Bathrobespierre’s Broadsides the 3-5-23 edition features Interviews with Suzanne Winchel, Brent Adams, Raffa Sonnenfeld, Alicia Kuhl, Reggie Meisler about unhoused rights

The March 5, 2023 show includes:

  • Interview with activist Alicia Kuhl on Reggie Meisler’s success in forcing local authorities to remove “No Parking at Night” and other restrictions from the Coastal zone—signs that have no Coastal permits assuming local access.
  • [throughout] Topical 1980’w songs critiquing right-wing UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger in their Naming the Names album.
  • 3-2 Interview with “Backstory” Brent Adams on the history of Footbridge Services, Evan Morrison (who runs a govt. RV parking program), future documentary work, and more…
  • The 1381 Peasants War in song and story
  • Parks & Recreation [P&R] Dept’s gentrification presentation at the Hotel Paradox
  • “Reckoning Now!” Reggie Meisler’s analysis of the P&R show.
  •   “Sanctioned Encampments, Police Profiling…in Salinas”, video by Salinas activist Wes White at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HrDEdgwXPw
  • Raffa Sonnenfeld responds to criticism of the City’s CACH committee and the poverty pimps (“shelter and ‘road to housing’ services”).
  • “Crazy Mary” on her link up with Housing Matters
  • “Side of the Road” Suzanne on organizing survival campers along Hiway 9

Bathrobespierre’s Broadsides Thursday March 2 2023 is a Flashback to September 29, 1995 on the struggle to keep the Coral Open-Air Shelter or “Back Forty” (where some of Housing Matters now sits) open

The September 29, 1995 show includes: 

“Nutcracker” Nick on the Harassment-prone Downtown Hosts  

Nick and Bathrobierre discuss the now dead, then toxically-active “Butchie” Loren “Sticky Fingers” Baker—accused harasser of poor women. 

“Judgment Day” John Stuart on the arrest of Food Not Bombs [FNB] activist “Red-Top” Robert Flory at the courthouse 

Hospitality “Host” Christine at the Pacific Ave. table 

FNB activist Sara on Santa Cruz’s 1995 FNB and collecting donated food

  Free Radio Santa Cruz [FRSC] broadcaster previews his then-forthcoming show. 

“Bubbah” Brian Koepke on the Gina assault case 

S.F. Chronicle story “Judge Continues Ban on Redwood Logging” 

Attorney Ed Frey attacks D.A. Art Danner for funding then firing Assistant D.A. Catherine Gardner 

“Calamity Jane” Imler gives the background of the Citizen’s Committee for the Homeless [CCH] 

“Lighthouse” Linda Lemaster of Housing Now in Santa Cruz” announces the new Newsletter for the Streets 

Bubbah on the Closing of the Open-Air Shelter 

“Pardonez-Moi” Paul Marceau, Director of the Open Air Shelter defends CCH and its program to close the shelter. 

Marlena Zaro, acquitted of “Failure to Disperse” in the mini-riot by Police during the protest against the Sitting Ban in May 1994 

Ed Frey on Danner’s refusal to prosecute Deputy Todd Liberty for a brutal assault captured on video.  https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-04-02-mn-220-story.html

NO HUFF MEETING TODAY HUFF takes a brief respite this week with meetings to resume March 9 Sub Rosa Courtyard at 703 Pacific 10:45 a.m. Thursday next to the Bike Church

HUFF takes a pause for breath this week, skipping its March 2nd Thursday meeting, and planning to resume chairwarming and coffee-quaffing next Thursday at 10:45 a.m. at the usual time and place.
In the meantime….

HUFF Suggestions for Between-Meeting Activity    

  ++++  Shelterwatch:  the City is spending lots of $$ on shelter for a minority of the folks outside.  HUFF has been receiving mixed reports of the Armory/LookOut shelter—which does provide meals and transport, but bans visiting (even within the encampments) and some feel maintains a “prison-like” atmosphere.  It was created as a go-to excuse for police to demolish the Benchlands (whose demolition funding that was transferred from a “homeless benefit” grant).  Please report both the positive and negative reports or experiences from 1220 River St., 150 Coral St., and the Armory/Overlook shelters.  Call 831-423-4833 and leave a brief report or your contact info.

  ++++  Cold and WetWeather Warning: With weekend rainstorms and four days of more rain beginning next Thursday, the City’s token nighttime-only Warming Center is slated to close next Monday, March 6th, runs from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. unless ousted by Vet’s Hall events—according to Union of the Homeless activist Alicia Kuhl.  Come early, advises Brent Adams, in order to assure a place since its “capacity” is 60 people with only 30 of them getting beds. It’s at 846 Front St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Call (831) 454-0478.

  ++++  WarmingCenterwatch:   Footbridge Services has been shutdown through volunteer burnout and City Council/Supervisor ostracism.  However Brent Adams still offers blankets, clothing, toiletries and other necessities on Warming Wednesdays noon to 2 p.m.  Call 588-9892 or 246-1234 for a recorded update.

  ++++   Santa Cruz Union of the Homeless now slated to meet Wednesdays 4-6 p.m. at the conference room of the Resource Center for Non-Violence at 612 Ocean St.  Call Alicia at 431-7766.  The Union reportedly doing Mutual Aid, and provides meals at its social meetings.

  ++++   No new updates from the Mountain Community Resource Center [MCRC] in Felton, though no word it has changed its policies regarding exclusion of people from under the outside of its eaves during cold and wet weather and arresting those who stay.  To find out more info from MCRC, call 335-6600 .

  ++++   Food Not Bombs is still the only regular provider of daily meals noon to 3 PM at the Town Clock without ID cards, locked gates, or requirement that you get into bogus “a pathway to housing” fund-magnet program.