seattle Community College.

Lisa has a Master's Degree in social service administration from the University of Chicago.