HUFF Contact Meeting on 6-10 usually held at Food Not Bombs meal at Laurel and Front St. postponed. Info Update likely to be posted soon. A few previews of talk and actions to come….

Posted on by

Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom

UPDATES ON ONGOING ISSUES  6-10-20

  • Taking Basics Forward—Solidarity with Anti-Police Abuse Movement (Calls to Defund Police Violent Tactics and Resources): HUFF meeting to be rescheduled.
  • New Solidarity Prospects:  Direct Action Crowd Calling-Out-the-Perps: Visiting Mayor, City Manager, City Council, Department Heads at Work and at Home with Demands
  • New Petitions on Line...Call-In, Drive-By, and Vote-with-your-feet Protests…
  • Significance of City Council’s “Business As Usual” Silence Last Night:  Responding with Direct, Creative, and Non-Violent Action
  • Letter to Councilmember Sandy Brown: https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2020/06/09/18834065.php

Some Questions for Sandy Brown and the City Council

Posted on by

An e-mail sent to Councilmember Sandy Brown will likely result in no action at City Council. More seriously, the Council, which has ultimately control of the police through the City Manager, needs to be forced to confront long-standing SCPD issues that are of a piece with demands on departments across the nation.   Sections of it are reprinted here. 

TODAY’S COUNCIL MEETING WITH NOTHING ON THE AGENDA REGARDING POLICE MISCONDUCT

The regular Council meeting begins at 2 PM and takes place in ghostly fashion by Zoom with no real meaningful public participation (though this is usually the case during their in-person appearances as well). Oral Communications is at 6 PM.   To call in for the crumbs of 2 minutes speaking time at Oral Communication, check out the phone numbers (and the agenda) at https://scsire.cityofsantacruz.com/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=1365&doctype=AGENDA for the phone numbers.

The on-line agenda has nothing which responds to the protests that have rocked the City in the last two weeks.

 I sent it around 8 am. I’ve received no response.

Brown has the option to raise any issue as an emergency matter (though it requires additional votes and an emergency finding).

She and other Councilmembers need to be confronted where they work and where they live to demand they take action. Massed people power finally provides the voice that deaf politicians have to hear whether they want to or not these days.


MAYOR CUMMINGS SETS THE AGENDA, CAN CALL MEETINGS

Cummings elected with Progressive student and tenant votes betrayed his constituency. Witness his long silence on the Glover and Krohn recalls, his refusal to press for just eviction protections or even landlord data, the sell-out of the homeless repeatedly, and his refusal to hold police accountable for fences, sweeps, and a roster of abuses (See “Rein in the SCPD with Real Community Controls” at https://www.indybay.org/uploads/2020/06/04/scan_20200604.pdf.

His recent postures to “cool protester anger at the police station and “bending a knee” with Chief Mills are more acts of betrayal attempting to co-opt a vital movement.

Of course, the real power in the city is City Manager Martin Bernal, who will never be held accountable until the community votes with its feet and voices to do so.


FOR THE TEXT OF THE E-MAIL GO TO:  https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2020/06/09/18834065.php

Bathrobespierre’s Broadsides streams today (6-7-20) at freakradio.org with Council, Protests Against Police Abuse Galore & Flashback to the 1992 “Sticky Fingers” Loren Butchie Baker case and its cover-up by City Council

Posted on by

Today’s show streams at freakradio.org and archives at http://www.huffsantacruz.org/Lostshows.html  

ON TODAY’S SHOW:​   

*** New York judge suspends right to be taken before a judge, oks indefinite detention of protesters:  https://lawandcrime.com/george-floyd-death/aoc-slams-nyc-judge-for-suspension-of-habeas-corpus-in-response-to-george-floyd-protests/ https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7ubs7o

***  Anonymous Terror Tales from the Sunday May 31st March

***  Walkin’ last Sunday’s “SCPD’s Police Chief Taking a Knee Is Not Enough” Black Lives Matter protest in Santa Cruz with photojournalist Alex Darocy  https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2020/05/31/18833476.php

***  Voices from the Tracks up Coral St. way: Patty, Jeff, Heather, Audrey

***  Dreamcatcher praises the Vet’s Hall Shelter

***  Police Station Protest after the Puff Westcliff Drive Assemble-and-Disperse March Eliza, Elena, Tania & Many Others June 3rd

***  Raging at Artful Andy Mills from Laurel and Center St. 6-3

***  Joe Longtermer and Elise Review Recent Protests at the 6-4 Dusk March

***  Speakout at the Courthouse 6-4

***  Tenant Activist Cynthia Berger’s Updates

***  Shades of segregationist southern sheriffs in liberal Walnut Creek…  https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/06/06/protester-recounts-getting-attacked-by-police-dogs-tear-gassed-at-walnut-creek-demonstration/

***  “Scope it Out” Scott Reviews the schmoozing and ducking questions by Mayor “Uncle Tommy” Justin Cummings and SCPD Chief “More Anti-Homeless Laws on the Way” Andy Mills   https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10104270518678442&set=a.592427598492

FLASHBACK TO A SANTA CRUZ CITY COUNCIL INVESTIGATION THAT NEVER WAS OF POLICE ABUSE BY OFFICER “BUTCHIE” LORAN BAKER JULY 28, 1992
Most Recent Archived Overflow Interviews at

http://www.huffsantacruz.org/Lostshows.html  

Recent Past Shows are Described at http://huffsantacruz.org/wordpress/Many Earlier Shows are Described at http://www.huffsantacruz.org/brb-descriptions.html
Earliest Shows are Described at http://huffsantacruz.org/archivemain.html

Act Locally or Regret Later

  • HUFF and the Free Radio Santa Cruz netshow back at 831-423-4833
  • Join Food Not Bombs [FNB], HUFF, and other local groups at theDaily Meal at the Laurel & Pacific struggling for volunteers to pass on information and provide support.
  • Call City Hall (420-5020) and the Board of Supervisors (454-2200) or Rattle the Windows of these Toxic Pretenders where They Live to demand Immediate Motel Vouchers (indoor shelter) for the entire homeless population during the crisis so they can shelter-in-place as recommended by the CDC.
  • Insist that City Manager Bernal and Chief Mills stop the sweeps of homeless encampments–violating the CDC directive.
  • Prepare for peaceful urgent Direct Action to enact these health measures if City Manager Bernal, Mayor Cummings, and Chief Mills continue to Stall.
  • Resist Business and Corporate Pressure to Restore Massive Tourist “Business as Usual” in the midst of a Pandemic of Unknown Dimensions

  • Contact Bathrobespierre Robert for final word on what form if any the weekly Wednesday HUFF meeting will take (normally 6-10).
  • Demand “Bad News” Bernal Order His Cops to Stand off and Allow Homeless Activists to Reopen Camp Phoenix, remain where they are without molestation (stop the sweeps!), and/or allow for self-run triage zones (as at the Ross Camp site) now that Governor Newsom has declared that area surplus space to be designated for homeless use.
  • Pressure the City to provide support for vehicular residents, water for those in the Benchlands, portapotties for those in the Pogonip and the Levy, and decent survival services citywide.
  • Denounce the latest cosmetic “See, We Have Shelter” lie with the pathetic and all-in-the-same-room response of the Vet’s Hall, the Armory, and Laurel St instead of the needed and promised motel rooms.  These need to be provided BEFORE symptoms develop, BEFORE testing, TARGETING the most vulnerable but providing for all during the crisis.
  • Demand immediate transfer of money to shelter the many rather than provide an illusion by unsafely sheltering a few, while really providing protective cover to the City Council and Board of Supervisors for essentially doing nothing for the great majority and allowing Mills’ police-and-rangers to threaten campsites with seizure and arrest at will as police are the only large gang allowed to publicly assemble.
  • Contact Chief Mills at amills@cityofsantacruz.com  to demand fundamental changes such as that seized survival gear be available for reclaiming during regular business hours, not just 6 hours as week.  See https://www.indybay.org/uploads/2019/12/18/police_protest_flyer_12-18-19.pdf
  • Hold accountable City Hall NIMBY enablers at all public meetings:  Mayor Justin Cummings, City Manager-for-Life Martin Bernal, His Wrecking Crew of Abuse Enablers Susie O’Hara and Megan Bunch, Police Chief Andy Mills, & City Attorney Tony Condotti  for Inciting the Ross Camp Destruction,  Subsequent Deaths, & the Friday Nov 15th Demolition of Camp Phoenix (the renewed Deseire Memorial Survival Encampment in back of Ross) with a campaign of lies to the community regarding “adequate shelter options”.
  • Remember Deseire Quintero–Killed by City Indifference, Negligence, and Malice in Closing the First Ross Camp Without Any Adequate Shelter!  Support Survival Campgrounds, Empty Building Takeovers This Plague Season Wherever They Happen.  Provide them with supplies.
  • Take peaceful action to open up buildings for Emergency Shelter as well as an end to harassment citation of folks surviving outside under “trespass on public property”, “closed area”, “public nuisance” and “blocking the sidewalk” pretexts;
  • Witness, oppose, and document police and ranger harassment using “closed areas”, “blocking the sidewalk”, “public nuisance”, “public trespass”, and “illegal lodging” to get around the Boise v. Martin “No shelter? No tickets!” decision.
  • Demand City Manager “Mangler” Martin Bernal and SCPD Police Chief  “Ambushmaster” Andy Mills account for their destruction of Camp Phoenix ignoring City Council’s required Standard Operating Procedures for closing encampments and violating their own admission that “trespass” could not be properly applied to the survival sleepers.  Remember the bad history so it’s not repeated!

·  Contact Alicia Kuhl  to find more direct and effective ways to support the next shelter-in-place encampments  throughout the City starved of food and survival gear at 831-431-7766.   DONATE SURVIVAL GEAR  & VOLUNTEER DURING THE CRISIS EVERY DAY AT FOOD NOT BOMBS Laurel & Front St. MEAL.

·  Document Homeless Discrimination & Sign Up for Direct Action to “Open the Bathrooms Now!” Action by contacting the SC Union, HUFF,  Conscience & Action, or the Give-A-Shit Campaign

·  Provide Direct Support to Survival Camps & Squats as City

Council Ignores the Emergency; Skip the Poverty Pimp Entrepreneurs to give directly to Food Not Bombs, the Felker St. Footbridge Services, the SC Homeless Union and other real providers.

·  Post Your Documentation of Police and Ranger “Move Along” Mischief or Pass it on to BadAss Mama at 831-431-7766

·  Donate to Existing Homeless Encampments, NOT Poverty-Pimp Posturers– Survival Demands Blankets, Water, Tarps, Portapotties & Trash Pick-Up’s–and Deter Police Harassment by being On Call to Document It.

·  Additional Needs for Community Samaritans!–More Needs: Potable Water for Drinking, Laundry Access so Clothes Don’t Mildew, Electrical Phone-Charging Hook-up’s and More Space in Additional Spots, Monitor and Expose Cop Crackdowns

·  Support Food Not Bombs,  the Warming Center’s Day/Night Storage Program, HUFF, and independent homeless activists bydocumenting, providing resources, & publicizing the situation.

  •  Check out The Santa Cruz Community, Santa Cruz Homeless Advocates & Homeless Outside in Santa Cruz, Monterey County Homeless Advocates, SNAIL, HEART Disabled Homeless People,  Power Surge Tenants Rights, Bay Area Landless People’s Alliance, and more on Facebook..then go out and do something!
  •   Read Updates and Post Them on Santa Cruz Indymedia at https://www.indybay.org/santa-cruz/
  •   Exchange information with other supporters there to generate more communication and better solutions in the future.
  •   Listen in to Bathrobespierre’s Broadsides at freakradio.org Thursdays 6-8 PM, Sundays 9:30 AM- 3 PM
  •   Hear archived shows at http://www.huffsantacruz.org/Lostshows.html .  Call in with street reports and commentary: 831-423-4833
  •   If you must, expropriate items from corporate & chain stores.  Don’t steal from vulnerable fellow homeless or local businesses!

REMINDER:   Free Radio Santa Cruz stands ready to dole out $300 for info leading to a 10′ X 10′ studio space with bathroom, internet, and electrical access–either indoors or out (we’ll build a structure).  We’re also seeking a transmitter space where we can put up an antenna–a backyard, a multistory home, a high tree–help us spread the word.   Help us so we can help you!

Bathrobespierre’s Broadsides netcast streams tonight 5-28-20 at 6 PM at freakradio.org: Walking and Talking Protest Against Police Abuse in Santa Cruz

Posted on by

Check out the show at http://www.huffsantacruz.org/Lostshows.html . 

New postings and interviews from the last few days at http://www.huffsantacruz.org/Lostshows.html

ON TODAY’S SHOW

xxx Announcements of Upcoming Protests Locally
xxx Community Takes Over and Runs Minneapolis Motel: https://minnesotareformer.com/2020/06/02/minneapolis-residents-commandeered-a-hotel-for-homeless/?
xxx Vallejo Police Killing of Sean Monterrosa
xxx Interviews and Chatter on the Sunday March of Thousands Against Police Murder in Santa Cruz
xxx Chatting with Photo-Journalist Alex Darocy

NEW TIME, NEW PLACE: Today at the Parking Lot across from the Dream Inn 5:15 PM in Solidarity with anti-Police Abuse Protests by Black Lives Matter supporters

Posted on by

Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom

UPDATES ON ONGOING ISSUES  6-3-20

  • Solidarity with Anti-Police Abuse Movement (Black Lives Matter and others): HUFF meeting rescheduled to 5:15 PM at parking lot across from the Dream Inn where the BLM march will gather at 5:30 PM today.

    More Solidarity Actions: 
  • Retaining COVID-19 Campground Gains:  How to keep what the City/County have grudgingly given?  The City-acknowledged survival camps–both those across from Coral St. and at the Benchlands, plus homeless-run ones around the City.  Not to mention portapotties, wash stations, and trash cans appearing spottily here and there (but not much in the Pogonip).  How can residents keep and assure those gains?
  • Continued Danger of Indoor Group Shelters  Recent news reports notes 40% of the Country’s fatalities are in Nursing Homes. No clarity the City and County are moving folks into Project Roomkey Motel Rooms from The Armory, Vets Hall, and Laurel St. as well as the indoor areas of the “Housing Mutters” Coral St. complex.
  • Expanded Police Powers:  City Councils’ expansion of “emergency” powers seized by Bernal, Mills, and City Department Heads need to be monitored and resisted.  I anticipate the return of the Mills/Condotti Police Powers 8-point Repression program as well as the “improved” Camping Ordinance slithering its way through the CACH committee.  Now is obviously the moment to focus on local Santa Cruz police abuse.
  • Report on Local Motel Room Stats for the Vulnerable:  Still no new word from Mayor “NoJustice” Justin Cummings (other than “tell it to the County workers”),  county worker Jessica Scheider, and other local Project Roomkey fund fondlers in response to requests for stats on the numbers outside vulnerable not offered rooms, amount of $ left,  & the toxic congregate shelter indoor danger.
  • Have You Been Hassled Under the New Indefinite Powers for Cops and the Deputized City Employees?  Passed last month these included citation powers to dozens of city employees and vague “enforce health edicts” power to the cops.  Contact HUFF to let us know at 423-4833.
  • Resume Direct Action Protests?: Thousands came out over the weekend to demand police accountability.   HUFFsters might consider a socially-distanced picket line or Honk In outside the residences of City and County officials or Vacant Motels to demand safe shelter-in-place space.
  • Reports of Vehicle Tows Are on the Rise:  With rumored countersuits by the ACLU &  Santa Cruz Homeless Union still not happening here (though some action reported in Sacramento). Get reports to Alicia at 431-7766
  • Reports from Other Homeless Activists Elsewhere (Salinas, Berkeley, Marysville, Monterey)  Go to http://www.huffsantacruz.org/Lostshows.html for the latest shows.  Check http://huffsantacruz.org/wordpress/ for the content of the shows. 
  • Researching During the Lockdown–Tracking Those in Power:  Who are our Key Powerbrokers in Santa Cruz:  Real estate interests, the Canfield Company, the University, Swenson, et. al.–let’s expose the facts and let them speak for themselves.  Still looking for in-home volunteers.
  • Progress Reports on the 99%: on Encampments outside including San Lorenzo Park, Coral St., the Pogonip: What they need, how they’re faring, new contacts  I’m gathering contacts.  If you have ’em, phone me at 423-4833 or e-mail me at rnorse3@hotmail.com.
  • Is Mills Still Breaking His “Word” on Vehicle Harassment?  Nothing new here, but recent reports of vehicle harassment and seizure, not to mention the officially-sanctioned vandalism of “tire chalking” continues in spite of court prohibition in other states (see https://www.npr.org/2019/04/23/716248823/court-says-using-chalk-on-tires-for-parking-enforcement-violates-constitution ).
  • Coronavirus Copwatch: Reports on Police, Ranger, Security Thug, and Business Behavior Towards Those Outside   The Coral St. sweep, constriction of the San Lorenzo Benchlands camp, lack of available drinking water, absence of portapotties and washing stations in the Felker St. area, as well as Mills’ illegal “move along” of street musicians and others—call it in, call it out.  This is the moment to shout out.
  • Good Though Distant Source: SF Coalition on Homelessness panel of medical experts demands testing now, and immediate movement of crowded shelter residents into individual motel rooms. Still relevant is the press conference & discussion at https://www.facebook..com/CoalitionOnHomelessness/videos/2954977444559143/?
  • SC Homeless Union Looking:  ….for blankets, tents, and other survival gear.  Leave them at the Food Not Bombs meal (see below) or call Alicia at 431-7766.   …for medical professionals working in respiratory therapy, nursing, other life-saving professions willing to write, e-mail, or call city, county, and state officials to open up the motel rooms.  
  • Food Not Bombs [FNB] meal and clothes distribution is still  daily 1-6 PM at the parking lot next to the Santa Cruz Community Credit Union at Laurel & Front.  Weekends the meal will be 4-6 PM.   Food preppers wanted at Vet’s Hall weekends noon.
  • Metro Bathrooms Still Closed?:  Yep.  As reportedly are the parking garage bathrooms.  Why?  And where is the drinking water?
  • Rent strike reports?: FNB reports folks reporting illegal evictions continue.  And vacant buildings remain vacant as the virus spreads.   Distress grows while the banks and big boys get the bail-out’s with unemployment skyrocketing..  Contact Tenant Sanctuary with reports of illegal evictions at (831)200-0740 .  Go public by calling Free Radio at 423-4833.
  • Frequent local updates can still be found on Facebook under Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs, Santa Cruz County Homeless Advocates, Homeless Outside in Santa Cruz, SCCCP (Santa Cruz and Central Coast Politics), Monterey County Homeless Advocates, The Santa Cruz Community, (SF) Coalition on Homelessness.  More distant updates:  homelesstimes.com, http://homelessperspective.com, https://wraphome.org/,

    HISTORICAL REMINDER
  • Very very few 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.  Funding exists, promises made, promises broken.
  • 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.  Support those panhandling on the medians and elsewhere.
  • Public transportation options have been restricted or shut down, making access to what limited resources there are even more problematic.
  • Mayor Cummings has still not issued no calls for an emergency Council meeting to pass elementary measures already done in other cities like a moratorium on rents, lest the homeless population triple in July.  
  • We must confront directly, clearly, persistently, loudly and immediately to secure the basic survival needs of the community in the current crisis.
  • Contact Food Not Bombs (575-770-3377),
  • HUFF (831-423-4833), or the Santa Cruz Homeless Union (831-431-7766) if you wish to help.

Bathrobespierre’s Broadsides streams today (5-31-20) at freakradio.org with Council, Scott Graham, Happier Nights at the Vet’s Hall?, Mass Protest Downtown Against the George Floyd Killing… Flashback to 11-16-97 the Happy John Dine slaying

Posted on by

Today’s show streams at freakradio.org and archives at http://www.huffsantacruz.org/Lostshows.html  

ON TODAY’S SHOW:  

***  Reviewing the 5-26 Santa Cruz Shitty Council Meeting with Scope-It-Out Scott Graham

***  Patty Praises, Provides a Picture of the Vet’s Hall Shelter

***  An old-time Santa Cruz camper on the Shelter Situation; remembering SCPD’s Come-Beat-Up-The-Homeless “Code Blue” in times past,  Tribute to Papa John

***  Interviews and Walk-About at the “Just Outside the Fences” Mass Black Lives Matter protest of police murder, most recently illustrated by the murder of George Floyd.

***  Carebear’s Sitting Ticket–Reports from the Food Not Bombs  5-20 meal

FLASHBACK TO ANOTHER POLICE SLAYING THE 11-16-97 :

In-studio guest Free Radio Broadcaster Vinnie Lombardo (the V-Man)’s near-the-scene accounts of SCPD Officer Connor Carrie’s Murder of street activist “Happy” John Dine

Phone calls on the killing from Bob Lamonica, David Silva, Larry Redick, streetside Jeanie, Colin, Brandon, and Mike, Mad Mike the Wonderdog, Phil Free, Linda Lemaster, Al, and two eye witnesses Stacy Buckalou & Mike Schultz.

“Loudmouth” Leith, aka Rainbow Lite calls for Another City Hall Protest against the Sleeping Ban

Santa Monica Struggle: Jennifer Wagonner’s report in chains from the occupation of the Flamenco Motel

Most Recent Archived Overflow Interviews at

http://www.huffsantacruz.org/Lostshows.html  

Recent Past Shows are Described at http://huffsantacruz.org/wordpress/Many Earlier Shows are Described at http://www.huffsantacruz.org/brb-descriptions.html
Earliest Shows are Described at http://huffsantacruz.org/archivemain.html

Bathrobespierre’s Broadsides netcast streams tonight 5-28-20 at 6 PM at freakradio.org: Becky Jorgeson of San Louis Obispo

Posted on by

Check out the show at http://www.huffsantacruz.org/Lostshows.html . 

New postings and interviews from the last few days at http://www.huffsantacruz.org/Lostshows.html

ON TODAY’S SHOW

xxx Becky Jorgeson of San Luis Obispo Predicts a Long-Awaited Lawsuit For Houseless Residents
xxx Democracy Now‘s Coverage of the latest Minnesota Police Murder in Broad Daylight
xxx Voices from the Felton Deck: Alex Without his Guitar.
xxx  Ticketed for Sitting on Pacific Ave–An Old Tradition Continues at a Cost of $400.
xxx (throughout the show) https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/songs-of-black-lives-matter-22-new-protest-anthems-15256/

NEW TIME FOR HUFF Info Exchange: A HUFFster or two will be at the Food Not Bombs meal today (5-27) at 1:30 PM at Laurel and Front St. to gather reports, distribute some supplies, and provide tragi-comic relief.

Posted on by

HUFF Contact for Reports:   There will be a rep to gather any street reports and check-in’s today at 1:30

UPDATES ON ONGOING ISSUES

  • Retaining COVID-19 Campground Gains:  How to keep what the City/County have grudgingly given?  The City-acknowledged survival camps–both those across from Coral St. and at the Benchlands, plus homeless-run ones around the City.  Not to mention portapotties, wash stations, and trash cans appearing spottily here and there (but not much in the Pogonip).
  • Expanded Police Powers:  Reining in “emergency” powers seized by Bernal, Mills, and City Department Heads.  Anticipating and preempting the return of the Mills/Condotti Police Powers 8-point Repression program as well as the “improved” Camping Ordinance slithering its way through the CACH committee. 
  • City Council Doom Report: Yesterday’s City Council meeting saw reauthorization and possible expansion of the “Ambassadors” (the rebranded “Hosts” of olden days), rubberstamping of the Mills/Bernal removal of the Coral St. campground and their rules for the Benchlands encampment.  As well as no substantive support for tenants.  Beiers, Cummings, and Brown voted in a block on some issues and made a few comments, but took little strong action giving a “feel good” unanimous illusion to the Council’s actions.
  • Report on Local Motel Room Stats for the Vulnerable:  Still no new word from Mayor “NoJustice” Justin Cummings (other than “tell it to the County workers”),  county worker Jessica Scheider, and other local Project Roomkey fund fondlers.
  • New Indefinite Powers for Cops and the Deputized City Employees:  Passed last night without any stats showing the need for them.  These included the power (which the City already has) to reduce a misdemeanor to an infraction.  News that the City has given out more than 300 $400+ citations for COVID-19 violations with no stats on how many were to folks outside.
  • Resuming Direct Action Protests: Corporate and conservative “Lift the Shelter in Place & Open the Public Beaches” protesters may be at Cowell’s Beach again 3-5 PM on Friday May 29th.   HUFFsters might consider a socially-distanced picket line or honk in outside the residences of City and County officials to demand immediate action to occupy and open Motel rooms for vulnerable folks outside. 
  • Reports of Vehicle Tows Are on the Rise:  With rumored countersuits by the ACLU and Anthony Prince’s Santa Cruz Homeless Union not happening here (though some action reported in Sacramento).
  • Support for Possible City Action Against Food Not Bombs  No new hostile actions have been clearly signaled, but the temptation for the City to use its “emergency powers” to further harass one of the few food providers in the City must be vigilantly monitored.
  • Reports from Other Homeless Activists Elsewhere (Salinas, Berkeley, Marysville, Monterey)  Go to http://www.huffsantacruz.org/Lostshows.html for the latest shows.  Check http://huffsantacruz.org/wordpress/ for the content of the shows. 
  • Researching During the Lockdown–Tracking Those in Power:  Who are our Key Powerbrokers in Santa Cruz:  Real estate interests, the Canfield Company, the University, Swenson, et. al.–let’s expose the facts and let them speak for themselves.  Any volunteers?
  • Progress Reports on the 99%: on Encampments outside including San Lorenzo Park, Coral St., the Pogonip: What they need, how they’re faring, new contacts  I’m gathering contacts.  If you have ’em, phone me at 423-4833 or e-mail me at rnorse3@hotmail.com.
  • Mills Still Breaking His “Word” on Vehicle Harassment:  Nothing new here, but recent reports of vehicle harassment and seizure, not to mention the officially-sanctioned vandalism of “tire chalking” continues in spite of court prohibition in other states (see https://www.npr.org/2019/04/23/716248823/court-says-using-chalk-on-tires-for-parking-enforcement-violates-constitution ).
  • Coronavirus Copwatch: Reports on Police, Ranger, Security Thug, and Business Behavior Towards Those Outside   The Coral St. sweep, constriction of the San Lorenzo Benchlands camp, lack of available drinking water, absence of portapotties and washing stations in the Felker St. area, as well as Mills’ illegal “move along” of street musicians and others—call it in, call it out 
  • Good Though Distant Source: SF Coalition on Homelessness panel of medical experts demands testing now, and immediate movement of crowded shelter residents into individual motel rooms. Still relevant is the press conference & discussion at https://www.facebook.com/CoalitionOnHomelessness/videos/2954977444559143/?  
  • SC Homeless Union Looking:  …for blankets, tents, and other survival gear.  Leave them at the Food Not Bombs meal (see below) or call Alicia at 431-7766.   …for medical professionals working in respiratory therapy, nursing, other life-saving professions willing to write, e-mail, or call city, county, and state officials to open up the motel rooms.  
  • Food Not Bombs [FNB] meal and clothes distribution is still  daily 1-6 PM at the parking lot next to the Santa Cruz Community Credit Union at Laurel & Front.  Weekends the meal will be 4-6 PM.   Food preppers wanted at Vet’s Hall weekends noon.
  • Metro Bathrooms Still Closed?:  Yep.  As reportedly are the parking garage bathrooms.  Why?
  • Rent strike reports?: FNB reports folks reporting illegal evictions continue.  And vacant buildings remain vacant as the virus spreads.   Distress grows while the banks and big boys get the bail-out’s with unemployment skyrocketing.  Contact Tenant Sanctuary with reports of illegal evictions at (831)200-0740 .  Go public by calling Free Radio at 423-4833.
  • HUFF MAY BE ORGANIZING BY PHONE to support the demand for Motel rooms before the only option  is quarantine areas.  CONTACT US AT 831-423-4833 OR RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL IF YOU’D LIKE TO HELP OR WANT TO PROVIDE REPORTS.
  • Frequent local updates can still be found on Facebook under Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs, Santa Cruz County Homeless Advocates, Homeless Outside in Santa Cruz, SCCCP (Santa Cruz and Central Coast Politics), Monterey County Homeless Advocates, The Santa Cruz Community, (SF) Coalition on Homelessness.  More distant updates:  homelesstimes.com, http://homelessperspective.com, https://wraphome.org/,

HISTORICAL REMINDERS from a HUFFster’s perspective

  • Very very few 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.  Funding exists, promises are made, promises are broken.
  • 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.  Support those panhandling on the medians and elsewhere.
  • Public transportation options have been restricted or shut down, making access to what limited resources there are even more problematic.
  • Mayor Cummings has still not issued no calls for an emergency Council meeting to pass elementary measures already done in other cities like a moratorium on rents.  
  • We must confront directly, clearly, persistently, loudly and immediately to secure the basic survival needs of the community in the current crisis.
  • Contact Food Not Bombs (575-770-3377), HUFF (831-423-4833), or the Santa Cruz Homeless Union (831-431-7766) if you wish to help.

Bathrobespierre’s Broadsides streams today (5-24-20) at freakradio.org with Cowell Beach Protesters, Wes White’s Salinas Review, Benchlands Blather, and an Angry Review of the Ahmaud Aubrey Killing

Posted on by

Today’s show streams at freakradio.org and archives at http://www.huffsantacruz.org/Lostshows.html  

ON TODAY’S SHOW:
​   

***  San Lorenzo Benchland Interviews with Jeremiah, Greg, Puttentain, Mac, and Kevin

***  “Open the Beaches” Protest at Cowell Beach: Distanced Dialogue with Satya, Ellie, and Etienne

***  Examining Police Harassment of Ahmaud Aubrey, the Georgia black guy killed by two white vigilantes.

***  “Weatherman” Wes White from Salinas Reviews COVID-19 Conditions and Some History There

FLASHBACK TO 6-1-00 :

  • Co-Host Jumboheart James Nay and Bathrobespierre Discuss the City Council’s Run Through of the Dolphin-Lee (now the Nueva Vista) Beach Flats Demolition Project with No Relocation Guarantees
  •  Report on the Recent Santa Cruz Action Network (SCAN) meeting demanding the City Council candidates it endorsed vote to require the Guarantees.
  • Further Discussion of the Dolphin Lee Demolition with Eleanor & “Scope It Out” Scott Graham, “Bashful” Bernard Klitzner, and Residentes Unidos Organizer Nena Ruez.
  • “Rough-Tongued” Roxanne Acquistepache Confronts Santa Cruz Mayor “Sweet Story” Sugar
  • “Beggarbacker” Becky Johnson Blasts Council’s Demolition Plan
  • Scott Deconstructs the Council’s Manipulation of the Dolphin-Lee Tenants Relocation Committee

Most Recent Archived Overflow Interviews at

http://www.huffsantacruz.org/Lostshows.html  

Recent Past Shows are Described at http://huffsantacruz.org/wordpress/Many Earlier Shows are Described at http://www.huffsantacruz.org/brb-descriptions.html
Earliest Shows are Described at http://huffsantacruz.org/archivemain.html

Bathrobespierre’s Broadsides netcast streams tonight 5-21-20 at 6 PM at freakradio.org: Dusty Dialogues Downtown

Posted on by

Check out the show at http://www.huffsantacruz.org/Lostshows.html . 

New postings and interviews from the last few days at http://www.huffsantacruz.org/Lostshows.html


ON TODAY’S SHOW

xxx Dick Tracy’s Down and Drub A Suspect on Delaware St.
xxx “Bashback” Berger of the SC Tenant’s Association Surveys the Rental Crisis
xxx  “Nettlesome” Noel denounces Delivery Freeze to the Benchlands Outdoor Locals & Police Refusal to Make a Report

xxx   “Dustyboots” Dan Wonders Why He Was Excluded from a Local Bus Line

xxx   Checking in with “Judicious” Julio, Food Not Bombs worker during a lunch break.

xxx   Regional local ACLUites call for end to encampment sweeps and vehicle tows, demanding public records.



TAKE OUR MONEY, PLEASE !   
STUDIO SITE REWARD STILL AVAILABLE !

Free Radio Santa Cruz stands ready to dole out $300 for info leading to a 10′ X 10′ studio space with bathroom, internet, and electrical access–either indoors or out (we’ll build a structure).  We’re also seeking a transmitter space where we can put up an antenna–a backyard, a multistory home, a high tree–help us spread the word.   Help us so we can help you!