| Title: | El Nino vs. Freedom Sleepers: the 24th Week |
| START DATE: | Tuesday December 22 |
| TIME: | 7:00 PM – 7:00 AM |
| Location Details: | |
| Under rainy skies on the sidewalk and area surrounding City Hall (or possibly in the shelter of some empty buildings nearby. 809 Center St. on Center between Church and Locust. | |
| Event Type: | Protest |
| Contact Name | Toby Nixon |
| Email Address | tobynixon [at] gms.com |
| As rain drives homeless folks into “illegal” sleeping spots and City Council rests snugly in its warm beds “on vacation”, there is neither shelter nor warming center for 90% of the unhoused community outside. Freedom Sleepers, though reduced in numbers, continue their vigils outside the palaces of the powerful–with the grounds closed at night and patrolled by “security guards”. MORNING HOMELESS “MEMORIAL” A Homeless Memorial for the Dead will make its annual appearance behind locked “security gates” at 115 Coral St. at 10:30 AM in the morning. This show ritual seems designed to benefit the Homeless (Lack of) Services Center rather than address the real causes of death creating new victims each year–compliments of the City’s anti-homeless laws. Forced to sleep unsafely, scattered, and hidden from police and security thugs, unhoused folks die on average 20 years younger than those indoors. Some believe the best way to remember the dead is to fight like hell for the living against the laws that threaten their health and safety. PLANNING NEW AVENUES OF PROTEST AND PRESSURE SOUP-SERVERS STRIKE BACK! They will serve a hot meal at City Hall in response to the latest spate of falsehoods against the Freedom Sleepers by City Council staff and Sentinel scumslingers. Folks are invited to chow down in anticipation of a cold if not a wet night and present grievances directly to City Council offices and homeless-hostile staffers–open until 5 PM. MESSAGE FROM A SIDEWALK SLEEPER He notes clear skies are predicted for Tuesday night and predicts that food & coffee will only be available if at all before 11:30 PM and after 5:30 AM to facilitate sleeping. Breakfast and clean-up will be done by 8 AM (if any food is actually donated). Toby says his role is to sleep there, film what happens, and try to be helpful, but can’t be responsible for people’s stuff or serving meals. He has had some experience with encampments and is happy to try and be helpful if he can. His main point is to encourage people to help establish a place to sleep and even brief visits to the area as well as donations of food, clothing, and protective gear can be helpful. A video playlist of documentary work on Freedom Sleepers by Toby and others is at http://www.youtube.com/ MEDIA MADNESS A Community TV Forum on the Freedom Sleepers features Homeless Legal Assistance Project founder Steve Pleich, Senior Law Center on Homeless and Poverty Attorney Tricia Baumann, Local Free Radio Broadcaster Robert Norse, and San Jose Homeless Activist Robert Aguirre and can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch? A strong editorial from Street Spirit editor Terry Messman responding to former Mayor Don Lane’s is on line at http://www.thestreetspirit. Robert Norse’s response is at http://www.thestreetspirit. Keith McHenry will be defending the rights of those outside and responding to the Sunday Sentinel smearjob. He will also describe his own upcoming Blue Box trials in an hour-long KPFA live broadcast at http://tunein.com/radio/KPFA- |
408-582-4152
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Author Archives: huffsantacruz
Longer FRSC Today Features Interviews on Keith McHenry’s “Blue Box Crimes”, Beach Flats Garden Background, the Freedom Sleeper Sunday Forum, and More…
…Airs today 9:30 AM –1:45 PM at 101.3 FM, streams at freakradio.org, archives at http://www.radiolibre.org/
New Bathrobespierre’s Broadsides Show On Tap for 6 PM Today
Broadcasting at 101.3 FM and streaming at freakradio.org 6-8 PM tonight (and archiving shortly thereafter at http://www.radiolibre.org/brb/
Scheduled: Freedom SleepOut #23–the Shivering Siesta Goes On!; Interviews with Michael Knox, Mike Rotkin, Brent Adams, Toby Nixon, Dennis Etler, and assorted others. Endurable and educational commentary by Bathrobespierre Robert. Updates on the (Where is it?) Warming Center, Project Pollinate’s Saturday Event at Louden Nelson, the rumored appearance of SleepingBan Repeal on the City Council agenda…and more!
Phone in your reactions and objections at 831-423-4833.
Video Chatter and Activist Action
NOTES FROM NORSE: The Community TV show below followed a 2 hour shmooze-and-chatter Forum in downtown Santa Cruz featuring Robert Aguirre, survivor and organizer of the San Jose homeless Jungle, Keith McHenry Food Not Bombs activist and Blue Box Sidewalk Artist, as well as visiting attorney Tristia Baumann of the National Law Center for Homelessness and Poverty.
This Sunday I’ll be playing for FRSC, some of the Freedom Sleepers forum that preceded the tv time. Lots of gabble, but some of it interesting. Unfortunately no activism plans for specific actions during the coldest “holiday” season of the year at either the Forum or the Talking Heads tv-show. Audio of the show will air at 101.3 FM and freakradio.org shortly after 9:30 AM on 12-20. It’ll archive soon after at http://www.radiolibre.org/brb/brb151120.mp3
We didn’t have it together to access homeless folks to present to Baumann to join in a lawsuit against the City’s Sleeping Ban–which Beauman’s organization is reportedly interested in doing. But if you know of anyone living outside who’d like to participate in a long overdue lawsuit against the City, contact Steve Pleich at 831-466-6078.
Local Attorney Jonathan Gettleman–otherwise not terribly helpful in defense of Freedom Sleepers recently–has written a great attack on the City’s “No RV Parking Anywhere At Night” law which goes into effect on 1-8-16. He’s told me he’s looking for RV dwellers who’d like to be plaintiffs in his lawsuit against the ordinance. If you or someone you know lives in an RV, call him at 831-427-2658 .
Meanwhile some of us have been supporting and other actually attending the ongoing Freedom SleepOut’s at the sidewalk outside City Hall every Tuesday night. Number #23 happened last night with San Jose Freestreamer Toby Nixon leading the charge. Number #24 will be coming up on December 22nd. Toby asks for blankets, tarps, visits, food, and other support. For info and support, contact him at 408-582-4152.
HUFF meets today at 11 AM at the Sub Rosa Cafe downtown to find more ways of pushing back the Black Tide of Bigotry threatening to freeze out the poor this winter. If you can’t make or can’t tolerate the meetings and want to do more than read grim reports, contact me by e-mail at rnorse3@hotmail.com or call in at 831-423-4833.
Homeless Depot/Camp of Last Resort Activist Phil Posner hears rumors that former Mayor Don Lane may actually hitch up his pants and put abolition of the Sleeping and Blanket Bans on an agenda sometime a month or two down the road. Support Phil’s hope-ish efforts at chatrabbi@aol.com .
To contact the clowns on the Santa Cruz City Council, leave them a strong message to support Lane’s rumored action and other actions ending criminalization of the homeless contact the whole Council at 831-420-5020 or get on their cases individually:
420-5023: David Terrazas 420-5022: Don Lane 420-5024: Pamela Comstock 420-5025: Richelle Niroyan 420-5026: Cynthia Chase
420-5027: Mayor Cynthia Mathews 420-5028: Micah Posner
Warming Center organizer and homeless video journalist Brent Adams claims he has organized the places and spaces, but doesn’t have the necessary number of volunteers. See if you’d like to support his “baby steps” program further at https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=Santa%20Cruz%20Warming%20Center .
Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs continues to brave withering and weathering each Saturday and Sunday providing food to dozens of hungry folks outside in a public area where poverty is visible. They are desperately short of cooks and food preparers. Offer help or get information at https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=Santa%20Cruz%20Food%20Not%20Bombs .
Freedom Sleepers are hoping to gather next Tuesday at the Red Church (LIncoln and Cedar) at 5:30 PM before Freedom SleepOut #24 to plot and plan. Join the conspiracy. If you see Jesus or Mayor Mathews on the on the road, invite them as well.
Tip of the hat to Ken Knobler and the crew down at CTV as well as to Silver-Haired Steve Pleich for getting the show together. Now how about a regular weekly show updated the frosty situation for homeless folks this winter?
HUFF meets again at Sub Rosa 11 AM 12-16 703 Pacific Indoors!
HUFF’s been guaranteed an indoor space thanks to the kindness of Penske tomorrow morning. Up for chatter and possibly action: More effective documention of police escalation against homeless folks; property and sleeping ban plaintiff search at the homeless meals; sit-down with new Homeless (Lack of) Services Center boss Phil Kramer; organizing against the RV law and supporting the proposed lawsuit against it; defending existing encampments–prospect or pipedream?; allied parallel expeditions assisting Freedom Sleepouts and opening up new daytime protest; and whatever you fancy! Liquid consumables available without cost.
Slumber Bunnies Back on the Sidewalk for SleepOut #23
| Title: | Some Freedom Sleepers Braving the Cold for SleepOut #23 |
| START DATE: | Tuesday December 15 |
| TIME: | 6:00 PM – 6:00 AM |
| Location Details: | |
| The courtyard and sidewalk adjacent to the “No Trespassing” Mudpit that once was the City Hall lawn area. 809 Center St. across from the Main library. Protest will last until morning. | |
| Event Type: | Protest |
| Contact Name | Robert Norse |
| Email Address | rnorse3 [at] hotmail.com |
| Phone Number | 831-423-4833 |
| Address | 309 Cedar St. P.O. Box 14B, Santa Cruz, 95060 |
| STILL SHIVERING AFTER ALL THESE WEEKS Following a Sunday Freedom Sleepers Forum with Robert Aguirre of San Jose, Tristia Beauman of the National Law Center, and Keith McHenry of Food Not Bombs–and a Community TV broadcast, some Freedom Sleepers will continue the weekly vigil in front of City Hall. Folks need to make their way through the cold to the few open bathrooms and should not expect much in the way of food and drink (though there may be some). A LOOK BACK Alex does his usual excellent video coverage of #22 at http://www.indybay.org/ My audio of the event is 48 minutes into the http://radiolibre.org/brb/ ADDITIONAL INFO See http://www.facebook.com/ Some Freedom Sleepers will be gathering at 4 PM prior to the Sleep-Out at City Hall to discuss next steps and new tactics. Toby Nixon of HAAC and other determined souls may be taking over the sleep-out’s beginning on December 22nd. Contact Toby to support his effort at 408-582-4152. The current issue of Street Spirit newspaper has a critical review of former Mayor Don Lane’s “compassionate letter” at http://www.thestreetspirit. Most of Lane’s original letter: http://www.thestreetspirit. My own response to Lane is at http://www.thestreetspirit. |
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Longest Ever Bathrobespierre’s Broadsides Show Today 9:30 AM – 3 PM 101.3 FM freakradio.org
Featured will be Punishment at the Palomar (City Police Stop Homeless Activists from Attending the City Council Banquet), Freedom Sleepout #22 Interviews and Outbursts (Steve Pleich on the Failure of LIberal Rhetoric, Jhond Golder on Tips for Campers, Mike Knox on the Unsuccessful Search fto Retrieve Survival Gear and Artwork from SCPD Snatchmasters, Phil Posner and Monterey Max on their Court Ordeals, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals attorneys argue the Boise v. Bell case back in 2013…and more!
Call in to 831-423-4833 with comments and complaints.
Older Shows on Bathrobespierre’s Broadsides Today 6 PM: Keith McHenry and Paul Boden
A combination of technical problems has trashed today’s live show, so instead we have some hopefully golden oldies. Featured are homeless hardhitter Paul Boden (former head of the S.F. Coalition on Homelessness and current organizer with Western Regional Advocacy Project) and Keith McHenry (co-founder of Food Not Bombs and Blue Box Buster). The shows are from 3-5 years ago, but hopefully will still strike a chord. Back on Sunday at 9:30 AM with fresh material–lots of it.
Sunday afternoon Freedom Sleepers will present Tricia Bauman of the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, Robert Aguirre–San Jose homeless organizer and “Jungle” survivor, and Keith McHenry of FNB speaking at the Resource Center for Non-Violence at 612 Ocean.
HUFF to meet at traditional watering hole–the Sub Rosa 11 AM today 12-9
In the wake of what may be the last Sleep-Out of this year at least, I’ll propose we discuss what actions should be taken in light of
(a) San Jose hypothermia death and City Council babble about supporting Tent cities (albeit on church grounds;
(b) search for vehicular plaintiffs who want to challenge the RV law due to go into effect on January 8th;
(c) solidarity & communication with homeless activists in Eugene, Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, San Jose, & elsewhere;
(d) the upcoming Freedom Sleepers sponsored-forum with Tristia Bowman (of the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty), Robert Aguirre (San Jose founder of H.O.M.E.L.E.S.S. in San Jose), and Ketih McHenry (Food not Bombs co-founder) at 4:30 PM Sunday 12-13 at the Resource Center for Non-Violence.
(b) search for vehicular plaintiffs who want to challenge the RV law due to go into effect on January 8th;
(c) solidarity & communication with homeless activists in Eugene, Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, San Jose, & elsewhere;
(d) the upcoming Freedom Sleepers sponsored-forum with Tristia Bowman (of the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty), Robert Aguirre (San Jose founder of H.O.M.E.L.E.S.S. in San Jose), and Ketih McHenry (Food not Bombs co-founder) at 4:30 PM Sunday 12-13 at the Resource Center for Non-Violence.
And other stuff, for sure. With the usual hot drinks provided. Come early so we don’t leave first!
Freedom Sleepers Tail the City Council to Xmas Dinner, then Curl Up on the Sidewalk for 22nd Tuesday SleepOut
| Title: | Council Wines and Dines; Freedom Sleepers Chart City Hall & Pacific Ave. Protests |
| START DATE: | Tuesday December 08 |
| TIME: | 6:00 PM -9 AM (approximately) |
| Location Details: | |
| The event will start at 6 PM at 1336 Pacific in front of the Palomar Hotel & Restaurant and then continue on the Sidewalk in front of City Hall at 809 Center St. across from the Main Library throughout the night . | |
| Event Type: | Protest |
| THREADBARE “POOR FOLKS COFFEE” ON SIDEWALK VS. CITY COUNCIL’S BEGGAR-BEGONE! BANQUET INDOORS Freedom SleepOut #22 will begin with Sidewalk Coffee and Snacks on Pacific Avenue where the City Council will have their annual public meal. They then return to City Council at 7 PM to crown their new Mayor (Cynthia Mathews), give speeches, and go home to their beds for the Xmas vacation. Under the state “Open Meetings” Brown Act, the Council’s chowdown at the Palomar where all the Council is gathering is required to be open to the public. Freedom Sleeper activists will be on the sidewalk to invite the public to sign petitions and volunteer lists as well as speak to the Councilmembers informally on survival issues for those outside. The “Feed the Fat; Freeze the Poor” event will follow likely passage of a final reading of two harsh anti-homeless laws attacking those whose housing is an RV. GOOD MEAL FOLLOWS BAD LAWS Away on vacation until its return January 12th after this meeting, City Council has refused to authorize opening of public buildings during the winter, nor to join a county task force regarding safety for unhoused women recommended by its own Commission for the Prevention of Violence to Women. Offers to place the City’s anti-homeless Sleeping Ban on the agenda made this summer by Councilmember Posner and (inferentially) Mayor Lane have not been carried out. Sleeping at night after 11 PM on any public property or in your vehicle remains a $159 crime as does being in any park at ngiht. BERKELEY’S FREEDOM SLEEPER-INSPIRED PROTEST VOWS RETURN The night-by-night protest served as a model showing unhoused folks could peacefully run a protest camp (and by extension a longer-term survival encampment). See http://www.contracostatimes. Free Radio interviews with Berkeley activists Michael Lee and Carol Denney are at http://radiolibre.org/brb/ LAWYERS & ACTIVIST HUDDLE TO DISCUSS LEGAL CHALLENGES & FURTHER WINTER PROTESTS They will discuss strategies for fighting laws and police practices that seize homeless property and steal homeless sleep. The NLCHP is reportedly considering supporting lawsuits in California challenging Sleeping Bans which the Department of Justice has declared are “cruel and unusual punishment.” SAN JOSE REPORTS A HYPOTHERMIA HOMELESS DEATH Background: http://www.nationaljournal. AT THE PROTEST There will be no portapotty on the site, nor have the Mayor and City Manager agreed to open the bathrooms at City Hall. But there is a 24-hour bathroom at the Soquel Avenue garage across from New Leaf Market naar Pacific Avenue. USE YOUR PHONES TO AUDIO/VIDEO–OR MAKE VERBAL REPORTS At last report, police had still not returned survival gear and personal medicine taken from Enrique Oriarti or Michael Knox at two previous events. |
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