Democratic Central Committee of SC County calls for New City Council Action on the BearCat

On February 25th, 2015 at the monthly meeting of the Democratic Central Committee of Santa Cruz County, the members voted strongly in favor of a motion brought to them by the People's Democratic Club that read:

In order to help encourage, develop, and implement policies that prevent military equipment from flowing into law enforcement agencies throughout Santa Cruz County, we move:

That the Santa Cruz City Council's approval of the purchase of a BEARCAT (Ballistic Engineered Armored Response Counter Attack Truck) with funds from the Department of Homeland Security be brought back to the Council for reconsideration, and that staff be directed to bring back alternative proposals for rescue vehicles that are less militarized for Council approval.

Additionally that there be a binding City policy for grant applications and their acceptance that ensures timeliness, transparency, and full public disclosure and input. (letter from DCC Chairperson Debby Luhrman to SC City Council and the City Manager attached below*)

Since the Santa Cruz City Council first approved the grant for the BearCat in December of 2014, two new Council Members, Cynthia Chase and Richelle Noroyan, have been newly seated. Both Council Members Chase and Noroyan were endorsed and heavily supported by the DCC in the election of November 2014.

Neither of the two new Council Members has yet taken a public position on the BearCat or on the issue of having a more transparent, inclusive, and timely grants procedure in the City.

However, Santa Cruz Mayor Don Lane and the City Manager, Martin Bernal, at the City Council meeting on Feb. 10th, announced a tentative date of March 24th to bring the BearCat issue back to the City Council agenda for further action, as well as to review a new Council Policy on grants procedures. The meeting would be held at the Civic Auditorium due to the expected turnout of many hundreds of interested Santa Cruz residents (see attachment below**).

On January 13th, at the first Public Rally organized by SCRAM! in response to the approval of the BearCat, more than 300 concerned citizens of Santa Cruz turned out at City Hall. Many had to stand outside where they could not hear the proceedings of the Council. A much larger crowd would be anticipated on March 24th.

This action taken by the Democratic Central Committee is aligned with the three primary goals of SCRAM!, Santa Cruz Resistance Against Militarization!, an ad hoc activist group formed in response to the approval of the BearCat by the SC City Council.

SCRAM!, an ad hoc organizing group, has three primary goals:

1) to bring the BearCat back onto the SC City Council agenda for a full public hearing and to rescind the approval
2) to establish a long term policy for grant applications and acceptance in the City that ensures timeliness, transparency, full public disclosure and input
3) to help develop and implement future policies that prevent military equipment from flowing into law enforcement agencies throughout Santa Cruz County

The goals and work of SCRAM! are cosponsored by, a growing list:

ACLU of Northern CA (SC Chapter), Project Pollinate, People United for Peace (SC County), Santa Cruz Quaker Meeting, Resource Center for Nonviolence, Food Not Bombs, Veterans for Peace (SC), Sin Barras, Community Coalition to Overcome Racism (SC County), Jewish Voice for Peace (SC), People's Democratic Club, Peace and Freedom Party (SC), Homeless Persons Legal Assistance Project, MediaWatch/Youth Radio Project, ISLAH Reparations Project, United Nations Association (SC), Code Pink (SC), The Romero Institute, Thrive Santa Cruz……..


Attachment: Copy of letter from Deborah Luhrman, Chair of DCC, sent to all City Council members, the City Manager, and Congressman Sam Farr.