HUFF, Santa Cruz Sanctuary Village, and More at Project Homeless Connect

Perhaps it was difficult to recognize the #ShamelessBigots amongst the band aid dispensers?

I read Jack London's "People of the Abyss". It is a non fiction account of poverty in the United Kingdom in the late 1800's early 1900's, a different era and country with different socio economic conditions, but it's still about poverty and human beings . I was surprised that many of the laws we have in place today here in our county and our country, such as the night time sleeping ban, were also used against the poor and homeless in the slums of the UK then. In fact their sleeping ban was almost exactly the same as ours in Santa Cruz is now. Move along laws and other such laws that we use, not being allowed to be within so many feet of this and that are also well accounted in this book. Its a worthy read. Something everyone should read once... Especially council members and policy makers.

Good work on the Sanctuary Village by all who are fighting for it. Keep it up.

"From the late 1860s until the 1970s, several American cities had ugly laws making it illegal for persons with "unsightly or disgusting" disabilities to appear in public. Some of these laws were called unsightly beggar ordinances."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugly_law

Since local authorities have intensified their attacks on homeless people with drastic increase in Sleepcrime citations in the last few years, the HUFF circulated the attached petition. Almost all who read it, signed it. Download it, pass it around, and return it to the HUFF meeting (11 AM Wednesdays at the Sub Rosa Cafe 703 Pacific). Or just leave it with the Sub Rosa folks to pass on to us.

Call for Independent Human Rights Observers

We, the undersigned, ask Amnesty International, UN NGO's, news agencies, and human rights watch groups of all kinds as well as foreign observers to visit Santa Cruz & document Human Rights abuses against the homeless population. These include the laws criminalizing outdoor and vehicular sleep for homeless people at night, bans and severe restrictions on public space use during the day, and seizure and destruction of homeless survival gear.

Local courts and legislative bodies along with police agenices ignore or actively deny these basic human rights and punish advocates seeking to expose these abuses. One man, Gary Johnson, was sentenced to 2-years in jail for sleeping on a bench with a “Sleep is not a Crime” sign as a protest outside the main courthouse. He had already served 6 months for a prior “sleepcrime”.

We call on independent agencies foreign & domestic to help us.

This petition can be signed by ANYONE who agrees with the above statement.
You do NOT have to be a city resident, registered voter, adult, or non-felon to sign.
Please include contact information if you wish to help with subsequent action.
Such action may include lobbying, an Initiative, a lawsuit, peaceful protest, boycotts, theatrical satire, letters to the media, providing food and shelter, defending victims of the Camping Ordinance in court, or other support of your choice.
PLEASE PRINT carefully and clearly. WE DO NOT NEED ACTUAL SIGNATURES
Indicate whether you are housed or unhoused, what abuse you have suffered if any, & what support you wish to offer (if any) such as writing, computer work, tabling, graphic design, etc

Name Phone or E-Mail Nature of Abuse Volunteer Support Offered

.....

Petition by HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom) 831-423-4833 http://www.huffsantacruz.org 309 Cedar PMB #14B Santa Cruz 5-17-14

We also circulated an earlier version of this poll, asking for suggestions in which issues folks felt were the most important for HUFF (and other community groups) to focus on. The length of the poll and the time required to fill it out limited the number of responses. The peril of long polls.

Human Rights Issues in Santa Cruz
Which Needs The HUFF Focus?

Note & rank the issues important to you (add your own if your concern is not there)!
Don't read through the whole list unless you want to. Indicate whether you're housed or outside.

A: Rousing Public Opinion to Eliminate laws prohibiting survival camping in Santa Cruz.
B: Protests & Publicity to stop police and ranger seizure of homeless property.
C: Creative action to expose vigilante action against homeless campers and car-dwellers.
D: Protests & Publicity to end anti-homeless discrimination in restaurants and businesses.
E: Pressure to address shortcomings and/or abuses at the Homeless (Lack of) Services Center
F: Support for a model Sanctuary Camp for a limited number of homeless people
G: Restoring the right to record and speak at City Council for which an activist was arrested
H: Protection for Houseless People Harassed for their Dogs
I: Forced Medication or Incarceration of People with Mental Disabilities
J: New Discriminatory Problems in the Library
K: Demos to Open the now-closed Public Restrooms in Parks & Garages at Night
L: Focus on bringing out-of-the-area Human Rights monitors to town
M: Active Protests at the City Attorney's Office Against Victimless Homeless 'Crimes'
O: Focus on Restoring Needle Exchange
P: Focus on Stopping Harassment of Drug Users
Q: Restoration of Stolen Space for Sitters, Performers, Tablers, Vendors downtown
R: Support for Squatting and Building Occupations
S: Pressure on the City Manager—the Real Power in the City
T: Focus on Child Protective Services & Discrimination Against Parents
U: Action to Publicize and Protect Spanish-Speaking Homeless
V: Opening of campgrounds &/or Actual Suspension of Camping Laws in Zones
W: Active Support of Existing Survival Encampments—All of Which Are “Illegal”

Most important issues (by letter) Unhoused? E-Mail/Phone/Name
(In Order of Importance) (if you wish to be contacted)




Petition by HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom) 831-423-4833 http://www.huffsantacruz.org 309 Cedar PMB #14B Santa Cruz 5-22-14