Tag Archives: Anti-Homeless Hysteria

Armed Bigots on the March in Felton

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Norse Note:   What drugs?  What “illegal behavior”?  What provision for alternative shelter is being made?  Isn’t what’s really going on here destruction of people’s survival campsites without warrant or specific justification?     Why bother to ask–when you can just scowl “drug-infested” and “clear” people and their possessions like so much garbage?

Drug-Infested Camps to Be Cleared Thursday

Illegal campsites filled with criminal activity will be eliminated in Felton from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Thursday.
Photos (2)
A series of illegal campsites, known to be full of drugs and other criminal behavior, will be disposed of Thursday morning and early afternoon, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office announced.

The Felton camps, along the Mt. Hermon Road and Gram Hill Road corridor, were identified by community members and are hotbeds of “ongoing criminal activity in the area,” Sergeant John Habermehl said in a press release.

From 8 a.m. until 1 p.m., the camps, which are located under county bridges and touch private property, will be cleaned up with assistance of minimum security community corrections inames under the supervision of sheriff’s deputies.

Over the past few weeks, the sheriff’s office has posted signs at each camp asking people to vacate.

“The goal of the Sheriff’s Office will be to remove the refuse and eliminate criminal activities caused by these campsites,” Habermehl said. “Roaring Camp has graciously donated the use of their dumpsters for disposal of debris removed from the targeted areas.”

Fanning the Flames: More Drug War Hysteria in the Santa Cruz Sentinel

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http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/01/29/18730942.php?show_comments=1#18731099

by Robert Norse

Thursday Jan 31st, 2013 1:18 PM

REPULSIVE SENTINEL EDITORIAL
A noxious Sentinel editorial today endorses an ignorant and prejudiced position on needle exchange at http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/opinion/ci_22484641/editorial-step-forward-needle-exchanges . The noxious and futile moralizing of the editorial and subsequent comments recalls the propaganda of the Anti-Saloon League in its drive to create Alcohol Prohibition in the early years of the 20th Century. That it has taken on an anti-homeless color also makes it particularly off-base and fascistic.

Pretty sad, of course, and recalls the right-wing solutions to abortion and unwanted pregnancy: “abstinence”. Why not call out the cops to go after moms and doctors? Oh, wait, isn’t that now the law in some states?

COMMANDER STEVE CLARK ON STEROIDS
Deputy-Chief Clark’s “more cops and crackdowns” and “ramp up the war on drugs” approach is a proven failure. His “cut off the needles and they’ll go away” nonsense feeds and feeds off a widespread form of magical thinking in the community that blames “excessive Santa Cruz tolerance.” Looking at the Drug War racket that funds cops, courts, jails, and prisons (and, of course attorneys) it’s been clear for years that Prohibition is the real problem. One doesn’t even have to be “compassionate” to understand the common sense that a black market will always find profiteers and customers. And create new criminals, even as the old ones, are stuffed into overcrowded pens. Pretty crazy stuff.

A RESPONSE FROM PLEICH?
I’ve asked Steve Pleich–a long-time needle exchange volunteer to write an informed response and also to speak about the issue on tonight’s Free Radio Santa Cruz show between 6 and 8 PM (streams at http://tunein.com/radio/FRSC-s47254/ , broadcasts at 101.3 FM, archives at http://www.radiolibre.org/brb/brb130131.mp3).

SENTINEL “CORRECTION”
Today front-page story on the shutting down of the Lower Ocean Needle Exchange “corrects” the Sentinel story the day before that I refer to in the previous update. That Sentinel story claimed it was a unanimous secret vote at the Closed Session of City Council to authorize the City Attorney to threaten and initiate “cease and desist” actions against the landlord allowing needle exchange in his parking lot. Today’s Sentinel comes out with a different tale:

“Barisone said he had not heard about the exchange before this week but said a majority of council members — not a unanimous number as initially reported by the Sentinel — approved beginning code enforcement activity after Lower Ocean neighbors raised concerns about the needle exchange.”

The full Sentinel story (though what the truth is, I don’t know) can be found at http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_22485020/city-attorney-santa-cruz-property-owner-called-end .

MEANWHILE BACK IN THE REAL WORLD…
To find real solutions, you’ve first got to abandon the hype and hysteria and look closely at the effectiveness (or not) of medical approaches in other countries like Injection Rooms, Inhalation Rooms, for hard-drug users.

Unless they choose to hold a special session, there’ll be no City Council meeting until the second Tuesday in February (the 12th).
Sane folks better get ready to deal with a tide of Drug War Insanity.

FULL STORY AT   http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/01/29/18730942.php?show_comments=1#18731099

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

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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.

A Courageous Copwatcher Gets Trashed in Santa Cruz

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Santa Cruz Indymedia | Police State and Prisons

Officer Ahlers is a Bad Cop
by brent is found guilty
Friday Feb 1st, 2013 10:11 PM

Today I was found “guilty” of sitting on the sidewalk and ordered to pay $300.
The only problem is that I didn’t sit down….

scpd-officer-travis-ahlers_9-12-12.jpg
scpd-officer-travis-ahler…

Today I was found “guilty” of sitting on the sidewalk and ordered to pay $300.
The only problem is that I didn’t sit down until SCPD officer Travis Ahlers ordered me to sit down on the sidewalk.

I had been walking south on Pacific Ave. near the intersection of Laurel St. when I saw officer Ahlers talking to a man who was sitting on the ground. He said, “may I search your backpack?” At which point, from a distance of 10’ away I told the man that he didn’t have to allow the officer to search his belongings. “Tell him NO,” I said. Officer Ahlers turned towards me and told me to sit down and produce my ID. I asked him what the charge was and he said, “For sitting on the ground.”
“I wasn’t sitting down until you told me to sit,” I retorted. He said, “that’ll be for a judge to decide.” Later I found out that the man who was sitting down was under formal probation and was able to be legally searched even without being told before-hand. I didn’t know this when I was reminding him of his 4th Amendment right to the privacy of his person and all of his stuff. Had I known this, I would have said nothing to him.

Well today was my day in court. Since this is an infraction and wouldn’t be heard in a regular court I had commissioner Kim Baskett disqualified so that the case would be heard in a regular court and the officer would have to be sworn in. Finally, on my 5th visit to the courthouse since September on this matter the case was seen by judge Timothy Volkman. I was charged with:

9.50.012 SITTING DOWN ON SIDEWALKS IN DESIGNATED CITY ZONES.
No person shall sit upon the following enumerated portions of a public sidewalk: (b)    Within fourteen feet of any building.

The officer said that the ordinance included “squatting” and then offered to tell the judge what the dictionary definition of “squatting” was. The judge declined hearing the definition. I read the ordinance aloud to high-light that it clearly reads “No person shall sit..” The officer said that my buttocks were within 8” of my heels.

With this, the judge found me guilty of sitting on the sidewalk and ordered that I pay $300. The judge said, “this will teach you to leave the police alone while they’re conducting their business.” I said that I’m not being charged with Obstructing an officer, but instead, Sitting on the ground which I obviously didn’t do. The judge said, “I’m siding with the ‘people’ that your are guilty.”

I said that I don’t have the money… I don’t have $10 and I can’t pay. Then I said “I won’t pay. This is not justice. This is a bad cop and you’re a bad judge.” I refused a payment plan or a work program.
I then left the court when the bailiff who was escorting me out said, “If you don’t pay it’ll be twice as much.”

It is true that at the end of this frustrating hearing that I lashed out in classic Brent Adams style. I really couldn’t believe my ears when I was found guilty. Yes, it is just an infraction and yes, its just $300 but isn’t it the principle of the thing? I had not been sitting and yet I was found guilty of sitting down. It is true that I don’t have the money to pay. I will check with the clerks office and try and get on a payment plan or a work program.
I am truly frustrated.

COMMENTS

well done Brent

by V

Friday Feb 1st, 2013 11:06 PM

You did everything right at every step of the way, Brent. You took a stand when you thought you saw injustice, and you made these lying pieces of shit work hard to get you. Unfortunately and surprisingly, they pursued you all the way even despite the legal trickery (well played!) of having the ref disqualified in favor of a real judge. You made them work for this one.

You, sir, are a fighter.

by John E. Colby

Saturday Feb 2nd, 2013 2:20 AM

Brent. Your story is instructive about how little justice there is in our justice system. Unfortunately the incident wasn’t documented on video. Every Santa Cruzan should read about this so they can understand that when they step into a courtroom they are entering a rigged system. When judges and police officers flout the law with such brazen immunity, how can you expect the criminally inclined to respect the same laws, or to even respect the courts and law enforcement?

The public needs to be educated to start recall campaigns against these rogue judges who mete out injustice with impunity. Alternatively, if you can obtain a copy of the transcript for your trial as evidence of misconduct by the judge, you could send it to the news media and the Judicial Council of California to file a misconduct complaint (against this judge). If enough people mistreated by this judge do the same, eventually this judge may feel some heat.

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/02/01/18731166.php?show_comments=1#18731209

by Robert Norse

Saturday Feb 2nd, 2013 12:07 PM

THOU SHALT NOT COPWATCH
Brent got screwed because he challenged the authority of the cop by watching and commenting. He was obviously not really obstructing or interfering (or he would have been charged with that misdemeanor crime). Nor was he sitting. Leaning and squatting–according to the 2002 debates on the Sitting Ban (which specifically considered that question) rejected “leaning”, much as fashion-conscious merchants wanted to include it.

The Sitting Ban has nothing to do with obstructing the sidewalk, obstructing officers, or public safety. It has to do with obstructing poor and counterculture folks (or anyone the merchants find unsightly) and giving maximum discretion to the police so they can move people along. That’s why Measure S was recently defeated in Berkeley. The Berkeley service providers, three members of the Berkeley City Council and the local ACLU mobilized against it.

Of course, we haven’t heard a peep from Ken Cole (head of the Housing Authority), nor Monica Martinez (Executive Director of the Homeless Lack of Services Center), nor the local ACLU, nor–of course–any City Council members. Our City Council unanimously voted to increase the penalties and scope of the Ban in 2009.

Copwatching is legal and important. I spoke with two observers who witnessed the entire “trial”. Judge Volkman reported reprimanded Adams for his copwatching activity, suggesting it was a “lesson” for him. If “shut up, close your eyes, and keep moving” is the lesson, I suggest we fire the teacher.

BANNING CUSTOMARY AND PRESUMABLY FIRST AMENDMENT-PROTECTED ACTIVITY
The current Sitting Ban (so-called since it bans sitting in 90% of the sidewalk in business, downtown, and beach districts) is a nasty ordinance which has never had a real constitutional challenge (as Berkeley’s did).

9.50.012 Sitting Down on Sidewalks in Designated City Zones: In the C-C community commercial, C-N neighborhood commercial, C-B commercial beach, CBD central business district, and R-T tourist residential zoning districts, no person shall sit upon the following enumerated portions of a public sidewalk: (a) At any bus stop; (b) Within fourteen feet of any building. Where any portion of a building is recessed from the public sidewalk, the fourteen feet shall be measured from the point at which the building abuts the sidewalk; (c) Within fifty feet of any ATM machine or cash disbursal machine, or any other outdoor machine or device which disburses or accepts coins or paper currency except parking meters and newspaper vending machines; (d) Within fourteen feet of any fence that abuts a public sidewalk; (e) Within fourteen feet of any drinking fountain, public telephone, public bench, public trash compactor, information or directory/map sign, sculpture or artwork displayed on public property, or vending cart; (f) Within fourteen feet of any street corner or intersection; (g) Within fourteen feet of any open air dining area or cafe extension; or (h) Within fourteen feet of any kiosk.

Since most sidewalks are 10′ wide in all other places than Pacific Ave, this simply bans sitting where there are buildings–period. It’s designed to “clear away the riffraff” and give us the Shopping Mall look. The latest 2009 twist was to include “sculptures” and “directory signs” as creators of 14′ forbidden zones. As well as increasing penalties on “unattended” tickets to create both (a) a new misdemeanor crime (MC 4.04.015) and (b) the right to charge every subsequent infraction crime, no matter how petty or irrelevant as a misdemeanor ((MC 4.04.010(4)).

TICKETS WITHOUT WARNING
Other ordinances that involve the creation of “forbidden” zones have warning provisions. Benches, for instance, have a ridiculous 1-hour restriction.

On those benches that still remain that is–three have recently been removed on Cooper St., perhaps at the behest of the noxious Nextspace, a Coonerty-founded business.

For instance 9.50.12, Sitting down on Public Benches in Designated Zones, which forbids you to “sit down upon or otherwise occupy a public bench or use a public bench to store property for more than a total of one hour during any given twelve-hour period” has a second provision that “No person shall be cited under this section unless he or she has first been notified by a police officer, public officer or downtown host that he or she is in violation of the prohibition in this section, and thereafter continues the violation.”

Not so with the Sitting Ban.

MORE ON THE LAWLESS LAWS AND ABUSIVE COPS
For more fun fuck-you-over ordinances, check out “Deadly Downtown Ordinances–Update” at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/08/29/18657087.php .

For another account of the fun-loving Officer Ahlers, see “Selective Enforcement and Harassment by Santa Cruz Police on Pacific Avenue” at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2012/09/13/18721560.php

RESTORING THE CONSTITUTION
Since we have a hopeless City Council, responding to the agenda of Take Back Santa Cruz, the SCPD, the SC Neighbors, and the DTA, I’ve fond the best response is to do what Brent tried to do: point out the abusive behavior of the police, hosts, and private security thugs.

When you do this, I suggest you address passersby, keep at least 10′ away from the incident. Take a step back if asked. Document what you’re doing with a phonevid or some other device, and try to have a second witness with you. Often cops will stop and park their running squad cars in the middle of the street to deal with the “emergency” of a “criminal sitter”.

Alerting the public walking by to this has often, I’ve found, shortened the police action and encouraged them to move on to more sensible priorities.

It’s also quite appropriate to fine a formal Internal Affairs Complaint with the Professional Standards Unit of the SCPD or contact the City’s so-called “Independent” Police Auditor with your concerns. You don’t have to be the target of the abuse. You just have to witness what you felt was wasteful, abusive, or uncalled-for police behavior.

FILING A COMPLAINT
An on-line form to fill out when you witness or experience abusive behavior of any kind from the SCPD can be found at http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=9334 . Just make sure you check #5 at the end, indicating it’s a “complaint” and not a “Comment” or any of the other classifications that are essentially irrelevant.

Robert H. Aaronson is the auditor. He wanders in occasionally from his roost in Palo Alto to collect 20Gs a year or more, never bothering to issue a written report that I’ve heard about. Still it makes a record–and that can count later for others who want to make Pitchess Motions in court challenging an officer’s credibility or violent behavior in a future case. Aaronson’s e-mail is not given, but is on the City website as a form at http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/index.aspx?page=983 .His phone is given as 650-565-8800.

Again–the purpose of these is not to expect any kind of justice or accountability. Rather to simply make a record. If you do complain to either Aaronson or the SCPD, please post a copy on line as well.

OTHER COMMENTS CAN BE FOUND AT http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/02/01/18731166.php?show_comments=1#18731183

Anchorage Way Ahead of Santa Cruz ACLU

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Civil libertarians challenge Anchorage sidewalk-sitting ban

By Yereth Rosen | Reuters – January 31, 2013

 

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) – Civil libertarians filed suit in Alaska on Thursday to challenge an Anchorage ban on sitting or lying on public sidewalks they said was enacted partly as a response to one man’s prolonged protest outside City Hall.

The lawsuit, filed in state Superior Court by the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska, called the 2011 ordinance a violation of the right to free speech and peaceful assembly. The suit also targets a related ban on panhandling in downtown Anchorage.

Jeffrey Mittman, executive director of the ACLU of Alaska, said both prohibitions chill traditional political activity, such as union pickets, as well as artistic expression.

“We don’t want Alaskans to have to wonder, if they go out on the sidewalk to engage in fundraising or to engage in political speech, if they’re going to be arrested or not,” he said.

The exception to the sidewalk-sitting ban – for commercial activities such as street-food vending – is evidence of the law’s flaws, Mittman said. Courts usually grant broader protections to political speech than to commercial activities, he said.
The suit was filed on behalf of a local street musician and performance artist, a 95-year-old peace activist, labor unions, an Alaska Libertarian Party leader and other politically active individuals.
“They wish, as part of their expressive conduct, to be able to sit and lay on the downtown sidewalks and to seek donations free from the threat of municipal sanction,” says the complaint, which seeks an injunction to block the law.
Not represented as a plaintiff is the person whose actions inspired the ordinance, John Martin, who spent much of the past two years camping on a downtown street corner to protest what he said was Mayor Dan Sullivan’s insensitivity to homeless people.
Martin’s critics, who at times included the mayor, said he was creating a public nuisance and hazard to sidewalk traffic.

Anchorage Municipal Attorney Dennis Wheeler said he could not comment immediately on the claims made in the lawsuit. “We just got the copy. We haven’t had a chance to analyze it,” he said.

(Editing by Cynthia Johnston and Eric Walsh)

Council Committee Forwards Bag of Bigotry to Full Council to Rubberstamp What SCPD is Doing Anyway

Posted on by
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/01/29/18730942.php?show_comments=1#18731013

  on the Public Safety Committee meeting of Tuesday Night by Robert Norse  (See web story above)

Wednesday Jan 30th, 2013 9:13 AM

I spent half my time outside the meeting interviewing folks–interviews to be played Thursday 6-8 PM (some of them anyway).

So I missed the final vote, but it seems from the (often questionable) coverage of the Sentinel that not only did the Public Safety Committee rubberstamp the staff’s homeless-hostile and “more cops, less sanity” hysteria-happy agenda, but the City Attorney on secret vote from the Council

I assume the vote was unanimous, though I won’t be sure until I speak with others who were in the room when it was taken (or when I play the tape on Thursday evening and/or Sunday morning).

Quite slimey was the secrecy of the Committee and other members of the Council (like Micah Posner) who didn’t mention the key fact that the Council directed Posner in closed session to shut down a residential needle exchange site. I assume no one in the crowd was aware of it–though it happened yesterday according to the following Sentinel article.

This kind of “creeping criminalization”, which sounds like it’s out of the playbook of Deputy-Chief Steve Clark, and may be a form of abusive “reefer madness”-style Drug Warrioring which is a real step backwards.

I regret that indybay chose to remove a comment critical of me, whose author was straightforward enough to give his name. I encourage those who are not just trolling, but seriously in dispute, to leave comments on the HUFF website under the comment sections at http://www.huffsantacruz.org .

I also appreciate the support from those who like my reporting.

It’s true I mix opinion and fact in my commentaries–but I don’t hide that fact and don’t apologize for it either. Someday when I grow more skillful (probably never), I may be able to use the “facts speak for themselves” approach.. Trouble is that I feel so strongly about my conclusions, that I always have to stick them in, if not lead with them. Still I think these articles are helpful.

The Sentinel story is at http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_22478511/santa-cruz-shuts-down-longtime-needle-exchange-site

New Attack on Homeless Slated in City Council’s “Public Safety” Committee Meeting

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Title: New Attack on Homeless Slated in City Council’s “Public Safety” Committee Meeting
START DATE: Tuesday January 29
TIME: 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Location Details:
809 Center St.
City Council Chambers
Event Type: Other
Contact Name Robert Norse
Email Address rnorse3 [at] hotmail.com
Phone Number 831-423-4833
Address 309 Cedar PMB #14B Santa Cruz, CA 95060
The right-wing “Public Safety” Committee meeting, normally a tepid “figleaf-for-the-SCPD” affair that meets in a smaller room back of the Council chambers, will be out again in full frock in the larger City Council chambers where the usual Tuesday Council meetings are held.

TOXIC AGENDA
A long and toxic staff report recommends, among other things:

***Authorize new (and costly) police expansion.

***”Oversee” needle exchange (making its use more problematic)

***More First Alarm and SCPD patrols to destroy homeless survival camps

*** Funding in the short-term for more SCPD arrests, citations, and property seizure along the railroad tracks and in the Pogonip of homeless survival campers

***Triple-fine zones for littering, smoking, and other “illegal activity” in parks, beaches and other areas. (Normally this is reserved for New Year’s, Halloween, and 4th of July crowds–now it may be applied to areas where homeless folks hide or gather).

The agenda and full staff report can be found on the City’s website at http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/index.aspx?recordid=4709&page=440 .

FLOODING THE CHAMBERS
Homeless-hostile groups like Take Back Santa Cruz are expected to attend in force as well as nervous city officials eager to “manage” the recent outrage over trash, needles, and inadequate city bathrooms (one of the legitimate concerns being pressed).

Other groups sending out mixed messages about the homeless like The Clean Team (see their facebook page for the latest) will also be there.

NO RECORD MADE FOR SUBSEQUENT PUBLIC VIEWING
Last month’s meeting took over 3 hours and was held in packed chambers. I’m hoping to have the whole thing taped.

The conservative chair of the committee David Terrazas has refused to make sure the meetings are taped and publicly accessible afterwards. City Council meetings are now not only audioed, but videoed and stream on line.

The membership of the committee includes Cynthia “no food for the homeless at the Red Church” Mathews and Pamela “co-founder of Take Back Santa Cruz” Comstock.

ACTION RECOMMENDED
Come and speak up or get shut up.

Probabilities are the crackdown will continue anyway, however, I encourage people to stand up and speak out.

You can also contact the clowns running the circus–Mathews, Terrazas, and Comstock to express your concerns at 420-5020 or on line with contact info at http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/index.aspx?page=436 .

HUFF will meet tomorrow at 10 AM Sub Rosa Cafe 703 Pacific Ave. to discuss a response.

Report abusive SCPD , P&R, First Alarm, and other goonsquad behavior on this website or to HUFF at 423-4833.

Added to the calendar on Tuesday Jan 29th, 2013 5:38 AM

iCal Import this event into your personal calendar.

§Delayed Update

by Robert Norse Wednesday Jan 30th, 2013 9:13 AM
I spent half my time outside the meeting interviewing folks–interviews to be played Thursday 6-8 PM (some of them anyway).

So I missed the final vote, but it seems from the (often questionable) coverage of the Sentinel that not only did the Public Safety Committee rubberstamp the staff’s homeless-hostile and “more cops, less sanity” hysteria-happy agenda, but the City Attorney on secret vote from the Council

I assume the vote was unanimous, though I won’t be sure until I speak with others who were in the room when it was taken (or when I play the tape on Thursday evening and/or Sunday morning).

Quite slimey was the secrecy of the Committee and other members of the Council (like Micah Posner) who didn’t mention the key fact that the Council directed Posner in closed session to shut down a residential needle exchange site. I assume no one in the crowd was aware of it–though it happened yesterday according to the following Sentinel article.

This kind of “creeping criminalization”, which sounds like it’s out of the playbook of Deputy-Chief Steve Clark, and may be a form of abusive “reefer madness”-style Drug Warrioring which is a real step backwards.

I regret that indybay chose to remove a comment critical of me, whose author was straightforward enough to give his name. I encourage those who are not just trolling, but seriously in dispute, to leave comments on the HUFF website under the comment sections at http://www.huffsantacruz.org .

I also appreciate the support from those who like my reporting.

It’s true I mix opinion and fact in my commentaries–but I don’t hide that fact and don’t apologize for it either. Someday when I grow more skillful (probably never), I may be able to use the “facts speak for themselves” approach.. Trouble is that I feel so strongly about my conclusions, that I always have to stick them in, if not lead with them. Still I think these articles are helpful.

The Sentinel story is at http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_22478511/santa-cruz-shuts-down-longtime-needle-exchange-site

§Further Update

by Robert Norse Thursday Jan 31st, 2013 1:18 PM
REPULSIVE SENTINEL EDITORIAL
A noxious Sentinel editorial today endorses an ignorant and prejudiced position on needle exchange at http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/opinion/ci_22484641/editorial-step-forward-needle-exchanges . The noxious and futile moralizing of the editorial and subsequent comments recalls the propaganda of the Anti-Saloon League in its drive to create Alcohol Prohibition in the early years of the 20th Century. That it has taken on an anti-homeless color also makes it particularly off-base and fascistic.

Pretty sad, of course, and recalls the right-wing solutions to abortion and unwanted pregnancy: “abstinence”. Why not call out the cops to go after moms and doctors? Oh, wait, isn’t that now the law in some states?

COMMANDER STEVE CLARK ON STEROIDS
Deputy-Chief Clark’s “more cops and crackdowns” and “ramp up the war on drugs” approach is a proven failure. His “cut off the needles and they’ll go away” nonsense feeds and feeds off a widespread form of magical thinking in the community that blames “excessive Santa Cruz tolerance.” Looking at the Drug War racket that funds cops, courts, jails, and prisons (and, of course attorneys) it’s been clear for years that Prohibition is the real problem. One doesn’t even have to be “compassionate” to understand the common sense that a black market will always find profiteers and customers. And create new criminals, even as the old ones, are stuffed into overcrowded pens. Pretty crazy stuff.

A RESPONSE FROM PLEICH?
I’ve asked Steve Pleich–a long-time needle exchange volunteer to write an informed response and also to speak about the issue on tonight’s Free Radio Santa Cruz show between 6 and 8 PM (streams at http://tunein.com/radio/FRSC-s47254/ , broadcasts at 101.3 FM, archives at http://www.radiolibre.org/brb/brb130131.mp3).

SENTINEL “CORRECTION”
Today front-page story on the shutting down of the Lower Ocean Needle Exchange “corrects” the Sentinel story the day before that I refer to in the previous update. That Sentinel story claimed it was a unanimous secret vote at the Closed Session of City Council to authorize the City Attorney to threaten and initiate “cease and desist” actions against the landlord allowing needle exchange in his parking lot. Today’s Sentinel comes out with a different tale:

“Barisone said he had not heard about the exchange before this week but said a majority of council members — not a unanimous number as initially reported by the Sentinel — approved beginning code enforcement activity after Lower Ocean neighbors raised concerns about the needle exchange.”

The full Sentinel story (though what the truth is, I don’t know) can be found at http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_22485020/city-attorney-santa-cruz-property-owner-called-end .

MEANWHILE BACK IN THE REAL WORLD…
To find real solutions, you’ve first got to abandon the hype and hysteria and look closely at the effectiveness (or not) of medical approaches in other countries like Injection Rooms, Inhalation Rooms, for hard-drug users.

Unless they choose to hold a special session, there’ll be no City Council meeting until the second Tuesday in February (the 12th).
Sane folks better get ready to deal with a tide of Drug War Insanity.

§Small Correction

by Robert Norse Thursday Jan 31st, 2013 2:25 PM
The paragraph in the original story reads: “Quite slimey was the secrecy of the Committee and other members of the Council (like Micah Posner) who didn’t mention the key fact that the Council directed POSNER in closed session to shut down a residential needle exchange site….”

It should read “directed BARISONE in closed session to shut down what apparently is the only residential needle exchange site, at least the only one in the Lower Ocean neighborhood.” [Capitals added for emphasis]

Sorry for any confusion.

LATEST COMMENTS ABOUT THIS ARTICLE
Listed below are the latest comments posted about this article.
These comments are anonymously submitted by website visitors.

TITLE AUTHOR DATE
I’ve heard say there’s gonna be… RazerRay Thursday Jan 31st, 2013 7:57 PM
Santa Cruz moving towards a Final Solution John E. Colby Thursday Jan 31st, 2013 5:06 PM
This needs a state DOJ investigation Leigh Meyers Wednesday Jan 30th, 2013 12:27 PM
Really, H? S. Rubio Wednesday Jan 30th, 2013 6:55 AM
Specific words Robert Norse Tuesday Jan 29th, 2013 2:43 PM
Thanks for the clarification H Tuesday Jan 29th, 2013 2:23 PM
Clarifying Robert Norse Tuesday Jan 29th, 2013 1:52 PM
Heartless Bastards H Tuesday Jan 29th, 2013 1:02 PM

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

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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

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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

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For the original article and extensive comments that follow go to – http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/01/19/18730563.php
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 -0800Keith:

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

Thanks, Robert