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 [ NEIGHBORHOOD ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=327)

#  The Weekend Before Christmas

December 23 2021

Written by James Preston Allen.

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*And all was asleep except…*

‘Twas the weekend before Christmas

while the moon was full.

From ship to crane in a harbor that’s full,

the port’s humming and workers are draying toys meant for stores.

Hustling and bustling at breakneck speed

to fulfill promises that stockings would be

filled from toe to knee

With merchandise we all adore.

The officials say that it’ll be months before

the backlog of goods are taken from our shores.

They blame Covid.

They blame consumers.

They say Amazon and eBay goods are just that good,

but they can’t explain the calamity of their
 logistics chain that started the year before.

There’s talk about a shortage of truckers,

But silent on why truckers aren’t paid employees.

There’s talk about a shortage of warehouse space,

But silent on workers and their lack of union needs.

They don’t talk about the shipping companies

or their avarice or greed.

A 20-foot container from China-

$20,000 it exceeds.

It’s not about the people,

either on the Waterfront or the road.

It’s not about workers

who have worked through the fjord,

while sacrificing their lives at corona death’s door

The world once hailed them “heroes.”

Now they are ones preferred not seen and unheard.

No one seems to know the cause or the cure.

It’s been two years of struggle

between what people need and

what some others believe for sure.

There’s conflict and no resolution;

there’s a hunger for change and courage is needed.

but no one is sure what it exactly means.

We are at a crossroads

and the measure isn’t sure.

By whatever measure,

we will bleed.

The time is nigh,

which side do you believe?

It’s easy to be led astray these days.

Fake news and disinformation keeps our wits at bay.

With so much information,

it is hard to be sure of the ground

on which we stand.

So, we sit in our shelters

and think we are safe and secure.

We buy Christmas presents

and sing carols in the choir.

But after the revelry is gone,

we’ll still have to reckon

with the things not in song.

There’ll be a pause on January 6,

our darkest day we’ll recall

that it must be fixed

hoping we don’t fall for grift or tricks.

We’ll cry for justice

But it could just get nixed.

So the full moon rises

over Port of LA

Ships are backed beyond Catalina isle

and the most that they can say is:

24/7, we’re working on it.

Help is on the way.

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