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Homelessness Car hits pedestrian on rise in OC Population increases 20 percent every year, statistics show By KYLE McCORY Daily Titan Staff
On a cloudy Monday afternoon a man stands holding a cardboard sign as Lexus and Mercedes drivers head to banks outside the Brea Mall. The sign reads “Hungry Family, Needs Support.” Greg, 47, happens to be homeless. Over the past six years, the number of homeless people in Orange County has increased dramatically. According to census data, in 1998, Orange County had a homeless population of 11,946. Each year this number has increased, on average, 20 percent, reaching 34,998 in 2004, according to www.rescuemission. org a Web site for a homeless shelter in Santa Ana. Greg, who would not release his last name, lives in a Pomona motel with his wife. They have been living there for the past six months after being evicted them from their apartment following an argument. “We were paying rent,” Greg said. “We just had a problem with the landlord.” Ever since the eviction, Greg and his wife have been standing outside businesses as people offer them money and odd jobs. Some yell at them, “Get a job!” he said. “We pray every night,” Greg said. “We ask the Lord to help us and he does. Weʼve never had to sleep on
the street.” Even though Greg and his wife are unemployed, the majority of the homeless in Orange County work full-time jobs, but their income cannot meet the high cost of living in the region, according to www.oc.ca. gov, a government-sponsored Web site. “As long as I work for the Lord, he will take care of me,” Greg said. Greg said he has been offered the chance to sell drugs and steal in order to make money, but has instead stayed true to the Lord, and would rather ask for money than obtain it illegally. “You can either go with the Lord or with the Devil,” Greg said. “We try to set an example for others.” People become at-risk for homelessness because of factors like substance abuse, affordable housing shortages, and mental illnesses, according to the rescue missionʼs Web site. “We have an emergency center where men and women can eat breakfast and lunch and take showers,” Wendy Sarnana said, a receptionist for Rescue Mission. “We also have a House of Hope where women and children can stay in for up to 18 months.” Mentalhealth.org reports that the majority of the homeless have mental illnesses that are active and untreated, making it difficult for them to hold a job. This population is also on the streets for the longest period of time, mainly because it is harder for them to function normally HOMELESS 4
Disabled victim struck in crosswalk, taken to hospital By NICOLE M. SMITH For the Daily Titan
A tan Nissan Altima plowed into a man using a motorized wheelchair in the crosswalk at Nutwood Avenue and Titan Drive around 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, authorities said. Debris from the accident, including papers, books and pieces of both vehicles were scattered throughout the intersection spanning an area of about 50 feet around the crosswalk. Several police officers worked through a steady downpour, gathering information and interviewing witnesses. The victim, Mike Gillmore, was taken to UCI Medical Center where his condition is currently unknown. Gillmore works at Cal State Fullerton and is a student at the Institute of Religion for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, located on the southwest corner of the intersection. He was struck while heading north through the crosswalk, according to Institute Director Jan Felix. “He was injured pretty badly. [When they took him] he was unconscious but breathing,” Felix said. Witnesses rushed to Gillmore to cover him with jackets as they waited for an ambulance to arrive. Stephanie Aleman, a CSUF sophomore biology major, was
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A Cal State Fullerton employee in a motorized wheelchair was hit by a car while crossing between Hope International University and CSUF on Nutwood Avenue, Wednesday morning. standing near the corner of the intersection and watched as the accident occurred. “It happened so quick. The car just plowed into him,” she said. Another witness, who was preparing to turn left onto Titan Drive, said Gillmore was in the crosswalk, but the light was not green. Aleman, who lives in apartments near the intersection, said it is normal for students to jaywalk. She also said that the car had the green light. The driver of the car, Amanda
Hoffman, a student from Hope International University was traveling east on Nutwood Avenue when she struck Gillmore, according to Officer Scott Moore, who took the report. She was distraught and unable to speak to a reporter. Police and a counselor from HIU worked to keep her calm. Currently, the police are unable to release any substantial information. The Fullerton Police Departmentʼs Community Services Division is in the beginning stages of researching the accident. “At this point itʼs just an acci-
dent. Weʼre right in the beginning. We donʼt know exactly what happened,” said Officer James of the Fullerton Police Department. Felix described Gillmore as “capable and cautious,” adding that he had been in a wheelchair for some time. He is in his late 20s, is married and has a three-year-old daughter, Felix said. Gillmoreʼs motorized wheelchair was destroyed while the car suffered minor front fender damage. “Maybe people will think twice about jaywalking,” Aleman said.
Storm sends California into chaos Prop 72 makes Weather conditions leave three dead and inconvenience traffic By ROBERT JABLON The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES – A fierce storm that swept through the state, killing at least three people, pounded Southern California on Wednesday, sending mud and floodwaters gushing near fire-scarred mountain hamlets, downing trees, caving in roofs and
drenching streets and highways. The storm dumped more than 2 inches of rain in downtown Los Angeles and more than 10 inches on Mt. Baldy. The downpour was the strongest before dawn but eased during the day. Overnight, pooling rain partially collapsed roofs of at least a halfdozen businesses and an apartment building in Los Angeles and Orange counties; no injuries were reported. In central California, a tornado was spotted near the town of Dinuba, the National Weather Service reported.
In the central Sierra, rescuers struggled against 50 mph winds through 4-foot-deep snow as they searched for 10 missing hikers, including a group of four who vanished Sunday and a couple who disappeared during a day hike Tuesday. Meanwhile, two Japanese climbers were found dead in Yosemite National Park after heavy snow and winds prevented a helicopter search Tuesday. A rescue team Wednesday trudged through 11 miles of driving snow and swirling winds and a helicopter crew
got close enough to find the climbers dangling from a 3,200-foot sheer on El Capitan. The first heavy rain of autumn hit particularly hard in the foothill and mountain areas. In the Angeles National Forest, the body of a 19-year-old security guard was discovered Wednesday afternoon about a half-mile from where he was swept away after his truck slipped into a wash while he was on patrol. His identity was not STORM 3
Guevara legend still influences, inspires
Up and atom
This year El Cheʼs adventures come to life on the big-screen By ERIC GOMEZ Daily Titan Staff
NIYAZ PIRANI/Daily Titan
Fall Out Boy’s bassist Pete Wentz entertains the crowd at Fall Fest 2004 in Redlands, CA. Full story in Full Effect.
Thirty-seven years after his death, Ernesto “Che” Guevara is still one of the most popular, admired and influential individuals in Latin American history. As a 23-year-old medical student in 1952, Ernesto Guevara de la Serna – also known as Che – had the opportunity to travel through Latin America. “Guevara grew increasingly conscious of the fact that many Latin Americans lacked the most basic human necessities and lived lives marked by misery, violent political
repression and often racism,” said Philippe Zacair, a professor of history at Cal State Fullerton. Trying to solve social problems facing these societies was the beginning of a lifetime obsession for Guevara. “Guevara, more than anyone, embodied ideals that include the fight against injustice, poverty and oppression,” Zacair said. During his travels across portions of Latin America, Guevara chronicled his experiences in a journal that was published years later, as “The Motorcycle Diaries.” This September, his adventures came to life on the big-screen in a film of the same name. Another movie, with filming due to begin next year, will star Academy GUEVARA 4
employers pay Healthcare costs weigh in on business owners, system is ʻpay or playʼ By SIERRA F. WEBB Daily Titan Staff
Employers will be required to pay at least 80 percent of employee health insurance costs if Proposition 72 passes next month. Voters will be asking themselves if governmentmandated health care is right for the future. The proposition will provide health care coverage for approximately 1.3 million Californians through their employers or through state revenues. It is a “pay or play” system in which employers can either pay the state a fee so that the state can provide coverage, or play by negotiating with insurances companies individually to provide coverage for their employees. The proposal calls for employers to pay at least 80 percent of the cost while employees contribute a maximum of 20 percent toward the premiums. If an employer already provides insurance that complies with the plan then they have no obligation to alter their current benefits. “Even though it is for businesses bigger than mine I voted no, because employers will leave California. Why burden employers when theyʼre already paying so much?” said small business owner Donald Frazee, who
already sent in his absentee ballot. According to court interpretations of a federal law, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, states are prohibited from requiring employers to provide such coverage. Therefore, the provisions of Prop 72 could be challenged in court. Any employee who worked more than 100 hours per month for the same employer for three months would qualify for health coverage according to the Official Voter Information Guide. “Health insurance is astronomical; itʼs unbelievable what it costs to run a business. Most people think that if you own a business youʼre automatically rich, especially if youʼre a doctor, and thatʼs just not true,” Frazee said. Employees who only make twice the federal poverty guidelines would be considered “low-income” and their contributions could only reach up to 5 percent of their total wages. Prop 72 also stipulates that employers with 20 to 49 employees would be subject to the provisions only if a tax credit was enacted that would cover 20 percent of that employers fees to the state. No such legislation currently exists so small employers would still be exempt until that happens. The Voters Guide explains that, if passed, Prop 72 will create the State Health Purchasing Program to purchase health care coverage for PROP 72 4