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SEQUENCE:18900740
CREATED:20150831T041000Z
DESCRIPTION:REASONS FOR THE SLEEP-OUT\nAuthorities continue to harass and cite members 
 of the Santa Cruz unhoused community with $157 Sleeping Ban citations.  
 \n\nThis is happening even though there is no emergency walk-in shelter for 
 the city's 1500-2000 homeless; waiting lists  are full and generally seem 
 to require a "path to housing", social worker, and/or disability check. 
 \n\nNo member of City Council has taken any action to either restore 
 emergency food, shower, laundry, and/or toilet facilities at the Homeless 
 (Lack of) Services Center.  Reportedly coming up on the September 8th 
 agenda are new bans against RV parking anywhere in Santa Cruz from 2 AM to 
 6 AM.  \n\nAnd there has been no move to end the Sleeping Ban against the 
 homeless or to designate legal areas where people may sleep without fear of 
 busts or other forms of humiliation.\n\n\nLAGUNA BEACH ACLU MOVES; SANTA 
 CRUZ DOESN'T\nMeanwhile in Laguna Beach, the ACLU there has filed suit 
 against the city for sleeping bans that criminalized disabled people--as 
 Santa Cruz's ban does to folks outside here. \nSee 
 http://www.lagunabeachindy.com/updated-aclu-again-targets-citys-homeless-policies-2/ 
 \n\n\nNIMBY NATTERING\nIn recent complaints, routed through Councilmember 
 Posner, city staff have grumbled that they have felt "unsafe", and kvetched 
 about "pee" and "poo" while giving no specifics as to when and where such 
 deposits were found.  Nor have they decided to open the City Hall bathrooms 
 at night.\n\nNeither I nor any other activists at these sleepouts have 
 found any evidence of piss or shit.  Some, far more fastidious, make it a 
 point to clean up the area afterwards.  Nor have staff forwarded any 
 specific complaints to us in a timely manner or any other way.\n\nI believe 
 it is unwise for Councilmember Micah Posner to allow himself to be used as 
 a conduit for anonymous and hostile criticism of the Freedom Sleepers.  
 \n\nNor should police be surprised when homeless people, rousted from 
 sleep, do not express themselves courteously when confronting armed men 
 with flashlights and demands that they "move on".\n\nUNCONSTITUTIONAL 
 NIGHTTIME CURFEW\nIt still seems abusive and unconstitutional that the seat 
 of government itself has been declared a "closed area" at night, even 
 though that's the only place where the city's agendas are publicly posted.  
 It could become an issue in a civil lawsuit if police physically arrest 
 someone for doing nothing other than sitting or standing peacefully on the 
 city hall grounds after 10 PM.\n\nGUIDELINES AND GRUB\nThere will also be a 
 set of proposed guidelines issued at the 6 PM General Assembly Tuesday, 
 suggesting a "quiet for sleepers" and clean-up policy.\n\nThere will be a 
 light snack provided around bedtime, and a light breakfast on Wednesday 
 morning.\n\nHUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom) will be meeting 
 Wednesday morning at 11 AM at the Sub Rosa Cafe as usual to plot and 
 palaver.\n\nFor more info on the sleepout, call me at 831-423-4833.   
 Again, the opinions expressed here are mine, but may also represent those 
 of others at the sleep-out.  \n\nJoin us to restore sanity and decency to 
 Santa Cruz.  The right to sleep is the right to live.\n\nFreedom Sleepers 
 is develop a new website at http://freedomsleepers.org/ \n\n 
 https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2015/08/30/18776855.php
SUMMARY:Freedom Sleepers Back To Bed Down at City Hall in 8th SleepOut
LOCATION:City Hall Courtyard and Nearby Sidewalk at 809 Center St. across from the 
 Main Library on one side and Civic Auditorium on the other.
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2015/08/30/18776855.php
DTSTART:20150902T010000Z
DTEND:20150902T130000Z
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