BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 X-WR-CALNAME:www.indybay.org PRODID:-//indybay/ical// v1.0//EN BEGIN:VEVENT UID:Indybay-18765278 SEQUENCE:18883142 CREATED:20141209T193200Z DESCRIPTION:Many things are happening at today's City Council.\n\nUNTOUCHABLE CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY MANAGER\nAt 1 PM in Council chambers, City Council will be following a unusual procedure in holding the open interval of its closed session in this larger room. It will then retire to the smaller City Council Conference room behind the chambers where it usually meets behind closed doors in "Closed Session".\n\nWhat's peculiar here is the process being followed. Two of the most powerful and well-paid officials in the City--the City Attorney and the City Manager are up for "performance evaluation". The on-line agenda suggests that it will be behind closed doors with the public excluded.\n\n\nBERNAL CONTROLS VOGEL\nCity Manager Martin Bernal controls the hiring and firing of the Police Chief Kevin Vogel. \n\nThe SCPD refuses to open its records of use and display of force, tasering, pain compliance holds, choke holds, gun drawings, baton use, and so forth (See "SCPD: No Disclosure of When People were PepperSprayed, Choked, Tasered, Gun-Bullied or Shot" at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/12/04/18765028.php). \n\nUnaddressed claims of racial profiling also hang over the department (See "Race and Class Bias in the SCPD: What's the Real Story?" at https://www.indybay.org/uploads/2014/12/03/grand_jury_protest_updated.pdf).\n\nCity Council is legally required to open its closed sessions--however briefly--for public comment. Of course, Mayor Robinnson (and in-coming Mayor Don Lane) haven't cared much for that in such matters as allowing unimpeded recording of City Council meetings (See "Video of the False Arrest at Santa Cruz City Council for Audio Recording " at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/05/03/18755258.php)\n\n\n"RESCUE TANKS" IN SANTA CRUZ?\n\nConsent Agenda Item #13 is titled "2015 Homeland Security Grant Funding - Budget Adjustment (PD/FD)"\n\nSee "Santa Cruz Police to Procure $250K 'Rescue Vehicle'" at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/12/08/18765238.php \n\nCould be another Steve Clark special (he's our reactionary Deputy Police Chief) rushing to amp up the department's aggressive image? With anger against police abuse rising all around the country, it's a good time\n\nI've asked Councilmember Posner to pull this item from the agenda for discussion rather than a rote vote. The public has been banned from pulling items and requiring they be more fully discussed and individually voted on. Other City Councils, our Board of Supervisors, and past City Councils have had this rather elementary public process, but it was removed at the behest of former Mayor and incoming Supervisor Ryan Connerty some years back. Neither Posner nor Lane have moved to restore this process.\n\nCafe HUFF will be serving brownies and brew (that is, coffee) as well as Jumbogumbo Joe Schultz's soup, hopefully as early as 2;30 PM\n\n\nSTAY-AWAY STUPIDITY\n\nThis is the latest anti-homeless eruption from the Public Safety Task Force/Public Safety Committee. It's aother step demonization of the poor outside and follows on a long train of anti-homeless laws and policies. \n\nThe law that vastly increases the discretionary power of rangers and cops to arbitrarily ban people from large areas of the city (not just parks) for any infraction, no matter how minor with no court injunction, conviction, or charge.\n\nTo paper over this homegrown Constitution-shredding, the City Attorney came back with an "administrative review" process that would have the stay-away order dissolved if a city employee appointed by the city manager finds the infraction "unjustified" "by a preponderance of the evidence".\n\nThe new wording of the ordinance is at http://scsire.cityofsantacruz.com/sirepub/cache/2/e5y2okfjeqxksdpkhmfsya0i/396073312092014110820380.PDF . Or go to http://scsire.cityofsantacruz.com/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=574&doctype=AGENDA and click on item #18.\n\nAll correspondence received by City Council has urged the law be voted down. But it is likely to pass 5-2 or 6-1.\n\nThe one-day stay away law, passed last year, and equally un-Constitutional and abusive passed unanimously. Councilmembers Posner and Lane have yet to apologize for this travesty which has been used 1000 times by Homeless Deportation squads in uniform, according to their own figures.\n \nSteve Pleich has said he will appeal the proposed expansion of the law but probably not the current law.\n\n\nORAL COMMUNICATIONS AT 5 PM (OR SO)\n\nWant to raise issues that others are raising on the streets (and that are planned for a Saturday day-long rally at the Town clock)? Come and speak out demanding fundamental changes in the SCPD. (See https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/12/04/18765028.php for my thoughts on the issue). HUFF will review the record of the Council and the SCPD.\n\n\nQUAFF CAKE AND BEVERAGES AFTER THE CORONATION\n\nAt 7 PM outgoing Council blowhards will make speeches celebrating their wonderful terms in office and the in-coming Council elected people will do the same. Around 8 or thereafter, the whole jolly crew will cross the street to the Civic Auditorium where the public is invited to mingle and munch with them on various pastries and pies. It's a tradition. \n\nFortify yourself for the Wednesday storm. Bring some homeless friends. Confront the privileged in public. While chowing down at the same time.\n\nHUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom) meets Wednesday morning at the Sub rosa Cafe 11 AM to plan for protests and express solidarity with those in other cities.\n\n https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/12/09/18765278.php SUMMARY:Stay Away Stupidity, Oppose Police Violence & Chomp Coronation Treats ! LOCATION:Santa Cruz City Hall 809 Center St. URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/12/09/18765278.php DTSTART:20141209T210000Z DTEND:20141210T050000Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR