Tag Archives: HUFF meetings

HUFF Extended Vacation Continues–NO 11 AM Meeting Tomorrow: at Sub Rosa Cafe–Contact by Phone or E-Mail if You Have Reports or Want to Volunteer

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The local War Against the Poor shows no signs of letting up:

+++ restrictive library regulations (check out that fine print as you enter the downtown branch),  Let us know how library staff and “Security Thugs” are treating you.

+++ formalizing the crackdown on MHCAN at a Public Hearing to “revoke and replace” their special unit permit according to Board of Director mouthpiece Steve Pleich.  He and his Board, after many months of hush-hush secrecy and “don’t rock the boat” tactics are calling for public letters and calls to the Planning Department in advance of their September 7th hearing.  Attention: Mike Ferry, City of Santa Cruz, Dept. of Planning and Community Development, 809 Center St., Room 206, S.C. 95060  or e-mail at mferry@cityofsantacruz.com Let us know of any new police or vigilante actions against MHCAN or their clients, as well as any internal “crackdown” regs within MHCAN itself.

+++ supporting Food Not Bombs and others who continue to support the Freedom Sleeper Tuesday Night protest at City Hall (there again for the 110th time, with food and frolic, though not necessarily any overnight sleepers).  Contact them if you wish to support their lawsuit against Santa Cruz’s anti-homeless laws (575-770-3377), to volunteer for FNB meal prep or protest support, or to provide information about ongoing harassment at San Lorenzo Park and elsewhere.   Today is the 29th anniversary of Keith McHenry’s first arrest which he writes about at https://www.facebook.com/keith.mchenry.fnb/posts/10155457600768820 and https://www.facebook.com/keith.mchenry.fnb/media_set?set=a.10155457600723820.1073741890.691903819&type=3&pnref=story.unseen-section .     FNB chapters continue to be under attack in Whittier, CA and elsewhere.


+++ keeping informed on the struggles in other cities.  FNB  successfully served food ignoring arrest threats at St. James Park in San Jose last Sunday.  In Marina, RV dwellers are organizing with support from Monterey County Homeless Union activists Becky Johnson and Wes Modes.  See story at http://www.montereyherald.com/article/NF/20170814/NEWS/170819925  For updated accounts from real people impacted  by the crackdown, check out https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=monterey%20county%20homeless%20advocates

If you wish to work on Public Records, or any of these other tasks, contact Bathrobespierre Robert at 831-423-4833.  Activists around Food Not Bombs and the Freedom Sleepers are also looking for help gathering volunteers for the support meals on Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday as well as folks who want to help homeless harassed with citations for Being Visibly Homeless.  

HUFF in Reorganizational Recess– 11 AM Meeting Tomorrow: at Sub Rosa Cafe Depends on Who Shows Up

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Hot-to-trot HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom) may be largely taking a break tomorrow for Rest and Recuperation. Numbers if any are likely to be small and spotty.

Some activists may be showing up there for to exchange information, but a number are disabled by various medical and transportation problems, so it’s catch-as-catch can.   Realistically, there is no guarantee of coffee or company, but some may be showing to report on today’s Shitty Council meeting and Freedom Sleeper Daytime Protest outside the Chambers.

If you wish to work on Public Records, Help compile accounts of Police/Ranger abuses, Monitor the new Library Rules, and/or Assist in getting interviews for Free Radio broadcasts or You-Tube Postings, contact Bathrobespierre Robert at 831-423-4833.  Activists around Food Not Bombs and the Freedom Sleepers are also looking for help gathering volunteers for the support meals on Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday as well as folks who want to help homeless harassed with citations for Being Visibly Homeless.  Contact them at 575-770-3377. 


HUFF coffees down again Wednesday 7-26 11 AM at the Sub Rosa 703 Pacific : Which Way Protest When Only the Houseless Are Left?

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Debating the Road Ahead: 

Key Freedom Sleepers Say that the City Citation Crackdown has removed the Tuesday night “Safe Sleeping Zone” and without court and legal support, “luring” homeless people to protest is simply abusive.   Other unhoused Freedom Sleeper Veterans say they’ll be back with food support.   Which path to choose?    Come and weigh in at HUFF.

Other topics likely to be thrown about:              Focusing the Fight Against the SCPD’s Phony Stay-Away Orders.

Defending MHCAN–now under full-scale attack.  

DIY strategies for dealing with tickets. 

Connecting with Senior Houselessness Here and Across the Hill.                                                           And whatever the hot summer breeze blows in.

HUFF on Summer Leave Wednesday 7-12; Next Meeting Will Likely be 7-19 11 AM at the Sub Rosa Cafe

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Given that the Sub Rosa, where HUFF regularly meets, is likely to be closed tomorrow and the folks leading the HUFF meeting have had to cancel, HUFF is postponing its next meeting until Wednesday the 19th.

If folks have any reports of on-going harassment of poor folks outside, around City Council and the Library, downtown or elsewhere, please forward accounts to Robert Norse at rnorse3@hotmail.com .

We are advised that Food Not Bombs activist Keith McHenry was hospitalized Sunday night, preventing the regular Tuesday night FNB support of Freedom SleepOut #105. After back surgery, he’s recovering.

In other cities attacks on outdoor Food Servers continue:   http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/fort-lauderdale-homeless-feeding-ban-proposed-again-9483644 .

And roaring out of Eureka comes the our new Chief of Police Andrew Mills,  whose active disdain and dehumanization policy towards the homeless there is baldly revealed in his June memo proposing clear-them-away solutions: https://eurekapolice.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/3rd-and-commercial.pdf

To catch Brent Adams’ Coalition on Homeless meeting, he hooks-up with notoriously anti-homeless Councilmember Richelle Niroyan, Library Worker Maile McGrew-Frede, San Jose activist Robert Aguirre in a two-hour presentation devoid of protest suggestions  videoed by Salinas activist Wes White at https://www.facebook.com/groups/freedomsleepers/679800388895579/ .

Flashback to Nine Years Ago When the Downtown Drum Circle Fought Successfully Plus Snips and Snatches of Police Attacks and Community Resistance 6 PM tonight 6-22-17 on 101.3 FM

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Nearly a decade ago, dozens were willing to stand up for the right of all (particularly artists, poor folks, and those outside) to use public spaces in spite of increasing crackdowns by police, the City Council, and the City Manager.  The struggle was particularly sharp and public at the Wednesday Farmer’s Market.   The darkness enveloping Santa Cruz regarding class war against those outside has driven away the drum circle and made mere “lingering” on the levee, where fragments of the Drum Circlers continues to play, a crime.  Homelessness or more bluntly cashlessness itself is becoming a defined form of deviant behavior, while  much of the community is too busy, too exhausted, or too indifferent to respond.

Today’s show features numerous interviews and can be heard in tandem with Santa Cruz Indymedia photos, video, and narrative around the issue.  See follow-up stories  “Victory at Parking Lot #4 — The beat goes on!” at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/09/11/18536533.php?show_comments=1#18540496  “Drum Circle is Back with a Bang in Santa Cruz’s Parking Lot #4” at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/09/24/18541170.php?show_comments=1#18541597

The Thursday, September 11, 2008 flashback features Dave Derick, Officer Forbus, Mama Val, Sgt. Harms, Wes Modes, and others as well as Alaska attorney and psychiatric rights defender Jim Fottstein on the fight against forced drugging, electroshock, involuntary outpatent commitment, and other dangers looming ever closer on the horizon.

The show streams on freakradio.org and archives at http://radiolibre.org/brb/brb1706122.mp3

Apologies for the lack of input on Freedom SleepOut #101.  Your fearless reporter has been struggling with medical demons.  For info go to the Food Not Bombs and  Freedom Sleeper facebook pages.  Or directly to City Hall, the Main Postoffice, or whereever the struggle is raging.

Volunteer to help at 575-330-3377.

HUFF Huddles Again: Surveying the Prospects after a Successful 99th Freedom Sleep-Out Last Night Free coffee and chat at 703 Pacific, Sub Rosa, Next to the Bike Church 11 AM Today 5-31

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Agenda Options:      More support work for the Survival Sleepers that may return to City Hall tonight;  PR Support for Freedom Sleep-Out #100 Coming Up Tuesday June 6th; Parsing the City Manager’s Public Records Response to the New Anti-First Amendment Signs at City Hall; Salinas Victory–Activist Wes White Opens a Chinatown Shelter; Exposing The Phony “Resources” List Being Given Out by Police to Justify Creating More Homeless Refugees Downtown; and coffee to boot!    Activist “Laughing” Laura Tucker will be maintaining humorous order at the meeting.

Let there be HUfF! Tomorrow Wednesday 5-17 11 AM-12:30 PM at the Sub Rosa Cafe

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On the Agenda:   City Manager Martin Bernal’s Latest Sign Posting Survival Sleeper Smashdown…Report Back from the Mayor Chase Meeting…Upcoming May 23rd Protest Plans (Sleeping Bags in City Council?)…the Marysville and Salinas Reports…Further Support for the Survival Sleepers at City Hall…plus whatever walks in the door…

Mini-HUFF Touchdown Today at 11 AM, Sub Rosa Cafe 703 Pacific Wednesday 5-10-17

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HUFF taskmaster Bathrobespierre Robert Norse will be warming a chair at the Sub Rosa from 11 to 11:30, and perhaps longer if folks show.  Up for analysis, discussion, and possible action: Shfiting the Focus from City Council to the City Staff in the Survival Sleepers/Freedom Sleepers struggle, the positive outcome of the May 9 March and Sleep-Out #96; HUFF’s Vacation Plans; Monday’s Meeting with the Mayor–Creative Options; and some coffee quaffing–if you come before the Robe departs.   If you missed the meeting, or came late, call at 423-4833 for an update!