Tues. 7pm: Speak-out against Repressive Ordinances! @ SC City Council public meeting
by G Tuesday Jan 22nd, 2008 8:30 AM

Just a reminder- that if you want to have your voice heard by a packed room (and your face seen via Community TV live feed). The Santa Cruz City Council will be meeting this evening (Tues 1/22/08) at 7pm across from the SC Civic Auditorium. The meeting starts with public comment on issues not formally on their agenda. Exercise your rights! SPEAK OUT!
See you there.


Oral Communications at 3 PM and 7PM at City Council
by Robert Norse ( rnorse3 [at] hotmail.com ) Tuesday Jan 22nd, 2008 8:56 AM

There are actually two Oral Communications periods today under Mayor Coonerty. One is 10 minutes long and starts at 3 PM (City Council Chambers 809 Center St). The other usually starts at 7 PM (unless delayed) and now last 20 minutes. Folks are only allowed to speak for two minutes--on any subject not on the current agenda.

Organizations can get more time--or have been able to when making requests in advance. In the past when Reilly was Mayor, she "granted" five minutes.

Also of note: Item #17 has appointments to the Downtown Commission that recommended the Parking Lot Panic law (on the afternoon agenda) probably shortly after 3 PM Oral Communications. Folks opposing the law can demand that potential appointees make their position known on this law and the other anti-homeless laws downtown (no dogs on Pacific Ave., no sitting within 14' of a building, no performing for donation within 10' of a business, severe peaceful panhandling restrictions, all police priorities re: bike tickets for going the wrong way on Pacific Ave.).

The only member of the Downtown Commission to vote against the Parking Lot Panic Law this time, Sheila Coonerty, is not seeking reappointment.

Note that there seems to no interest in the Measure K Commission, which still has a vacancy (Tony Madrigal's). The Commission was hobbled by a lawsuit cooked up in closed session by City Council last February, sold out in court in May, delayed in its final appointments until September, and striped of meaningful meeting time (next meeting scheduled in June).
Contact Chair Larry M. True at 460-1220 or Vice-Chair Eric Rice 427-2177 459-4530 to demand they make Public Records Act requests of the police department to track violations of the Measure K ordinance--requiring lowest enforcement priority for all marijuana use, sales, cultivation, etc. See santacruz indymedia buried story at:

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/11/14/18461217.php .
http://www.huffsantacruz.org