Last week the usual harassing klieg lights, “no parking” jackets, and even police harassment were absent. And the 1st Alarm “security patrols” were reduced. The City Hall Courtyard grounds still posted A-frame signs and yellow tape cutting off day and night use.

Officer “Winter” however is also battering at the protest, so bring cold weather gear and any donations you may have.

Coffee and the usual barebones pb&j supplies will be available as well as some prospective addition edibles from generous donors.

The beloved Freedom Portapotty will be available for welcome relief since City Hall is locking its bathrooms at night–again.

BERKELEY TAKES HEART; UCSC ACTIVISTS SPEAK OUT
Berkeley activists have drawn strength and resolution from our struggle against the Sleeping Ban here and are holding their own 11-16 Sleep-Out and 11-17 Speak-Out at their City Council. (See http://www.facebook.com/Berkeley.Copwatchers/photos/gm.553479284821089/697979253636276/?type=3&theater ).

More on the Berkeley protests today and tomorrow at http://berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2015-11-13/article/43911?headline=Why-You-Should-Attend-the-Berkeley-City-Council-Meeting-on-Tuesday-Public-Comment—Elisa-Cooper

Additional articles are at http://berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2015-11-13

Students and union activists at UCSC will be throwing a Housing and Homelessness Forum on campus Wednesday night where Freedom Sleepers and HUFF will be speaking. It will begin at 5:30 PM at Kresge Town Hall.

CHANGE IN THE WIND ?
Police citations for MC 6.36 (the Camping Ordinance) seem to be down for October (to 43 compared to 79 in September by a rough count). (This does not take into account eager Parks and Recreation Ranger harassment though).

Outgoing Mayor Lane (due to rotate out in December though he will still be on the Council) has made no further public statements nor taken any actions to agendaize elimination of the Sleeping or Blanket bans.

His facebook statement and my response (as well as other Freedom Sleeper info) can be found at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2015/11/09/18779820.php .

Tickets and stay-away orders are still being given out for being in a park after dark to unhoused folks elsewhere in town.

The Winter Armory Shelter begins operation today, however it only houses 100 and has many restrictions.

The Homeless (Lack of) Services Center continues to ban the majority of homeless people from its campus, meals, bathrooms, showers, and laundry services under the new director Phil Kramer unless they are “on a path to housing”.

CRACKDOWN ON JOURNALISTS CONTINUES
Photographer Alex Darocy, who has regularly covered these sleep-out’s is facing charges for photographing the student/community protest against police brutality and tuition hikes in the Highway 6 case. (See http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2015/11/13/18779947.php ).

Alex was also cited for MC 13.04.011 (being on the City Hall grounds after 10 PM), but that citation was reportedly dismissed.

Trials for Freedom Sleepers on the same charges will be coming up in the weeks ahead. Watch this website for information.

FUTURE PROSPECTS UNDER CONSIDERATION

The need to provide indoor protection from the cold is coming into clearer focus as the weather worsens. In the face of El Nino winter, City Council has made no provision for warming shelters, campgrounds, car parks, or a lifting of the camping bn to allow unhoused folks to formtheir own protective community and shelter.

On the horizon at the next City Council meeting (11-24) is a nasty Niroyan-initiated plan to restrict or ban RV’s, requiring residential permits and eliminating parking spaces.

City Council indifference to public opinion can be seen in its ignoring the massive outpouring of support for the Beach Flats Community Garden on 11-3. The community needs to take its own independent direct action on issues involving community space and local human rights.

Other Council members have declined to support and Lane has as yet not agendized his proposed modification of the Sleep Deprivation Ordinance revealed in a lengthy facebook lament at http://www.facebook.com/Don.Lane.SC/posts/1039891709365296 .

My reaction to Lane’s piece is at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2015/10/31/18779460.php ,

Freedom Sleepers continue their Tuesday night Sidewalk Safe Sleeping Zone — “safe” apparently from sleeping tickets, which continue to be given out regularly elsewhere in the City. The next one is November 10th, beginning in and around City Council’s afternoon meeting.

Agenda Items ##16, 17, and 18 concern HUD funding for housing, the Beach Flats Garden project, and the airbnb Summer Rentals issues–all of which impact unhoused folks and their allies

A LOOK BACK TO LAST WEEK
Last week cops and bureaucrats expanded the roped off area outside City Council to further isolate and distance homeless protest from the Study Session of City Council. In addition, the entire grassy area from the City Council chambers to the sidewalk was–for the first time–marked a “no go zone”–This eliminated the prospect of unhoused people resting there during the day–something grudgingly allowed though harassed by roaming First Alarm “security” thugs.

Inside, the Council heard a three hour police panhandling and PR session celebrating their follow-up on the blatantly anti-homeless 2013 Citizens Public Safety Task Force recommendations. What are the costs, consequences,and effects of the anti-homeless laws spurred by this Task Force “public safety” concerns? Who knows? Police didn’t tell us.

There were no citations at the Sidewalk Safe Slumber Zone that followed, though the night was colder and the number of sleepers fewer.

For an account of the night see “Temperatures drop at the 17th Freedom Sleepers Community Sleepout” at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2015/11/04/18779658.php

More background: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2015/10/30/18779456.php

COMING UP THIS TIME AT CITY COUNCIL
Items /#16, 17, and 18.

#16 covers some HUD funding–which may be impacted by Santa Cruz’s anti-homeless laws and HUD’s supposed new “end criminalization” requirements.

#17 involves the latest sell-out to the Seaside Company, offering a 3-year lease proposal that would only cover 2/3 of the Community Garden–in spite of the pleas and demands of hundreds of people two weeks ago.

#18 involves real estate owners moves to okay airbnb summer rentals

§ Granny Units (ADUs) or vacation rentals: 2:30 pm (?) Item 18. Introducing an ordinance amending portions of the Santa Cruz Municipal Code to limit short term/vacation rental use of Accessory Dwelling Units [ADU’s]. Tenant activists note that allowing ADU summer rental use:
§ removes affordable housing units from the local market;
§ caters to out-of-town visitors instead of local housing needs;
§ creates businesses within residential neighborhoods;
§ violates the intent of ADUs to increase long-term, small-scale rental housing.

Freedom Sleepers hope that some Beach Flats Garden supporters will join the Sleep-Out in solidarity.

ON THE HORIZON
Last week CPVAW asked for emergency shelter for women outside to be created along side of the anti-homeless RV measure coming back on November 24th. Assistant City Manager Scott Collins, cheerleading for the “no RV parking for the poor” resolution upcoming, cut short discussion time and cut off speakers.

Coming Up December 13th–a special Freedom Sleepers Presents event featuring attorney Tristia Bauman from the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, survivors from last year’s “disperse and destroy” raid on the San Jose homeless Jungle, and more! Scheduled for the Resource Center for Non-Violence at 6:30 PM.

PORTAPOTTY POLITICS
In spite of two unanimous Council votes early last summer directing staff to open TWO 24-hour bathrooms, Public Works has only opened one (at the Soquel St. garage). And they are still complaining this essential service remain only a “pilot project” in spite of very few problems–according to the workers there (and even the staff report itself).

Meanwhile the Freedom Sleepers continue to provide a portapotty each Tuesday night, given the City’s refusal to either open the promised Locust St. facility or keep the City Hall bathrooms open at night.

A festive Portapotty Parade is in the works for 6 PM after the afternoon Council meeting. The mobile comfort station has been with the Freedom Sleepers for 18 weeks now.

The usual coffee and crunchables will be available at times during the night and for breakfast in the morning.

The Right To Sleep is the Right to Live.