(Text of flyer for Sept. 22, 2013, protest of latest anti-homeless legislation by City Council.)<\/p>\n
(Flyer in pdf format at bottom)<\/p>\n
SAVE VIBRANT STREET LIFE DOWNTOWN !
\nPROTEST, CHOW-DOWN, AND SPEAKOUT !
\nSUNDAY SEPTEMBER 22nd 1:30 PM
\non Pacific Avenue in front of Forever Twenty-One
\nSING BACK AT CITY COUNCIL
\nTUESDAY SEPTEMBER 24th 3 PM
\nCouncil Chambers 809 Center St.
\nIn a disguised attack on the entire non-commercial street scene, City Council will vote to restrict still further
\nthe very limited public space currently allowed the community downtown. Under the guise of health concerns,
\nreducing congestion, and preventing a “trip-and-fall” hazard (none of which is documented), the reactionary new laws
\ncrowd street performers, vendors, homeless people, tablers, local residents, & tourists together. This will classify
\n95% of the sidewalk as sterile \u201cforbidden zones\u201d with no resting, vending, or performing. This attack on street
\ncounter-culture has nothing to do with \u201cbad behavior.\u201d It’s about \u201cbigot aesthetics\u201d-& homeless cleansing
\nclearing away visible poverty, traditional Santa Cruz diversity, and political activism. Council staff took no input
\nfrom those targeted. They provided no info on the costs of current selective enforcement, nor stats of real
\nproblems. This merchant monopolization of sidewalk space is part of a broader \u201cdrive the homeless away\u201d agenda.
\nTHE NEW LAWS AS AMENDED
\n+++ Extends the Smoking Ban to the side streets one block in either direction from Pacific Avenue, including all
\nalleys & side streets & to to all surface parking lots between Laurel Street & Water St. perhaps private parking lots as
\nwell. Ignores that current law already bans smoking 25′ from a door or window in the side streets.
\n+++ Bans tarps & blankets now used to display jewelry, artwork, political fliers, etc. and requires all devices
\non the sidewalk to be \u201cfree-standing\u201d. This okays guitar cases and cups, but arguably makes backpacks and
\nanything placed perpendicular to the sidewalk \u201cdisplay devices\u201d requiring a 12′ distance from the next \u201cdevice\u201d.
\n+++ Reduces total allowed space to 12 sq ft area [3 \u201csquares\u201d] which now includes table, instruments, chair,
\npeople & possessions\u2014virtually requiring special permits. The ill-defined space requires a tape measure.
\n+++ Requires 12′ distance between display devices, isolating performers and forcing away other vendors.
\n+++ Reduces total available space 4\/5 to exclude 95% of the sidewalk by expanding the \u201cforbidden zones\u201d to
\n14′ from buildings, street corners, intersections, kiosks, drinking fountains, public telephones, public benches, public trash containers,
\ninformation\/directory signs, sculptures or artwork, ATM-style machines, outside street cafes, vending carts, and fences. This bans
\nsitting on any sidewalk that is narrower than 14′ (no sidewalk use in other business districts at all if buildings adjoin).
\n+++ In conjunction with Santa Cruz’s unique \u201cMove Along Every Hour\u201d law, police can then ban
\nindividuals from any one spot for 24 hours & require them to move 100′–further reducing \u201clegal\u201d spots.
\nWhen added to the frequent merchant expansion of their displays onto the sidewalk in front of their shops this
\nexclusion of non-commercial activity will be nearly all-embracing. This, of course, suits those whose real
\nobjective is to drive away the once-vibrant street scene in Santa Cruz and ‘Capitola-ize\u201d the Avenue.
\nThe resulting congestion will have people competing for the public spaces (when there is actually room for
\nall). It will severely crowd not just those using display devices, but others trying to sit down in the few
\nremaining spots available whether these be elderly residents, homeless locals, visiting travelers, UCSC
\nstudents, or naive tourists (who will, of course be selectively ignored or courteously directed to pay-cafes). And
\neither drive such people away or produce a hostile response and more conflict downtown. Police will be
\ngiven greater power to drive away a significant number of people currently using the sidewalk.
\nFlier by Norse of HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom) 831-423-4833 www.huffsantacruz.org 9-22-13
\nDOWNTOWN FOR ALL ! NOT JUST THE RICH, CONSERVATIVE, & FEARFUL
\n+++ Use your video phone to capture evidence of authorities harassing the public on the streets downtown. Post on
\nYou-Tube and www.indybay.org\/santacruz . Send them to HUFF (rnorse3@hotmail.com ); pass on links.
\n+++ E-mail City Council at citycouncil [at] cityofsantacruz.com .and demand these ordinances be reviewed for cost,
\neffectiveness, impact, and unintended consequences. Send them back to citizen committees for public input.
\n+++ Spread opposition; Write local papers; Use Facebook & Twitter;. Ordinances become final a month after a
\n2nd vote in two weeks (October 24) Support businesses who oppose, publicize those who don’t.
\n+++ Post your own accounts of discrimination downtown. The Coffee Roasting Company, Verve, & Starbucks
\nrefused service to homeless people with backpacks; CruzioWorks refused 24-hour service to homeless Dan Madison.
\n+++ Come to City Council 3 PM September 24th to oppose the 2nd Vote on these laws!
\n+++ Witness & support other street performers & streetfolk when they face harassment from authorities.
\n+++ Get familiar with the Downtown Ordinances, often misquoted by police and hosts. Copies available
\nthrough HUFF (Wednesdays 11 AM, Sub Rosa Cafe 703 Pacific) & soon at the Sub Rosa Cafe (703 Pacific).
\n+++ Prepare to sustain a long struggle by documenting police and merchant behavior regularly, organizing
\nsolidarity between vendors, activists, and others seeking to use the public space. Report harassment accurately.
\nFlier by Norse of HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom) 831-423-4833 www.huffsantacruz.org 9-19-13
\nDOWNTOWN FOR ALL ! NOT JUST THE RICH, CONSERVATIVE, & FEARFUL
\n+++ Use your video phone to capture evidence of authorities harassing the public on the streets downtown. Post on
\nYou-Tube and www.indybay.org\/santacruz . Send them to HUFF (rnorse3@hotmail.com ); pass on links.
\n+++ E-mail City Council at citycouncil [at] cityofsantacruz.com .and demand these ordinances be reviewed for cost,
\neffectiveness, impact, and unintended consequences. Send them back to citizen committees for public input.
\n+++ Spread opposition; Write local papers; Use Facebook & Twitter;. Ordinances become final a month after a
\n2nd vote in two weeks (October 24) Support businesses who oppose, publicize those who don’t.
\n+++ Post your own accounts of discrimination downtown. The Coffee Roasting Company, Verve, & Starbucks
\nrefused service to homeless people with backpacks; CruzioWorks refused 24-hour service to homeless Dan Madison.
\n+++ Come to City Council 3 PM September 24th to oppose the 2nd Vote on these laws!
\n+++ Witness & support other street performers & streetfolk when they face harassment from authorities.
\n+++ Get familiar with the Downtown Ordinances, often misquoted by police and hosts. Copies available
\nthrough HUFF (Wednesdays 11 AM, Sub Rosa Cafe 703 Pacific) & soon at the Sub Rosa Cafe (703 Pacific).
\n+++ Prepare to sustain a long struggle by documenting police and merchant behavior regularly, organizing
\nsolidarity between vendors, activists, and others seeking to use the public space. Report harassment accurately.
\nFlier by Norse of HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom) 831-423-4833 www.huffsantacruz.org 9-19-13
\nDOWNTOWN FOR ALL ! NOT JUST THE RICH, CONSERVATIVE, & FEARFUL
\n+++ Use your video phone to capture evidence of authorities harassing the public on the streets downtown. Post on
\nYou-Tube and www.indybay.org\/santacruz . Send them to HUFF (rnorse3@hotmail.com ); pass on links.
\n+++ E-mail City Council at citycouncil [at] cityofsantacruz.com .and demand these ordinances be reviewed for cost,
\neffectiveness, impact, and unintended consequences. Send them back to citizen committees for public input.
\n+++ Spread opposition; Write local papers; Use Facebook & Twitter;. Ordinances become final a month after a
\n2nd vote in two weeks (October 24) Support businesses who oppose, publicize those who don’t.
\n+++ Post your own accounts of discrimination downtown. The Coffee Roasting Company, Verve, & Starbucks
\nrefused service to homeless people with backpacks; CruzioWorks refused 24-hour service to homeless Dan Madison.
\n+++ Come to City Council 3 PM September 24th to oppose the 2nd Vote on these laws!
\n+++ Witness & support other street performers & streetfolk when they face harassment from authorities.
\n+++ Get familiar with the Downtown Ordinances, often misquoted by police and hosts. Copies available
\nthrough HUFF (Wednesdays 11 AM, Sub Rosa Cafe 703 Pacific) & soon at the Sub Rosa Cafe (703 Pacific).
\n+++ Prepare to sustain a long struggle by documenting police and merchant behavior regularly, organizing
\nsolidarity between vendors, activists, and others seeking to use the public space. Report harassment accurately.
\nFlier by Norse of HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom) 831-423-4833 www.huffsantacruz.org 9-19-13<\/p>\n
Flyer in pdf – Flyer for 9-14, revised 9-22.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" (Text of flyer for Sept. 22, 2013, protest of latest anti-homeless legislation by City Council.) (Flyer in pdf format at bottom) SAVE VIBRANT STREET LIFE DOWNTOWN ! PROTEST, CHOW-DOWN, AND SPEAKOUT ! SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 22nd 1:30 PM on Pacific Avenue … Continue reading