Category Archives: HOT ISSUES

Count for Freedom Sleeper Reaches 60 Nights Out

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Date Tuesday August 30
Time 4:00 PM – 8:00 AM Wednesday

Location Details Occupying with sleeping bag, car, and tent, the sidewalk and curbsides next to Santa Cruz City Hall from Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday morning around 8 AM

Event Type Protest
Organizer/Author Keith McHenry (story by Norse)
Email keith@foodnotbombs.net
Phone 575-770–3377

WEEK AFTER WEEK, NIGHT AFTER NIGHT

The 60th Tuesday night Freedom SleepOut continues a year-old weekly protest against the City’s attack on unhoused and poor people who sleep outside or in vehicles.

MC 6.36.010a continues to make the very act of sleeping after 11 PM a crime.

MC 6.36.055 does provide exemptions for those who sign up for the River St. Shelter Waiting List (call in at 459-6644, and then keep calling back every three days). There is no walk-in shelter currently available for the City’s 1000-2000 unhoused. There is no Winter Shelter at all on the radar. Homeless folks have to find their own community, safety, and sleeping spots where they can. On Tuesday nights, the Freedom Sleepers have apparently created a “safe” area.

Limited food and occasional coffee is available at different points during the afternoon, evening, and morning. Support human rights at home with your support and your presence!

MIXED MESSAGES AT THE LOUDEN NELSON CANDIDATE FORUM MONDAY NIGHT

An overflow crowd listened to nearly a dozen candidates give soundbyte answers to a flock of questions, some of which touched on (but none squarely focused on) criminalization of the homeless through the Camping Ban and other laws.

At the forum, the usual promises about “more affordable housing” and “safe (shelter) spaces” were tossed about. Drew Glover raised the issue of Deputy Chief Steve Clark, a notorious anti-homeless cop, and there was talk about a Review Board for Police–though none of the candidates have been active in Copwatch or other regular attempts to hold police accountable.

Some activists are suggesting the candidates come out squarely to support Campaign Zero–the Black Lives Matter proposals of a year ago demanding radical changes in policing: http://www.vox.com/2015/8/21/9188729/police-black-lives-matter-campaign-zero

HUFF [Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom] has repeatedly called for specific officer accountability and radical policy changes in the SCPD: https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2015/01/05/18766435.php [“Poor People Matter!: Round Four at Cop Corner”]. We call for candidates to give clear positions on each of the demands at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/11/25/18764594.php .

The most outspoken advocate and sometime Freedom Sleeper Steve Pleich (rhymes with “h”) lost in a bid for endorsement by the 80+ “Burnt by Bernie” activists who caucused after the forum. They voted to support Drew Glover, Steve Schnaar, Chris Krohn, and Sandy Brown. Brown and Krohn are old-time politicos. Glover and Schnaar are more active but not specifically in civil rights activities. Pleich was the only regular Freedom Sleeper supporter–who regularly visits the Sleepers and provides photo coverage and commentary.

There was no criticism of local liberal groups like the NAACP, RCNV, SCCCCR, or the ACLU who have avoided demanding police accountability for specific brutal incidents. Candidate Schnaar did raise Officer Vasquez’s slamdown of Richard Hardy on April 22, 2013. See Schnaar’s story at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2015/02/18/18768736.php [“Police Injury of Homeless Man Still Unresolved”]. Brent Adams’ video of the incident is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Tyj3yxwy-o .

Wes White, a “Flagpole Community” activist from Salinas, where nightly protest at City Hall has been continuous since mid-March, videoed the Santa Cruz forum. He announced there’d be a 6-Month anniversary weekend occupation in late September at the Salinas City Hall.

DENVER LAWSUIT…and in Santa Cruz?

A lawsuit was filed last week against the police theft of homeless gear, rights, and persons. Story at http://denver.cbslocal.com/2016/08/25/advocates-file-lawsuit-over-homeless-sweep/ .

Talk of a proposed long-delayed lawsuit in Santa Cruz, announced late last year and supposedly involving the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty’s Tristia Bauman, is again making the rounds with a local attorney supposedly taking an interest.

MALL CRACKDOWN ON STREET HANDICRAFT ARTISTS AND PAINTERS

James the Jeweler reports he’s gotten five tickets on Pacific Avenue in the last few weeks while trying to display his wrapped stones for sale. Several for not moving every hour, another for coming back to the same spot within 24 hours, and–most ominously–two for Commercial Vending where City Council and their police set themselves up as art critics, ruling that handicrafts, hand-made t-shirts, and other items are “not art”. MC 5.81.002, MC 5.81.006. These are the first citations I’ve heard for this “crime”.

Alex Skelton and Joff Jones go to trial 1:30 PM in Dept. 10 today Wednesday August 30th for being “outside the blue box” in their display of paintings. They don’t seem particularly enthusiastic for the public to attend, but I think censorship of art in public places is an important issue. See “City directed police shutdown of artists” at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/07/10/18788862.php .

Meanwhile some homeless folks report portapotty and sink facility closures at Depot Park, San Lorenzo, and on Cedar and Lincoln.

Support Freedom SleepOut #59; Fight Back Against City and County RV Repression!

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Freedom SleepOut #59 as RV Rights Struggle Continues-
Date Tuesday August 23 Time 2:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Location Details City Hall sidewalk across from the Main Library as well as in the City Hall Courtyard. Food Not Bombs will serve vegan food along with literature and good cheer throughout the afternoon until early evening. The protest disperses on Wednesday morning around 8 or 9 after coffee.
Event Type Protest
Organizer/AuthorKeith McHenry (story by Norse)
The Tuesday night weekly protest moves towards its 14th month and 59th consecutive week. At issue is the City’s low-intensity war on the homeless community marked by social service cutoffs, vehicular bans, severe restrictions on public space usage, and increased “policing” downtown, in the parks, and elsewhere.

An 11 PM to 8:30 AM ban on the act of sleeping outside or in a vehicle on public property has created a nonsensical, costly, and cruel conflict forcing unhoused vulnerable people to hide in unsafe areas, avoid well-lighted spots, and disperse from larger (safer) groups.

Without formal organization, unhoused folks have gathered every Tuesday scrunched on the sidewalk in front of City Hall (as the City has made it illegal to be in the Council “park” after 10 PM). They share company, security, and food compliments of “Jumbogumbo” Joe Schultz of India Joze. Join them to share your blankets, watching eyes, documenting cellphone recordings, and support.

COUNCIL DELAYS CITY RV BAN APPEAL

After the Coastal Commission’s defeat of Councilwoman Richelle Niroyan’s anti-homeless midnight-to-5 AM ban on RV’s in the city, the City Council last Thursday placed the item on its agenda for today’s 12:30 PM Closed Session. By Monday (perhaps earlier) it had been struck out. When asked why, Councilmember Posner neither offered a reason, nor expressed any interest in finding out.

Assistant City Manager Scott Collins has been e-mailed with the same questions. Collins is the same staffer who declined to verify the Freedom Sleepers’ claims that they were regularly cleaning up the protest area after use last fall. Instead, McHenry reports, Collins leveled criminal charges against Freedom Sleeper and Food Not Bombs co-founder after McHenry yelled at him as Collins fled the scene. In a deal to protect another Freedom Sleeper, McHenry pled to a lesser charge in the Shouting Incident as City officials went after him last winter for restoring and expanding the “blue boxes” on Pacific Avenue with do-it-yourself paint and stencils. Collins and his associate Julie Hendee are regular presenters of anti-homeless measures to City Council.

COUNTY RV BAN STRUGGLE CONTINUES

The new crackdown on poor folks in RV’s in the broader County area was reviewed last week in “Freedom Sleep #58 In the Midst of Struggle Over RV Rights: COUNTY RV BAN ENFORCEMENT IN PROGRESS? ” at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/08/15/18790168.php .

On August 12 the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office wrote on this thread: “No Overnight Parking zones will remain No Overnight Parking Zones with or without a permit. As for obtaining the permit, you must have permission from your friend or family who lives directly adjacent from your RV.” A rather straightforward interpretation here is that ALL overnight parking on ALL County roads are currently technically “illegal” under the County’s Ordinance Section 9.70.620 passed in March. There has been no discussion on this thread dated later than August 12.

However, Santa Cruz Fulltimers founder Julie Schaul–an activist concerned with the rights of poor families living in RV’s in the City–reports no citations have been given out since the Sheriff’s Department announced it began enforcing the ban on August 1st. Schaul has a facebook page that covers the RV struggle.

County staff and Coastal Commission staff, though questioned about the legality of the County’s ordinance and the Sheriff’s enforcement announcement, have declined to apply the Commission’s August 10th ruling against the City ban. They have also declined to clarify an appropriate appeal procedure on the issue. E-mail and phone exchanges continue. If you wish to express your concern, contact Sharif Traylor, staffer at the Coastal Commission, at 427-4863 or sharif.traylor [at] coastal.ca.gov or Paia Levine, planner, at County Planning at paia.levine [at] santacruzcounty.us 454-5317.

Though Sharif has noted he reply by e-mail, it’s still useful to create a paper trail. The issue is whether the County March law violates the Coastal Commission’s clear statements on August 10th that there must be real public access for folks of all incomes. Neither Santa Cruz County nor the City provides places for poor people to park their RV’s, nor have they shown a real “crime” problem.

Please cc all such inquiries and responses to rnorse3 [at] hotmail.com .

DEMAND THE CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES SPEAK UP AGAINST THE SLEEPING BAN AND ANTI-HOMELESS LAWS

Contact the 9 Council candidates running by e-mail or phone to insist they raise the issues of Sleeping Ban Repeal, Access to public spaces at night, security for homeless persons and property, as well as restore the meager social services. These were some of the original demands of the Freedom Sleep-Out. The protests began as a Community Sleep-Out under the “Homeless Lives Matter” slogan last summer as services closed down at the Homeless Lack-of Services Center.

The candidates are J.M. Brown, Steven Pleich, Nathanael A. Kennedy, Drew “Dru” S. Glover, Martine Watkins, Cynthia Mathews, Steve Schnaar, James (Jim) P. Davis, Robert Singleton, Sandra (Sandy) L. Brown, and Chris Krohn. Their contact information is available at http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/departments/city-clerk/elections-2382 under “List of Prospective 2016 Candidates”.

Only Steve Pleich has spent an overnight with the Freedom Sleepers and not recently.

To discuss RV pushback and electoral antics, check out the HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom) meeting at 11 AM at the Sub Rosa Cafe Wednesday August 24.

Coastal Commission Audio and Video Link on the RV Ban Victory

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Regarding the recent Coastal Commission decision requiring a full-scale hearing at a future Commission meeting before they’ll issue a permit to allow enforcement of the nighttime RV ban in the coastal areas of Santa Cruz City.

Note that the County had already announced its own enforcement of a similar if not identical law impacting even a wider audience.  The issue will be discussed on Free Radio Santa Cruz Sunday morning 8-21 at 10 AM at 101.3 FM (streams at www.freakradio.org).
Your source for REAL news from around the World Alternative Action and Community-based Programming Awesome music you don’t hear anywhere else on the airwaves

Coastal Commission Archive Link Correction

by Robert Norse

Tue Aug 16 09:18:45 2016

For some reason, the audio and video link to the Coastal Commission doesn’t work if you click directly on it. Instead, cut and paste it in, and you’ll reach their archive. Sorry for any confusion.

Again, that link is http://www.cal-span.org/media.php?folder[]=CCC as mentioned in the main story. And the agenda item is 16e.

TO COMMENT OR READ COMMENTS GO TO: https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/08/15/18790168.php?show_comments=1#18790173  or go to http://huffsantacruz.org/wordpress/category/hot-issues/ .

Freedom Sleep #58 In the Midst of Struggle Over RV Rights

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Date Tuesday August 16

Time 5:00 PM Tuesday – 9:00 AM Wednesday

Location Details Bring bags, blankets, and bellies to the sidewalk and brick area in front of Santa Cruz City Hall.

Event Type Protest

Organizer/Author Keith McHenry (article written by Norse)

Email keith@foodnotbombs.net

Phone 575-770–3377

 

 

ANOTHER TUESDAY NIGHT, ANOTHER NIGHT ON THE SIDEWALK

 

Another overnight is slated for tomorrow night in the continuing saga of persistent homeless (and housed) resistance to the City’s anti-homeless 11 PM – 8:30 AM Sleeping Ban (MC 6.36.010).

City Council returned from its summer recess last week, unrepentant as ever, with nothing on the agenda that would increase shelter or homeless services or restore the homeless right to be free from police persecution for life-sustaining behaviors. Mercifully, there will be no Council meeting this Tuesday night.

ACTIVIST UPDATES
Salinas activists have sustained a more recent, but more intense (nightly) protest at their City Hall. See “Following the Chinatown Homeless Sweeps, A New Tent Community Thrives at Salinas City Hall” at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/08/02/18789777.php .

Some local activists noted that the entire City Council candidate roguepack was present at the Association of Faith Communities Election Forum last Thursday night–though there was little if any talk about the Freedom Sleepers protest, the Sleeping Ban, or the criminalization of the poor.

Andy Carcello was evicted from the Homeless (Lack of) Services Center and reported getting pneumonia sleeping on the street in front of the HLOSC. Shortly thereafter he required heart surgery and reports being “dumped’ in Salinas. Lucero Luna, a fiery Freedom Sleeper, has been in and out of jail for repeated defiance of the “stay in your blue box” Downtown Ordinances.

Continue reading →

Unexpected Victory at Coastal Commission Overturning Nighttime RV Ban

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The Coastal Commission today found by an 11-1 vote that the City’s midnight to 5 PM RV ban involved a “substantial issue” and so would require a new hearing in the months to come. Unimpressed with Assistant City Manager Scott Collins’s flimsy if not false claims that Santa Cruz provides RV alternatives, is dealing with an RV “crime crisis”, and is only duplicating what other cities have done.FLYER DISTRIBUTED TO THE COMMISSION AT THE HEARING

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BREAKING THROUGH THE BULLSHIT
City councilfolks and staffers can bullshit themselves, but it’s harder to bullshit the Coastal Commission. In Santa Cruz, staff word is usually holy writ, so they can spin whatever yarns they want with challenge only from the occasional critic that the Council ignores. The Coastal Commission staff initially advised the Santa Cruz Council staff that last year’s proposed 8 PM to 8 AM RV ban would be too sweeping to pass muster once I’d filed an appeal at the recommendation of Councilmember Posner. The Coastal Commission staff, after months of consulting with the Scott Collins City Council staff, agreed to a “compromise” midnight to 5 AM ban, swallowing whole Collins’ specious arguments. The CC staff then recommended upholding the “RV’s Get Out!” law and denying my appeal.

Though they had plenty of time to research, both staffs failed to include the particulars. For instance, the (lack of) availability of RV parking in the City. Or the miniscule number of churches that actually allow an RV to park (where they have to compete with vehicles). In essence, Collins’ failed to come up with specific parking alternatives for unhoused people using RV’s as housing.

He had no specific statistics clarifying what “crimes” required passing such a Draconian city-wide ban. But claimed he had. A few simple questions from the Commission itself exposed the how unsubstantiated these claims were.

We brought up these issues repeatedly before City Council but were ostentatiously ignored. Arrogant politicians in an echo chamber suddenly run up against outside observers who, whatever their political preferences, have to consider real facts. Like denying coastal access to a whole class of people to please NIMBY neighborhoods.

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Sidewalk Struggle Continues: Freedom SleepOut #57 Tonight

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Date Tuesday August 09
Time 5:00 PM – 9:00 AM

Location Details Ye Olde City Halle Sidewalke along Center St. across from the main library between Locust and Church
Event Type Protest
Organizer/Author Keith McHenry (post written by Norse)
Email keith [at] foodnotbombs.net
Phone 575-770–3377

Another round of persistent struggle to restore the Right to Rest for unhoused folks in Santa Cruz with coffee and soup support as well as the likely First Alarm Security wake-up’s and police surveillance.

RV DWELLERS FACE BAN RUBBERSTAMP ON WEDNESDAY MORNING
Wednesday morning 8-10 RV dwellers may watch the final nail in their coffin as far as the right to park at night in Santa Cruz goes. The likely pro-forma hearing will take place at the Hilton Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley 6001 La Madrona Drive to start at 9 AM 8-10. For details, see “Say No to the Nighttime RV Ban at the Coastal Commission Hearing ” at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/08/08/18789945.php .

ELECTION ANTICS BEGIN
Candidate forums for who’ll be warming City Council seats in November begin Thursday night 8-11 7 – 8.30pm at Peace United 900 High St. WARNING TO THE NEWCOMER: Such forums are usually highly controlled, though this one may be a bit more liberal. Usually more of a place to shmooze after the event than actually get a chance for meaningful public dialogue with the candidates.

Reportedly former Mayor Christopher Krohn has entered the race. While more liberal in rhetoric than most Councilmembers on many issues, he earned notoriety (and cost the City $200,000 in legal fees) for arresting a man at City Council for a silent protest involving a Nazi salute 14 years ago. He also declined to provide the promised independent voice against police abuse, for city council access, and for homeless civil rights.

SALINAS SLEEPOUT STILL GOING STRONG
Wes White, Salinas activist, reports the Flagpole Community is still holding its nightly (!) sleepout’s at Salinas City Hall as they enter their 5th month of nighttime beddown. As in Santa Cruz, the event is largely a homeless one, though White is an untiring (though very tired) activist and organizer. Contact him for information at 831-296-0042 or luckyagentwes [at] yahoo.com . Also check out Monterey County Homeless Advocates on facebook.

Four charged with Storage of Personal Property on City Property (i.e. setting down your backpack and tent while resting during the day) August 24th at 1:30 PM in Courtroom 7 facing misdemeanor penalties. White reports police have hit over 100 campsites stealing 4-5 tons of homeless property since they began attacks on March 23rd.

See Alex Darocy’s vivid coverage and narrative at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/08/02/18789777.php (“Following the Chinatown Homeless Sweeps, A New Tent Community Thrives at Salinas City Hall”). My most recent interview with White is at http://radiolibre.org/brb/brb160807.mp3 (34 minutes into the audio file).

FREEDOM SLEEPER ARRESTED MULTIPLE TIMES ON PACIFIC AVE.
Longtime outspoken Freedom Sleeper activist “Let ‘Em Have It!” Lucero Luna has been arrested multiple times on Pacific Avenue–most recently at the Metro–according to Steve Pleich’s facebook page. At one point she was being held on $5000 bail for what jail authorities would only identify as “Municipal Code” violations.

Artists Joff Jones and Alex Skelton have purchased a vehicle and were displaying their artwork on Pacific Avenue posted there and so not subject to the “Vanish the Vendors” law limiting folks to the performance pens or “blue/brass boxes” along the sidewalk. Arrested five times since last year for displaying their paintings, the two face trial 1:30 PM August 30 Dept. 10 on two counts under the new laws in the basement of the County Building. More details at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/07/25/18789452.php

HOMELESS MAN EVICTED FROM HOMELESS (LACK OF) SERVICES CENTER, GETS PNEUMONIA
Long time resident and volunteer Andy Carcello reported being evicted on August 1 from the Paul Lee loft in spite of a severe medical condition. On August 2nd he reports “[I was] laying outside the iron gates of SCHS; an ambulance was called for me; and I was immediately transported to Dominican Hospitals Emergency Room. I was dying from congestive heart failure, severe stenosis in two of my heart valves, and pneumonia. ” He reportedly went into heart surgery yesterday.

More info on the Freedom Sleepers is frequently available at https://www.facebook.com/groups/freedomsleepers/ . Donations of food, blankets, sleeping bags, and energy are always welcome.

This calendar event description was written by Robert Norse, who is alone responsible for its content.

Coastal Commission Likely to Rubberstamp Anti-Homeless RV Ban: Wednesday August 10

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 Say No to the Nighttime RV Ban at the Coastal Commission Hearing

Date Wednesday August 10
Time 9:00 AM -into the afternoon
Location Details Hilton Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley 6001 La Madrona Dr.Staff advises that the item (#16e on the Agenda) may not be heard until 10 AM or later, but suggests people come at 9 AM “to be sure”. They also warn that meetings may take until mid-afternoon or even evening. However 10-11 AM was the estimated (extremely approximate) time.

Event Type Other
Organizer/Author Robert Norse
Email rnorse3 [at] hotmail.com
Phone 831-423-4833

To call during the meeting only for input to the Coastal Commission:
(415) 407-3211.The full agenda packet for my appeal can be found at http://www.coastal.ca.gov/mtgcurr.html under Central Coast District, item 16e.

Only those who spoke or wrote to City Council around the anti-RV ordinance previously will be allowed to speak unless the Commission decides that a “substantial issue” is involved.

TEXT OF MY APPEAL [See attachment below]

HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom) opposes the proposed ban on RV parking city-wide during the nighttime hours of midnight to 5 AM. We believe it violates the City LDC as well as being part of a broader unstated anti-homeless policy of eliminating visible poverty from public areas without respecting the rights of the entire community to have access to those areas.

It limits public access unnecessarily to the Coastal Zone.

It discriminates against poor people (and indeed anyone) who live in or drive RV’s by denying them coastal access.

It puts a particular burden on those whose only affordable housing is a vehicle by making it illegal to park them at night.   [See attachment below for the rest of the letter]

SPECIFIC WORDING OF THE LAW
10.40.120 No person shall stop, stand or leave standing any oversized vehicle on any public highway, street or city parking lot between the hours of 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. unless otherwise authorized under Municipal Code Chapter 10.40.120.

DEFINITION OF OVERSIZED VEHICLE [MC 10.04.106]
“Oversized vehicle” shall mean any motorized vehicle as defined of Section 670 of the Vehicle Code or combination of motorized vehicles and/or non-motorized vehicles or trailers that meets or exceeds twenty-two feet in length at any time or a combination of the two following criteria, exclusive of fixtures, accessories or property: seven feet in height and seven feet in width.
(a) To determine the height, width or length of the vehicles defined in this section, any extension to the vehicle caused by mirrors, air conditioners, or similar attachments as allowed by Section 35109, 35110 or 35111 of the Vehicle Code as may be amended shall not be included.
(b) Oversized vehicle does not include pickup trucks, vans, or sport utility vehicles, which are less than twenty-five feet in length and eight feet in height.”

ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS: City Council Staff was directed “to proceed with the Coastal Development Permit process with a no parking rule from 12:00 a.m. – 5 a.m.; and report back 3 months after the ordinance goes into effect with some options for additional measures in the ordinance that could possibly expand the hours, as well as a permitting option for RV parking.”

HEARING PROCEDURES AT THE COASTAL COMMISSION:
“New appeals undergo a two-step process before the Commission, known as the ‘substantial issue’ phase and the ‘de novo’ phase. At the ‘substantial issue’ phase, section 30625(b) of the Coastal Act requires the Commission to hear an appeal unless the Commission determines that no substantial issue is raised by the appeal.

If at least three Commissioners request to take public testimony at the substantial issue phase of the appeal prior to determining whether or not to hear an appeal, the only persons qualified to testify orally before the Commission are the applicants, persons who opposed the application before the local government (or their representatives), and the local government. Testimony from other persons must be submitted in writing.”

The appeal, in my view, is unlikely to get past the “substantial issue” phase, since Coastal staff, huddling with the City staff, has already found “no substantial issue” and its recommendation to defeat the appeal is being forwarded to the Commission. I am told the Commission rarely goes against the recommendations of its staff.

However, there seemed to be some confusion among the staff. One staffer was unaware that the law allows nighttime parking permits only to those who rent or own and not to unhoused people, van dwellers, and tourists unless local housed residents made application. Another knew about the exclusion of homeless from permits and apparently didn’t think its exclusion of those folks was significant.

WHY GO?
To support those who are impacted by the “RV’s Begone!” law, those fighting gentrification and thinly disguised anti-homeless laws generally. This battle is likely lost (though you never can tell), but the struggle will continue. It may be a chance to meet and exchange contact information with folks living in RV’s or supporting those who do.

The fact remains that in Santa Cruz, affordable housing for the poor is often a vehicle. Banning nighttime RV parking is the yet another step in the continuing criminalizing process. For those who were (foolishly) hoping for real alternatives in the Presidential election, there are real struggles to be fought locally on a day-to-day basis that matter. Getting together with others may make that more likely.

Commission Phone Number before the hearing: 831-427-4863
Commission Phone Number during the hearing: 415-407-3211

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For more event information:
http://www.huffsantacruz.org

Added to the calendar on Monday Aug 8th, 2016 9:26 PM iCal Import this event into your personal calendar.

§Text of Norse Appeal Letter to the Coastal Commission

by Robert Norse Monday Aug 8th, 2016 9:26 PM
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I presented a similar letter to the Mathews City Council. Without any meaningful response.

§Letter of Support from Southern California Activist

by Robert Norse Monday Aug 8th, 2016 9:26 PM
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Peggy Lee Kennedy and attorney Carol Sobel have successfully expanded protections for the unhoused with the Jones decision and settlement formally overturning the L.A. nighttime sleeping and sitting ban and the Desertrain decision protecting people in vehicles.

Continue reading →

Freedom SleepOuts Continue as City Council Election Circus Begins

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Night #56 on the Sidewalk; Another Demand for Justice

Date Tuesday August 02
Time 5:00 PM Tuesday to 9 AM Wednesday
Location Details Create a Sidewalk City Adjacent to Santa Cruz City Hall
Event Type Protest
Organizer/Author Keith McHenry
Email keith [at] foodnotbombs.net
Phone575-770–3377

ELECTION BLUES
As City Council Candidate chatter begins in August, Freedom Sleepers invite the Council candidates to join them on the sidewalk and publicly speak out against the anti-homeless 11 PM – 8:30 AM.

To check in on the latest contenders for 4 City Council seats in November, go to http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/departments/city-clerk/elections-2382 and then scroll down to List of Prospective 2016 Candidates.

CURRENT SUSPECTS
Current declared candidates include J.M. Brown, Steven Pleich, Nathanael A. Kennedy, Drew “Dru” S. Glover, Martine Watkins, Mayor Cynthia Mathews, Steve Schnaar, James (Jim) P. Davis, Robert Singleton, and Sandra (Sandy) L. Brown. You can find links to their websites (those who have them) there. None of the candidates is clearly highlighting human rights restoration for the poor. Only Steve Pleich has actually spent nights with the Freedom Sleepers.

As with the national elections, the local elections are taking place within a corrupt money-heavy staff-powerful environment. Organizing around issues rather than candidates may be a much better idea.

MORE OF THE SAME AS THE SIDEWALK STRUGGLE CONTINUES
Also ripe for removal–the laws that shut down parks at night and send out Rangers with ticket books and stay-away orders to harass the unhoused who seek refuge there.

As social services shut down all around Santa Cruz and the City welcomes tourist, Freedom Sleepers offer a sidewalk sanctuary and protest focus on Tuesday nights. You may be illegal, but at least you’re illegal in company.

FINAL RV APPEAL COMING UP
With RV removal on the City Homeless-Removal Squad’s Agenda, community members are invited to remember that The Coastal Commission will hear an appeal of the city-wide nighttime parking ban, on Wednesday, August 10 at 9 AM at the Hilton Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley at 6001 La Madrona Drive.

For more from RV activists themselves, check out https://www.facebook.com/groups/rvparkingrights/

SPEAK OUT AND READ UP!
To speak about these issued on Free Radio Santa Cruz, call in Sunday 9:30 AM to 2 PM and Tuesdays 6-8 PM at 831-427-3772.

For updates and history on a variety of homeless issues, go to http://www.huffsantacruz.org .

To follow current and recent Freedom Sleeper activity, compliments of Steve Pleich, go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/freedomsleepers/

This notice and the attached flier are by Robert Norse–who is solely responsible for its content.

Here Comes Freedom Sleep-Out #55 !

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Freedom Sleep #55 To Follow Pacific Avenue Protests
Date Tuesday July 26
Time 5:00 PM – 9:00 AM
Location Details Using the public City Hall Courtyard until police drive the public out at 10 PM when sleepers will bunk down on the sidewalk.
Event Type Protest
Organizer/AuthorKeith McHenry (posted by Norse)
Email keith@foodnotbombs.net
Phone 575-770-3377 

Freedom Sleepers will again claim sidewalk sleeping space in front of City Hall Tuesday night. The activists will defy the Mathews’ Council’s anti-homeless 11 PM- 8:30 AM Sleeping Ban still being used throughout the City to harass, cite, and “move along” unhoused people in the dead of night.

Food Not Bombs may be providing food support and Jumbogumbo Joe Schultz coffee and soup.

VIVID COVERAGE OF PRIOR FREEDOM SLEEP-OUT’S
Alex Darocy’s vivid photographic and narrative coverage of the last several sleepouts can be found at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/07/25/18789435.php (“Tuesday is Still the Night to Sleep at Santa Cruz City Hall”). Darocy provides regular coverage of the sleep-out’s, which can be seen through searching for “Darocy” on the indybay.org/santacruz website.

ENOUGH TREATING THE UNHOUSED AS GARBAGE!
Outspoken activist Lucero Luna was twice arrested last week for a dramatic, theatrical, and vocal protest on Pacific Avenue exposing and castigating the treatment of homeless people as trash in Santa Cruz. See “Houseless activist protests sleeping ban, public space restrictions in Santa Cruz” at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/07/24/18789390.php . Luna reports repeated harassment in the van she lives in and has frequently urged fight-back marches downtown.

APPEAL OF NIGHTTIME RV BAN COMING UP AUGUST 10TH
Santa Cruz City Council accepted misleading anecdotal testimony last fall without any specific statistics around complaints of dumping, view-blocking, the presence of “suspicious” vandwellers, and other more hysterical claims (meth labs on wheels).

They passed two ordinances banning RV parking from 8 PM to 8 AM, denying homeless people the right to get permits, and empowering the city engineer to begin eliminating ‘oversized” parking spaces and criminalizing vehicles that use more than one space.

The Coastal Commission will hear activist Robert Norse’s appeal on the more limited midnight to 5 PM RV ban, intended mainly–testimony from neighborhood NIMBY’s made clear at the time–to drive away homeless folks. The commission will meet Wednesday, August 10 at 9 AM at the Hilton Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley at 6001 La Madrona Drive.

UPCOMING COURT TRIALS FOR ARTISTS ALEX SKELTON AND JOFF JONES
Jones and Skelton have been arrested repeatedly for displaying their art work outside the small and sparce “exempt zones”, designated by small brass discs and blue dots on the Pacific Avenue sidewalk.

The two were unexpectedly acquitted last year by police powerpuffer Kim Baskett, Commissioner of Dept. 10. Now the two face four new charges of violating MC SC 5.81(A)-1 (displaying art outside the blue box and/or not moving every hour). Two of these charges go to trial at 1:30 PM in the basement of the County Building, adjacent to the courthouse on August 30th.

This will be the first challenge to the City’s recent “Vanish the Vendors” law. This ban on handicraft creation, display, and sale along Pacific Avenue and side streets reiterates and reinforces the reduction of art/performance/tabling space which went into high great in 2013, created the “blue boxes” in 2014, and then cut their number down by half in 2016. Commissioner Basket will hear the case without a jury. The two artists don’t have a court appointed lawyer and haven’t mentioned that any local legal eagle has volunteered to help.

More info on the Freedom Sleepers is frequently available at https://www.facebook.com/groups/freedomsleepers/ . Donations of food, blankets, sleeping bags, and energy are always welcome.

This calendar event description was written by Robert Norse, who is alone responsible for its content.

 

 

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Santa Cruz Homeless Activists Hit the Sidewalks; Monterey Activists Act to Support Black Lives Matter !

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 NOTES BY NORSE:

Houseless activist protests sleeping ban, public space restrictions in Santa Cruz

https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/07/24/18789390.php
Houseless activist Lucero Luna shares her experience in Santa Cruz city jail and protests against laws criminalizing poor and houseless people within the city.

Tuesday is Still the Night to Sleep at Santa Cruz City Hall

https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/07/25/18789435.php
After celebrating their one-year anniversary on July 5, the Freedom Sleepers returned to Santa Cruz City Hall for their 53rd community sleepout on July 12, as well as their 54th sleepout on July 19. [Top photo: A Freedom Sleeper lies next to a protest sign that reads, “Embrace Your Moral Compass Because We Upon This Earth Are One,” at the 53rd community sleepout held on July 12.]
Black Lives Matter – Say Their Names!

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