Tag Archives: Food Not Bombs

Raleigh, N.C. Bans Church Group From Serving Free Breakfast

Posted on by

NOTES BY  NORSE:   Food Not Bombs [FNB], unlike Hollowell’s Love Wins Ministry, has repeatedly ignored “disperse the homeless”-motivated attacks on its free food meals in Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Orlando, and many other cities in the past.   Currently FNB is under attack in Portland, Seattle, Detroit, and Boulder.  (Seehttp://www.foodnotbombs.net/fnb_resists.html).
        In Santa Cruz, food serving has generally been driven out of the Pacific Avenue area either to the ghetto-area of the Homeless (Lack of) Services Center [HLOSC], or to San Lorenzo Park.   Funding for ID checks at the HLOSC  as  well as a $100,000 security gate appropriation (by city and county paranoid-enablers) was passed recently.
        Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs still feeds each Saturday in front of the Main Post office on the sidewalk.  Go to their facebook page to offer support–they need carrot choppers, soup-servers, and postermakers!
        Keith McHenry, FNB co-founder, will be calling in to the stream of Free Radio Santa Cruz at during the Thursday evening show (6-8 PM) and again for a longer interview Sunday sometime between 9:30 AM and 1 PM) at http://tunein.com/radio/FRSC-s47254/ .  Call in with questions at 831-427-3772 or 832-469-3119.
          Free Radio Santa Cruz still desperately needs a transmitter site in Santa Cruz.  If you know anyone with a tall tree or second story house, please contact them at www.freakradio.org .

Standing up with the hungry

Posted: Monday, August 26, 2013 12:36 am | Updated: 12:38 am, Mon Aug 26, 2013.

Jacob Fulk, Staff writer |


Protesters gathered Sunday evening at Moore Square in response to a series of cease and desist requests targeted at groups distributing food to the homeless.

 

The latest cease and desist request was enforced Saturday morning when the Raleigh Police department, in accordance with a city ordinance, forbade Hugh “The Reverend” Hollowell and his Love Wins Ministry from distributing coffee and breakfast to area homeless people.

 

“It seemed less like ‘get the people out of the park’ and more like ‘how do we punish homeless people,” Hollowell said.

 

According to Hollowell his group had handed out breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays for 6 years before the cease and desist request on August 24th.

 

Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane attended the event to reassure protesters and charitable organizations that no arrests will be made for handing out food at Moore Square.

 

According to McFarlane at least 32 different groups distribute food at Moore Square. She also said that more homeless people might have their needs met if these groups were more evenly distributed across the city.

 

“We’ve gotten to where there are so many people coming and and bringing food and wanting to help that it is almost sometimes overwhelming,” McFarlane said.

 

City officials provided little information as to why police recently enforced the ordinance after years of interaction between organizations and homeless people, though McFarlane and City Councilman Russ Stephenson both cited an overabundance of groups donating and haphazardly dropping off food as reason for reform.

 

Donald Zepp, leader of Humans Beans Together and former professor of entomology at Cornell Univeristy, said that the police disallowing the distribution of food “came as a complete surprise considering we had police officers previously coming over to us to say ‘thank you for being here’ and ‘we appreciate what you are doing here.’”

 

Zepp also said he familiarized himself with the city ordinance that prohibits the distribution of food and it could theoretically be applied to extent that “if you’re here with your family and you feed your kid a sandwich, you’re breaking the ordinance.”

Hollowell expressed a surprise similar to that of Zepp, stating that “When a man with a gun tells you that you’re not permitted to do something, what do you do?”

 

“We are not the mayor’s enemies, we are not the City of Raleigh’s enemies,” Hollowell said. He mentioned that during a conversation with Mayor McFarlane she expressed her own surprise toward the incident and assured him that Love Wins would not be arrested if it returned the following Saturday.

 

Jes Cronmiller of Food Not Bombs, a political organization that frequently distributes food in Moore Square, noted that the number of people picking up food on Sunday afternoon was below normal. Many of her regulars had forgone acquiring food out of a fear of being ticketed or arrested by the police.

 

The sentiment of many of the protesters in attendance was that the police overextended their reach and used an obscure ordinance to remove homeless citizens from the park.

 

According to McFarlane, lawmakers and public safety officials will meet this week to address the future of food distribution in Moore Square and across the city. In the meantime, Love Wins, Food Not Bombs and Human Beans Together plan to conduct their food-giving schedules as normally as they are allowed.

State-wide Coalition Converges on the Capitol 4/22 and 4/23 for Homeless Bill of Rights hearing

Posted on by
NOTE BY NORSE:  Santa Cruz really needs some constitutional counteraction against its own Downtown Ordinances.  For a toxic selection of these nasty ordinances see “Deadly Downtown Ordinances–Updated” at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/08/29/18657087.php.

As homeless people are increasingly caught up in a bogus “Public Security” crackdown involving private security thugs harassing the homeless around city hall, the library, the levee, and in the Pogonip, documenting these abuses with video and audio–and posting the accounts becomes increasingly important.  A good place to post is www.indybay.org/santacruz .  Plus you-tube, of course.

A reminder to HUFF members and other interested folks that Keith McHenry, co-founder of Food Not Bombs, will be returning to Santa Cruz on Saturday to give a workshop/forum on the California Homeless Bill of Rights, creating a Homes Not Jails locally,  and other activist civil rights issues impacting those outside.  See http://www.indybay.org/uploads/2013/04/15/arm_the_homeless.pdf .

Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2013 08:59:35 -0700
From: shoc_1@yahoo.com
Subject: State-wide Coalition Converges on the Capitol 4/22 and 4/23 for Homeless Bill of Rights hearing
To: shoc_1@yahoo.com
CC: pboden@wraphome.org

State-wide Coalition converges on the Capitol on April 22 and 23 before Homeless Bill of Rights Hearing
 
Homeless communities, grassroots organizations, and advocates across the state join together to ensure the passage of the Homeless Person’s Bill of Rights and Fairness Act (AB 5) 
 
CONTACT:                                                   
Paula Lomazzi, SHOC Director
shoc_1@yahoo.com                                         
916.862.8649                                                    
EVENTS:
Rally – North Steps of Capitol, April 22, 2:30 – 6 PM
Press Conference – North Steps Capitol, April 23, 7:30 or 8:15 AM

APRIL 12, 2013—Momentum for the Homeless Person’s Bill of Rights and Fairness Act is building steadily, with critical revisions to the proposed bill now complete and Judiciary Committee hearings scheduled for April 23rd.  Hundreds of homeless rights activists from across California will rally in Sacramento on April 22nd
Assembly Bill 5 was introduced by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco). “This bill,” he says, “is really about basic justice. People who are Homeless not only have to struggle with life on the street, they often have the indignity of being treated like criminals because they have nowhere to eat, sit, or sleep except in public. My bill is not about privilege. It’s about making sure they are treated equally before the law. I’m proud to be standing with, and for, anyone seeking justice.”
In a Western Regional Advocacy Project (WRAP) survey of 1,267 homeless people, 81% of participants reported that they were harassed by police for sleeping. In addition, 78% reported experiencing police harassment for sitting. Six hundred of these respondents were in California. Tickets for “status offenses” like sleeping or sitting often result in the arrest and imprisonment of homeless people.
With shelters filled to capacity and thousands of people on waiting lists for housing around the state, homeless people have no choice but to sleep, rest and eat in public places. Paula Lomazzi from Sacramento Homeless Organizing Committee said, “These are basic rights that allow all people to stay alive—things most of us get to take for granted, but which remain a daily challenge for many of the poorest members of our communities.”
“Laws that segregate, that make criminals of people based on their status rather than their behavior, or that prohibit certain people’s right to be in public spaces are not just sad relics from the past, ” says Paul Boden, Organizing Director of the Western Regional Advocacy Project (WRAP). “The California Homeless Bill of Rights is a response that will protect homeless people from discrimination and ensure their right to exist. This is not about special rights – this is about equal rights.”

Last year, Rhode Island became the first state to pass a statewide homeless people’s bill of rights. Building on the community organizing that led to this success, social justice organizations around the country have been working on bills that aim to protect the rights of homeless people. While the states of Vermont, Oregon, Connecticut and Missouri have already had bills introduced, California’s Bill – co-sponsored by the Western Regional Advocacy Project, Western Center on Law and Poverty, JERICHO: A Voice for Justice, and the East Bay Community law Center – is the first bill since Rhode Island’s to be heard in the state legislature. Judith Larson of Jericho said, “This is the essence of what Jericho was

Sacramento Homeless Organizing Committee
P.O. Box 952, Sacramento, CA 95812
Phone and Fax: (916)442-2156
www.sacshoc.org – http://homeward.wikispaces.com

Responding to the Destruction of Homeless Survival Camps in Santa Cruz

Posted on by
“Less is More” Leslie responds to an anti-homeless article from the Boulder Creek Bulletin  titled “Local Environment Gets Impacted by Homeless in SLV [San Lorenzo Valley]; Law Enforcement Sweeps Shanti Towns & Encampments”.

The original article is posted at http://www.mountainbulletin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Issue_2_Vol_2_BC_Bulletin.pdf  (pp. 1 & 3).

Leslie’s reaction:


What Kind of Community Do We Have?

Perusing the very local newspaper produced in Boulder Creek, my ire was aroused by a top of the page headline on the trash produced by “the homeless” in the community.  I am moved to ask, “What kind of community do we have here in the San Lorenzo Valley?  Does it only care about trash, or does it care about people?”

I want to try to tell my homeless neighbors up in the redwood forest here that they are not alone.  Not everyone wants them to disappear without a trace.  In my small circle of acquaintances in town, one had a family living in a motor home in their back yard, and another was helping his son “get back on his feet” after a car accident by having him live on his property in a small outbuilding.  We have folks who need a little help, and we have compassionate community members helping them by offering them a place to sleep at night.  We have church and community programs helping in organized programs as well.

Providers of homeless services have been promoting a new vision of service for the people that need the most help: permanent supportive housing for those chronic homeless, many of whom have untreated mental health issues or substance dependencies or both.  Many people support this model of providing help, but it is more expensive than another model that homeless advocates are now discussing.  If there were enough community support, either through charities, government, or private entrepreneurship, this community could house people in a campground where trash could be collected, sanitary facilities provided, and a sense of interdependency could be created, with peers helping peers.  Other communities have found that this helps people “get back on their feet.”

Currently, we have many paths leading nowhere.  People sleep in their cars.  People sleep in the woods.  Those who have drawn attention to the problem in creative non-violent political protest have been sent to jail or fined.  A fraction of the homeless population are sheltered at night in the city of Santa Cruz, another fraction in spare bedrooms and backyards all over the county.  The community can do better by coming together, finding those that agree with our project, creating new partnerships amongst those that are already caring for people in need, listening to our critical rivals, and finally by taking action.

Occupy Santa Cruz will be discussing a “Sanctuary Camp” this Saturday in front of the downtown Santa Cruz Post Office.  You may meet at 4 PM for a vegan meal shared by Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs, and stay for the General Assembly at 5:30 PM.  Decisions are made through a consensus process open to all.  I look forward to seeing you there.

NOTE BY NORSE:  A follow-up meeting will be held Tuesday March 5 at noon in Laurel Park next to Louden Nelson Center and another meeting noon Wednesday March 6 at the Sub Rosa Cafe at 703 Pacific Ave.–both locations in downtown Santa Cruz.

HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom) meets 2-6 10 AM to noon at the Sub Rosa as well.

Food Not Bombs Back In Spite of Police & Postal Harassment

Posted on by
Title: Food Not Bombs Back In Spite of Police & Postal Harassment
START DATE: Saturday February 02
TIME: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location Details:
On the sidewalk next to the Main Post Office at the intersection of Pacific, Front, Mission, N. River, and Soquel Streets.
Event Type: Protest
Contact Name Food Not Bombs
Email Address foodnotbombs-sc [at] riseup.net
Phone Number
Address
FOOD NOT BOMBS RETURNS
Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs continues its weekly public feeding in front of the Main Post Office.

Last week it was driven by police and postal officials from the spot it had served at for the previous month–under the eavs of the Post Office.

At that spot it did not block traffic, was protected from the wind and rain, and operated without difficulties–except that postal employees objected for unspecified reasons (anonymous complaints).

Last week under threat of arrest, FNB was forced to the sidewalk to serve.

More on this at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/01/19/18730563.php?show_comments=1#18730857 and the main story to which this comment is attached.

THE BROADER THREAT
Allowing bureaucrats and cops to deny the community the right to assemble is a dangerous precedent. Two and a half years ago City Hall and the Library were made curfew zones at night to stop peaceful protest.

Last year, Chief Administrative Officer Susan Mauriello decreed a 7 PM to 7 AM curfew at the courthosue and county building against Occupy Santa Cruz. This curfew is still in force–as though we were under martial law.

CONTACT INFORMATION
The e-mail address and website for for Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs are foodnotbombs-sc [at] riseup.net & http://www.scfnb.org .
They also have a facebook page. The best way to reach them is to come to the Saturday 4 PM meal and volunteer.

Robert Norse of HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom) is posting this event. At our weekly meeting we voted to support FNB and encourage others in the community to cook and serve. We also urge folks to come witness and be in solidarity with FNB servers as they rightfully use the public space to both feed and raise important social and political questions.

THE BROADER PICTURE
The attack on Food Not Bombs may be part of a broader agenda by groups downtown (the Downtown Association, Santa Cruz Neighbors, SCPD, City Council) to remove visible poverty from sight and “make Santa Cruz a less welcoming place for the Undesirable”.

Attacks on food servers has been done in the past in Santa Cruz and other cities and only stopped when FNB and other feeding groups refused to stop feeding, even in the face of threats of arrest.

A HISTORICAL LOOK BACK
For an account of my jailtime and its impact in helping to stopp the harassment of Food Not Bombs in San Francisco two decades ago see:

http://www.huffsantacruz.org/StreetSpiritSantaCruz/001.SoupCrime%20In%20San%20Francisco=8-96.pdf &

http://www.huffsantacruz.org/StreetSpiritSantaCruz/002.SoupCrime%20In%20S.F.%28cont.%29=8-96.pdf

UPCOMING ATTACKS ON THE HOMELESS
City Council with its right-wing majority is likely to pass the anti-homeless recommendations of the Public Safety [sic] Committee, perhaps as early as next Tuesday. See
“New Attack on Homeless Slated in City Council’s “Public Safety” Committee Meeting http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/01/29/18730942.php .

I hope that our local FNB will continue the work of its predecessors in taking direct stands to dramatize the abuses of the anti-homeless groups (and phony povertypimps).

Those who have aided and abetted the anti-homeless sweeps of the last year using “needle hysteria” to scapegoat already vulnerable poor people need to be confronted and exposed.

DISCLAIMER
These are my opinions, though I think many in HUFF share them (even some in FNB). I do not speak for FNB (nor for the homeless community), but only for myself.

Please get in touch with FNB and sign up to cook and serve. And show up with cameras, video and audio devices, and friends to witness and support.

The only thing that illegitimate power understands is the power of the community aroused.

Added to the calendar on Wednesday Jan 30th, 2013 10:23 PM

iCal Import this event into your personal calendar.

§To Be Perfectly Clear…

by Robert Norse Wednesday Jan 30th, 2013 11:21 PM
…I wrote and posted the calendar event above. Food Not Bombs is the contact for those who want to volunteer. The story is my perspective. It may be ambiguous or unclear from the fact that I wrote in Food Not Bombs as the contact.

Comments  (Hide Comments)

by Close Critic

Thursday Jan 31st, 2013 10:34 AM

It is my understanding that FNB makes decisions by consensus. They have yet to conduct their meeting for the week. I find it problematic that Norse is creating a calendar item for them without respect for their process.

It seems that he is trying to provoke a conflict with authorities (and his allies) by telling the community what he wants to see happen, which could create confusion–enough so that he has already felt the need to clarify himself. It also seems that he sees himself as an “expert” on the history of FNB whose opinion should be taken with greater weight than others’ (a behavior which he pointedly decried last week on his radio show.)

by Northbay solidarity

Friday Feb 1st, 2013 12:28 AM

The effort of the Santa Cruz FNB to serve the people is an inspiration to us out here in the Northbay.
Advocating for and feeding the homeless is about Human Rights, which Santa Cruz seems to not recognize, placing their plutocracy in the realm of fascist regimes in Latin America with their treatment of lower-class folks.
Thank you to Robert, the author of this posting, for diligently posting updates about this struggle. Without him, our Northbay Uprising radio show wouldn’t know what is happening, let alone report on it to our audience.
And much support to the HUFF for their endorsement of the Santa Cruz FNB campaign.

by Robert Norse

Saturday Feb 2nd, 2013 12:34 PM

I consulted with several FNB activists before posting the calendar event. They advised me that they’d be at the Post Office today. I hope you will too.

by Robert Norse

Sunday Feb 3rd, 2013 9:59 PM

The meal was served on the sidewalk–peanut-sauce laden tofu, salad, peace pie, snacks, and other goodies. The turnout was lower than last week–perhaps because it was the beginning of the month and folks had more money to get food independently. Perhaps because there was less “excitement” in terms of visible police harassment.

I didn’t see any cops. HUFF set up a table and made available literature about the proposed Homeless Bill of Rights as well as last month’s Street Spirit.

It was a mellow scene.

Occupy Santa Cruz voted to move its next General Assembly to Saturday at 5 PM during and after the Food Not Bombs meal at the post office.

Food Not Bombs activists attended the Sunday Occupy meeting today and sounded happy.

See you next week most likely.

by Robert Norse

Monday Feb 11th, 2013 1:45 PM

While I wasn’t there, reports I got the next day for my radio show from two who were there noted that the meal proceeded successfully on the sidewalk–a bit closer to the Front & Mission intersection (to provide more room on a broader area of the sidewalk). The turnout was reportedly smaller, and I got no reports of police or postal inspectors interfering.

Additionally Occupy Santa Cruz met on the post office steps at its new weekly meeting time of 5 PM each Saturday–with no reported interference.

As long as the weather is sunny and warm (and not rainy and/or cold), the sidewalk area may actually be better by being more visible. However, the principle of outdoor public areas being accessible to both charitable and political activity is an important one that was blatantly violated here, with the collusion of the Santa Cruz Police Department.

Just as parks, the City Hall complex, the library, the levee, and the County Courthouse complex are now “forbidden” zones at night (even for completely lawful political assembly), so now the federal post office is now a “no go”.

Prior food servings have also been targeted downtown (Dennis Adams of The Potters Hand meal across the street at the Town Clock was driven away by SCPD harassment after being harried all around town; Ronee Curry faced disapproval from Mayor Coonerty and her clients police harassment within the last few years on several occasions; Father Joel Miller faced a relentless campaign from Councilmember Cynthia Matthews for his Monday Calvary Episcopal meal–see http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/12/24/18667496.php).

The determination of the community to support continued access to public spaces is really the only safeguard we have.

Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs Returns to the Sidewalk Next to the Post Office Saturday 4 PM February 2nd

Posted on by
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/01/30/18731070.php

Title: Food Not Bombs Back In Spite of Police & Postal Harassment
START DATE: Friday February 01
TIME: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location Details:
On the sidewalk next to the Main Post Office at the intersection of Pacific, Front, Mission, N. River, and Soquel Streets.
Event Type: Other
Contact Name Food Not Bombs
Email Address foodnotbombs-sc [at] riseup.net
Phone Number
Address
FOOD NOT BOMBS RETURNS
Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs continues its weekly public feeding in front of the Main Post Office.

Last week it was driven by police and postal officials from the spot it had served at for the previous month–under the eavs of the Post Office.

At that spot it did not block traffic, was protected from the wind and rain, and operated without difficulties–except that postal employees objected for unspecified reasons (anonymous complaints).

Last week under threat of arrest, FNB was forced to the sidewalk to serve.

More on this at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/01/19/18730563.php?show_comments=1#18730857 and the main story to which this comment is attached.

THE BROADER THREAT
Allowing bureaucrats and cops to deny the community the right to assemble is a dangerous precedent. Two and a half years ago City Hall and the Library were made curfew zones at night to stop peaceful protest.

Last year, Chief Administrative Officer Susan Mauriello decreed a 7 PM to 7 AM curfew at the courthosue and county building against Occupy Santa Cruz. This curfew is still in force–as though we were under martial law.

CONTACT INFORMATION
The e-mail address and website for for Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs are foodnotbombs-sc [at] riseup.net & http://www.scfnb.org .
They also have a facebook page. The best way to reach them is to come to the Saturday 4 PM meal and volunteer.

Robert Norse of HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom) is posting this event. At our weekly meeting we voted to support FNB and encourage others in the community to cook and serve. We also urge folks to come witness and be in solidarity with FNB servers as they rightfully use the public space to both feed and raise important social and political questions.

THE BROADER PICTURE
The attack on Food Not Bombs may be part of a broader agenda by groups downtown (the Downtown Association, Santa Cruz Neighbors, SCPD, City Council) to remove visible poverty from sight and “make Santa Cruz a less welcoming place for the Undesirable”.

Attacks on food servers has been done in the past in Santa Cruz and other cities and only stopped when FNB and other feeding groups refused to stop feeding, even in the face of threats of arrest.

A HISTORICAL LOOK BACK
For an account of my jailtime and its impact in helping to stopp the harassment of Food Not Bombs in San Francisco two decades ago see:

http://www.huffsantacruz.org/StreetSpiritSantaCruz/001.SoupCrime%20In%20San%20Francisco=8-96.pdf &

http://www.huffsantacruz.org/StreetSpiritSantaCruz/002.SoupCrime%20In%20S.F.%28cont.%29=8-96.pdf

UPCOMING ATTACKS ON THE HOMELESS
City Council with its right-wing majority is likely to pass the anti-homeless recommendations of the Public Safety [sic] Committee, perhaps as early as next Tuesday. See
“New Attack on Homeless Slated in City Council’s “Public Safety” Committee Meeting http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/01/29/18730942.php .

I hope that our local FNB will continue the work of its predecessors in taking direct stands to dramatize the abuses of the anti-homeless groups (and phony povertypimps).

Those who have aided and abetted the anti-homeless sweeps of the last year using “needle hysteria” to scapegoat already vulnerable poor people need to be confronted and exposed.

DISCLAIMER
These are my opinions, though I think many in HUFF share them (even some in FNB). I do not speak for FNB (nor for the homeless community), but only for myself.

Please get in touch with FNB and sign up to cook and serve. And show up with cameras, video and audio devices, and friends to witness and support.

The only thing that illegitimate power understands is the power of the community aroused.

Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs Returning to Post Office In Spite of Past Police Surveillance & Threats

Posted on by
With possibly rainy weather this Saturday and to because those who eat its meals have come to expect it at the Main Post Office, Food Not Bombs is reportedly planning to return to serve its 4 PM meal under the eaves of the Main Post Office (but out of the way of the entrance).

Police have appeared several times as well as a postal employee unhappy with their presence there.   Though I’m in no way a spokesperson for the local Food Not Bombs, I believe the information in the posting below is correct and urge people to show up there to offer support whether as servers, future food preparers, food donators, reporters, witnesses, or just plain sympathizers.

Speaking for myself, it’s important that people feel entitled to use the public space in ways that benefit the community.  This includes those putting out a political message against the criminalization of poverty and the militarization of the country (Bombs Not Food).  In the past earlier incarnations of Food Not Bombs in Santa Cruz have doggedly stood for those principles, and it’s my understanding that the current group shares these sympathies.

Coming to this feeding in no way commits one to any kind of civil disobedience or confrontation with authorities.   Nor does it exclude  that possibility.  But the more people who  are willing to cook, feed, witness, and eat, the less likely authorities are to try to repress this movement.

Robert Norse

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/01/24/18730745.php

Title: Food Not Bombs To Serve at the Post Office This Saturday
START DATE: Saturday January 26
TIME: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Location Details:
On the steps of the Main Post Office in downtown Santa Cruz where Pacific, Front, Mission, etc. intersect.
Event Type: Other
Food Not Bombs serves weekly every Saturday with what I understand is both a political message and a damn good meal.

In recent weeks police have arrived with the apparent intention of pressing the group to move.

Food Not Bombs met last night and will be serving there again this week.

I am not a spokesperson for Food Not Bombs, but an interested member of the community.

Those interested in joining Food not Bombs, helping to cook or serve should check their Facebook webpage: Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs.

Food Not Bombs encourages supporters to come to their meals.

I think it’s particularly important at this crucial juncture. It would likely be helpful also to bring cameras, video and audio recorders, and friends.

Food Not Bombs needs folks to cook and serve as well as publicize the meal.

To read more about the recent behavior of the police and postmaster around the weekly Food Not Bombs meal go to
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/01/19/18730563.php .

Police and Postal Bureaucrats Crack Down on Food Not Bombs in Santa Cruz

Posted on by
Today at the Meal

by Robert Norse  Sunday Jan 27th, 2013 12:00 AM

POLICE AND POSTAL OFFICIALS DEMAND FNB MOVE OFF “POST OFFICE” PROPERTY
Briefly, two SCPD officers and two postal officials approached the group and demanded they move off the post office property, while proclaiming “concern and appreciation” for the feeding of homeless people. After initially trying to continue feeding at the original location under the eaves of the post office, the FNB workers picked up their tables and moved to the sidewalk.

I recorded some of the interaction between officials and FNB workers. I’ll be playing that tape tomorrow on Free Radio Santa Cruz at 10 AM ( http://tunein.com/radio/FRSC-s47254/ or 101.3 FM). The show will archive at http://www.radiolibre.org/brb/brb130127.mp3–about 2 1/2 hours into the audio. Call-in at 427-3772.

At the request of FNB workers, Steve Pleich took a leading role in facilitating the withdrawal of FNB from the post office steps to the sidewalk where it continued to feed without further molestation. Officials rejected my request to know the full name of the individual demanding we move and of his superior’s name. Police sergeant D. Forbas kept trying to shield his conversation with Pleich from the listening ears of my recorder and refused to answer questions which I put to him afterwards.

VICTORY,SETBACK,OR BOTH?
Some considered the day’s actions a success–with the meal continuing to be fed, folks continuing to sit on the steps of the post office and eat. Others wondered if this were the first step in a campaign to drive FNB from visible feeding in the downtown. The Food Not Bombs banner was visible, but I didn’t notice any literature present–the group willing for the moment to give up the right to serve and distribute literature in the unused area they had been at for the previous six weeks under threat of trespass arrest.

While the postal inspector insisted that the group was “violating federal regulations”, he declined to say which regulations except for vague claims that FNB was “conducting business”. The claim that FNB was violating the state trespass code seemed a strange one since the area is open to the general public.

THE ISSUES INVOLVED
Food Not Bombs groups in other cities has insisted that it is not simply a charitable organization serving food, but one presenting a clear message (with literature and banners). Such was an earlier FNB message in Santa Cruz in the late 80’s and mid-90’s when Santa Cruz FNB fed in different spots.

FNB workers and some supporters noted that FNB had only moved 20-30 feet, that it was not being told to disperse, that it would continue to “make poverty visible” and feed poor and homeless people, and address further hostile police actions if they arose as they arose.

Similar threats used against Occupy Santa Cruz [OSC] when it was in front of the courthouse in the fall of 2011 resulted in some citations and arrests, but no charges ultimately in court under the trespass code used to intimidate FNB workers today.

Unlike FNB activists decades before OSC activists did not return to reclaim the space in front of the courthouse once threatened with arrest. However, unlike the earlier attack on FNB in Santa Cruz and San Francisco which demanded the groups cease serving food altogether because they “didn’t have a permit”, the current attack so far is only limited to the post office grounds and supposedly has to do with location rather than food serving itself.

For some of the events in the history of the FNB movement, go to http://foodnotbombs.net/fnb_time_line.html .

FOOD SERVER HARASSMENT ELSEWHERE
However, a church group feeding in front of Forever Twenty-One on Thursday afternoon was reportedly the target of SCPD police action against clients sitting within 14′ of buildings.

Ronee and Scott Curry, who regularly conduct Sunday lunch on Pacific Avenue at Soquel and Pacific have experienced some harassment either directly under the “move every hour” ordinance or of their clients hassled for “sitting down”.

Father Joel Miller of the Calvary Episcopal Church experienced a strong attack from former Mayor (and recently reelected City Council member) Cynthia Mathews for his once-a-week Monday dinner at the Red Church, across from Matthew’s historic property (located between the Nickelodeon and Jack’s Hamburgers).

Pastor Dennis Adams was driven away from the downtown by merchant and police hostility several years ago, now doing his meal out at the Homeless (Lack of ) Services Center.

UPCOMING AND INAUSPICIOUS
On Tuesday the Santa Cruz City Council’s Public Safety Committee will be meeting 6 PM in City Council chambers to consider a further crackdown on homeless people among other “safety measures”. Agenda: http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/index.aspx?recordid=4709&page=440 . Staff report: http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=30533 .

DISCLAIMER
The opinions expressed here are my own and do not represent those of Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs as an organization, nor necessarily the views of any of the individuals associated with it.

by Robert Norse

Sunday Jan 27th, 2013 12:03 AM

The FNB meal began around 4 PM Saturday January 26th and was immediately approached by police. Workers moved the meal to the sidewalk within 20 minutes after police and postal officials began their threats. It continued for 1 1/2 to 2 hours on the sidewalk.

FNB is looking for volunteers and can be reached via its Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs facebook page.

Indybay Censoring Homeless Comments

Posted on by

Indybay.org does its own thing—I’ve complained over the years that comments should at best be put in a hidden status where they can be seen if folks want to see them.

However the new HUFF blog does not censor (hopefully).  It’s at http://huffsantacruz.org/wordpress/ .  You, Lee, Mayor Bryant–anyone who wants to can post there (shudder).

R

Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:23:48 -0800
From: walkabouting@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: FNB in Santa Cruz Under Attack
To: rnorse3@hotmail.com; foodnotbombs@earthlink.net
CC: becky_johnson222@hotmail.com; lemasterhearth@hotmail.com; jsmalkin@hotmail.com; compassionman@hotmail.com

It should be noted that the local commentary posted by local homeless is being removed from http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/01/19/18730563.php by the local censors (all too frequent a problem).  The general theme being the local ‘well fed’ using the local homeless as a PR tool in a staged confrontation.  Here is a taste…
I’m all for confronting and protesting unjust laws.  Drawing the uninformed into conflict, not so much (see pre-OccupySantaCruz commentary for a prescient warning).  Censorship, not at all.

—

From: Robert Norse <rnorse3@hotmail.com>
To: Keith McHenry <foodnotbombs@earthlink.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2013 12:38 AM
Subject: FNB in Santa Cruz Under Attack

Keith:

A police officer and his sergeant superior appeared at the main post office steps today shortly after 4 PM where Food Not Bombs was doing its weekly feeding.

The officer advised the FNBers that they were “trespassing”  (though the post office was open; people were coming in and out; the meal was set off too the side in an area not traveled by the usual customers; and FNB workers noted a previous encounter with Sgt. Azua had seemed to establish there were no violations of the law happening).  He took a number of photos of the workers, who continued to feed people  (30-40 people came through by my casual count in the hour or two that FNB was there).  Santa Cruz FNB had been serving at the post office for the last month.

A sergeant arriving afterwards sought names and information from the workers and stated they were “gathering evidence of trespass” at the request of the postmaster.

Several of the workers were upset by this police intervention.  A number of those served were scared or angry.  The meal continued, but with significant consternation.

The police seemed to indicate they would be returning.

I would encourage you to alert other FNB activists that this is happening in Santa Cruz and they may need support against legal or extralegal police action that seems to now be on the horizon.

I’ll be playing some audio of this on my radio show tomorrow between 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM at 101.3 FM, streaming at  http://tunein.com/radio/FRSC-s47254/   , and archived athttp://www.radiolibre.org/brb/brb121007.mp30120.mp3   (about 2 1/2 hours into the audio file).

Please all in (831-427-3772) if  you have any suggestions any time before 1 PM PST.
(831-423-4833)

Thanks,  Robert

Food Not Bombs Under Attack at Its 4 PM Saturday Feeding on the Main Post Office Steps (With Comments)

Posted on by
by Robert Norse
Saturday Jan 19th, 2013 10:43 PM

Arriving with warnings and cameras, two uniformed officers threatened Food Not Bombs workers with criminal actions today for staffing a table distributing meals to hungry and homeless people. The sergeant noted he’d be forwarding information to District Attorney Bob Lee’s office for further action and interrogated several of the workers there while photographing those eating, those serving, and those watching. I sent the following letter to Food Not Bombs co-founder Keith McHenry:

From: rnorse3 [at] hotmail.com
To: foodnotbombs [at] earthlink.net
CC: …
Subject: FNB in Santa Cruz Under Attack
Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2013 22:38:32 -0800

Keith:

A police officer and his sergeant superior appeared at the main post office steps today shortly after 4 PM where Food Not Bombs was doing its weekly feeding.

The officer advised the FNBers that they were “trespassing” (though the post office was open; people were coming in and out; the meal was set off too the side in an area not traveled by the usual customers; and FNB workers noted a previous encounter with Sgt. Azua had seemed to establish there were no violations of the law happening). He took a number of photos of the workers, who continued to feed people (30-40 people came through by my casual count in the hour or two that FNB was there). Santa Cruz FNB had been serving at the post office for the last month.

A sergeant arriving afterwards sought names and information from the workers and stated they were “gathering evidence of trespass” at the request of the postmaster.

Several of the workers were upset by this police intervention. A number of those served were scared or angry. The meal continued, but with significant consternation.

The police seemed to indicate they would be returning.

I would encourage you to alert other FNB activists that this is happening in Santa Cruz and they may need support against legal or extralegal police action that seems to now be on the horizon.

I’ll be playing some audio of this on my radio show tomorrow between 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM at 101.3 FM, streaming at http://tunein.com/radio/FRSC-s47254/ , and archived at http://www.radiolibre.org/brb/brb130120.mp3 (about 2 1/2 hours into the audio file).

Please all in (831-427-3772) if you have any suggestions any time before 1 PM PST.
(831-423-4833)

Thanks, Robert

Comments  (Hide Comments)

by Z

Saturday Jan 19th, 2013 11:00 PM

We used to serve FNB on the levee next to the drum circle on wednesdays. Lots of people showed up for food, we got all the trash together in no time, and the pigs never messed with us then…
Maybe the post office isn’t the best venue for this? A place with benches or tables might work a lot better for feeding people. Try a park?

OFFICIALS TRY TO STOP FOOD NOT BOMBS ON MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WEEKEND

Such an interesting way to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr’s weekend. Police are seeking to stop Food Not Bombs in Burlington Vermont and Santa Cruz California. If you live in either city please join them. Here is news from Santa Cruz.

Burlington Food Not Bombs meal
Sunday, January 20, 2013
12:00pm in EST
Burlington, Vermont 05401

Come to Church and Cherry St. for free food and to help us transform the space. There’s usually produce to take away along with hot soup and coffee.

http://www.facebook.com/events/488487241201931/

Arriving with warnings and cameras, two uniformed officers threatened Food Not Bombs workers with criminal actions today for staffing a table distributing meals to hungry and homeless people. The sergeant noted he’d be forwarding information to District Attorney Bob Lee’s office for further action and interrogated several of the workers there while photographing those eating, those serving, and those watching. I sent the following letter to Food Not Bombs co-founder Keith McHenry:
From: rnorse3 [at] hotmail.com

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/01/19/18730563.php

CC: …
Subject: FNB in Santa Cruz Under Attack
Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2013 22:38:32 -0800

Keith:

A police officer and his sergeant superior appeared at the main post office steps today shortly after 4 PM where Food Not Bombs was doing its weekly feeding.

The officer advised the FNBers that they were “trespassing” (though the post office was open; people were coming in and out; the meal was set off too the side in an area not traveled by the usual customers; and FNB workers noted a previous encounter with Sgt. Azua had seemed to establish there were no violations of the law happening). He took a number of photos of the workers, who continued to feed people (30-40 people came through by my casual count in the hour or two that FNB was there). Santa Cruz FNB had been serving at the post office for the last month.

A sergeant arriving afterwards sought names and information from the workers and stated they were “gathering evidence of trespass” at the request of the postmaster.

Several of the workers were upset by this police intervention. A number of those served were scared or angry. The meal continued, but with significant consternation.

The police seemed to indicate they would be returning.

I would encourage you to alert other FNB activists that this is happening in Santa Cruz and they may need support against legal or extralegal police action that seems to now be on the horizon.

I’ll be playing some audio of this on my radio show tomorrow between 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM at 101.3 FM, streaming at http://tunein.com/radio/FRSC-s47254/ , and archived at http://www.radiolibre.org/brb/brb130120.mp3 (about 2 1/2 hours into the audio file).

Please all in (831-427-3772) if you have any suggestions any time before 1 PM PST.
(831-423-4833)

Thanks, Robert

I was so pleased to received a call from one of the staff people at the Burlington Downtown Partnership. He called wanting to “work with us” saying he would wave the $2 fee for doing the literature table on Church Street but that we could not share food as ” it had caused problems in the past.” He explained that businesses sold food on Church Street and that places like the Salvation Army would be better able to provide services for the homeless like job referral. He seemed like a nice person but did use the same exact language that has been used by officials in other cities. He didn’t know how our sharing food was a problem but said an outreach worker would call to explain.

I seemed to have really frustrated him because I explained that if we didn’t share food with our literature the impact of our message would be diminished
Every time he said he “just wanted to work with us” I asked if there was a good place on Church Street where our sharing food at our literature table would not be a problem. In the end it was clear that working with him was to not share food and send people to the Salvation Army, COTS or share food someplace out of sight.

This person will come to talk with you on Sunday to see if he can get you to stop sharing your food or move out of the area.

While he also tried to make it out that Burlington is special (just as the other city officials have claimed in every other city that wishes we would stop) and that by speaking with you you will see the logic to ending the meal or moving it to a less visible location for me I would see about doing what I could to stay where you are.

From my perspective it has never been more important to reach the most people possible with the most impact we can about the need to change society so no one is forced to eat at the Salvation Army. Maybe it would be possible to move across the street or to the side walk at the commons I would support doing all you can to express the importance of encouraging change and suggest that it is already hard to encourage the public to consider solutions to our current economic and political problems.

The fact that this pattern is so universal across the United States and so many Food Not Bombs groups have moved to ineffective locations shows this is more than just a problem for your chapter.

I would support your efforts in any way. You may want to claim this Sundays meal or the meal after that as a rally for the right to end hunger. The staff person says he will email me so I will get you that email when he sends it. Again he might not know he was saying exactly the same thing word for word that officials in other cities have said to explain why we should not share food in a place where lots of people pass by but it sure seems like he was influenced maybe unknowingly by those organizing this nationwide campaign. Please call me if you have any questions. – 1-800-884-1136 or email me at keith [at] foodnotbombs.net

This is the number and organization that called.

Burlington Downtown Partnership.
802-865-7254
Address:
2 Church Street, Suite 2A
Burlington, VT 05401
Email: churchstmarketplace [at] gmail.com
Phone: 802-863-1648
Fax: 802-865-7252
TTY: 802-865-7142
The office is open for walk-ins Monday through Friday, 12 noon to 4 p.m. To purchase a Marketplace street entertainer or vendor license or non-profit tabling permit, contact the Marketplace office. The permits and licenses are available by appointment only. For information and to schedule an appointment send an email to permits and licensing or call 802.865.5384.

http://www.downtownburlingtonvt.com

Thanks Keith McHenry
co-founder of the Food Not Bombs Movement

This a one of many public statements reflecting a nationwide campaign to drive the homeless out of site. This one is from Orlando Florida and signed by the charities such as Salvation Army that received city funding.

…though we understand the motivation of those who wish to alleviate the suffering of the homeless in our community, solving homelessness involves more than a warm meal and a place to sleep. Homelessness is symptomatic of much larger issues.

Such public feedings may well contribute to homelessness and actually keep the homeless from the essential services necessary to get back on the road to self-sufficiency. One of the vital keys to assisting these men, women and families is providing comprehensive case-management services. This includes access to the tools needed to attain independence, truly giving them a “hand up” to a better life.

Hey Keith,

We’re all having a good laugh here. Something about imagining the very very serious mannered bureaucrats we dealt with last week calling up New Mexico is great. We had been dreading the upcoming showdown this Sunday. One comment was something like “they couldn’t have called someone better equipped”. I’d agree. It’s a happy coincidence they called you as we were researching and looking for guidance on what to do.

Our plan now is to be prepared and establish who is arrestable before meals and do some non-violent civil disobedience if there’s lots of people around. If it wouldn’t make a strong enough statement we may retreat to the edge of the park (not the middle) and come back later to see what happens for a second time. Maybe even just wait an hour or until the next week.

Our friends on city council in the progressive party have offered to do what they can. Not sure if that will amount to anything but its nice to know they’re watching and willing to make noise in council meets. We’ll see how it unfolds.

I’m going to send your message out to the listserve if that’s cool with you.

Solidarity,
Ethan

by John E. Colby

Sunday Jan 20th, 2013 8:19 PM

Because the Santa Cruz Police Department (SCPD) officers didn’t arrest the Food Not Bombs volunteers, I do not believe the SCPD and the District Attorney’s Office have a good case that they violated any law. It seems like they are harassing them and trying to do some research to see what law they will try to use to shut them down.

Consequently, I am submitted the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request above — carbon copied to Congress and the mainstream media — asking for communications about Food Not Bombs feedings on the Main Post Office steps and the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS’s) most current policies about private (nonprofit) organizations using the steps of the Santa Cruz Main Post Office.

Often shaking the tree will glean useful information and put government agencies on notice that they are being watched.

by Robert Norse

( rnorse3 [at] hotmail.com ) Monday Jan 21st, 2013 5:54 AM

I received the following e-mail today from supporters up North:

Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2013 20:12:34 -0800
From: annet934 [at] yahoo.com
Subject: Re: [huffsantacruz] Ratcheting up the War on the Poor in Santa Cruz: Food Not Bombs Under Attack
To: right2survive [at] googlegroups.com; rnorse3 [at] hotmail.com
CC: nanparanon [at] me.com; worldpeaz [at] yahoo.com; rtjheath482 [at] yahoo.com; jonathon.reed.80 [at] gmail.com; charlesorsbun [at] yahoo.com; jerbrojay73 [at] hotmail.com; tsluder [at] yahoo.com; carey.white64 [at] gmail.com; certifiedoregonic [at] riseup.net; olismarg [at] aol.com; mamachewy45 [at] gmail.com; chris.lee.ellingson [at] gmail.com

Robert:
I just got your email. I work with Right 2 Survive in Portland Oregon, helping out with the press and publicity here.

Maybe you already know this stuff, so feel free to ignore my ideas if it is old news to you.

I believe your situation falls under the “Please arrest us, we need the publicity!” category. ;.) What a great way to get publicity for the good work FNB does and expose the ridiculous harassment by the cops. You can definitely turn this into something that helps your cause.

You may want to write a press release about the harassment and send it far and wide (Be sure to include Associated Press Northern California E-mail them at: NorCal [at] apcalifornia.org I like to send releases to local columnists who may be sympathetic. Definitely send it to the WA Post writer below since they have covered it before.

Similar stories:
Link to a FNB page put together after arrests in Daytona last year. http://www.foodnotbombs.net/fnb_resists.html
Llink to a WA Post article about those arrests.WA Post article about Daytona FNB arrests
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/food-not-bombs-group-arrested-for-feeding-homeless-violating-orlando-ordinance/2011/06/03/AGufUBIH_blog.html

In Solidarity,
Anne
Right 2 Survive
Portland OR

I support fully, but don’t in anyway represent Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs. Those preparing and serving the food as well as those eating it will make their own decisions about the so-called “trespass” concerns.

It seems peculiar to suggest that particular group with a political message that is committing no crime other than using the public space is told it is “trespassing” while others come and go with the area clearly open to the public.

Occupy Santa Cruz voted yesterday to support Food Not Bombs. I encourage other groups to do the same and to show up at the next meal as well as offer whatever support they can from a distance if that is not possible.

Though not privy to the inner decision-making of FNB, I imagine they would appreciate as big a crowd of supporters at their next feeding which is currently scheduled for 4 PM Saturday January 26th. on the (public?) steps of the Main Post Office in downtown Santa Cruz.

I believe they’ll be considering how to best respond to the recent police and post office threats at their weekly meeting, which can be found on their facebook page.

According to Steve Pleich, one Food Not Bombs member reports Sgt. Garcia said the postmaster was threatening federal Felony Trespass Arrests. Pleich reports that according to that member a warning was given. As I was there at the time recording the conversation between Garcia and the activists, I didn’t hear any clear demand that everyone leave given by either SCPD officer.

I did arrive a few minutes after the first cop (Officer Bayani) arrived. And when I spoke to him and wanted to know if he was speaking as the owner’s agent, he backed off and said I should speak with his sergeant. In a subsequent discussion with another FNB member, Garcia said he was “gathering evidence” but gave no clearly audible warning to the group of people gathered there that I heard.

Still given the bizarre overcharging done by the Santa Cruz District Attorney in the case of the Santa Cruz Eleven (again due in court 8:15 AM Tuesday January 22nd D-6), that’s something to be seriously considered. See http://www.santacruzeleven.org for more info on that ongoing persecution.

This case obviously impacts many other groups and people and represents yet another ratcheting up of the governmental shutdown of public spaces for politically dissenters.

by John E. Colby

Wednesday Jan 23rd, 2013 7:51 PM

I called the Santa Cruz Main Post Office today to confirm that the Postmaster had received the fax of my FOIA request which I carbon copied him/her. The postal worker/supervisor I spoke to came back after lengthy silence and told me that I wasn’t “entitled”. I ask entitled to what? She replied that only the police officers are “entitled”. I responded that my FOIA request wasn’t to the Santa Cruz Post Office and that the Washington DC USPS FOIA liaison hadn’t made a determination so she had no place telling me what I was or was not entitled to.

This conversation suggests to me that the Santa Cruz Postmaster contacted the FOIA liaison and illegally requested information about my FOIA request. This does not bode well for the USPS FOIA liaison.

I plan on making many more FOIA requests about the Santa Cruz Postmaster to the USPS. I think the Santa Cruz Postmaster has a lot to hide.

by Robert Norse

Thursday Jan 24th, 2013 3:46 PM

by Zanga Zeit

Friday Jan 25th, 2013 8:30 PM

I am so disturbed at hearing this news about FNB! I do not live anywhere near the areas you mention in your articles, (I live in Phoenix, AZ) however, I am very active online and am in daily communication with many people at a global level as I am multi-lingual. I often serve as a translator for actions taking place in Spain, Mexico, and any other hispanic countries that are involved. I am writing to let you know that I would be very very happy to assist in any way that I possibly can. When “incidents” involving suspicious or dubious arrests, police brutality, etc, occur during the course of any action being Ustreamed or Livestreamed, I am the one who most frequently calls PDs across the nation to respectfully request that detainees be granted their (used-to-be) First Amendment right to gather in peaceful protest. Since I am bilingual English/Spanish, I am volunteering to help with any communications that are encumbered by “language barriers”! I can usually be found in the chat at Global Revolution livestream. Many people in OR know me very well, including RisePDX as well as all of the MODS and most of the chatters at GR. Please feel free to email me any time, or to come to GR and ask me to talk with you. Also my twitter is @ZangaZeit, feel free to contact me there! It is abhorrent to me that giving food to those in need is now under attack! How DARE “they” is my response! And as far as what the Salvation Army had to say regarding the “comprehensive” needs of the hungry, I will say this: I hold an MA in psychology and worked for 25 years in LA as a social worker. The Salvation Army is a religion-based organization, not a non-profit social work agency, thus I submit that their “assessment” of the “comprehensive needs” of the hungry is wholly and completely without merit. The idea that giving food to a hungry person “might actually encourage them to remain in the position of ‘victim’ ” is utterly and completely unfounded, biased, socio-economically prejudiced, and without any factual evidence to support that “claim”. FNB is not only providing food, but also information, social contact, and a platform where people come together and discuss the inequities that we all face today, as well as share ideas and make plans for further ways to combat the forces that would quash all of us. That, in my professional opinion, offers much more to a person than the “religion” based dogma that the Salvation Army would force upon them! I would also very much appreciate being informed as to whether there is a Phoenix, AZ Chapter of FNB, as I would like to become involved. Thank you so much for reading this email and for the wonderful work all of you are doing! Please know that I stand firmly in Solidarity with all of you and I wish you Peace and Love in this (ungodly) struggle! We are all brothers and sisters born to this Earth – it is long past the time we need to act as such – that applies to our current tormentors us as well, whether they choose to acknowledge this fact or not! Tierra y Libertad!! ~Zanga Zeit

by Robert Norse

Sunday Jan 27th, 2013 12:00 AM

POLICE AND POSTAL OFFICIALS DEMAND FNB MOVE OFF “POST OFFICE” PROPERTY
Briefly, two SCPD officers and two postal officials approached the group and demanded they move off the post office property, while proclaiming “concern and appreciation” for the feeding of homeless people. After initially trying to continue feeding at the original location under the eaves of the post office, the FNB workers picked up their tables and moved to the sidewalk.

I recorded some of the interaction between officials and FNB workers. I’ll be playing that tape tomorrow on Free Radio Santa Cruz at 10 AM ( http://tunein.com/radio/FRSC-s47254/ or 101.3 FM). The show will archive at http://www.radiolibre.org/brb/brb130127.mp3–about 2 1/2 hours into the audio. Call-in at 427-3772.

At the request of FNB workers, Steve Pleich took a leading role in facilitating the withdrawal of FNB from the post office steps to the sidewalk where it continued to feed without further molestation. Officials rejected my request to know the full name of the individual demanding we move and of his superior’s name. Police sergeant D. Forbas kept trying to shield his conversation with Pleich from the listening ears of my recorder and refused to answer questions which I put to him afterwards.

VICTORY,SETBACK,OR BOTH?
Some considered the day’s actions a success–with the meal continuing to be fed, folks continuing to sit on the steps of the post office and eat. Others wondered if this were the first step in a campaign to drive FNB from visible feeding in the downtown. The Food Not Bombs banner was visible, but I didn’t notice any literature present–the group willing for the moment to give up the right to serve and distribute literature in the unused area they had been at for the previous six weeks under threat of trespass arrest.

While the postal inspector insisted that the group was “violating federal regulations”, he declined to say which regulations except for vague claims that FNB was “conducting business”. The claim that FNB was violating the state trespass code seemed a strange one since the area is open to the general public.

THE ISSUES INVOLVED
Food Not Bombs groups in other cities has insisted that it is not simply a charitable organization serving food, but one presenting a clear message (with literature and banners). Such was an earlier FNB message in Santa Cruz in the late 80’s and mid-90’s when Santa Cruz FNB fed in different spots.

FNB workers and some supporters noted that FNB had only moved 20-30 feet, that it was not being told to disperse, that it would continue to “make poverty visible” and feed poor and homeless people, and address further hostile police actions if they arose as they arose.

Similar threats used against Occupy Santa Cruz [OSC] when it was in front of the courthouse in the fall of 2011 resulted in some citations and arrests, but no charges ultimately in court under the trespass code used to intimidate FNB workers today.

Unlike FNB activists decades before OSC activists did not return to reclaim the space in front of the courthouse once threatened with arrest. However, unlike the earlier attack on FNB in Santa Cruz and San Francisco which demanded the groups cease serving food altogether because they “didn’t have a permit”, the current attack so far is only limited to the post office grounds and supposedly has to do with location rather than food serving itself.

For some of the events in the history of the FNB movement, go to http://foodnotbombs.net/fnb_time_line.html .

FOOD SERVER HARASSMENT ELSEWHERE
However, a church group feeding in front of Forever Twenty-One on Thursday afternoon was reportedly the target of SCPD police action against clients sitting within 14′ of buildings.

Ronee and Scott Curry, who regularly conduct Sunday lunch on Pacific Avenue at Soquel and Pacific have experienced some harassment either directly under the “move every hour” ordinance or of their clients hassled for “sitting down”.

Father Joel Miller of the Calvary Episcopal Church experienced a strong attack from former Mayor (and recently reelected City Council member) Cynthia Mathews for his once-a-week Monday dinner at the Red Church, across from Matthew’s historic property (located between the Nickelodeon and Jack’s Hamburgers).

Pastor Dennis Adams was driven away from the downtown by merchant and police hostility several years ago, now doing his meal out at the Homeless (Lack of ) Services Center.

UPCOMING AND INAUSPICIOUS
On Tuesday the Santa Cruz City Council’s Public Safety Committee will be meeting 6 PM in City Council chambers to consider a further crackdown on homeless people among other “safety measures”. Agenda: http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/index.aspx?recordid=4709&page=440 . Staff report: http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=30533 .

DISCLAIMER
The opinions expressed here are my own and do not represent those of Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs as an organization, nor necessarily the views of any of the individuals associated with it.

by Robert Norse

Sunday Jan 27th, 2013 12:03 AM

The FNB meal began around 4 PM Saturday January 26th and was immediately approached by police. Workers moved the meal to the sidewalk within 20 minutes after police and postal officials began their threats. It continued for 1 1/2 to 2 hours on the sidewalk.

FNB is looking for volunteers and can be reached via its Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs facebook page.

by RazerRay

Sunday Jan 27th, 2013 9:54 AM

tom_morello_guitar.jpg
tom_morello_guitar.jpg

“Tommy, don’t you go fightin’ ’em alone. They’ll hunt you down like a coyote. Tommy, I got to thinkin’ and dreamin’ and wonderin’. They say there’s a hun’erd thousand of us shoved out. If we was all mad the same way, Tommy-they wouldn’t hunt nobody down-.” Ma Joad

Either this link Staff report: http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=30533 is wrong or the Staff Report has been removed/relocated

by Robert Norse

Sunday Jan 27th, 2013 10:25 AM

The lead story in the Sunday Sentinel (on line and in print) is about needle disposal and the staff report and agenda of the Tuesday 6 PM Santa Cruz City Council Public Safety Committee.

It can be accessed (I hope) at http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_22457610/discarded-syringes-santa-cruz-county-prompt-questions-about .

by RazerRay

Sunday Jan 27th, 2013 12:40 PM

From the absolutely UN-informative agenda which I viewed earlier, something about Regional responses to problems? A reminder that there’s a regional working group in the Bay Area including Santa Cruz, Berkeley, and other cities in regard to their homeless ‘problems’.

The Ghost of ol’ Tom Joad IS NOT happy.
http://auntieimperial.tumblr.com/post/41632028846

by John E. Colby

Tuesday Jan 29th, 2013 11:29 AM

After Food Not Bombs was coerced to move from the Santa Cruz Main Post Office steps in last Saturday’s feeding of poor and homeless people on January 26, 2013, I decided that more information must be gleaned from the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to determine exactly what laws and regulations apply to the steps of the Main Post Office and who was responsible for the USPS campaign in Santa Cruz against Food Not Bombs. Please read my FOIA request as a downloadable PDF.

Therefore I asked for:

• All electronic and non-electronic written communications including but not limited to letters, reports, summaries, memoranda, emails, and notes written by employees of the Santa Cruz Main Post Office about or pertaining to Food Not Bombs feeding homeless people on the steps of the Santa Cruz Main Post Office at 850 Front Street in Santa Cruz, California, from between December 1, 2012 and today, January 28, 2013.
• All written complaints by customers of the Santa Cruz Main Post Office about Food Not Bombs from between December 1, 2012 and today, January 28, 2013.
• The most current organization chart for the Santa Cruz Main Post Office.
• The most current handbook sections, guides, rules and implementing documents describing federal regulations and laws governing the use of the steps of the Santa Cruz Main Post Office at 850 Front Street in Santa Cruz, California by both private (nonprofit) organizations and by private individuals.

Hopefully this will lead to a greater understanding of the USPS campaign against Food Not Bomb’s feeding poor and homeless people on the Santa Cruz Main Post Office steps, who is responsible for it, and whether Food Not Bombs can legally return to using the Main Post Office steps.

The best weapon against tyranny is to shine a light on it. We can open up undemocratic decision making processes to public scrutiny.

by RazerRay

Saturday Feb 2nd, 2013 10:32 AM

sfbay-web has been contacted. Expect Email.