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UID:Indybay-18751038
SEQUENCE:18861274
CREATED:20140217T075100Z
DESCRIPTION:Following up on an earlier survey where the Coffee Roasting Company, 
 Starbucks, and Peets acknowledged they were banning people carrying 
 backpacks--and on the heels of reports of exclusionary policies at the Cafe 
 Pergolesi (Backpacks Allowed) and the Abbey Cafe, HUFF (Homeless United for 
 Friendship & Freedom) voted last week to sample public opinion and observe 
 policy in front of the Coffee Roasting Company in downtown Santa Cruz to 
 raise its concerns about anti-homeless discrimination.  HUFF will provide 
 coffee as long as it lasts in order to encourage participation and 
 discussion.\n\nThe earlier survey is described at 
 https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/01/23/18749658.php .\n\nSince then 
 HUFF had continued to receive reports of homeless-looking people, 
 travelers, and  youth facing exclusion, even after paying for service at 
 various businesses.\n\nSome have suggested the the apparent spread of 
 exclusionary policies at coffee shops have driven folks to more 
 traditionally liberal venues like the Cafe Pergolesi.  In response police 
 have been threatening Cafe Pergolesi with a crackdown and Pergolesi 
 management has responded by not only evicting some paying but 
 homeless-looking customers, but also directing people on the public 
 sidewalk to "move along".\n\nOther reports have noted the crackdown of SCPD 
 zealots like CSO Barnett on Pacific Avenue (reportedly targeting scarflady 
 Kate W and harassing other musicians), Parks and Recreation Ranger seizure 
 of homeless survival gear along the riverbank reported by Ricardo Lopez, 
 and discriminatory enforcement of the "no dogs after dark downtown" where 
 police are reportedly accosting homeless-looking dog owners and actually 
 seizing some of them.  Others report heavy-handed security "First Alarm" 
 guards at the library and surrounding areas, denying a disabled man access 
 to the disabled library bathroom, and security thug "Big John" driving 
 those who nod out out of the library.\n\nIn addition,  we've received 
 reports of Officer Azua & other Sleepsnatchers repeatedly ticketing 
 sleepers outside for "illegal sleeping" when there is shelter for less than 
 5% of the homeless community and the weather is creating a public safety 
 hazard for the poor outside.\n\nIn the past HUFF has proposed a code of 
 conduct, an appeal process, and a non-discrimination pledge as well as peer 
 pressure.  The goal now to ensure that innocent people are not unfairly 
 targeted in the increasingly anti-homeless "Take Back Santa Cruz"-style 
 wave of hostility that has spread over Santa Cruz.\n 
 https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/02/16/18751038.php
SUMMARY:Cafe HUFF to Research Backpack Bigotry near Coffee Roasting Company
LOCATION:Outside of the Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Company\n1330 Pacific Ave, Santa 
 Cruz\n
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/02/16/18751038.php
DTSTART:20140219T210000Z
DTEND:20140219T230000Z
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