Feature Archives

The Silicon Valley Independent Living Center (SLIC) drew people from up and down the West Coast to its second annual Disability Parade and Festival in San José on July 23rd. Several hundred parade participants walked and rolled down N. First St. on Saturday morning, many with signs decrying proposed government budget cuts to social services. In the afternoon bellydancers, breakdancers, and inspirational speakers enchanted the audience. Festival attendees wore purple t-shirts with the slogan "Disabled and Proud".

Critics of ‘smart’ meters say the meters are anti-consumer, a false solution to climate change and a threat to health, privacy, safety, and the environment. The “Wise Up to ‘Smart’ Meters” Townhall Forum on Wednesday, August 3rd at the Louden Nelson Center in Santa Cruz will feature a panel of national experts who will answer questions on the subject, including Joshua Hart of StopSmartMeters.Org and Dr. Karl Maret of the Aptos Dove Health Alliance.

Richard Helliwell Snow, a long time practitioner of Sant Mat, or Surat Shabd Yoga, died unexpectedly of a heart attack, July 5, at a Potter Valley meditation retreat. Richard was a community activist who devoted his time to many causes and organizations. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, July 24th in Santa Cruz.

Homes Not Jails took over the former Hotel Sierra at 20th and Mission streets in San Francisco on July 4th. The Hotel Sierra has been vacant for nearly 20 years. Almost 50 rooms have been empty on the building’s second floor. The action began in the afternoon with a rally in Dolores Park, then a march right into the Hotel Sierra, which had its doors wide open. There was music, food, sunbathing on the roof, and dancing in the streets. Police reportedly assaulted and hauled away one man without provocation.

For protesting on the county steps against Santa Cruz laws that make it illegal for the homeless to sleep at night, homeless activists Gary Johnson and Attorney Ed Frey were sentenced to 6 months in jail on June 10th. Bail was set for Ed Frey at $50,000. Their only act of civil disobedience was sleeping. Revealing the political nature of the draconian sentences, Judge Gallagher told Gary Johnson that he “could get some sleep in jail” before they were dragged away in chains for their 6 month sentences.

The City of Orlando, Florida is being sued in court over a city law that has effectively made it illegal for any group to feed more than 25 people at a time in downtown parks without a permit. Over the past month, more than 20 members of Food Not Bombs, including Keith McHenry who helped found the organization, have been arrested for providing free meals to the poor and homeless. Acting in defense of First Amendment rights, in solidarity with Keith McHenry, and to end the criminalization of poverty, Food Not Bombs-Santa Cruz organized a free meal and overnight vigil on June 30th outside Santa Cruz City Hall.

Modesto Solidarity Network has launched a campaign to defend renters who are victims of unscrupulous landlords. The Network's first action was against EXIT Realty, a company with offices in Modesto and elsewhere in Northern California. The dispute was centered around the illegal lockout of a renter from her apartment. In California, an illegal lockout refers to the practice of landlords changing locks and harassing tenants until they leave their homes even though they have not legally been given 30 days notice. Since this is a frequent practice in Modesto, this first Network action may be a harbinger of more to come.