Author Archives: huffsantacruz

Video Chatter and Activist Action

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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?

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HUFF meets again at Sub Rosa 11 AM 12-16 703 Pacific Indoors!

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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

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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
Audio from last week’s Freedom Sleepout 22 is available at http://radiolibre.org/brb/brb151213.mp3 (2 hours and 30 minutes into the file).

Alex does his usual excellent video coverage of #22 at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2015/12/14/18780968.php .
Zav has documented the earlier confrontation at the annual City Council feast which sought to exclude the homeless and the public at the Palomar at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2015/12/09/18780826.php .

My audio of the event is 48 minutes into the http://radiolibre.org/brb/brb151213.mp3 audio file, but is hard to hear.

ADDITIONAL INFO

See http://www.facebook.com/events/571481246340033/ for Steve Pleich’s posting announcing Sleep-Out #23.

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.org/on-homelessness-and-human-rights-in-santa-cruz/ .

Most of Lane’s original letter: http://www.thestreetspirit.org/mayors-letter/

My own response to Lane is at http://www.thestreetspirit.org/activist-responds-to-santa-cruz-mayors-open-letter-on-homeless-issues/

Longest Ever Bathrobespierre’s Broadsides Show Today 9:30 AM – 3 PM 101.3 FM freakradio.org

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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

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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

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 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.

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

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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
The two laws criminalize RV parking in Santa Cruz from 8 PM to 8 AM (Item #20) and empower the traffic engineer to eliminate all larger-than-car-sized parking spots throughout the City (Item #17).

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
“Liberty City” is the 20 day homeless protest outside Berkeley’s Old City Hall demanding restoration of civil rights for its unhoused community. It suffered three arrests on December 4th. Its 50 participants reportedly retained their tents and withdrew anticipating a return this week perhaps as a local Nativity scene.

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.com/my-town/ci_29207421/berkeley-liberty-city-occupiers-vow-return

Free Radio interviews with Berkeley activists Michael Lee and Carol Denney are at http://radiolibre.org/brb/brb151206.mp3

LAWYERS & ACTIVIST HUDDLE TO DISCUSS LEGAL CHALLENGES & FURTHER WINTER PROTESTS
On December 13th 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM, Freedom Sleepers will present Tristia Beauman, Senior Attorney for the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty [NLCHP], homeless San Jose “Jungle” survivor Robert Aguirre, and Food Not Bombs co-founder Keith McHenry.

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
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/San-Jose-Homeless-Man-Apparently-Freezes-to-Death-360638051.html

Background: http://www.nationaljournal.com/s/51970 “How Silicon Valley Created America’s Largest Homeless Camp ”

AT THE PROTEST
Light snacks and coffee will be available at various times throughout the night. We encourage donations of food and clothing.

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
We encourage those harassed by the police or security guards before, during, or after the protest to file a verbal report at 423-4833.

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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Bathe Your Ears in Bathrobespierre’s Broadsides Today at 9:30 AM

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 Coming in long at over 4 1/2 hours, today’s medley of interviews, music, commentary, and dead air features extensive updates from Berkeley’s Liberty City (cleared but not defeated), the last Freedom Sleeper Sidewalk Snooze-a-thon (#21), the upcoming December 8th Freedom Sleepers SleepOut at City Hall complete with 6 PM Beggar’s Banquet in front of the Palomar on Pacific, a report on the Cultivation Containment Law coming up at the Board of Supes next Tuesday (12-8), and…even more!  Runs from 9:30 AM today (12-6) to just after 2 PM.


Streams at freakradio.org, broadcasts at 101.3 FM, archives at http://www.radiolibre.org/brb/brb151206.mp3 .Call-in with comments at 831-423-4833 to be broadcast later.

Bring picket signs and musical instruments to the Freedom Sleeper Sidewalk SpeakOut outside the City Council’s Annual Sayonara Public Dinner at the Palomar Hotel at 6 PM, then heft blankets and sleeping bags over to the Freedom Sleepers in front of City Hall.

FRSC airs a new Bathrobespierre’s Broadsides show 6 PM tonight

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Becky Johnson chronicles the victories of the Freedom Sleepers; 7-11 on Chestnut and Laurel discriminating against homeless folks?; Strummings and Singings from Nomad Mountain Villains and Uncle Bansai…plus the endless commentary of Bathrobespierre Robert Norse.  101.3 FM and www.freakradio.org .  Archives at http://www.radiolibre.org/brb/brb151203.mp3 .  
Still a $500 reward for any studio information:  Call 831-423-4833.

LATE FLASH: BATHROBESPIERRE’S BROADSIDES SHOW DELAYED

Because of a power outage, the 6 PM start time for today’s Bathrobespierre’s Broadsides show will be delayed for an uncertain time (1-3 hours, looks like).  Looks like that will impact the start time as well as the archiving of the show.  The show will be independently archived at some time in the future.  Sorry for any confusion.

HUFF Definitely Back at Sub Rosa Tomorrow (Wednesday December 2) 11 AM. Coffee guaranteed!!

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HUFFsters:  No more trekking around to mingle with seclusive students sipping bourgeois beverages at the Pergolesi–at least this week!  Back at the usual Sub Rosa Cafe surrounded by lots of literature and agreeable reasonably priced (free) drinks.

Likely to find agenda discussion:  Next  week’s Shitty Council Final Vote (12-8) on the “Homeless RV’s Get Lost” law coming up for a final reading;  the latest update on the frost-bitten Freedom Sleepers movement and its next move; Berkeley Battle In Progress–a weeklong campout culminates in today’s City Council meeting up there; fighting back against police property seizures–schemes and strategies; plus lots of stuff that hasn’t made print yet…

Today (Dec 1) there will be a special 5:30 PM “New tactics, new energy?!” meeting to protect the rights of houseless people at the Supply Room of the Red Church.  Want more Freedom SleepOuts and like actions?  Join the meeting!    And come to Freedom Sleep-Out at City Hall tonight thereafter.