npr--2020-02-18--Uber Whistleblower Takes On Silicon Valley, Armed With Stoic Philosophy

In 2017 , Susan Fowler published a blog post that shook Silicon Valley .
Her matter-of-fact account of sexism , sexual harassment and `` unrelenting chaos '' on Uber 's software teams prompted a reckoning that brought down CEO Travis Kalanick .
It 's easy to focus on what happened to Fowler .
Her manager messaging her about sex on her very first day .
A different manager sneakily changing her good performance review to a bad one , to block her from moving to a less-dysfunctional unit .
The absurd episode with the leather jackets .
But in her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Silicon Valley and Fight for Justice at Uber , Fowler makes a dedicated plea for you to focus , instead , on what she did about it .
Again and again throughout the book , she says she wants to be the hero of her story — not the victim .
Or , to use an Isaiah Berlin quote she 's fond of , `` a subject , not an object . ''
The memoir does provide more eyebrow-raising details about just how hostile and chaotic Uber 's workplace was .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how — and why — she responded by going public .
Her upbringing was unusual : She grew up in a large , impoverished , deeply religious family in rural Arizona and was homeschooled before becoming wholly self-taught .
She calls it a wonderful childhood , full of books and music and desert adventures , but it certainly was n't easy .
As a child , she describes feeding venomous spiders to help support the family ( yes , seriously ) , and as a teenager the lack of a structured education brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little time on her youth , which some readers may find disappointing , and aside from a partial biography of her father , she never fleshes out her siblings or parents into characters .
She focuses more on college , where , in addition to starting her lifelong study of philosophy , she fell in love with physics , only to discover she was woefully unqualified for the math courses .
Over intense opposition from administrators , Fowler says , she took them anyway — and , after some rocky early classes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Ph.D. in physics until what she describes as a painful and rather bizarre experience of mistreatment — one that clearly shaped her reaction to harassment at Uber .
Fowler says multiple professors instructed her to set aside her research work and instead dedicate herself to monitoring and supporting another student who had threatened suicide .
The administration would n't help her , and she faced retribution for her complaints , she says .
( NPR has reached out to the university for comment . )
Lawyers advised that going to court would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so she walked away from physics .
Fowler had dreamed of being an architect , then a violinist , then a philosopher or a physicist .
She had never dreamed of being a software engineer .
But she needed to do something , and her physics work had involved coding , so , software engineering it was .
And yes , if you 're keeping track at home , this means Silicon Valley was a backup career choice .
At her first tech job , she writes , she was paid significantly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second , she describes an openly misogynistic boss .
She hoped making the switch to Uber — a large , established company with an HR department — would pay off in better working conditions .
Alas , we all know how that turned out .
Fowler 's occasionally eye-popping account of life at Uber ends with her making the leap to another job and reflecting seriously on her ethical obligations before deciding to speak out .
In the anxious months after she went public with her story , she says she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the story does not end with Uber 's triumphant revenge : Fowler emphasizes that she 's thriving in every way possible .
This memoir is a bit of a how-to book , too , with some take-home lessons for anyone discouraged by a hostile workplace .
Document everything , Fowler emphasizes : Screenshots ; copies ; detailed notes .
Complain through the proper channels , even if you know they wo n't work , and document your complaint .
If it happens again , complain again .
Do your job very well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
Know your rights .
If they say you 're the only one with a complaint , check if that 's true .
And seriously , document everything .
If none of that works ?
Consider what you owe the world .
Read some philosophy .
Or , in Fowler 's case , read a lot of philosophy — especially the Stoics .
Then decide what to do with your mountain of documentation .
And while solving Uber 's management issues is not Fowler 's concern , she does have a word @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peers .
Silicon Valley has caught on to the fact that it has a diversity problem .
Large companies are vowing to do more to recruit women and underrepresented minorities .
But Fowler bluntly says that 's no solution .
`` Uber did n't just need more women engineers , or more employees of color , '' she writes .
`` It needed to stop breaking the law ... .
It did n't matter how many black engineers we hired , if they were discriminated against ; it did n't matter how many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if those women perpetrated or enabled the illegal behavior . ''

Uber Whistleblower Takes On Silicon Valley, Armed With Stoic Philosophy
Whistleblower My Journey to Silicon Valley and Fight for Justice at Uber by Susan Fowler Hardcover, 260 pages | purchase close overlay Buy Featured Book Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
In 2017, Susan Fowler published a blog post that shook Silicon Valley. Her matter-of-fact account of sexism, sexual harassment and "unrelenting chaos" on Uber's software teams prompted a reckoning that brought down CEO Travis Kalanick.
It's easy to focus on what happened to Fowler. Her manager messaging her about sex on her very first day. A different manager sneakily changing her good performance review to a bad one, to block her from moving to a less-dysfunctional unit. The absurd episode with the leather jackets.
But in her new memoir, Whistleblower: My Journey to Silicon Valley and Fight for Justice at Uber, Fowler makes a dedicated plea for you to focus, instead, on what she did about it. Again and again throughout the book, she says she wants to be the hero of her story — not the victim. Or, to use an Isaiah Berlin quote she's fond of, "a subject, not an object."
Author Interviews In New Book, Uber Whistleblower Takes On Silicon Valley In New Book, Uber Whistleblower Takes On Silicon Valley Listen · 7:20 7:20
The memoir does provide more eyebrow-raising details about just how hostile and chaotic Uber's workplace was. But Fowler is much more interested in unpacking how — and why — she responded by going public.
Her upbringing was unusual: She grew up in a large, impoverished, deeply religious family in rural Arizona and was homeschooled before becoming wholly self-taught. She calls it a wonderful childhood, full of books and music and desert adventures, but it certainly wasn't easy. As a child, she describes feeding venomous spiders to help support the family (yes, seriously), and as a teenager the lack of a structured education brought her to tears repeatedly.
Fowler spends little time on her youth, which some readers may find disappointing, and aside from a partial biography of her father, she never fleshes out her siblings or parents into characters.
She focuses more on college, where, in addition to starting her lifelong study of philosophy, she fell in love with physics, only to discover she was woefully unqualified for the math courses. Over intense opposition from administrators, Fowler says, she took them anyway — and, after some rocky early classes, thrived.
She seemed on track for a Ph.D. in physics until what she describes as a painful and rather bizarre experience of mistreatment — one that clearly shaped her reaction to harassment at Uber. Fowler says multiple professors instructed her to set aside her research work and instead dedicate herself to monitoring and supporting another student who had threatened suicide. The administration wouldn't help her, and she faced retribution for her complaints, she says. (NPR has reached out to the university for comment.) Lawyers advised that going to court would be more misery than it was worth, so she walked away from physics.
Fowler had dreamed of being an architect, then a violinist, then a philosopher or a physicist. She had never dreamed of being a software engineer. But she needed to do something, and her physics work had involved coding, so, software engineering it was. And yes, if you're keeping track at home, this means Silicon Valley was a backup career choice.
At her first tech job, she writes, she was paid significantly less than her male co-workers. At the second, she describes an openly misogynistic boss. She hoped making the switch to Uber — a large, established company with an HR department — would pay off in better working conditions.
Alas, we all know how that turned out.
Fowler's occasionally eye-popping account of life at Uber ends with her making the leap to another job and reflecting seriously on her ethical obligations before deciding to speak out. In the anxious months after she went public with her story, she says she was followed and investigated by Uber goons. But the story does not end with Uber's triumphant revenge: Fowler emphasizes that she's thriving in every way possible.
This memoir is a bit of a how-to book, too, with some take-home lessons for anyone discouraged by a hostile workplace.
Document everything, Fowler emphasizes: Screenshots; copies; detailed notes. Complain through the proper channels, even if you know they won't work, and document your complaint. If it happens again, complain again. Do your job very well throughout (and document that, too). Know your rights. If they say you're the only one with a complaint, check if that's true. And seriously, document everything.
If none of that works? Consider what you owe the world. Read some philosophy. Or, in Fowler's case, read a lot of philosophy — especially the Stoics. Then decide what to do with your mountain of documentation.
And while solving Uber's management issues is not Fowler's concern, she does have a word of caution for the company and its peers.
Silicon Valley has caught on to the fact that it has a diversity problem. Large companies are vowing to do more to recruit women and underrepresented minorities. But Fowler bluntly says that's no solution.
"Uber didn't just need more women engineers, or more employees of color," she writes. "It needed to stop breaking the law .... It didn't matter how many black engineers we hired, if they were discriminated against; it didn't matter how many women we put into positions of power, if those women perpetrated or enabled the illegal behavior."


npr--2020-02-19--Food Fight: How 2 Trump Proposals Could Bite Into School Lunch

Food Fight : How 2 Trump Proposals Could Bite Into School Lunch Two pending rule changes meant to reduce what the Trump administration calls abuse of federal benefit programs could also mean hundreds of thousands of children lose access to free school meals .
The first proposed change : The Trump administration wants to tighten states ' standards for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( SNAP ) , also known as food stamps .
States have long been able to simplify enrollment in SNAP , allowing families who live near poverty to apply for the benefit with less paperwork and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the administration believes some households are getting benefits they do n't deserve .
`` Too often , states have misused this flexibility without restraint , '' said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue in July , when the change was proposed .
`` That is why we are changing the rules , preventing abuse of a critical safety net system , so those who need food assistance the most are the only ones who receive it . ''
The U.S. Department of Agriculture 's proposal would force states to tighten SNAP enrollment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposed change , USDA estimates more than 3 million people would lose access to food stamps .
What does all this have to do with school lunches ?
Depends on who you ask .
`` The truth is , the real impact of this rule on school lunches is virtually zero , '' Sam Adolphsen told the House Oversight Committee earlier this month .
He 's policy director for the Foundation for Government Accountability , a nonprofit group .
`` In fact , in 34 states , not one single child will lose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this rule . ''
At the same hearing , sitting just a few feet away , Diane Sullivan told a different story .
She is an anti-poverty advocate with the group Witnesses to Hunger and has two sons in high-school .
`` Without SNAP , in addition to having less food at home , my sons could lose access to free school meals , '' she said , calling the move `` a gutshot to those least equipped to take the blow or to fight back . ''
Sullivan and Adolphsen clearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right ?
Let 's start with the Trump administration 's official estimate of the move 's nationwide impact .
The USDA says , as a result of tightening SNAP standards , 40,000 children will lose access to free and low-cost school meals .
Hundreds of thousands more will lose free meals but still qualify to eat at a reduced cost .
Sullivan says her two high-schoolers likely fall into this group .
`` That 's $ 252 , '' she said , `` an annual expense my already overwhelmed budget can not absorb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more big problem : When those 3 million people lose access to SNAP , the children among them will also lose their automatic access to free school meals .
Instead , they will have to apply .
In 2004 , Congress passed a law requiring that school districts automatically enroll children in the free school lunch program if their families already receive SNAP benefits .
No application needed .
Paperwork can be an enormous barrier for low-income families , and lawmakers agreed : Failing to fill out a form should never keep a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exactly what advocates fear will happen now , under the administration 's new rule .
According to the government 's own estimate , the change could push as many as 942,000 eligible children out of the lunch program , at least temporarily .
`` Food is one of the most important school supplies a child has , '' said Lisa Davis , of the No Kid Hungry campaign , who also appeared before the Oversight Committee .
She said limiting access to free or reduced-price school meals could have big consequences for students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other problems hungry children face : diminishing their academic performance , their mental and physical health , and their opportunity to achieve their full potential . ''
Perdue says the administration is trying to make sure those who need the help most are the ones getting it .
In defending the change , lawmakers have repeatedly cited the story of one man , Rob Undersander .
The Minnesota millionaire says he received SNAP benefits for a year and a half because , he says , as a retiree he had little income and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ account .
Undersander says he wanted to highlight waste in the program and get `` the law changed in Minnesota so that the money goes to the truly needy . ''
`` I am not a fraud , '' Sullivan told lawmakers .
She said SNAP benefits had been vital to her family but that , under the new rule , their household income would disqualify them .
Last year , during a period when Sullivan was not enrolled in SNAP , she said the family car needed repairs .
`` The fruit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ empty .
I stretched the meat and veggies intended for one meal into two .
My fear is that we will be pushed back into the same situation if this rule is implemented . ''
In a statement , the USDA points out that most children affected by the rule change — 96 % — would still qualify to receive either free or low-cost school meals ; families would simply need to submit the paperwork .
`` All households have the opportunity to fill out an individual application for free and reduced-priced meals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applications available , '' the statement reads .
`` This opportunity is available at any point throughout the entire school year and only needs to be done once per school year , typically at the start when parents are filling out other school forms . ''
But child advocates say this paperwork burden could keep eligible kids from eating .
`` Experience tells us that far too many will fall through the cracks , '' Davis told lawmakers .
`` Confusion about eligibility , complex paperwork , human error and stigma all create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration posted its proposed rule , as it is required to do , there have been nearly 184,000 public comments .
So many , in fact , that the rule is not expected to be finalized until the spring .
The other big change the Trump administration is pushing would also drive children out of the school lunch program .
The Department of Homeland Security has proposed stiffening the nation 's public charge rule to require aspiring citizens to prove they wo n't rely on public assistance , including SNAP .
While non-citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , many live in households with someone who does , often a U.S.-born child who can legally receive SNAP benefits .
But , again , if parents withdraw from SNAP , out of fear that receiving the benefit will block their path to citizenship , their children will also lose automatic enrollment in the school meals program .
`` It 's a huge barrier because this has frightened a lot of people , '' says Patricia Gándara , co-director of the Civil Rights Project at UCLA .
`` We hear from folks in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the parents wo n't come in and sign up for the free lunch .
And so school personnel know that the children are eligible , but the parents wo n't sign the forms because parents are also very afraid of signing anything that looks like they are using any benefit for fear of losing their status , their green cards . ''
While the impact of this rule change is difficult to quantify , since it wo n't go into effect until late February , one study by the Urban Institute found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule has already had a chilling effect on some immigrant families .
The rule technically excludes benefits received by children , but many parents either do n't know this , or simply do n't trust the government .
While the new rule has been the subject of a heated legal battle , the U.S. Supreme Court recently voted 5-4 that it could go into effect later this month .
There 's one last way these rule changes could affect students : by hitting schools ' bottom line .
The school lunch program includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of low-income students to provide free meals to everyone — without having to collect individual applications .
The provision saves schools time spent processing paperwork , and it eliminates the stigma some students feel around receiving a free meal .
For a school to qualify , at least 40 % of its students must be certified to receive free meals .
But if these new rule changes push too many children off of school meals — and they fail to re-enroll — some schools could drop below that 40 % threshold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meals to all .
As many as 2,100 schools nationwide could be at risk .
The needs of their children wo n't have changed — just the school 's ability to serve them .
The proposed changes could even hurt schools ' bottom line beyond the cafeteria .
Districts receive extra help from the federal government , in the form of Title I dollars , to serve vulnerable , low-income students .
But the government measures this vulnerability — and allocates those extra dollars — based on enrollment in the school meals program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the free and reduced-price lunch program , who should be participating , you will underestimate the number of low-income students served in a school , '' says John King , head of the Education Trust and a former education secretary under President Obama , `` and the school will therefore get less funding . ''

Food Fight: How 2 Trump Proposals Could Bite Into School Lunch
Enlarge this image Jianan Liu for NPR Jianan Liu for NPR
Two pending rule changes meant to reduce what the Trump administration calls abuse of federal benefit programs could also mean hundreds of thousands of children lose access to free school meals.
The first proposed change: The Trump administration wants to tighten states' standards for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps. States have long been able to simplify enrollment in SNAP, allowing families who live in near poverty to apply for the benefit with less paperwork and somewhat more flexible rules to qualify. But the administration believes some households are getting benefits they don't deserve.
"Too often, states have misused this flexibility without restraint," said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue in July, when the change was proposed. "That is why we are changing the rules, preventing abuse of a critical safety net system, so those who need food assistance the most are the only ones who receive it."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's proposal would force states to tighten SNAP enrollment standards. As a result of the proposed change, USDA estimates more than 3 million people would lose access to food stamps.
What does all this have to do with school lunches? Depends on who you ask.
"The truth is, the real impact of this rule on school lunches is virtually zero," Sam Adolphsen told the House Oversight Committee earlier this month. He's policy director for the Foundation for Government Accountability, a nonprofit group. "In fact, in 34 states, not one single child will lose their school lunch eligibility as a result of this rule."
At the same hearing, sitting just a few feet away, Diane Sullivan told a different story. She is an anti-poverty advocate with the group Witnesses to Hunger and has two sons in high school. "Without SNAP, in addition to having less food at home, my sons could lose access to free school meals," she said, calling the move "a gut shot to those least equipped to take the blow or to fight back."
Sullivan and Adolphsen clearly see these cuts differently. Who's right?
Let's start with the Trump administration's official estimate of the nationwide impact. The USDA says that as a result of tightening SNAP standards, 40,000 children will lose access to free and low-cost school meals. Hundreds of thousands more will lose free meals but still qualify to eat at a reduced cost. Sullivan says her two high schoolers likely fall into this group. "That's $252," she said, "an annual expense my already overwhelmed budget cannot absorb."
Advocates are worried about one more big problem: When those 3 million people lose access to SNAP, the children among them will also lose their automatic access to free school meals. Instead, they will have to apply.
In 2004, Congress passed a law requiring that school districts automatically enroll children in the free school lunch program if their families already receive SNAP benefits. No application needed. Paperwork can be an enormous barrier for low-income families, and lawmakers agreed: Failing to fill out a form should never keep a child from eating. But that is exactly what advocates fear will happen now, under the administration's new rule.
According to the government's own estimate, the change could push as many as 942,000 eligible children out of the lunch program, at least temporarily.
"Food is one of the most important school supplies a child has," said Lisa Davis of the No Kid Hungry campaign, who also appeared before the Oversight Committee.
She said limiting access to free or reduced-price school meals could have big consequences for students: "It exacerbates all of the other problems hungry children face — diminishing their academic performance, their mental and physical health, and their opportunity to achieve their full potential."
Perdue says the administration is trying to make sure those who need the help most are the ones getting it. In defending the change, lawmakers have repeatedly cited the story of one man, Rob Undersander. The Minnesota millionaire says he received SNAP benefits for a year and a half because, he says, as a retiree he had little income and his considerable assets weren't taken into account. Undersander says he wanted to highlight waste in the program and get "the law changed in Minnesota so that the money goes to the truly needy."
"I am not a fraud," Sullivan told lawmakers. She said SNAP benefits had been vital to her family but that, under the new rule, their household income would disqualify them. Last year, during a period when Sullivan was not enrolled in SNAP, she said the family car needed repairs. "The fruit bowl on my kitchen table often sat empty. I stretched the meat and veggies intended for one meal into two. My fear is that we will be pushed back into the same situation if this rule is implemented."
In a statement, the USDA points out that most children affected by the rule change — 96% — would still qualify to receive either free or low-cost school meals; families would simply need to submit the paperwork.
"All households have the opportunity to fill out an individual application for free and reduced-priced meals as schools are required to make the applications available," the statement reads. "This opportunity is available at any point throughout the entire school year and only needs to be done once per school year, typically at the start when parents are filling out other school forms."
But child advocates say this paperwork burden could keep eligible kids from eating.
"Experience tells us that far too many will fall through the cracks," Davis told lawmakers. "Confusion about eligibility, complex paperwork, human error and stigma all create barriers to enrollment."
Since the administration posted its proposed rule, as it is required to do, there have been nearly 184,000 public comments. So many, in fact, that the rule is not expected to be finalized until the spring.
The other proposed change
The other big change the Trump administration is pushing would also drive children out of the school lunch program. The Department of Homeland Security has proposed stiffening the nation's public charge rule to require aspiring citizens to prove they won't rely on public assistance, including SNAP.
While noncitizens don't qualify for most federal benefits, many live in households with someone who does, often a U.S.-born child who can legally receive SNAP benefits. But, again, if parents withdraw from SNAP, out of fear that receiving the benefit will block their path to citizenship, their children will also lose automatic enrollment in the school meals program.
"It's a huge barrier because this has frightened a lot of people," says Patricia Gándara, co-director of the Civil Rights Project at UCLA. "We hear from folks in the schools where these children are attending that the parents won't come in and sign up for the free lunch. And so school personnel know that the children are eligible, but the parents won't sign the forms because parents are also very afraid of signing anything that looks like they are using any benefit for fear of losing their status, their green cards."
While the impact of this rule change is difficult to quantify, since it won't go into effect until late February, one study by the Urban Institute found that a fear of the public charge rule has already had a chilling effect on some immigrant families.
The rule technically excludes benefits received by children, but many parents either don't know this or simply don't trust the government. While the new rule has been the subject of a heated legal battle, the U.S. Supreme Court recently voted 5-4 that it could go into effect later this month.
Hitting schools' bottom line
There's one last way these rule changes could affect students: by hitting schools' bottom line.
The school lunch program includes a provision that allows schools that serve a lot of low-income students to provide free meals to everyone — without having to collect individual applications. The provision saves schools time spent processing paperwork, and it eliminates the stigma some students feel around receiving a free meal.
For a school to qualify, at least 40% of its students must be certified to receive free meals. But if these new rule changes push too many children off school meals — and they fail to reenroll — some schools could drop below that 40% threshold and lose the ability to provide free meals to all. As many as 2,100 schools nationwide could be at risk. The needs of their children won't have changed — just the schools' ability to serve them.
The proposed changes could even hurt schools' bottom line beyond the cafeteria. Districts receive extra help from the federal government, in the form of Title I dollars, to serve vulnerable, low-income students. But districts commonly dispense these funds to individual schools based on enrollment in the free and reduced-price lunch program.
"If you have students leaving the free and reduced-price lunch program, who should be participating, you will underestimate the number of low-income students served in a school," says John King, head of the Education Trust and a former education secretary under President Barack Obama, "and the school will therefore get less funding."


npr--2020-02-19--China Expels 3 'Wall Street Journal' Reporters, Citing 'Racist' Editorial

China 's foreign ministry said Wednesday it is canceling the visas of three journalists working for The Wall Street Journal after what it said was a racist headline that appeared on an editorial about the coronavirus epidemic earlier this month .
The move comes a day after the U.S. State Department designated five Chinese state media outlets as foreign government missions , thus treating them as extensions of Beijing and requiring them to share information on their U.S.-based employees and properties .
On Wednesday , China 's foreign ministry said it reserved `` the right to take further measures in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Journal said the three reporters were its Deputy Bureau Chief Josh Chin , reporter Chao Deng , both U.S. nationals , and reporter Philip Wen , an Australian .
Although China has effectively expelled at least six other journalists since 2013 by refusing to renew their press credentials , it is rare to rescind a visa outright and unprecedented to cancel multiple visas from the same outlet .
They include another Journal reporter , Chun Han Wong , who was expelled from China when his press credentials were not renewed last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cast the family of Chinese leader Xi Jinping in a negative light .
The latest expulsions follow a Feb. 3 opinion piece cited by the ministry titled `` China is the Real Sick Man of Asia , '' by Walter Russell Mead , a scholar at the conservative Hudson Institute and a professor at Bard College in New York .
None of the three journalists targeted by Beijing contributed to the editorial in question .
The term `` sick man of Asia '' was originally ascribed to China in the late 19th and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to its weak internal governance and external position vis-à-vis European powers and the U.S .
The recent editorial , or at least its headline , sparked a flurry of criticism in Chinese media .
In a statement on Wednesday , foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the newspaper 's editors `` used such [ a ] racially discriminatory title , triggering indignation and condemnation among the Chinese people and the international community . ''
`` The Chinese side has lodged stern representations with WSJ and made our solemn position clear , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WSJ recognize the severity of its mistake , make an official apology and hold the persons involved accountable .
Meanwhile , we reserve the right to take further actions . ''
The editorial , called China 's initial response to the coronavirus outbreak `` less than impressive . ''
While the Journal 's editorial page has long been seen as a bastion of conservatism , the journalism in its news pages has won plaudits for its objectivity and thoroughness .
The Foreign Correspondents Club of China , a professional association in Beijing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Journal reporters `` an extreme and obvious attempt by the Chinese authorities to intimidate foreign news organizations by taking retribution against their China-based correspondents . ''
`` China has evicted fair and talented journalists who have worked hard to bring unbiased , informative reports to their audiences and to understand China , '' the association said in a statement .

China Expels 3 'Wall Street Journal' Reporters, Citing 'Racist' Headline
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andy Wong/AP Andy Wong/AP
Updated at 9:45 a.m. ET
China's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday it is canceling the visas of three journalists working for The Wall Street Journal after what it said was a racist headline that appeared on an opinion piece about the coronavirus epidemic earlier this month.
The move comes a day after the U.S. State Department designated five Chinese state media outlets as foreign government missions, thus treating them as extensions of Beijing and requiring them to share information on their U.S.-based employees and properties. On Wednesday, China's Foreign Ministry said it reserved "the right to take further measures in response" to the State Department decision.
The Journal said the three reporters were its Deputy Bureau Chief Josh Chin, reporter Chao Deng, both U.S. nationals, and reporter Philip Wen, an Australian.
The expulsions follow a Feb. 3 opinion piece cited by the ministry titled "China is the Real Sick Man of Asia," by Walter Russell Mead, a scholar at the conservative Hudson Institute and a professor at Bard College in New York.
#Coronavirus won't be the last black swan to manifest in China, and its financial markets may be a greater danger than the wildlife markets. My latest @WSJopinion https://t.co/VTAMf2mV5t — Walter Russell Mead (@wrmead) February 4, 2020
None of the three journalists targeted by Beijing contributed to the opinion piece in question.
The term "sick man of Asia" was originally ascribed to China in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a pejorative referring to its weak internal governance and external position vis-à-vis European powers and the U.S. The recent opinion piece, or at least its headline, sparked a flurry of criticism in Chinese media.
In a statement on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the newspaper's editors "used such [a] racially discriminatory title, triggering indignation and condemnation among the Chinese people and the international community."
"The Chinese side has lodged stern representations with WSJ and made our solemn position clear," the statement said. "China demands the WSJ recognize the severity of its mistake, make an official apology and hold the persons involved accountable. Meanwhile, we reserve the right to take further actions."
The opinion piece called China's initial response to the coronavirus outbreak "less than impressive."
While the Journal's editorial pages have long been seen as a bastion of conservatism, the journalism in its news pages has won plaudits for its objectivity and thoroughness.
Although China has effectively expelled at least six other journalists since 2013 by refusing to renew their press credentials, it is rare to rescind a visa outright and unprecedented to cancel multiple visas from the same outlet. The six include another Journal reporter, Chun Han Wong, who was expelled from China when his press credentials were not renewed last August after he authored a story that cast the family of Chinese leader Xi Jinping in a negative light.
The Foreign Correspondents Club of China, a professional association in Beijing, called the decision to expel the three Journal reporters "an extreme and obvious attempt by the Chinese authorities to intimidate foreign news organizations by taking retribution against their China-based correspondents."
"China has evicted fair and talented journalists who have worked hard to bring unbiased, informative reports to their audiences and to understand China," the association said in a statement.


npr--2020-02-19--Poll: Sanders Rises, But Socialism Isn't Popular With Most Americans

Poll : Sanders Rises , But Socialism Is n't Popular With Most Americans Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is rising in the polls among Democrats , but questions about his electability against President Trump persist because he self-identifies as a democratic socialist .
A new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll backs up the idea that the label could hurt him .
Asked about their impression of socialism , only about a quarter of Americans ( 28 % ) said they have a favorable view , while almost 6-in-10 ( 58 % ) said they had an unfavorable impression .
If socialism is so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be on the rise in the Democratic primary ?
Because Democrats and , more specifically , progressives view socialism favorably .
Half of Democrats said so , while more than two-thirds of progressives did .
Just 23 % of independents , though , and 7 % of Republicans viewed socialism favorably .
Do n't see the graphic above ?
Click here .
Views of socialism grow more unfavorably the older the generation , but even 50 % of Gen Z and Millennials had an unfavorable view of it , as opposed to just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one .
Suburban voters , who have been trending with Democrats since Trump 's election , are overwhelmingly against it by a 27 % -to-61 % margin .
Capitalism , on the other hand , was viewed overwhelmingly favorably by a 57 % -to-29 % margin .
But a majority of progressives ( 52 % ) had an unfavorable view of capitalism , as did a 45 % -to-37 % plurality of African Americans .
The views of capitalism versus socialism is one reason why Republicans prefer to face Sanders in the general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out that Sanders has n't yet faced the likely barrage of attacks around his economic belief system — Democratic socialism .
But Sanders , in this poll and others , does beat President Trump in a head-to-head match up , 48 % to 45 % .
That 's something his campaign and surrogates are eager to point out .
In June 2019 , Sanders reiterated his case for Democratic socialism , as he defines it — a push for a `` New Deal '' of the 21st century , in line with Western @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health care and paid leave .
In a 2015 Democratic presidential debate , Sanders said , `` I believe in a society where all people do well , not just a handful of billionaires . ''
Warren is top second choice , but mostly of Sanders supporters Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren has tried to distinguish herself from Sanders by calling herself a capitalist .
But she has slid in the polls , as progressives appear to have begun to coalesce around Sanders .
In the latest NPR poll , Warren is fourth with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December , the last time Democratic preferences were tested .
It turns out Warren leads as Democratic voters ' top second-choice candidate — 23 % say she 's their second choice , followed by Sanders ' 14 % ; Biden , Buttigieg and Bloomberg each get 13 % ; Klobuchar is the second choice of 10 % of Democratic voters .
Unfortunately for Warren , many of those who list her as their second choice are Sanders supporters .
And that 's the difficult position Warren is in .
She most needs the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporting Sanders , and she has not been able to wrest them away .
She is the second choice of 45 % of Sanders supporters .
Fourteen percent of Sanders backers would go with former Vice President Joe Biden as a second choice ; 13 % would go with former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg , and 11 % would pick former Mayor Pete Buttigieg .
Bloomberg and Biden , on the other hand , take equally from each other — 28 % of each of their supporters said the other is their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Warren follow .
The percentage of Americans saying the country is headed in the right direction was just 41 % , but that represents the highest level since March of 2012 in Marist 's polling .
That 's up 6 points from October .
Half the country still says the country is headed in the wrong direction , but the 50 % who said so is the lowest the poll has recorded since January 2011 .
Do n't see the graphic above ?
Click here .
Part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Unemployment was at just 3.6 % for the month of January , the 12th straight month of sub-4 % unemployment .
What 's more , two-thirds of people say the economy is working well for them .
President Trump is benefiting from that — 51 % of all adults and 54 % of registered voters approve of the job Trump is doing handling the economy .
That 's higher than his overall approval rating of just 42 % of all adults and 44 % of registered voters .
A majority of Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the job the president is doing overall .
Beating Trump is most important to Democratic voters The strength of the economy is likely aiding Trump 's reelection chances .
Democrats seem to understand that he could be tough to beat , which might be why , by a 55 % -42 % margin , Democrats say picking a nominee who has the best chance of beating Trump is more important than someone who shares their position on most issues .
Not surprisingly , overwhelming majorities of Bloomberg and Biden supporters said it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beat Trump , while the opposite was true for Sanders backers .
Of Bloomberg voters , 70 % said it was more important to beat Trump , and 63 % of Biden backers said the same .
When it comes to Sanders , though , 60 % said it was more important for the nominee to share their values .
People 45 and older ( 66 % ) , whites ( 65 % ) and suburban women ( 64 % ) were the most likely to say picking someone who could win was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 59 % ) and independents ( 53 % ) and non-whites ( 50 % ) were the most likely to say it was most important to pick someone who shares their positions .
A quarter of Democrats could stay home or back someone else in November One danger sign for Democrats is that nearly 1 in 5 Democratic voters or independents who lean Democratic say that if their preferred candidate does n't get the nomination , they 'll either stay home , vote for someone else or vote for Trump .
Of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they would not vote for president if he is not the nominee .
More than a quarter of voters under 45 ( 26 % ) said they would not vote for the Democratic nominee if it 's not the candidate they support , including 10 % who said they would not vote for president at all , 11 % who would vote for someone else and 5 % who said they 'd vote for Trump .
But the potential decline with young voters has to be a red flag for the Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to vote for whoever the nominee is — just 65 % said so — 15 % said they 'd vote for someone else , 12 % said they would not vote for president and another 3 % would vote for Trump .
Much of that is likely because it 's the heat of the primary battle ; these numbers might decline when there is an actual nominee and calls for unity .
Three-quarters ( 76 % ) of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents said they would vote for the Democratic nominee , whoever that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a solid margin on the congressional ballot For all the disarray in the Democratic primary , voters say they 'd back a Democrat in their congressional district by an 8-point margin , if elections were held today .
That 48 % -to-40 % margin is the highest in the poll for Democrats since late October 2018 , right before the midterm elections that saw Democrats swept into control of the House .
That Democratic support is buoyed , once again , by suburban women .
There is a massive gender gap in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'd back a Democrat by a 63 % -to-26 % margin and men saying they 'd back a Republican , 49 % -to-40 % .
`` There might be a lot of fights in those households right now , '' said Lee Miringoff , director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion , which conducted the poll .
`` It 's probably best to avoid talking about politics [ in those homes ] right now . ''
The live-caller survey of 1,416 adults was conducted from Feb. 13 to Feb. 16 by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Public Opinion .
It has a margin of error of +/- 3.3 percentage points .
The poll includes 1,164 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.7 percentage points and 527 Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents with a margin of error of +/- 5.4 percentage points .

Poll: Sanders Rises, But Socialism Isn't Popular With Most Americans
Enlarge this image toggle caption Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is rising in the polls among Democrats, but questions about his electability against President Trump persist because he self-identifies as a democratic socialist.
A new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll backs up the idea that the label could hurt him.
Asked about their impression of socialism, 28% of adults said they have a favorable view, while 58% said they had an unfavorable one.
If socialism is so unpopular with Americans, how can Sanders be on the rise in the Democratic primary? Because Democrats and, more specifically, progressives view socialism favorably. Half of Democrats said so, while more than two-thirds of progressives did.
Just 23% of independents, though, and 7% of Republicans viewed socialism favorably.
Loading...
Don't see the graphic above? Click here.
Approval of socialist declines as age rises. But even 50% of Gen Z and millennial respondents (ages 18 to 38) had an unfavorable view of it, as opposed to just 38% who had a favorable one.
Suburban voters, who have been trending with Democrats since Trump's election, are overwhelmingly against it 27% to 61%.
Capitalism, on the other hand, was viewed overwhelmingly favorably 57% to 29%, by U.S. adults. But a majority of progressives (52%) had an unfavorable view of capitalism, as did a plurality of African Americans (45% to 37%).
The views of capitalism versus socialism is one reason why Republicans prefer to face Sanders in the general election. They and veteran Democrats point out that Sanders hasn't yet faced the likely barrage of attacks around his economic belief system — Democratic socialism.
But Sanders, in this poll and others, does beat Trump in a head-to-head matchup, 48% to 45%. That's something his campaign and surrogates are eager to point out.
In June 2019, Sanders reiterated his case for Democratic socialism, calling for New Deal politics in the 21st century, in line with Western European countries that have policies like universal health care and paid leave.
In a 2015 Democratic presidential debate, Sanders said, "I believe in a society where all people do well, not just a handful of billionaires."
Warren is top second choice, but mostly of Sanders supporters
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren has tried to distinguish herself from Sanders by calling herself a capitalist. But she has slid in the polls, as progressives appear to have begun to coalesce around Sanders.
In the latest NPR poll, Warren is fourth with 12%, down 5 points from December, the last time Democratic preferences were tested.
It turns out Warren leads as Democratic voters' top second-choice candidate — 23% say she's their second choice, followed by Sanders' 14%; former Vice President Joe Biden, former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg and former New York City Mayor Bloomberg each get 13%; Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar is the second choice of 10% of Democratic voters.
Unfortunately for Warren, many of those who list her as their second choice are Sanders supporters. And that's the difficult position Warren is in. She most needs the support of progressives, who are largely supporting Sanders, and she has not been able to wrest them away.
She is the second choice of 45% of Sanders supporters. Fourteen percent of Sanders backers would go with Biden as a second choice; 13% would go with Bloomberg; and 11% would pick Buttigieg.
Bloomberg and Biden, on the other hand, take equally from each other — 28% of each of their supporters said the other is their second-choice pick. Buttigieg, Sanders, Klobuchar and Warren follow.
Optimism about the country hits eight-year high
The percentage of Americans saying the country is headed in the right direction was just 41%, but that represents the highest level since March 2012 in Marist's polling.
That's up 6 points from October. Half the country still says the country is headed in the wrong direction, but the 50% who said so is the lowest the poll has recorded since January 2011.
Loading...
Don't see the graphic above? Click here.
Part of that optimism is likely because of the economy. Unemployment was at just 3.6% for the month of January, the 12th straight month of sub-4% unemployment.
What's more, two-thirds of people say the economy is working well for them.
Trump is benefiting from that — 51% of all adults and 54% of registered voters approve of the job he is doing handling the economy.
That's higher than his overall approval rating of just 42% of all adults and 44% of registered voters. A majority of Americans (51%) still disapprove of the job the president is doing overall.
Beating Trump is most important to Democratic voters
The strength of the economy is likely aiding Trump's reelection chances. Democrats seem to understand that he could be tough to beat, which might be why, by a 55%-42% margin, Democrats say picking a nominee who has the best chance of beating Trump is more important than someone who shares their position on most issues.
Not surprisingly, overwhelming majorities of Bloomberg and Biden supporters said it was more important to pick someone who could beat Trump, while the opposite was true for Sanders backers.
Of Bloomberg voters, 70% said it was more important to beat Trump, and 63% of Biden backers said the same.
When it comes to Sanders, though, 60% said it was more important for the nominee to share their values.
People 45 and older (66%), whites (65%) and suburban women (64%) were the most likely to say picking someone who could win was most important.
Voters under 45 (59%) and independents (53%) and nonwhites (50%) were the most likely to say it was most important to pick someone who shares their positions.
Will Democrats show up in November?
One danger sign for Democrats is that nearly 1 in 5 Democratic voters or independents who lean Democratic say that if their preferred candidate doesn't get the nomination, they'll either stay home, vote for Trump or vote for someone else.
Of that group, 12% of Sanders backers said they would not vote for president if he is not the nominee.
More than a quarter of voters under 45 (26%) said they would not vote for a Democratic nominee who is not the candidate they support, including 10% who said they would not vote for president at all, 11% who would vote for someone else and 5% who said they would vote for Trump.
The potential decline with young voters has to be a red flag for the Democratic Party.
Independents were the least likely to say they would vote for whomever the nominee is — just 65% said so — 15% said they would vote for someone else, 12% said they would not vote for president and another 3% would vote for Trump.
Much of that is likely because it's the heat of the primary battle; these numbers might decline when there is an actual nominee and calls for unity.
Three-quarters (76%) of Democrats and Democrat-leaning independents said they would vote for the Democratic nominee, whomever that ends up being.
Democrats look good on congressional ballot
For all the disarray in the Democratic primary, registered voters say they would back a Democrat in their congressional district by an 8-point margin, if elections were held today.
That 48%-to-40% margin is the highest in the poll for Democrats since late October 2018, right before the midterm elections that saw Democrats swept into control of the House.
That Democratic support is buoyed, once again, by suburban women. There is a massive gender gap in the suburbs, with women there saying they would back a Democrat 63% to 26% margin and men saying they would back a Republican, 49% to 40%.
"There might be a lot of fights in those households right now," said Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, which conducted the poll. "It's probably best to avoid talking about politics [in those homes] right now."
The live-caller survey of 1,416 adults was conducted from Feb. 13 to Feb. 16 by the Marist Poll at the Marist Institute for Public Opinion. It has a margin of error of 3.3 percentage points. The poll includes 1,164 registered voters with a margin of error of 3.7 percentage points and 527 Democrats and Democrat-leaning independents with a margin of error of 5.4 percentage points.


npr--2020-02-19--'We Are Part Of The United States': The 1st People Counted For The 2020 Census

'We Are Part Of The United States ' : The 1st People Counted For The 2020 Census Cross the treeless , frozen tundra of southwest Alaska , over ice-covered lakes and ponds near the Bering Sea , and you 'll find the first community in the U.S. counted for the 2020 census .
While most of the country waits to take part in the once-a-decade head count of the U.S. population , the residents of Toksook Bay , Alaska — home to members of the Nunakauyarmiut Tribe — are ahead of the national curve .
Local counting , which officially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Martin Luther King Jr. Day , wrapped up on Jan. 27 .
The Census Bureau 's door knockers finished visiting homes in Toksook Bay in less than a week .
But anticipation for the census had been mounting in the village for more than a year after the bureau announced that the national spotlight was coming to Toksook Bay , which was a fishing camp until some residents from a neighboring village , Nightmute , decided to permanently settle closer to the sea .
Since 1964 , the village has grown to 590 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2010 .
It 's the third Alaska Native village selected by the bureau since 2000 to be the site of the first count in remote Alaska , where the census has kicked off for decades before rolling out to the rest of the country by April .
`` I 'm glad it 's behind us now , so we can move on with what we do every day , '' said Simeon John , a coordinator for a local youth suicide and alcohol abuse prevention group who helped organize a ceremony with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school gymnasium to mark the start of the census .
Using paper and pencil to collect people 's demographic information , census workers are continuing to visit homes in other far-flung villages across the state , taking advantage of the winter months when the still-frozen ground makes traveling easier and village residents have n't migrated yet for hunting and fishing .
In Toksook Bay , subsistence is a way of life that has been passed on across generations over thousands of years .
In the winter months , ice fishers often venture out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ catch smelt .
But Lizzie Chimiugak Nenguryarr , an elder of Toksook Bay who was the first person counted for the 2020 census , wonders how much longer the village can live off the land and water .
`` Our ancestors used to say there will come a time of starvation , and we 're coming upon that time because of climate change , '' Nenguryarr said in Yup'ik through interpretation by one of her daughters , Katie Schwartz Nuiyaaq .
`` The fish are dying off because the water 's too hot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Nenguryarr recently celebrated what she considered to be at least her 90th birthday based on a baptismal record .
She had prepared to give a speech to the village about the growing dangers of climate change after the Census Bureau director , Steven Dillingham , and another bureau official visited her home last month for a census interview .
But bad weather delayed the arrival of the director 's plane for hours that day , forcing Nenguryarr to wait inside her home with her daughter and miss most of the ceremony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` She felt downhearted because the director of the Census Bureau took so long to get here , '' Schwartz said about her mother .
Still , Dora Nicholai , the secretary at Nelson Island School , considers all of the hustle and bustle the census brought to their village an honor that helped put Toksook Bay on the map for many in the rest of the country .
`` When it 's highlighted out there , they know where we come from , our environment , '' Nicholai said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the United States . ''

'We Are Part Of The United States': The 1st People Counted For The 2020 Census
Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR Claire Harbage/NPR
Cross the treeless, frozen tundra of southwest Alaska, over ice-covered lakes and ponds near the Bering Sea, and you'll find the first community in the U.S. counted for the 2020 census.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR Claire Harbage/NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR Claire Harbage/NPR
While most of the country waits to take part in the once-a-decade head count of the U.S. population, the residents of Toksook Bay, Alaska — home to members of the Nunakauyarmiut Tribe — are ahead of the national curve. Local counting, which officially started in the village the afternoon after Martin Luther King Jr. Day, wrapped up on Jan. 27.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR Claire Harbage/NPR
The Census Bureau's door knockers finished visiting homes in Toksook Bay in less than a week. But anticipation for the census had been mounting in the village for more than a year after the bureau announced that the national spotlight was coming to Toksook Bay, which was a fishing camp until some residents from a neighboring village, Nightmute, decided to permanently settle closer to the sea. Since 1964, the village has grown to 590 residents, according to the previous count in 2010.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR Claire Harbage/NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR Claire Harbage/NPR
It's the third Alaska Native village selected by the bureau since 2000 to be the site of the first count in remote Alaska, where the census has kicked off for decades before rolling out to the rest of the country by April.
"I'm glad it's behind us now, so we can move on with what we do every day," said Simeon John, a coordinator for a local youth suicide and alcohol abuse prevention group who helped organize a ceremony with traditional Yup'ik dancing and drumming in the school gymnasium to mark the start of the census.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR Claire Harbage/NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR Claire Harbage/NPR
Using paper and pencil to collect people's demographic information, census workers are continuing to visit homes in other far-flung villages across the state, taking advantage of the winter months when the still-frozen ground makes traveling easier and village residents haven't migrated yet for hunting and fishing.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR Claire Harbage/NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR Claire Harbage/NPR
In Toksook Bay, subsistence is a way of life that has been passed on across generations over thousands of years. In the winter months, ice fishers often venture out to crack open the frozen bay to catch smelt.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR Claire Harbage/NPR
But Lizzie Chimiugak Nenguryarr, an elder of Toksook Bay who was the first person counted for the 2020 census, wonders how much longer the village can live off the land and water.
"Our ancestors used to say there will come a time of starvation, and we're coming upon that time because of climate change," Nenguryarr said in Yup'ik through interpretation by one of her daughters, Katie Schwartz Nuiyaaq. "The fish are dying off because the water's too hot for them to survive the surface water."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR Claire Harbage/NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR Claire Harbage/NPR
Nenguryarr recently celebrated what she considered to be at least her 90th birthday based on a baptismal record. She had prepared to give a speech to the village about the growing dangers of climate change after the Census Bureau director, Steven Dillingham, and another bureau official visited her home last month for a census interview. But bad weather delayed the arrival of the director's plane for hours that day, forcing Nenguryarr to wait inside her home with her daughter and miss most of the ceremony inside the gymnasium of Nelson Island School.
"She felt downhearted because the director of the Census Bureau took so long to get here," Schwartz said about her mother.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR Claire Harbage/NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR Claire Harbage/NPR
Still, Dora Nicholai, the secretary at Nelson Island School, considers all of the hustle and bustle the census brought to their village an honor that helped put Toksook Bay on the map for many in the rest of the country.
"When it's highlighted out there, they know where we come from, our environment," Nicholai said. "Then they can know that we are part of the United States."


npr--2020-02-19--6 Democrats Are Set To Debate In Nevada. Here's What You Need To Know

6 Democrats Are Set To Debate In Nevada .
Here 's What You Need To Know Three days before the Nevada caucuses , six Democratic candidates will face off in a debate Wednesday night in Las Vegas .
The televised debate comes on the heels of a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll that shows Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders leading nationally , with 31 % support among Democratic-leaning voters .
Trailing Sanders in second in the survey is billionaire and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg , with 19 % backing .
The result pushed Bloomberg over the Democratic National Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday 's debate .
Here 's what you need to know about the debate : Which candidates will be there ?
As the field continues to shrink , Wednesday 's debate will feature six of the eight major candidates still in the race .
How do I watch the debate ?
The debate will begin at 9 p.m .
ET and is expected to last two hours .
It is being hosted by NBC News , MSNBC and the Nevada Independent , and it will take place at the Paris Theater in Las @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live on NBC News , MSNBC and Universo ( in Spanish ) .
It will also be available via livestream on the websites of NBC News , MSNBC , Telemundo and the Nevada Independent .
And NBC , MSNBC and Telemundo will carry the debate through their mobile apps and Facebook pages .
The debate will also be available on NBC News NOW through TV streaming services .
Three journalists from NBC News will moderate — Lester Holt , anchor of NBC Nightly News and Dateline ; Chuck Todd , moderator of Meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief White House correspondent — along with Telemundo correspondent Vanessa Hauc and the Nevada Independent 's Jon Ralston .
Get caught up : What has happened since the last debate ?
• After winning the New Hampshire primary , Sanders leads nationally , according to new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist polling .
• Though he 's not on the Nevada ballot , Bloomberg qualified for the Nevada debate .
• Nevadans already started voting .
Catch up on how early voting , which ended Tuesday , went .
• In the aftermath of the tumultuous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats plan to handle their caucuses .
• Following disappointing finishes in New Hampshire , Andrew Yang , Michael Bennet and Deval Patrick suspended their presidential campaigns .

6 Democrats Are Set To Debate In Nevada. Here's What You Need To Know
Enlarge this image toggle caption Joe Raedle/Getty Images Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Three days before the Nevada caucuses, six Democratic candidates will face off in a debate Wednesday night in Las Vegas.
The televised debate comes on the heels of a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll that shows Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders leading nationally, with 31% support among Democratic-leaning voters.
Trailing Sanders in second in the survey is billionaire and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, with 19% backing.
The result pushed Bloomberg over the Democratic National Committee's polling threshold, qualifying him for Wednesday's debate.
Here's what you need to know about the debate:
Which candidates will be there?
As the field continues to shrink, Wednesday's debate will feature six of the eight major candidates still in the race.
How do I watch the debate?
The debate will begin at 9 p.m. ET and is expected to last two hours. It is being hosted by NBC News, MSNBC and the Nevada Independent, and it will take place at the Paris Theater in Las Vegas.
The debate will be broadcast live on NBC News, MSNBC and Universo (in Spanish).
It will also be available via livestream on the websites of NBC News, MSNBC, Telemundo and the Nevada Independent.
And NBC, MSNBC and Telemundo will carry the debate through their mobile apps and Facebook pages. The debate will also be available on NBC News NOW through TV streaming services.
Who is moderating?
Three journalists from NBC News will moderate — Lester Holt, anchor of NBC Nightly News and Dateline; Chuck Todd, moderator of Meet the Press; and Hallie Jackson, chief White House correspondent — along with Telemundo correspondent Vanessa Hauc and the Nevada Independent's Jon Ralston.
Get caught up: What has happened since the last debate?


npr--2020-02-19--Nevada Debate Could Be A 'Make Or Break' For Bloomberg, Analysts Say

Nevada Debate Could Be A 'Make Or Break ' For Bloomberg , Analysts Say He is n't on the ballot in Nevada 's caucuses , but billionaire former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will be on the national debate stage for the first time with five other Democratic candidates Wednesday night during the debate in Las Vegas .
He qualified after surging in the polls .
Bloomberg is expected to endure heavy attacks from his opponents — and his performance may be a crucial test of his candidacy , political experts say , and for the party 's 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Elizabeth Warren said `` it 's a shame '' that Bloomberg `` can buy his way into the debate .
She tweeted : `` At least now primary voters curious about how each candidate will take on Donald Trump can get a live demonstration of how we each take on an egomaniac billionaire . ''
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , who is the frontrunner in Nevada in several polls , took similar aim at Bloomberg .
`` Democracy to me means one person , one vote , not Bloomberg or anybody else @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to buy an election , '' Sanders said .
Some political analysts say anti-billionaire broadsides are to be expected during the Nevada debate from the other Democratic candidates .
`` Bloomberg risks being viscerally attacked and damaged by taking part in this debate , especially by Bernie , and the rest of the field saying he is trying to buy his way to presidency , '' said national pollster John Zogby .
Political analyst Michelle Bernard , who runs the Bernard Center for Women , Politics & Public Policy , points out that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way Bloomberg 's competitors hope .
`` There 's a problem when you denigrate people who have been able to do well financially .
There are many Americans , probably most Americans , who look to that kind of wealth to something they aspire to be able to achieve , '' Bernard said .
`` Candidates who do that put themselves on the side of the party that looks like quote-unquote 'socialists . '
'' No matter what kind of swipes rivals make on Bloomberg , Bernard said a weak performance could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's possible he 'll hit that debate stage and the public will say , 'the emperor has no clothes , ' so he 's really got to be prepared for what could make or break his campaign and how he 'll do on Super Tuesday , '' she said .
`` It 's going to be an enormous test for him . ''
Bloomberg has a novel strategy that he hopes will make him the Democratic Party 's nominee .
If successful , it would be unprecedented : forgoing early nominating contests and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when 14 states will vote on March 3 .
Skipping early states and going all-in on Super Tuesday is a risky bet , Zogby says .
As one of the richest people in the world worth some $ 64 billion , Bloomberg has seemingly boundless cash to expend on his campaign .
Indeed , Bloomberg has spent some $ 300 million on political advertising so far , which is more than several of the other Democratic candidates combined .
He has hired thousands of campaign staffers and is positioning himself as a centrist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Donald Trump in November .
But as Bloomberg 's profile has risen , so has the scrutiny .
He has been forced to defend himself over his previous adamant support of the police tactic known as stop-and-frisk , which critics say law enforcement uses to racially profile pedestrians .
Audio of blunt comments he made in 2015 about throwing suspects against walls and frisking them recently resurfaced , prompting Bloomberg to again to apologize for his advocacy of stop-and-frisk as mayor of New York City .
He has also faced criticism for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discriminatory housing practices known as `` redlining , '' which systemically deprived people of color of the ability to securing financing to purchase homes , helped sparked the 2008 economic downturn .
`` The clips and things we 're hearing about from the past are unbelievably damaging , '' Bernard said .
`` If he can not come out incredibly strong , it could be the end for him .
The other candidates are tried and tested .
They 've been able to hone their message , '' she said .
Wednesday night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the party is still trying to consolidate among former Vice President Joe Biden , former South Bend , Ind.
, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar .
Sanders has shown himself to be the progressive favorite after a chaotic start to the nominating process .
Warren has lost ground to Sanders , but could rebound following the Las Vegas .
Meanwhile , Bloomberg was able to qualify for Wednesday 's night debate from rule changes instituted by party leaders that nixed the requirement that candidates meet an outside donation threshold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The old rules would have blocked Bloomberg from the debate , since he is self funded through his vast fortune and not accepting campaign contributions .
For the Nevada debate , presidential hopefuls had to either capture 10 % support in four polls , or 12 % in two polls in South Carolina and Nevada .
Five other candidates made the cut as well : Joe Biden , Pete Buttigieg , Amy Klobuchar , Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren .
Recently released surveys , including a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll , provided Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Nevada debate .
The squaring off among top Democratic contenders comes as Bloomberg has been under scrutiny over the reemergence of past comments about race , as well as reporting on sexist comments Bloomberg made in years past .
He and Sanders have been engaged in especially harsh attacks in recent days , with Sanders supporters seizing on the controversial comments from Bloomberg 's past and the candidate accusing him of trying to `` buy the presidency . ''
Bloomberg 's campaign is tying Sanders to Trump , saying both are fearful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican , candidate 's appeal .
As part of Bloomberg 's effort to clinch the nomination and deny Trump a second term , the former New York mayor has pumped millions into a digital media campaign in which his campaign is paying popular meme accounts on Instagram to publish content about him in an effort to engage younger voters .
`` Mike Bloomberg 2020 has teamed up with social creators to collaborate with the campaign , including the meme world , '' Bloomberg campaign spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said in a statement .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to presidential politics , we 're betting it will be an effective component to reach people where they are and compete with President Trump 's powerful digital operation . ''

Nevada Debate Could Be A 'Make Or Break' For Bloomberg, Analysts Say
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carlos Osorio/AP Carlos Osorio/AP
He isn't on the ballot in Nevada's caucuses, but billionaire and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will be on the national debate stage for the first time, joining five other Democratic candidates Wednesday night during the debate in Las Vegas. He qualified after surging in the polls.
Bloomberg is expected to endure heavy attacks from his opponents, and his performance may be a crucial test of his candidacy, political experts say, and for the party's 2020 nominating fight.
On Tuesday, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren said "it's a shame" that Bloomberg "can buy his way into the debate. She tweeted: "At least now primary voters curious about how each candidate will take on Donald Trump can get a live demonstration of how we each take on an egomaniac billionaire."
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is the front-runner in Nevada in several polls, took similar aim at Bloomberg.
"Democracy to me means one person, one vote, not Bloomberg or anybody else spending hundreds of millions of dollars trying to buy an election," Sanders said.
Some political analysts say anti-billionaire broadsides from the other Democratic candidates are to be expected during the Nevada debate.
"Bloomberg risks being viscerally attacked and damaged by taking part in this debate, especially by Bernie, and the rest of the field saying he is trying to buy his way to presidency," said national pollster John Zogby.
Political analyst Michelle Bernard, who runs the Bernard Center for Women, Politics & Public Policy, points out that the tactic might not connect with voters the way Bloomberg's competitors hope.
"There's a problem when you denigrate people who have been able to do well financially. There are many Americans, probably most Americans, who look to that kind of wealth to something they aspire to be able to achieve," Bernard said. "Candidates who do that put themselves on the side of the party that looks like quote-unquote 'socialists.' "
No matter what kind of swipes rivals make on Bloomberg, Bernard said a weak performance could prove influential to voters.
"It's possible he'll hit that debate stage and the public will say, 'the emperor has no clothes,' so he's really got to be prepared for what could make or break his campaign and how he'll do on Super Tuesday," she said. "It's going to be an enormous test for him."
Bloomberg has a novel strategy that he hopes will make him the Democratic Party's nominee. If successful, it would be unprecedented: forgoing early nominating contests and instead focusing on delegate-rich Super Tuesday, when 14 states will vote on March 3.
Skipping early states and going all-in on Super Tuesday is a risky bet, Zogby says.
As one of the richest people in the world, worth some $64 billion, Bloomberg has seemingly boundless cash to expend on his campaign.
Indeed, Bloomberg has spent some $300 million on political advertising so far, which is more than several of the other Democratic candidates combined. He has hired thousands of campaign staffers and is positioning himself as a centrist candidate who is best poised to take on Donald Trump in November.
But as Bloomberg's profile has risen, so has the scrutiny. He has been forced to defend himself over his previous adamant support of the police tactic known as stop and frisk, which critics say law enforcement uses to racially profile pedestrians. Audio of blunt comments he made in 2015 about throwing suspects against walls and frisking them recently resurfaced, prompting Bloomberg to apologize again for his advocacy of stop and frisk as mayor of New York City.
He has also faced criticism for remarks he made claiming the end of discriminatory housing practices known as "redlining," which systemically deprived people of color of the ability to secure financing to purchase homes, helped spark the 2008 economic downturn.
"The clips and things we're hearing about from the past are unbelievably damaging," Bernard said. "If he cannot come out incredibly strong, it could be the end for him. The other candidates are tried and tested. They've been able to hone their message."
Wednesday night's debate comes as the moderate wing of the party is still trying to consolidate among former Vice President Joe Biden, former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
Sanders has shown himself to be the progressive favorite after a chaotic start to the nominating process. Warren has lost ground to Sanders but could rebound following the Las Vegas debate.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg was able to qualify for Wednesday's night debate from rule changes instituted by party leaders that nixed the requirement that candidates meet an outside donation threshold to be onstage.
The old rules would have blocked Bloomberg from the debate, since he is self-funded through his vast fortune and not accepting campaign contributions.
For the Nevada debate, presidential hopefuls had to either capture 10% support in four polls, or 12% in two polls in South Carolina and Nevada. Five other candidates made the cut as well: Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
Recently released surveys, including a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll, provided Bloomberg the percentages he needed to get into the Nevada debate.
The squaring off among top Democratic contenders comes as Bloomberg has been under scrutiny over the reemergence of past comments about race, as well as reporting on sexist comments Bloomberg made in years past.
He and Sanders have been engaged in especially harsh attacks in recent days, with Sanders supporters seizing on the controversial comments from Bloomberg's past and the candidate accusing him of trying to "buy the presidency."
Bloomberg's campaign is tying Sanders to Trump, saying both are fearful of the moderate Democrat, and former Republican, candidate's appeal.
As part of Bloomberg's effort to clinch the nomination and deny Trump a second term, the former New York mayor has pumped millions into a digital media campaign in which his campaign is paying popular meme accounts on Instagram to publish content about him in an effort to engage younger voters.
"Mike Bloomberg 2020 has teamed up with social creators to collaborate with the campaign, including the meme world," Bloomberg campaign spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said in a statement. "While a meme strategy may be new to presidential politics, we're betting it will be an effective component to reach people where they are and compete with President Trump's powerful digital operation."


npr--2020-02-19--To Combat Homelessness, Spokane Is Starting To Put Relationships Before Punishments

To Combat Homelessness , Spokane Is Starting To Put Relationships Before Punishments When the icy wind blows off the Spokane River , the temperature can routinely plunge below zero on this city 's worn streets near downtown and the I-90 freeway .
Trying to survive without shelter out here is almost impossible .
`` The first night I came here I was almost frozen to the sidewalk , '' Hodges says .
By luck , Hodges was connected by a volunteer to a warming center , where she 's now staying .
It 's one of three new makeshift emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wash. , has paid to open up this winter , as demand for existing shelters has routinely exceeded available space .
Hodges is almost 40 .
She 's frail and shivering .
`` They got me in and they got me on a mat .
They got me some extra blankets .
They got me hot water , '' she says .
Hodges says she was evicted from her apartment and lost her job at the Motel 6 .
She 's lucky to find space here .
The center 's 60 beds and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unlike other shelters , there 's a lower bar for entry here .
Hodges ' boyfriend also stays in the shelter .
He is addicted to meth , and Hodges is struggling with alcoholism .
`` They 're checking on me all the time .
I 'm like , 'Hey , you know , I want to go drink , ' `` she says .
`` And they 're like , 'No , you do n't .
We 're going to keep an eye on you .
You 're going to stay here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talking about — the constant attention and support — is the kind of care that advocates for the poor say is crucial to at least help people get out of the spiral into chronic homelessness .
`` Most of the people in this building should not be here .
They have issues that need to be addressed at a different level , '' says Julia Garcia , founder of Jewels Helping Hands , a nonprofit contracted to run the warming center that Hodges is staying in .
`` But due to their circumstance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to the place where they are sleeping outside , they do n't know how to get out of that . ''
The more traditional approach to dealing with homelessness is tougher enforcement : ticketing people for panhandling or sleeping in doorways or busing them to shelters , sometimes in other cities .
But Garcia says there 's a growing consensus now that a more punitive approach has n't worked for Spokane : Washington 's second-largest city of 220,000 people has n't always seen the prosperity of coastal cities like Seattle .
Nationwide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In many communities , it can feel like an intractable problem .
Yet cities like Spokane are starting to show some incremental progress with some prevention programs .
Homeless prevention leaders like Garcia say it 's important to highlight these — otherwise , the general public , bombarded by so many stories about how bad the crisis is , might start thinking there are no solutions .
On any given night , it 's thought that well over 1,000 people are now sleeping outside here , even when there may be help available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they need — we have access to those services .
It 's the relationships that are n't being built , '' Garcia says .
So Spokane is trying something different .
This was on display in a big way one chilly weekday morning at the city 's downtown convention center .
Where you might expect to see a trade show or convention in this huge , airy hall just steps from Spokane 's main tourist draw , Riverfront Park , today it 's a `` Homeless Connect . ''
Hundreds of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bags stuffed with donated food , jackets and health and housing brochures .
Organizer Carrie Chapman says they moved the event here this year because they ran out of space at the old venue donated by the Salvation Army .
`` It 's an amazing thing to witness .
We have absolutely every service you can think of — veterinary services , haircuts , showers , clothing , '' Chapman says .
But this is about more than just giving out free clothes or hepatitis C tests .
It 's part of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trust in the system and convince people that if they get help , their lives might improve .
In a quieter corner of the convention hall , Spokane Municipal Court Judge Matthew Antush is working the `` warrant squashing '' table .
It 's for people who 've been ticketed for illegal camping , or `` sit and lie '' as it 's called here , or for other misdemeanors — and never showed up in court .
`` So this person has come in , they want to get their warrant taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their next court date , this person is not going to have that misdemeanor warrant over their head , '' Antush says .
Antush says the courts are finding that a hard-line approach on enforcement does n't really do anything to stop the spread of homelessness .
It costs the city $ 134 a day to jail someone .
`` It is an incredible expense on the community to have these warrants ultimately served , '' Antush says .
`` I think people have to start , frankly , caring about folks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them with it . ''
This was a pop-up version of Spokane 's community court .
It convenes weekly over at the library .
Judges often dismiss a warrant and combine someone 's citations all into one case .
Sometimes deals are made to drop fines that the city rarely collects anyway .
In return , participants commit to a set number of hours of community service and agree to return to the court regularly for updates .
They also get a hot meal and have a warm place to go each week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not clear yet how much this is doing to actually build better trust or even save money .
But one idea is that it at least shows people such as Shan Anderson that there is hope .
Anderson , who 's 40 , has been in and out of homelessness since he was 9 .
He has gotten five recent warrants for failing to show up in court for camping tickets .
`` Makes me feel better in myself knowing that I actually have people out here that will help me and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anderson .
Anderson just got his warrants squashed .
Now it 's up to him to complete his supervised community service .

To Combat Homelessness, Spokane Is Starting To Put Relationships Before Punishments
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kirk Siegler/NPR Kirk Siegler/NPR
When the icy wind blows off the Spokane River, the temperature can routinely plunge below zero on this city's worn streets near downtown and the I-90 freeway. Trying to survive without shelter out here is almost impossible.
Just ask Mariah Hodges.
"The first night I came here I was almost frozen to the sidewalk," Hodges says.
By luck, Hodges was connected by a volunteer to a warming center, where she's now staying. It's one of three new makeshift emergency facilities that the city of Spokane, Wash., has paid to open up this winter, as demand for existing shelters has routinely exceeded available space.
Hodges is almost 40. She's frail and shivering.
"They got me in and they got me on a mat. They got me some extra blankets. They got me hot water," she says.
Hodges says she was evicted from her apartment and lost her job at the Motel 6. She's lucky to find space here. The center's 60 beds and 30 mats are taken every night.
Unlike other shelters, there's a lower bar for entry here. Hodges' boyfriend also stays in the shelter. He is addicted to meth, and Hodges is struggling with alcoholism.
"They're checking on me all the time. I'm like, 'Hey, you know, I want to go drink,' " she says. "And they're like, 'No, you don't. We're going to keep an eye on you. You're going to stay here today.' "
Wraparound care
What Hodges is talking about — the constant attention and support — is the kind of care that advocates for the poor say is crucial to at least help people get out of the spiral into chronic homelessness.
"Most of the people in this building should not be here. They have issues that need to be addressed at a different level," says Julia Garcia, founder of Jewels Helping Hands, a nonprofit contracted to run the warming center that Hodges is staying in. "But due to their circumstance or their behavior or whatever has gotten them to the place where they are sleeping outside, they don't know how to get out of that."
The more traditional approach to dealing with homelessness is tougher enforcement: ticketing people for panhandling or sleeping in doorways or busing them to shelters, sometimes in other cities.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kirk Siegler/NPR Kirk Siegler/NPR
But Garcia says there's a growing consensus now that a more punitive approach hasn't worked for Spokane: Washington's second-largest city of 220,000 people hasn't always seen the prosperity of coastal cities like Seattle.
Nationwide, the homeless population is rising. In many communities, it can feel like an intractable problem. Yet cities like Spokane are starting to show some incremental progress with some prevention programs. Homeless prevention leaders like Garcia say it's important to highlight these — otherwise, the general public, bombarded by so many stories about how bad the crisis is, might start thinking there are no solutions.
On any given night, it's thought that well over 1,000 people are now sleeping outside here, even when there may be help available.
"It's not more services that they need — we have access to those services. It's the relationships that aren't being built," Garcia says.
A convention for the homeless
So Spokane is trying something different. This was on display in a big way one chilly weekday morning at the city's downtown convention center.
Where you might expect to see a trade show or convention in this huge, airy hall just steps from Spokane's main tourist draw, Riverfront Park, today it's a "Homeless Connect." Hundreds of the city's most vulnerable are carrying tote bags stuffed with donated food, jackets and health and housing brochures. Organizer Carrie Chapman says they moved the event here this year because they ran out of space at the old venue donated by the Salvation Army.
"It's an amazing thing to witness. We have absolutely every service you can think of — veterinary services, haircuts, showers, clothing," Chapman says.
But this is about more than just giving out free clothes or hepatitis C tests.
It's part of a delicate, more long-term plan to build trust in the system and convince people that if they get help, their lives might improve.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kirk Siegler/NPR Kirk Siegler/NPR
In a quieter corner of the convention hall, Spokane Municipal Court Judge Matthew Antush is working the "warrant squashing" table. It's for people who've been ticketed for illegal camping, or "sit and lie" as it's called here, or for other misdemeanors — and never showed up in court.
"So this person has come in, they want to get their warrant taken care of, but at least until their next court date, this person is not going to have that misdemeanor warrant over their head," Antush says.
Antush says the courts are finding that a hard-line approach on enforcement doesn't really do anything to stop the spread of homelessness. It costs the city $134 a day to jail someone.
"It is an incredible expense on the community to have these warrants ultimately served," Antush says. "I think people have to start, frankly, caring about folks, their problems, and try to help them with it."
This was a pop-up version of Spokane's community court. It convenes weekly over at the library. Judges often dismiss a warrant and combine someone's citations all into one case. Sometimes deals are made to drop fines that the city rarely collects anyway. In return, participants commit to a set number of hours of community service and agree to return to the court regularly for updates. They also get a hot meal and have a warm place to go each week that builds a routine.
It's not clear yet how much this is doing to actually build better trust or even save money. But one idea is that it at least shows people such as Shan Anderson that there is hope.
Anderson, who's 40, has been in and out of homelessness since he was 9. He has gotten five recent warrants for failing to show up in court for camping tickets.
"Makes me feel better in myself knowing that I actually have people out here that will help me and that actually try to help," says Anderson.
Anderson just got his warrants squashed. Now it's up to him to complete his supervised community service.
National Desk intern Brooklyn Riepma helped produce this report for digital.