Category Archives: HOT ISSUES

Updates from the “Ignore Them Until they Disappear or Die Off” Genocide Zone in Santa Cruz

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Updates from the “Ignore Them Until they Disappear or Die Off” Genocide Zone by Robert Norse (rnorse3 [at] hotmail.com)
Monday Mar 30th, 2020 5:47 PM
While City & County officials who live indoors postulate, ponder, and predict, no safe shelters, sanitary shithouses, or reliable food services have opened up to replace those shut down. HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom) critic passes on some updates and the latest in-the-field reports from Food not Bombs still-serving-under-fire foodster Keith McHenry. Chief Andy Mills’ police and Sheriff Hart’s deputies keep flouting federal and state guidelines by “moving along” homeless survival-in-place encampments and food servers with threats and arrests. City Manager Martin Bernal’s Bureaucrats lock bathrooms, and preventing those outside from taking shelter. City leaders remain silent or facilitate this toxic insanity.

Homeless folks are crowded into the few shelters in conditions that spread COVID-19. We must do what the leaders only talk about before it’s too late.

UPDATES FROM A LOCAL FOOD NOT BOMBS ACTIVIST

Yesterday [3-29] “Amazon, Instacart Grocery Delivery Workers Demand Coronavirus Protection And Pay” on East Coast at https://www.npr.org/2020/03/30/823767492/amazon-instacart-grocery-delivery-workers-strike-for-coronavirus-protection-and-?

Today [3-30]
11 a.m. Join the Global Rent & Mortgage Strike April 1st
see “Rent Strike Nation” at https://newrepublic.com/article/157081/rent-strike-nation-coronavirus?

3:55 p.m. We need books for people to read since those of us who live outside cannot charge their phones. We also have a lot of bread that is amazing at the Benchlands behind the Santa Cruz County building. Thanks

4:10 p.m. Still at the Benchlands sharing food. We are almost the only food and water in Santa Cruz for the hundreds without housing. The city portable toilet is overflowing so we are using the bushes until we dig a pit toilet. Tell people in Santa Cruz that we have food, water and lots of bread in San Lorenzo Park behind the county building near Water Street. We want to end service at 7 today. Thanks

HUFF Howlings
Coming Tomorrow: Community Health Demands Immediate Occupation of Vacant Buildings to Stop COVID-19 Outside

Endless promises and reassurances, evasions and lies, by the highly paid homelessness “experts” who have funneled money into very limited and expensive homeless “services” that exclude or recycle the majority of the 1000-2000 homeless people outside in the City.

These excuses and justifications–and those in power who use them–now threaten the health of the entire community.

At the national level we have two sold-out national parties that have passed another huge corporate trillion dollar giveaway. (See “Why Are Progressives Voting For Ultimate Screwing Of America?” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfOPSq705To,
“How Bernie and Warren Sold Us Out Over Stimulus Bill” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsPjPmDzN8w)

We’ll no doubt hear more reassuring words from Supervisor Zack Friend. he’s “hosting” [and you’re paying for] a telephone town hall with Mimi Hall, director of the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency, to discuss the latest updates on COVID-19 and take your questions. The session will run from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday. Information: 831-454-2222 and use meeting ID 145384.,

….But are the County Buildings bathrooms, sinks, and showers open for community (and particularly homeless) use while Zack comfortably relieves himself on the community while the officials he funds continue to deny vital services?

Needs: While we’re waiting for shelter-in-place access to the many vacant motel rooms,
…..a regular check on the availability of toilet paper, towels, soap, water at the few portapotties outside.
…..the immediate 24-opening of parking garage bathrooms, and other more civilized facilities currently unused,
…..and, of course, occupation of vacant office, apartment, and other buildings as emergency shelter-in-place, and quarantine space,
…..the release of prisoners from the local jail in the current crisis before they become the epicenter of a new epidemic,
……commandeering and distribution of vital food and supplies to unhoused, renters, and others growingly in need in the current crisis. See https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/24/this-is-life-or-death-homeless-families-reclaim-vacant-homes-to-survive-virus-outbreak?

Do we wait for the concentration zones for the homeless–frightening alternatives reportedly being set up in other cities such as Las Vegas? See https://www.fox5vegas.com/coronavirus/parking-lot-at-cashman-center-opens-as-temporary-homeless-shelter/article_613927c0-7139-11ea-a802-536e3067a76c.html?fbclid=IwAR1MDfnuaoleJgkgn-PXXH8Yk9j3KwX85NMHtl2_0epKK6WLi7ZdOkBtu0o

On the other hand, psuedo-shelters such as the Salvation Army’s Laurel Street serve as useful containment and quarantine centers when the inevitable COVID-19 cases break out–cases that could yet be prevented with adequate distancing–say in motel rooms.. Seattle’s KIRO news reports on this crisis at https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/three-seattle-area-shelters-close-after-resident-tests-positive-covid-19/Z3YXVZPJ2BG3DNUN4QYPQX7LZM/?fbclid=IwAR3SsHfm-5uVrXAy5Sh68eq4abTUrhdSt7qIl3SRPmRInmg1zqHN9a6OWOE

LOOKING BACK IN DISGUST
XXXX Homeless providers Cooper and Russell were arrested and released several days ago to move them along from their (legal) sidewalk spot at the complaint of the nearby bank. Their survival gear was seized and has not been returned.

XXXX Mills cops posted the Town Clock and served McHenry with a Cease-and-Desist letter, then fencing off to stop food serving there. On 3-28, they served McHenry with a letter demanding he stop feeding until “getting a permit” in the San Lorenzo Benchlands, after forcing the meal from its safer location in back of the courthouse to the marshy rainsoaked Benchlands.


WHAT WE CAN DO
We need to distribute maps of vacant buildings, unused restrooms, and provide an honest listing of actual food and survival equipment spaces.

Volunteer at noon at the Vet’s Hall to help cook for the Benchlands meals.

Democracy Now gives a (very) brief mention of authorities ignoring these needs in New York City at https://www.democracynow.org/2020/3/30/nyc_homelessness

Check out Facebook for Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs, Santa Cruz County Homeless Advocates, and Wes White (for Salinas & National Updates)

Free Radio Santa Cruz on-the-Net Interview with Keith and others outside at http://huffsantacruz.org/lost/1%20FRSC%203-29-20.mp3 Regular updates at http://www.huffsantacruz.org/Lostshows.html .

MAKE AND READ COMMENTS AT  https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2020/03/30/18831951.php

HUFF shifting to in-the-field support and reporting: HUFF members aiding Food Servers & Hotel Shelter Providers as City “leaders” lie and stall. NO Noon Meeting Today at the Sub Rosa

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As of mid-day March 24th, police chief Andy Mills posted “Vacate by 9 AM March 25” Notices around the Town Clock’s COVID-19 Relief Center, jointly staffed by Food Not Bombs, SC Homeless Union, HUFF, and other community volunteers. 

The Center has been operating 24 hours a day, serving food and supplies to those outside as City Manager Bernal, Mayor Cummings, City PR Megaphonestress Susie O’Hara, and Police Chief Mills have continued to ignore, harass, and/or misinform the community.  

Yesterday’s “no public allowed” City Council meeting defeated two attempts by the dying Progressive majority to (1) call an emergency meeting within 48 hours to address homeless shelter and health issues being ignored at the Tuesday Council meeting; and (2) strengthen and lengthen the fluffy light and unenforceable eviction moratorium proposed by Mayor “Can’t Help” Cummings and Vice-Mayor “Merry Malice” Myers.

For the last two nights, SC Homeless Union has taken the lead in distributing overnight motel vouchers paid for privately at that location (and last night from a parking garage).  See https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2020/03/24/santa-cruz-homeless-activists-draw-coronavirus-shelter-battle-lines/ for a slanted Sentinel take on the distribution.
While denouncing a “lack of the 6′ safe distance” at the voucher distribution on 3-23 and using that as the pretext to “cease and desist” order the vital Town Clock support center, Mills’s police cited an activist for marking out 6′ intervals on 3-24 in the parking garage for the 2nd voucher distribution. One hypocritical hand washes the other.
Street Spirit newspaper distribution operations are currently suspended, but the Berkeley vendor center is looking for ways to provide some interim support for vendors whose sales lifeline has been cut off.  When HUFF hears, we’ll let the few vendors we have down here know.
Frequent local updates can be found on Facebook under Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs, Santa Cruz County Homeless Advocates, Homeless Outside in Santa Cruz, and HUFF.  As well as occasionally at indybay.org/santacruz.
If anyone has seen the wandering coffee canister used to supply morning coffee to those outside which “walked away” yesterday, please ask it to come home!  



ACTIONS, RESOURCES, & CONSIDERATIONS from a HUFFster’s perspective

  • Check at http://www.huffsantacruz.org/Lostshows.html to hear a series of phoned-in reports from different activists and workers–which should be posted shortly and will be updated daily if possible.
  •  City Manager Martin Bernal provided a handful of portapotties  City-wide and cold water washstands after refusing to do so for months, but maintained nighttime closure of bathrooms in parks in spite of the emergency situation and repeated calls and e-mails.   Nor has the County acted to provide basic sanitary facilities for the poorest outside, though it has financial and organization resources to do so.
  • City agencies have thwarted or denied Food Not Bombs, the Depot Project, Bagels on Bikes, HUFF, and other organizations their attempts to establish such vital resources.
  • Recent shutdowns at the Library, Louden Nelson, the Metro, the publicly sponsored Bookshop Santa Cruz, closed restaurants and businesses make this situation ever more dangerous both for folks outside and the broader community.
  • No motel or hotel rooms are yet available for the 1000-2000 homeless outside who want and may need them to shelter more safely and securely in spite of government directives and financial grants.
  • The inadequate “normal” charitable activities of those working with churches, social services, etc. have been cut back or closed–many of the staff of these organizations are over 60 and particularly vulnerable to the corona virus.
  • Normal donations to those directly seeking survival money through “panhandling” have been discouraged or criminalized under the new emergency regs, enacted without public discussion or vote.
  • Public transportation options have been restricted or shut down, making access to what limited resources there are even more problematic.
  • Mayor Cummings has issued no calls for an emergency Council meeting to pass elementary measures already done in other cities like a moratorium on evictions and rents.
  • City Manager Martin Bernal & the City Council majority have a long history of resisting the expansion of basic services for the less privileged in town.
  • Supervisor Coonerty and the Board of Supervisors have declined to provide county-wide resources in an equitable and sensible fashion.
  • The health of the community depends on our community action through a direct and united response.
  • Up to now we have seen how “concerned” and “effective” local authorities have been in meeting the needs of renters and those outside.
  • Meekly following the dictates of authority in this crisis has not in the past, nor likely in the future, to be a wise, health-providing, and productive course.
  • We must confront directly, clearly, persistently, loudly and immediately to secure the basic survival needs of the community in the current crisis.
  • With washed hands and care to keep physical distance, bring food and yourselves to the noon food serving to sustain the survival effort and take the necessary future steps.
  • Contact Food Not Bombs (575-770-3377), HUFF (831-423-4833), or the Santa Cruz Homeless Union (831-431-7766) if unable to come for health or other reasons. (454-2200) and you wish to help.

Dated Updates on the Current Homeless Crisis

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by Robert Norse (rnorse3 [at] hotmail.com)
Thursday Mar 19th, 2020 9:26 AM
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2020/03/19/18831665.php

Some things are changing quickly. Others (sadly) not at all–such as the City’s failure to provide the most elementary sanitary services such as porapotties, washing stations, and bathrooms (many of them now shutting down). The following e-mail I sent out as a replacement for my usual Wednesday HUFF meeting yesterday. Audio updates will be posted between times at http://www.huffsantacruz.org/Lostshows.html . Since Sunday evening March 15th , Food Not Bombs, HUFF, the Santa Cruz Homeless Union and others have supplied volunteers, food, and supplies for distribution to the community–particularly folks outside without safe reliable shelter. Hats off to Lucero Luna, Keith, Kevin, Elise, Fish, and many others who have sustained this effort.

We’ll be gathering, some of us by phone, at the Town Clock at noon today to assist the on-going survival supplies center.

Please observe 6′ separation. Gloves and masks will be available for food distribution workers.

ACTIONS, RESOURCES, & CONSIDERATIONS from a HUFFster’s perspective

*** Check at http://www.huffsantacruz.org/Lostshows.html to hear a series of phoned-in reports from different activists and workers–which should be posted shortly and will be updated daily if possible.
*** City Manager Martin Bernal has not yet met concerns the City has closed and ordered closed places supplying toilet and hand-washing access in spite of the emergency situation and repeated calls and e-mails. Nor has the County acted to provide basic sanitary facilities for the poorest outside, though it has financial and organization resources to do so.
*** City agencies have thwarted or denied Food Not Bombs, the Depot Project, Bagels on Bikes, HUFF, and other organizations their attempts to establish such vital resources.
*** Recent shutdowns at the Library, Louden Nelson, the Metro, the publicly sponsored Bookshop Santa Cruz, closed restaurants and businesses make this situation ever more dangerous both for folks outside and the broader community.
*** No motel or hotel rooms are yet available for the 1000-2000 homeless outside who want and may need them to shelter more safely and securely in spite of government directives and financial grants.
*** The inadequate “normal” charitable activities of those working with churches, social services, etc. have been cut back or closed–many of the staff of these organizations are over 60 and particularly vulnerable to the corona virus.
*** Normal donations to those directly seeking survival money through “panhandling” have been discouraged or criminalized under the new emergency regs, enacted without public discussion or vote.
*** Public transportation options have been restricted or shut down, making access to what limited resources there are even more problematic.
*** Mayor Cummings has issued no calls for an emergency Council meeting to pass elementary measures already done in other cities like a moratorium on evictions and rents.
*** City Manager Martin Bernal & the City Council majority have a long history of resisting the expansion of basic services for the less privileged in town.
*** Supervisor Coonerty and the Board of Supervisors have declined to provide county-wide resources in an equitable and sensible fashion.
*** The health of the community depends on our community action through a direct and united response.
*** Up to now we have seen how “concerned” and “effective” local authorities have been in meeting the needs of renters and those outside.
*** Meekly following the dictates of authority in this crisis has not in the past, nor likely in the future, to be a wise, health-providing, and productive course.
*** We must confront directly, clearly, persistently, loudly and immediately to secure the basic survival needs of the community in the current crisis.
*** With washed hands and care to keep physical distance, bring food and yourselves to the noon food serving to sustain the survival effort and take the necessary future steps.

Contact Food Not Bombs (575-770-3377), HUFF (831-423-4833), or the Santa Cruz Homeless Union (831-431-7766) if unable to come for health or other reasons. (454-2200) and you wish to help.

Check http://www.huffsantacruz.org/Lostshows.html for recent audio interviews and reports from the street under Plague Reports.

The twice-weekly Bathrebespierre’s Broadsides show also archived at http://www.huffsantacruz.org/Lostshows.html will feature ongoing commentary and news-ish updates Thursdays 6-8 PM and Sundays 9:30 AM to 3 PM on the stream of Free Radio Santa Cruz at freakradio.org .

http://www.huffsantacruz.org.

Government’s Reaction to COVID-19: Cops and Commands Not Common Sense Services

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S.C. County Issues Shelter-in-Place with No Shelter or Facilities for Those Outside by Robert Norse (rnorse3 [at] hotmail.com)
Monday Mar 16th, 2020 8:22 PM
Several hours ago the County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency followed up on actions by San Francisco, Marin, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Mateo counties declaring much public assembly a misdemeanor. Meanwhile acting City czar Martin Bernal has declined to provide portapotties, open bathrooms, provide vacant hotel and motel rooms, or declare an eviction moratorium for folks outside and hard-pressed renters inside.


EMERGENCY ORDER WITH NO PUBLIC INPUT OR HEARING
The March 16 six-page ordered by County Health Officer Gail Newel & Assistant County Counsel S. Kelley goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday March 17th.

It can be read in full at https://www.santacruzhealth.org/Portals/7/Pdfs/Coronavirus/Shelter in Place Order March 16 2020.pdf?

The order requiring people to “self-isolate” in their residences does “exempt” homeless people (Section 2). “Individuals experiencing homelessness are exempt from this Section but are strongly urged to obtain shelter, and governmental and other entities are strongly urged to make such shelter available as soon as possible and to the maximum extent practicable.”


IN THE WAKE OF CITY NEGLIGENCE AND OBSTRUCTION
County, City, University, State, and Federal authorities have done nothing to expand concrete on-the-ground facilities (such as vacant buildings, unused motel and hotel rooms, even campground space). Nor have they provided the most basic sanitation services near the larger encampments, instead maintaining the closing of even some of the limited bathrooms available part-time (the Library, Louden Nelson, the city-funded Bookshop Santa Cruz’s bathroom).

Attempts by Food Not Bombs, the Depot Project, and others to secure permits to provide portapotties and hand washing stations have been actively obstructed by city authorities.


THE ORDER MAY THREATEN FOOD NOT BOMBS
The current Food Not Bombs/Union of the Homeless presence at the Town Clock is also implicitly threatened by various provisions of the “Emergency Declaration”.

For instance on p.4 under Section 10, subsection f, further subsection xiii, we read “…Food services under this exemption shall not permit the food to be eaten at the site where it is provided or at any other gathering spot.” which sounds like a perfect pretext to shut down Food Not Bombs food servings.


SUSPENSION OF THE CONSTITUTION?
On p. 2, Section 2 provides provides “All public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a household or living unit are prohibited except as expressly permitted in Section 10.”

Section 10 does not permit, for instance, public gatherings to petition the government for redress of grievances (say, the lack of bathroom facilities and decent shelter for the hundreds outside).


WHAT IS TO BE DONE?
I suppose if you show up with your chef’s hat and gloves as a food provider, you may be able to argue an exemption to the First Amendment suspension if the sheriffs or cops show up to escort you “home”.

I encourage members of the community to demand loudly and clearly for the protection of the broader community that such facilities and shelter be made available immediately as an option for those outside. This can be done on-line, by facebook, and through twitter, of course, and should be, but there’s no substitute for physical presence.  I personally have recent health problems at an age where I’m particularly vulnerable, so I’m struggling with my own responsibility and response.   At this time I’m trying to avoid contact to slow the virus spread and protect myself and those in my household. 

Apparently endless e-mails, notes, and Council meeting pleas have no impact on Bernal, Cummings, and the other worthies who sit on piles of money (and now emergency provisions).

It falls on the community to take peaceful but forceful Direct Action to protect the health not just of those outside, but of the entire community before it’s too late.
http://www.huffsantacruz.org.
COMMENTS AND UPDATES CAN BE MADE AT https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2020/03/16/18831598.php
OR TO ME DIRECTLY AT RNORSE3@HOTMAIL.COM .

Speak Out Against Chief Mills Latest Anti-Homeless Plan

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SCPD Chief Andy Mills and reactionaries on the City Council want to “work around” the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Martin v. Boise decision.

Since they refuse to open up survival encampments or vacant public buildings, police need “tools” to drive unhoused people out of public spaces. Hence the Mills 7-Point Plan…

(1) Banning Tents During the Day,
(2) Making Possession of Syringes a Crime in Public Places,
(3) Declaring Pacific Avenue a “Park” to Allow Police-Initiated Stay-Away Orders,
(4) Criminalizing Bike Repair in Public Places,
(5) Driving Away Vehicular Homes from West Cliff,
(6) Increasing Legal Pressure on Homeless “Crime”,
(7) Shopping Cart Criminalization.
Make comments, get more info, and download flyers at: https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2020/03/09/18831395.php (Reactionary Riptide Against Homeless Must be Stopped !)
HUFF meets Wednesday noon at the Sub Rosa Cafe.

Koffee Klatch at City Kouncil Offices–and a Week of ACTION Meetings

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https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2020/02/18/18830780.php

KOFFEE KLATCH: CAMPGROUNDS & NO SWEEPS !

7:30-8:30 AM  City Hall   Wednesday Feb 19th   Coffee, Soup, & Speak-Out!

Demand Action from City Manager Bernal Now !

Where are Governor Newsom’s Promised Buildings & Camps?                     Other Action Meetings This Week

  • 6-8 PM Tues 2-18 SCPD Community: Say NO to CACH Collaboration with Cops
  • 7:30 AM Wed 2-19 City Hall Backtalk City Manager Bernal—Free Coffee and Munchies
  • Noon Wed 2-19  More Coffee with HUFF Sub Rosa Café next to the Bike Church
  • 4:30 PM Wed 2-19 SC Union Forum 612 Ocean RCNV  on Resistance Strategies
  • 5:30 PM  Fri  2-21 City Hall Offices Clue in Drew Glover on Needed Agenda Action!
  • 10 & 12 AM  Sat/Sun 2-22/23 Tabby Cat Café 1101 Cedar St.  Canvas Against the Recall !
  • 5 PM Sun Post Office Sidewalk—SC Homeless Union Huddle on Tent Protections
  • All Week Long: Students Demand COLA4all: Fair Wages at Bay & High St.  

March to Restore Police-Stolen Property from Folks in Survival Encampments 1 PM Tuesday February 4

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END POLICE ATTACKS ON HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS

Louden Nelson Center (301 Center St. )1 PM Tues February 4th

March to Police Station (155 Center) to Reclaim Property Taken

Was Your Stuff Taken?   Let Us Know !

Last Thursday, a group of people, many of them elderly and disabled, were swept away from their sidewalk encampment next to Laurel Park (near London Nelson Center) on Washington.  Half a dozen cop cars and 10-15 cops and rangers took all their survival gear–clothing, blankets, tents.  Police arrested Cooper d’Angelo, jailing her for 10 hours.   Her “crime”, she said, was a small pile of marijuana ash left on the sidewalk by someone else. A arrested her for smoking (which she denies) “near a school.”  

 Early that week police repeatedly woke up Cooper her partner Russell.  They gave them 10 false citations for “impeding foot traffic”.  Cooper said they only took up half the sidewalk and a wheelchair could pass by. 

 Police seizures of homeless survival gear are ongoing in spite of the federal court’s Martin v. Boise decision and the City’s lack of Shelter.  If your property or person is threatened by police, rangers, security guards, or hostile NIMBY’s, Call 221-6310 to report police theft.  The Santa Cruz Homeless Union and other groups are planning a retaliatory lawsuit.  Police “property pick-up” hours are absurdly limited:  Tuesday (11 AM – 3 PM) (and Thursday 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM).

Today’s Conscience and Action & HUFF meetings Cancelled–Next Meeting January 1, 2020 Sub Rosa noon

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C & A & HUFF ACTION ITEMS for 12-25-19

NO XMAS DAY MEETING

Informal chatting, munching, and flyering at the MAH Meal noon-3 PM Front & Cooper St.

PRIOR ACTION ITEMS FOR 1-1-20

*** Demands at SCPD Last Wednesday & Follow-Up E-Mail: Specific Complaints

*** Contact Lists for Future Actions—Camps, Occupations, Protests

*** Informally Gathering Direct Contacts and Reports from Individual Survival Camps & Refugees

FUTURE POSSIBLE GROUP ACTION ITEMS:

*** C    Canopy & Coffee Outside City Manager’s Office w/ Letter Writing: We Want Open Shelter

*** W  Wait-In at City Offices (Bring Your Own Chairs) to get Cummings to stop Garage Crackdowns

*** Fly Flyering the Metro demanding end to Discriminatory Exclusions

ACT BETWEEN MEETINGS:

Contact Robert at 423-4833 to help with Public Records Analysis or Expanding Contact Lists

Attend Public Meetings of Public Officials with Signs & Loud Questions: WHERE’S WINTER SHELTER?

SANTA CRUZ: Facebook pages:  Alex Darocy, Santa Cruz County Homeless Advocates/Santa Cruz California Homeless Union, Brent Adams, Homeless Outside in Santa Cruz, Alicia Kuhl, Autumn Sun, Conscience & Action,

The Santa Cruz Community, Steve Pleich, SCCCP, Keith McHenry, Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs, Tenant Sanctuary,

Wes White, Monterey County Homeless Advocates, Kristina Roach, Lucero Luna,

EVENTS