Food Not Bombs meeting (2/10)

Still percolating is a nasty law, proposed by the Public Works Department, to limit all use of city parking garages and parking lots to ten minutes.

It was initially on a "stealth" City Council agenda on January 10th, and reviewed again with positive comments by the Downtown Commission at its January meeting.

Opposition from homeless advocates and other community members, as well as some civil liberties concerns (Downtown Commission Chair Sheila Connerty is co-chair of the local, generally useless, ACLU), postponed the law to the March Downtown Commission meeting.

Still, any City Council member could shortcircuit this process and put it on a Council agenda for swift rubberstamping, since it comes from their Public Works experts (Matt Ferrell and Mark Dettle).

The text of the law can be found at the Downtown Commission's website at: http://www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/pw/dc/CurrentAgenda/Item3.pdf

Some of my radio commentary on the issue can be found at:
http://www.santacruzcopwatch.org/robert/brb060129.mp3

SOME of the previous discussion on the old santacruz indymedia website can be found at:
http://santacruz.indymedia.org/newswire/display/19389/index.php

I've been unable to find, however, the many comments--some of them very useful--made in that discussion. The currently posted santacruz indymedia archives do not include any comments for the "smaller" stories (i.e. the ones not featured) listed along the right lower edge of the indymedia screen. Whazupwiththat?

Robert Norse notes, "The currently posted santacruz indymedia archives do not include any comments..."

This following note was posted on santacruz.indymedia.org on 2/4/06:

Comments are currently missing, but will be restored ASAP. Sorry for the inconvenience.

And please, send editorial concerns to scimc@indymedia.org

Respect the thread. The article posted is not about tech issues on santacruz.indymedia.org, it is about Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs!

If the ten-minute law passes, police can cite or arrest FNB members or their clients if they "linger" for more than ten minutes in a public parking lot. Unless they apply for or are granted a special permit.

In the past, FNB has refused to do this, feeling that the public right of assembly does not require jumping through such bureaucratic hoops.

Additionally, both in San Francisco and in Santa Cruz, such demands by authority were actually part of an attempt to shut down FNB and similar groups that make poverty visible.

Those who want to oppose this latest Public Works grab on public space (and attack on poor and homeless people) can contact Mayor Cynthia Mathews at 831-420-5026 (she hasn't returned my calls, but she might return yours). And/or other Council members at 831-420-5020.

Thanks to scindymedia folks for clarifying the "comments" situation.

Can you post the FNB feeding schedule? Also your address for those who want to donate money or other items? Thanks

servings happen from 4-5pm on wednesday at the end of the farmers market in the parking lot.

servings on sunday are at the same time but at san lorenzo park.

fnbsantacruz [at] lists.riseup.net

thanks robert for the info on the 10 minute rule...I will look into it and will give our mayor a call...seems draconian...ack. seems likely to be abused for selective enforcement...

...there is no address to send mail at present.

but people can send email to the email address listed in the comment above if they want to make donations or get involved. What is really needed for the current round of volunteers in the long term is a location after the month of June to cook. Where volunteers cook now will become unavailable to FNB after the end of June...