Dogtown Redemption

In their sobering documentary, co-directors Amir Soltani and Chihiro Wimbush profile a community that has developed around a recycling center in West Oakland, comprised of the homeless who frequent Alliance Metals to exchange plastic bottles and aluminum cans for cash. Jason Witt, who has HIV and hepatitis C, collects 800 pounds (including glass) of recycling a day. Jason met his girlfriend, former streetwalker Heather Holloway, at a methadone clinic. Their son lives with his parents, although Jason and Heather eventually collect enough money from Social Security to secure a small apartment. Hayok Kay recycles with Fred Griffing; he provides the transportation, while she collects the materials. The two met when she was the drummer for the punk-polka band Polkacide. After Fred passes away, Hayok forges ahead on her own, although she can't get far on $13 a day (especially when spending most of it on malt liquor). Fortunately, a social worker helps Hayok get a state ID in order to apply for public assistance. Landon Goodwin, who has been on the streets for years, blames his plight on crack. All of the recyclers are grateful for the money, but neighbors worry about theft and other crimes that have increased in the area. Bill Eason, a business owner, says that locals compare Alliance manager Jay Anast to a plantation owner. Others worry that the recyclers only make enough money to buy drugs. After Goodwin suffers a beating by a street gang, he moves in with a cousin who finds him work, but Jason and Hayok have a harder time escaping the grip of poverty (Hayok was later beaten in 2015 and died after slipping into a coma). A powerful documentary about people struggling to survive on the urban edge, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)