Tag Archives: Protests

HUFF hits the streets noon Saturday April 30th to Fight the Sidewalk Shutdown Law

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https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/04/29/18785787.php

Taking Back Pacific Avenue and Defending Artist, Vendors, & the Community Against Bad Laws
Date Saturday April 30
Time 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Location Details
Soquel and Pacific on Pacific Avenue outside Forever 21. Or whereever the wind blows or the police push us.
Event Type Protest
Contact Name Robert Norse
Email Address rnorse3 [at] hotmail.com
Phone Number 831-423-4833
Address 309 Cedar St. P.O. Box 14B, Santa Cruz, 95060
Join us at noon on Pacific to TAKE BACK THE PUBLIC SPACE ! We’ll share coffee, brownies, strong opinions, and heart space with all comers.

HUFF [Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom] is tabling to raise public awareness about and action around…

+++ The upcoming attack on vendors and other non-commercial folks on the street by the City Council with its new “Vanish the Vendors” ordinance. The law reportedly returns to City Council on May 10th. See http://scsire.cityofsantacruz.com/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=712&doctype=AGENDA [item #22]. My summary is at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/04/11/18785162.php .

+++ Support for and solidarity with artists on Pacific Avenue, notably two arrested on Saturday April 16 for “displaying artwork outside the blue dotted area’. See “Pacific Avenue Santa Cruz: The Joff Jones and Alex Skelton Report on Freedom in the USA” at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/04/25/18785582.php .

+++ Join the HUFF campaign to open the City Hall bathrooms 24-hours a day, reopen the closed Soquel Ave. garage bathroom, and bring Santa Cruz into the 21st Century on elementary health and sanitation matters.

+++ Support the HUFF campaign to replace “forbidden zones” blue “performance pens”, and “move along” laws with the successful Voluntary Street Performers Guidelines–which worked well from 1980 to 2002, until torpedoed by a merchant-hamstrung City Council. See http://www.buskersadvocates.org/saalegalSantaCruzGuide.html .

Bring video and audio devices if you’ve got ’em (phones will do)!

Sleepers and Gardeners Unite? Freedom SleepOut #42 on April 26th at City Hall.

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Support Beach Flats Garden Defenders Then Defend the Right to Sleep– Freedom SleepOut #42
Date Tuesday April 26
Time 5:00 PM – 5:00 AM
Location Details
Outside, Inside, and Outside City Council at Church and Center across from the Main Library in Downtown Santa Cruz
Event Type Protest
Contact Name Toby Nixon (post by Norse)
Email Address tobynixon [at] gms.com

BEACH FLATS GARDEN FIGHT-BACK?
The 7 PM Session of the City Council will “consider” a Beach Flats Garden Update and Recommendations with a motion to accept the staff’s sell-out of 1/3rd of the Garden and direct them to continue to “work on” a long-term plan—as they’ve colluded in bulldozing 1/3rd of the garden in collusion with the Seaside Company.

An earlier meeting at 1:30 at closed session involving negotiating the lease for the Garden with the Seaside Company smooth-and-slippery City Manager Martin Bernal is a more likely plae where the real action will happen. The main part of the session is closed to the public (go figure!). However, there is an “open interval” at 1:30 for public comment which can be attended, though it’s not clear whether advocates for the garden will be there in any numbers.

At prior meetings Beach Flats supporters have rolled in in record numbers and then rolled out—letting Council and the slimy staff proceed along its sell-out path.
Councilmember Posner has circulated a constituent letter [relevant parts of which are attached below] noting he plans an eminent domain motion with the City forcing the Seaside Company to sell the Garden (over the recommendation of the City’s staff, of course).

Those interested in Metro cutbacks and hiway widening giveaways might also be interested in checking out item #21 on the afternoon agenda.

IGNORING HOMELESS ISSUES BY “STUDYING” THEM
Unmentioned by Posner is item #20 the “Homeless Coordinated Non-Response” (actually titled “Response”—but that’s false advertising).

This is a phony face-saving proposal to “study” a Homeless Task Force proposal and to shift responsibility for the City’s punitive laws to the County. It’s the latest non-action taken in response to the crisis faced by the unhoused community (and so to the trembling NIMBY and merchant communities fearful of their visible presence).

The crisis: the Winter Armory Shelter closed earlier this month and with it the end of all walk-up emergency shelter for the spring, summer, and fall for the City’s 1000-2000 folks outside. Instead of putting on the agenda proposals for safe places to sleep proposed by Phil Posner and Steve Pleich (a very limited proposal), the staff is doing cosmetic cover by proposing more “direction” and consideration of a joint City-County Task Force to restudy the obvious.

EARLIER RELEVANT PROPOSALS IGNORED
See the clear proposals of the former Homeless Issues Task Force at http://sccounty01.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/bds/Govstream/BDSvData/non_legacy/agendas/2000/20000502/PDF/020.pdf which include, of course, ending the Camping Ban.

HUFF described that Task Force as a “farce” 16 years ago because its intent and effect was to divert then-powerful activist energy. Its ultimate proposals, though, were good ones—largely ignored by City Councils since in favor of punitive police funding. Such diverting is actually unnecessary now that Don Lane’s “troops” have all disappeared over the hills or into focus groups and Posner has remained silent.

Still the 2000 Homeless Issues Task Force report contains many relevant and powerful suggestions which need to be actively advanced, not ignored with the same ground being “studied” again.

DEFENDING THE ARTISTS AND RECLAIMING PUBLIC SPACE ON PACIFIC
Meanwhile downtown HUFF set up its protest table right next to artists Alex Skelton and Joff Jones—who continue to refuse to be “blue boxed” on Pacific Avenue and refuse to “move along”. Their court cases come up in May. See “Pacific Avenue Santa Cruz: The Joff Jones and Alex Skelton Report on Freedom in the USA” at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/04/25/18785582.php

 City Council’s “Vaporize the Vendors” law will not be coming up until the first meeting in May. Will the courageous action of Alex and Joff and others like them make the Council’s threats a laughing stock?

ESTABLISHING SLEEP SPACE ON THE SIDEWALK AND THE BRICKS
Freedom Sleepers #42 will continue to have Troublemaker Toby livestreaming any untoward police and security thug behavior Tuesday night. Limited quantities of food and drink are likely.

Toby will meet with interested activists at 10 AM Wednesday morning at the Sub Rosa to review the night’s events and strategize for the night ahead. The regular HUFF meeting will be at 11 AM there as usual.

Though citations have reportedly been given in the last week around the library building, Freedom Sleepers on Tuesday have been pointedly ignored by the armed Ticketeers.

Contact HUFF at 831-423-4833 if you wish to join, organize, or support protests.

For more info on the Freedom Sleepers, go to: http://www.facebook.com/groups/freedomsleepers/ and/or http://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=AAA%20Freedom%20Sleepers

LEAVE COMMENTS AT https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/04/25/18785621.php 

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HUFF Back on Pacific Avenue In Support of Artists, Performers, and Other Riff Raff 1 PM Thursday 4-21

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HUFF Tabling Against Police Repression Downtown
Date Thursday April 21
Time 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Location Details
Pacific Avenue near Soquel next to Forever 21 or nearby
Event Type Protest
To protest the heavy police (SCPD, 1st Alarm, Host) harassment of the poor, the artists, the vendors, the performers, and the activists on Pacific Avenue.

The “Vanish the Vendors” ordinance is due to return May 10th to City Council. This law will freeze into law police power to continue and increase the threats, citations, and arrests police have already introduced for the last few weeks downtown. See “…Vanish the Vendors Law…” at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/04/11/18785162.php

 Most notorious was the arrest of Alex Skelton and Joff Jones (See “Pigs Repress Free Speech on Pacific” at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/04/16/18785295.php ) last Saturday. The two have returned–again reportedly outside the performance pens or blue boxes in defiance of the “free speech an hour at a time and only in the blue boxes” Decree of the city staff and Downtown Association.

HUFF will be tabling to demand an end to the restrictive boxes, forbidden zones, and move-every-hour law to return to the peaceful and success Voluntary Downtown Performance Guidelines. It voted at its weekly meeting to support those guidelines and expand them more broadly to vendors, tabler, and others engaging in extended non-commercial speech. See”Santa Cruz, California Street Performing Voluntary Guidelines” at http://www.buskersadvocates.org/saalegalSantaCruzGuide.html).

Other HUFF concerns include its Give A Shit! campaign: restoration and opening of 24-hour bathrooms, including Soquel garage bathroom (closed for three weeks for “vandalism”); end harassment of poor people with no legal shelter the right to sleep at night and cover up with blankets; and the broad restoration of public space in parks and public walkways (heavily monopolized by commercial interests downtown).

Bring signs, friends, video, and high spirits!
Iced tea and brownies likely available for early arrivals.

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


TO LEAVE COMMENTS AND VIDEO:  https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/04/20/18785423.php

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FREEDOM SLEEPOUT #41 TODAY AT CITY HALL

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As Cops Handcuff Artists on Pacific, Freedom SleepOut #41 Raises Its Sleepy Head
Date Tuesday April 19
Time 5:00 PM – 9:00 AM
Location Details
Bricked area next to the sidewalk in front of City Hall Courtyard across from the main library. The event begins around 5 PM with a prior flyer-and-feed prologue from Food Not Bombs. Keith McHenry will be reminding City Hall that “we’re still here” and “the abuses have not gone away.”
Event Type Protest
Contact Name Toby Nixon (posted by Norse)
Email Address tobynixon [at] gms.com
Phone Number 408-582-4152
Address
BACK TO THE BRICKS
In spite of internal disputes, activists will return to City Hall today (Tuesday 4-19) to challenge impervious and abusive City Hall authority backing the endless low-intensity War Against the Homeless.

Instead the homeless remain outside–the target of police, security guards, and NIMBY’s who use them. They are free, even encouraged, to harass those without shelter under the City’s Sleeping Ban (MC 6.36.010a), the “Closed Spaces” ordinance (MC 13.04.011), and other laws designed to make Santa Cruz a “less welcoming place” to the poor.

More info at http://freedomsleepers.org/index.php/actionsevents/ .With the closing of the Winter Armory Shelter earlier this month, there is no walk-in emergency shelter whatsoever and getting on the River St. Shelter waiting list is the only option. To do that, call 831-459-6644. Ask to be put on the waiting list (even if you only reach a recording).

Even if you have no intention of ever going in the shelter, signing up is a good idea (and has to be renewed ever three days by phone). Citations given under MC 6.36 must be automatically dismissed by the City Attorney short of court according to MC 6.36.055. Section A of that law also states ” A person shall not be in violation of this chapter if, at the time of his or her citation for a violation of this chapter, either: the winter shelter at the Santa Cruz National Guard Armory is filled to capacity; or the person is currently on the waiting list for shelter service through one of the shelter programs offered by the Homeless Services Center or the River Street Shelter in Santa Cruz.”


EARLIER READ AND FEED
Food and flyers will be available earlier in the afternoon with Food Not Bombs organizer Keith McHenry and local FNBers. There’s no regular City Council meeting until April 26th when the Vanish the Vendors ordinance will reappear [See http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/04/11/18785162.php] . McHenry feels it’s important to maintain a persistent presence at City Hall to remind the community that it’s the people not the politicians who are the legitimate authority.

Scott Collins, Assistant City Manager and one of the movers and shakers of the proposed VtV law, has not yet responded to questions about the law or agreed to meet.


BUMRUSHING BLUE BRACKET ARTISTS
Meanwhile last Saturday, two street artists were arrested and hauled away in handcuffs after refusing to sign their citations, as they had previously done in the past. [See “Pigs Repress Free Speech on Pacific” at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/04/16/18785295.php]. It was unclear whether the initial charge was “refusing to move along after an hour” or “displaying outside the blue boxes”–the small segregated segments of the sidewalk set aside for public use, with the rest reserved for commercial activity. In violation, of course, of the public right to use the sidewalk for a broad range of purposes.

Alex Skeleton and Joff had previously won a trial against being “outside the blue boxes” [the bracketed and/or dotted areas on Pacific Ave. that “allow” artist activity]. They have been displaying and selling their artwork downtown for the last 9 months with no threats of citation recently. For more extensive background: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/04/16/18785295.php?show_comments=1#18785363 .

More info at http://freedomsleepers.org/index.php/actionsevents/ .

SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO SLEEP, THE RIGHT TO USE PUBLIC SPACE, AND THE RIGHT TO BASIC DIGNITY FOR EVERYONE.

KEEP THE PRESSURE ON CITY HALL.

THE RIGHT TO SLEEP IS THE RIGHT TO LIVE.

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“Vanish the Vendors” Law at City Hall Tuesday; Sleep-Out #40 Tuesday Night

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Title: Wheelchair Chris Memorial, Council’s “Vanish the Vendors” Law, and Freedom Sleep-Out #40
START DATE: Tuesday April 12
TIME: 12:00 PM – 12:00 PM
Location Details:
Creepy Ole City Hall and Its Surrounding Grounds and Sidewalks
and at times in the cold chambers of the Council Meeting area as well.
Event Type: Protest
Contact Name Zav
Email Address zhershfield [at] gmail.com
Phone Number
Address
CITY COUNCIL WITH NO VANISH THE VENDORS LAW
High-visibility Homeless Highlander Keith McHenry says he’ll be setting up a literature and petitioning table at City Hall at noon.Item #22 on the Afternoon Agenda–coming up sometime between 3:30 and 4:30 (perhaps) is the “Vanish the Vendors” Law. It severely restricts tabling and performance space for all non-commercial purposes downtown.

It reduces the number of spaces from the 63 promised by staff when Councilwoman Comstock’s original “sweep away the homeless clutter” law was passed in 2013. Now the staff report suggests 25 will be the limit allowed.

The law bans dogs at tables. It BANS ALL VENDING AND OTHER SERVICES (such as massaging, hair wrapping, fortune telling, etc.). Not only selling, but distribution for donation, or display.

Staff report, proposed law, current law, and correspondence–go to http://scsire.cityofsantacruz.com/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=712&doctype=AGENDA . Then click on item #22.

EXEMPTIONS BUT FOR FOOD NOT BOMBS ?
Exempted are explicitly political buttons, literature, etc., or vendor-created books, audio, video, recordings, and paintings. This exemption was required by a federal court decision [Reno v. Sparks] years ago, though ignored by the SCPD demanding that writers, painters, and singers not charge for their own work. Such exemptions will only be in force for tabling in the 25 areas.

Instead of specifying where one can set up tables (“display devices”), it leaves this decision to future action by City Council. For the past two years, staff made the decisions behind closed doors, without public input, showing a, rigid and gentrified aesthetic hostile to street culture.

Depending on where the backroom big boys decide to set up the “exempt” zones, Food Not Bombs sidewalk meals COULD BE CURTAILED OR SIMPLY BANNED. Staff bureaucrats will decide where the 25 exempt zones will be located. Heading this group is Assistant to the Assistant City Manager Scott Collins, who refused to retract “Freedom Sleepers leave a mess” false claims months ago, and then took Keith to court for publicly denouncing him.

E-mail citycouncil [at] cityofsantacruz.com with your reaction to this latest “Roust the Riffraff” law. And then start thinking of ways to resist it, since the outcome is likely a done deal.

Why address profound income inequality, no rent control and renter protection, and the most elementary survival rights for those without shelter? Instead weeks after the Winter Armory Shelter has closed with 100 of 1000–2000 houseless on the street, City Council will be further researching “Tiny Homes” instead of designating emergency campgrounds as nearby San Jose’s City Council has moved to do.

CHRIS BEZORE MEMORIAL
The memorial for Wheelchair Chris is to begin around 4 PM. See http://www.facebook.com/events/803713033091146/permalink/808009502661499/ for more background.

Further background: http://www.indybay.org/uploads/2016/03/28/chrisx_bezore_s_death.pdf

SLEEP-OUT TO SPEND A 40TH NIGHT
Sleepcrime after 11 PM still being a $158 crime in Santa Cruz, the few, the hardy, the hopeful will be on the sidewalk just outside the Forbidden Zone (our own “public” grounds at City Hall). Likely to be coffee and some munchables–though don’t expect banquet-level cuisine.

Troublemaker Toby–on survival vacation will be available Wednesday morning for input and outburst at the Sub Rosa Cafe (703 Pacific) at 10 AM where he will scheme with others on the future of the Freedom Sleepers.

The regular HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom) meeting willl begin at 11 AM. Free coffee for those with the stomach for it

Another Tuesday, Another SleepOut: Freedom SleepOut #39 at City Hall

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Title: Chow Down in the Afternoon; Bed Down at Night at Freedom SleepOut #39
START DATE: Tuesday April 05
TIME: 5:00 PM – 5:00 AM
Location Details:
In and Around Santa Cruz City Hall at 809 Center St. and on the sidewalk across from the main library
Event Type: Protest
Contact Name Toby Nixon (posted by Norse)
Email Address tobynixon [at] gms.com
Phone Number 408-582-4152
Address
ON THE MENU
The 39th weekly sidewalk sleepout in front of City Hall also includes a cook-out. Food Not Bombs will be serving vegies and other vegan yumyum’s from beneath its pavilion, waving to passing pedestrians, council members and staff during the late afternoon.

Troublemaker Toby Nixon, the “no leaders” leader of the Triple A Freedom Sleepers will likely have some carnivore-pleasing items to sizzle on his portable stove. Jumbogumbo Joe Schultz is rumored to be providing coffee and additional edibles.

MORE EXTENSIVE BENZORE MEMORIAL APRIL 12
No Council meeting this week, and the official memorial for Chris Bezore will be happening next Tuesday the 12th, but folks may be talking about him nonetheless. See http://www.facebook.com/events/803713033091146/ for more details.

WHY SHOW UP AT ALL?
The point is to maintain a human, conscience-provoking, and “illegal” presence at City Hall in violation of the Sleeping Ban and other abusive anti-homeless ordinances that City Council has laid on the backs of folks outside.

EARLIER REPORTS AND RELATED CAMPAIGNS
Those interested in trailing along after the City Council’s proposed Homeless Task Force (reportedly coming up April 12) can chat with fellow starry-eyed hopefuls at Trinity Presbyterian Church 420 Melrose at 5 PM on Tuesday April 5th.

Earlier reports on the Freedom Sleeper Sleep-Out’s and related subjects can be found by going to http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/03/28/18784558.php and following the links.

The Give a Shit campaign to demand opening of the Public Bathrooms at City Hall at night will be further discussed and prepped at the Wednesday HUFF meeting at Sub Rosa 11 AM Wednesday April 6th.

Freedom Sleepers will scheme for next week’s adventures at 10;30 AM at the Sub Rosa on April 6th.

 

Freedom Sleeper Dies; Activists Celebrate His Memory with Food and Sleep at Sleep-Out #38

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Title: BBQ with the Banbusters: Freedom Sleep-Out #38 Sizzles Into Sight
START DATE: Tuesday March 29
TIME: 5:00 PM – 5:00 AM
Location Details:
In the supposedly public area outside City Hall near the Center St. sidewalk across from the main library.
Event Type: Protest
Contact Name Toby Nixon (posted by Norse)
Email Address tobynixon [at] gms.com
Phone Number 408-582-4152
Address
LESS CHATTER, MORE EATS
There won’t be another City Council conclave of creepies until April 12th (two weeks from Tuesday). But homeless folks have to sleep every night and continue to receive $158 citations.

To bolster weary spirits and nagging appetites, Freedom Sleepers (mainly Toby, Zav, and Pat) have arranged for a barbeque as dusk falls. Bring some food to cook if you’re able. Troublemaker Toby Nixon claims to be a serviceable chef.

MORE MEETINGS, MORE TALK
At the same time Paul Seever of the AFC (a faith-based group) is holding a second meeting at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Fireside Room, 420 Melrose, last door to the west of the lower building, near Poplar St., 5:00 to 6:30 PM.

The notables conferring are apparently building on hopes that Councilmember David (“no sleep for the homeless”) Terrazas’s proposed “Homeless Study Task Force” to be proposed April 12 is actually more than smoke, mirror, chatter, and pretense.

City Council stonewallers created an earlier Homeless Issues Task Force, which came up with all kinds of good recommendations–including the most obvious: repeal the Camping Ordinance until there is adequate shelter. Read it and weep at http://sccounty01.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/bds/Govstream/BDSvData/non_legacy/agendas/2000/20000502/PDF/020.pdf

It seems a little disingenuous to hook up with a “blame the County” initiative from “shift the responsibility” Terrazas when it’s the City that has the most repressive anti-homeless laws (all of which he voted for).

OTHER EFFORTS
Word from the street is that some churches have expanded their protective reach with meal and sleeping options both downtown and on the Westside. No question these religious worthies are good-hearted–and a number of them spoke in favor Councilmember Lane’s “strike sleep from the camping ban” initiative of March 8.

Other cities like San Jose and Sacramento–under street and legal protest pressure– are seriously considering open air encampments. Salinas activists continue to fight the demolition of the Chinatown encampment (half swept away). Supporter are encouraged to join a nightly protest encampment outside City Hall at 200 Lincoln St.

Salinas officials councilmembers themselves have decriminalized nighttime sleeping (even camping with tents), though they’ve harshened the ban against setting down homeless property.

ANOTHER CASUALTY OF SANTA CRUZ CRUELTY
Christian Sean Bezore, a homeless Freedom Sleeper often present in a wheelchair, who died on March 17, will be memorialized by Freedom Sleepers, Food Not Bombs, HUFF, and others on April 12th. See https://www.indybay.org/uploads/2016/03/28/chrisx_bezore_s_death.pdf and http://www.facebook.com/events/803713033091146/ for more details.

Activist Abbi Samuels has released a report of her research into Chris’s death, which append to this calendar entry.
“PUSH BACK” PAT COLBY STICKS IT TO THE SCPD
The SCPD only allows pick-ups of pilfered property Tuesdays and Thursdays between 12:30 and 2:30 PM. The pick-up’s happen at the back door of the SCPD on Washington St. where Pat will be waiting every other Thursday (call HUFF at 423-4833 if you wish to arrange for her support).

The absurdly short amount of time when property reclamation fro the anti-homeless sweeps is permitted has never been adequately explained but seems yet another kick in the face to homeless folks with the usual “get out” message.

GIVE A SHIT INITIATIVE STILL A PRESSING ISSUE
The unannounced closing of the only full-service (sort of) 24-hour bathroom last December has prompted HUFF activists to hit Pacific Avenue with petitions to demand that the City Hall bathrooms be kept open 24-7, See http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/03/20/18784289.php ,

HUFFsters who are still conscious will get together at 11 AM at the Sub Rosa at 703 Pacific to sip coffee and brood over the night’s events.
 

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Fighting Back Against Bigotry in Santa Cruz and Salinas: Freedom SleepOut #37 and the Chinatown Resistance

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Title: Parallel People Power: Freedom SleepOut #37 at City Hall While Salinas Activists Protest
START DATE: Tuesday March 22
TIME: 5:00 PM – 5:00 AM
 
The City Hall Courtyard grounds, torn up and ribboned off for “replanting” with much of the rest of the area near the City Council chambers roped off to isolate protesters from their elected “representatives”.

That’s until 10 PM or thereabouts when straight-out exclusion from the entire City Hall area to quash protest forces protesters onto that old cold sidewalk in their fight against the Sleeping Ban.
Event Type: Protest
Contact Name Toby Nixon (posted by Norse)
Email Address tobynixon [at] gms.com
Phone Number

 

FOOD NOT BOMBS TO PROVIDE AFTERNOON FOOD
FNB activist Keith McHenry says he will be on hand in the afternoon with the Food Not Bombs table to let the Council and Community know that activists have not been driven away by citations, “closed area” announcements, sleeping bans, stay-away orders, security thug bullying, floodlights and other instruments of repression.

Others are urged to bring food, blankets, friends, and photo-capable equipment at night to document police behavior at and around the protest–in anticipation of future legal action.

PARALLEL STRUGGLES IN SALINAS & SANTA CRUZ
Santa Cruz Freedom Sleepers and their allies confront City Council in the afternoon (meeting starts at 2:30 PM, Oral Communications at 5 PM, Evening “Study Session”at 7 PM).

Salinas Chinatown Defenders will be rallying at their City
Council (2 PM–the rally, 4 PM–speakout at CityCouncil at 200 Lincoln Ave.).

On Wednesday the 23rd at 7 AM, the Chinatown Resistance will gather at 38 Soledad St. with civil disobedience in the air to stop the massive deportation of 200-300 homeless people at what may be the largest and longest City encampment there.

“GIVE A SHIT!”: OPEN A 24-HOUR BATHROOM:
On the same day in Santa Cruz at 11 AM , HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom) will meet 11 AM at the Sub Rosa Cafe to further organize the “Give a Shit” campaign, demanding the City open the City Hall bathrooms at night.

The only 24 hour bathroom in the Soquel Ave. garage was closed in mid-December on the pretext that homeless people were “sheltering themselves” there.

HUFF activists have gathered scores of signatures for a planned march April 6 to the Public Works Department demanding safe and sensible sanitary facilities for the community (both housed and homeless). More info at 423-4833

RECENT ALTERNATIVE MEDIA
Recent relevant stories about the Sleeping Ban struggle on indybay:

“Rumblings of Resistance After the Council Crushes Reform?” at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/03/13/18783985.php

 “Business as Usual: SCPD Targets Homeless after City Council Re-Affirms Camping Ban” at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/03/12/18783934.php

 “Shame On the City Council of Santa Cruz for Maintaining the Sleeping Ban!!!” at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/03/12/18783932.php

 Video and audio downloads of the March 8 Council Meeting:
“March 8 challenge to Santa Cruz sleeping ban media archive” at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/03/17/18784176.php

 “City of Santa Cruz debates criminalization of sleeping” at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/03/17/18784137.php


 Ongoing Free Radio Santa Cruz interviews with homeless victims and reports from other cities: http://radiolibre.org/brb/brb160320.mp3

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In the Wake of Bigotry: Freedom SleepOut #36

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Title: Speak Out Against the Sleeping Ban
START DATE: Tuesday March 15
TIME: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location Details:
Town Clock–Downtown Santa Cruz
Event Type: Protest
1. Meet up at the town clock at 3 pm, (and bring a sign) for the brief “mike check” style speak out!

2. at 3:45 pm we will move out to march down Pacific Ave.
-we will march down pacific ave to Laurel St.
-we will turn right onto Laurel, and then march over to Center St. and turn right onto Center St. Then march up Center to City Hall.

3. We will meet up at City Hall for a longer speak out and open mike with a “mike check” style speak out for all at about 5

4. Everyone who supports the right to sleep and the decriminalization of the sleeping ban is welcome to join us!

5. We will be in solidarity with the Freedom Sleepers there!

Please bring signs, make signs, everyone make your own sign and bring it!

NOTE FROM NORSE: I received the above e-mail, requesting me to post it with the psuedonym Dogwood. An activist speaking at the Red Church Monday reaffirmed the time and place of the march. I have no further information on it.

Title: Rage Against City Council Bigotry–Freedom SleepOut #36
START DATE: Tuesday March 15
TIME: 5:00 PM – 8:00 AM Wednesday
Location Details:
809 Center St. Outside City Hall and City Council Offices
Event Type: Protest
Contact Name Toby Nixon (posted by Norse)
Email Address rnorse3 [at] hotmail.com
Phone Number 408-582-4152
Address
A week after City Council enraged and disappointed a room full of activists, Freedom Sleepers resume their regular weekly protest and invite the disenfranchised to join them. If supporters hold fast, there will be coffee in the morning.

Homeless folks at the Red Church and on Pacific Avenue Monday night continued to report citations for sleeping, being driven out into the rain, and regular harassment.

RELATED SANTA CRUZ ACTIONS
Meanwhile “Dogwood”, a homeless activist seeking to generate a more visible and public response, has announced a protest to begin at the Town Clock at 3 PM with a march down Pacific Avenue to City Hall to join the Freedom Sleepers. See “Speak Out Against the Sleeping Ban ” at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/03/14/18784050.php

“Push Back” Pat Colby has announced she’ll be at the police station Thursday March 17 at 12:30 PM to help folks reclaim their property from the police. At present, police only allow folks to pick up their seized property 12:30 -2:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This restriction severely impacts unhoused people whose survival gear is confiscated–still a grim occurrence here.

HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom) will be present at the Project Pollinate day-long event on Saturday the 19th at San Lorenzo park between 11 and 1 PM to help organize resistance to the criminalization of the homeless.

HUFF hopes to organize a caravan to Salinas on March 22nd to support the Salinas Union of the Homeless resisting the planned destruction of the Chinatown encampment (see below).
We’ll be signing up people and looking for vehicles.

HUFF will also be assisting people to call the River St. Shelter at 459-6644 to get on the Waiting List, which immunizes those on the list for three days from camping ticket prosecution.

Insider, Silver-Tongued Steve Pleich’s predictions of higher City Council support for the right to sleep proved overly optimistic. He notes that City Councilmember Micah Posner may be introducing a call for City staff to find legal places to park RV’s in town. Several months ago, City Council, under the leadership of Councilmember Richelle Niroyan criminalized homeless RV parking at night.

SIGNS OF EARLY SPRING IN THE STRUGGLE
Sacramento activists, after weeks of protest, seem much closer to forcing its local politicians to legalize if not support encampments. See “Let Sacramento’s homeless have their tent city”–an editorial by the conservative Sacramento Bee at http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/editorials/article65032512.html

In addition, Sacramento housing activist Paula Lomazzi notes on her facebook page that the Justice Department is moving to block local and state fines for poor people in actions arising out of the Ferguson struggle:
See http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/14/politics/court-fines-poor-people-doj/index.html

In Salinas, National Lawyers Guild attorney Anthony Prince has filed a second lawsuit demanding police leave homeless property alone. He has called for making Salinas “the Selma of 2016” recalling the civil rights struggles of the 60’s.

Specifically, he wants folks to stand up to a scheduled police raid on the long-standing homeless encampment in Salinas’s Chinatown on March 23, by having a mass rally on the 22nd and sleepout there. See http://www.thecalifornian.com/story/news/my-safety/2016/03/11/salinas-homeless-urged-stand-their-ground/81679316/ .

For more information, contact Wes White at 831-296-0042 . See the flier below for additional details.

§Salinas Flier

by Wes White (posted by Norse)

Monday Mar 14th, 2016 11:27 PM

Council Crushes Sleeping Ban Reform: Will the Community Fight Back?

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To make and read comments go to https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/03/13/18783985.php .  You can also download the fliers pictured below there (or click on the links below).

Rumblings of Resistance After the Council Crushes Reform?
by Robert Norse ( rnorse3 [at] hotmail.com )
Sunday Mar 13th, 2016 12:54 PM

I distributed the following flyers at the March 8th Council Meeting, pretty much expecting that in spite of reasonable argument, strong presentation, and majority testimony, the City Council majority would easily vote down the proposed ordinance changes. It was a disgusting, discouraging, and enraging yet predictable experience. Here are a few notes.

THE SITUATION
I made some earlier comments anticipating the Council voter at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/03/07/18783720.php (“Sleeping Ban at City Council; Freedom Sleepers in 35th SleepOut “).
I analyzed the substance of the Lane proposal and the process by which it was created on a radio show archived at http://www.huffsantacruz.org/Lostshows.html (the March 6, 2016 show). There is also follow analysis in the early part of the March 10 show at http://radiolibre.org/brb/brb160310.mp3 .

The entire video of the Council meeting can be found on the City’s website at http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/city-government/city-council/council-meetings/city-council-meeting-audio-files if you are a glutton for punishment.

I’ve reviewed in detail (probably too much detail) the Council “discussion” prior to its crushing the Lane proposal 5-2 at http://radiolibre.org/brb/brb160313.mp3 .

On the positive side, Lane finally adopted the position that homeless people generally, most homeless activists, religious groups, student organizations, numerous social service agencies, and even timid liberals have held for years: sleeping is a need and a right.

Turning sleeping into a crime permanently hurts the poor. It is fiscally stupid. It does not serve the community’s interests. It embitters/divides us. It also deepens the police state, maintaining (and this is nothing new) a pariah underclass, denied the rights everyone else takes for granted. Nice incentive to keep working shit jobs and paying rent, of course. If you’re not a part of the gentry, move out or get busted for sleeping.

FIGHTING BACK?
Will the community do nothing while unhoused people continue to be treated like dirt to be hosed away? So far–yes. But there are rumblings of mutiny.,

Freedom rider and more recently Freedom Sleeper Phil Posner has called for a real response to the Council’s craziness.

Activist Elisse C. recently sent out an e-mail asking for folks to gather next Tuesday before Freedom SleepOut #36 on 3-15 at 3 PM.

In other cities like Salinas on March 22nd, middle-class activists and unhoused folks are fighting back: http://www.thecalifornian.com/story/news/my-safety/2016/03/11/salinas-homeless-urged-stand-their-ground/81679316/ .

Silence gives consent. But do the good liberals and the nervous progressives of Santa Cruz want to take the risks of actively opposing Trumpism in Santa Cruz (in Democratic Party garb, of course).

§Proposed Additions to Lane Changes

by Robert Norse Sunday Mar 13th, 2016 12:54 PM

These changes were circulated a week before the meeting, even though Lane excluded me (and other activists) from his meetings. Lane included the addition of “sleeping bags” to diluted language; Posner added the suggestion that sleeping equipment shall not be used as evidence of camping crime. Needless to say, neither passed. Important to clarify, though, what’s needed. Far more, of course.

§Staff Stonewalling at City Council

by Robert Norse Sunday Mar 13th, 2016 12:54 PM

In spite of multiple requests, the SCPD refused to provide access to the citations they gave under the camping ordinance (specifically holding back race and address). The request was made months ago. Councilmember Posner also declined to make a written request for this information though he made the request verbally to the police chief, I was told. So there’s no documentation that the staff is directly frustrating a relevant and timely request for data that bore directly on the
Council debate.

§Wake Up the Community Conscience

by Robert Norse Sunday Mar 13th, 2016 12:54 PM

An early attempt to recognize, even prior to the Council meeting, that Lane’s proposal was likely to fail. The real issue then is a sustained response, building on the abusive City Council response and, hopefully, public outrage from those watching.

§No Rest in the Right-to-Rest Struggle

by Robert Norse Sunday Mar 13th, 2016 12:54 PM

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