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Dump Two Dumb Laws and Diss the Demonic Duo Tuesday May 23rd 2:15 PM
Neal Coonerty, Bookshop Santa Cruz owner and Supervisoral candidate, is largely responsible for the 1994 Downtown Ordinances--specifically the harsh law restricting or eliminating much peaceful sparechanging.
Ryan Coonerty, his son, City Councilmember, has been pushing the Parking Garage Paranoia Law. He works at Bookshop SC.
Ryan Coonerty, his son, City Councilmember, has been pushing the Parking Garage Paranoia Law. He works at Bookshop SC.
Chow Down & Speak Out in front of the Bookshop Santa Cruz
1520 Pacific Ave. (at Locust St.) 2:15 PM Tuesday May 23
Tasty vegan food will be available to munch as you mingle.
Stop the Renewal of Neal Coonerty’s Anti-Homeless Panhandling Law
Santa Cruz’s MC 9.10 will prohibit ALL peaceful panhandling after dark, in a group of two, from a seated position on the sidewalk, even when done silently with a sign. It will forbid it on all sidewalks near businesses everywhere else in town except on Pacific Avenue. This law is a cruel embarrassment to a progressive community.
&
Ryan Coonerty’s Anti-Homeless Parking Garage Paranoia Law
The proposed MC 9.64 would remove from public space all public parking garages as well as parking lot #9 (Elm St. between Cedar and Pacific)--the one lot homeless use regularly. If passed as written, it will become illegal on June 22nd to enter any of these garages unless parking a vehicle or bike, and then only for fifteen minutes. This law targets the poor and removes the right to privacy in your own car.
Just Say NO to the Demonic Coonerty Duo
then meander over to City Council’s 3 PM session to
speak sense to the senseless.
After the speakout in front of the Bookshop, we'll meander over to the City Council chambers around 3 PM as the Council moves to rubberstamp these two bad laws.
Technical Note: The panhandling law is coming back to City Council for "patching up" because a section of it has been found to be unconstitutional by a federal judge.
The law needs to be returned to a citizen committee including folks from the ACLU, representatives from the homeless, street performers, merchants, and other relevant groups. Otherwise more sections of it will inevitably be found unconstituional and require more hearings. A first step in this direction might be sending it back to the Downtown Commission--however subservient to City Council and staff the Commission has been in the past.
Flier by HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom) 831-423-4833 309 Cedar #14B Santa Cruz, http://www.huffsantacruz.org 5-17-06
1520 Pacific Ave. (at Locust St.) 2:15 PM Tuesday May 23
Tasty vegan food will be available to munch as you mingle.
Stop the Renewal of Neal Coonerty’s Anti-Homeless Panhandling Law
Santa Cruz’s MC 9.10 will prohibit ALL peaceful panhandling after dark, in a group of two, from a seated position on the sidewalk, even when done silently with a sign. It will forbid it on all sidewalks near businesses everywhere else in town except on Pacific Avenue. This law is a cruel embarrassment to a progressive community.
&
Ryan Coonerty’s Anti-Homeless Parking Garage Paranoia Law
The proposed MC 9.64 would remove from public space all public parking garages as well as parking lot #9 (Elm St. between Cedar and Pacific)--the one lot homeless use regularly. If passed as written, it will become illegal on June 22nd to enter any of these garages unless parking a vehicle or bike, and then only for fifteen minutes. This law targets the poor and removes the right to privacy in your own car.
Just Say NO to the Demonic Coonerty Duo
then meander over to City Council’s 3 PM session to
speak sense to the senseless.
After the speakout in front of the Bookshop, we'll meander over to the City Council chambers around 3 PM as the Council moves to rubberstamp these two bad laws.
Technical Note: The panhandling law is coming back to City Council for "patching up" because a section of it has been found to be unconstitutional by a federal judge.
The law needs to be returned to a citizen committee including folks from the ACLU, representatives from the homeless, street performers, merchants, and other relevant groups. Otherwise more sections of it will inevitably be found unconstituional and require more hearings. A first step in this direction might be sending it back to the Downtown Commission--however subservient to City Council and staff the Commission has been in the past.
Flier by HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom) 831-423-4833 309 Cedar #14B Santa Cruz, http://www.huffsantacruz.org 5-17-06
Add Your Comments
Comments
(Hide Comments)
to: the Santa Cruz City Council
re: upcoming clarification of the solicitation ordinance
for City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Dear Mayor Cynthia Mathews and members of the Santa Cruz City Council,
HUFF calls for major reform of the Soliciting ordinance (MC 9.10.010) on Tuesday May 23, 2006 from the Santa Cruz City Council.
Since the City Council must rewrite their anti-homeless panhandling law due to a recent loss in federal court which declared the law unconstitutional, we at HUFF urge them to fix the anti-homeless and draconian measures regulating those asking for acts of charity.
While asking for spare change is a protected activity under the 1st amendment free speech protections, the courts have ruled that time, place, and manner restrictions are allowed if the government can present a signficant government interest---usually a health or safety concern.
HUFF questions whether any public health or safety concern is addressed by restrictions such as not soliciting from a seated position, in groups of two or more, or holding a sign asking for food after dark? Actually, these ordinances THREATEN the health and safety of hungry homeless people!
HUFF reminds the citizenry that laws against fraud or assault will still apply and we support those laws.
HUFF urges the Santa Cruz City Council to humanize its ordinance against begging, which is undoubtedly violated only by the poorest of the poor, in the following manner:
1. reduce the 50 foot restriction from a change-dispensing machine to 15 feet.
2. remove the dusk to dawn prohibition
3. allow people to solicit while in a seated position
4. allow people to solicit in groups of up to four people
5. remove all prohibitions against soliciting with a sign
6. remove all locations of restriction to prohibited ONLY where they obstruct a
sidewalk or a doorway
7. strike the section on misleading solicitation
8. remove prohibitions against leaning on public property while soliciting
We prefer that the City send this matter to the Downtown Commission for a thorough examination and review first. Reasonable and humane ordinances in other cities can also be studied. HUFF will remain available as a community resource for feedback on proposed language.
--- Becky Johnson of HUFF
HOMELESS UNITED FOR FRIENDSHIP & FREEDOM
309 Cedar St. PMB 14B
Santa Cruz, Ca. 95060
(831)423-HUFF
http://www.huffsantacruz.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
re: upcoming clarification of the solicitation ordinance
for City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Dear Mayor Cynthia Mathews and members of the Santa Cruz City Council,
HUFF calls for major reform of the Soliciting ordinance (MC 9.10.010) on Tuesday May 23, 2006 from the Santa Cruz City Council.
Since the City Council must rewrite their anti-homeless panhandling law due to a recent loss in federal court which declared the law unconstitutional, we at HUFF urge them to fix the anti-homeless and draconian measures regulating those asking for acts of charity.
While asking for spare change is a protected activity under the 1st amendment free speech protections, the courts have ruled that time, place, and manner restrictions are allowed if the government can present a signficant government interest---usually a health or safety concern.
HUFF questions whether any public health or safety concern is addressed by restrictions such as not soliciting from a seated position, in groups of two or more, or holding a sign asking for food after dark? Actually, these ordinances THREATEN the health and safety of hungry homeless people!
HUFF reminds the citizenry that laws against fraud or assault will still apply and we support those laws.
HUFF urges the Santa Cruz City Council to humanize its ordinance against begging, which is undoubtedly violated only by the poorest of the poor, in the following manner:
1. reduce the 50 foot restriction from a change-dispensing machine to 15 feet.
2. remove the dusk to dawn prohibition
3. allow people to solicit while in a seated position
4. allow people to solicit in groups of up to four people
5. remove all prohibitions against soliciting with a sign
6. remove all locations of restriction to prohibited ONLY where they obstruct a
sidewalk or a doorway
7. strike the section on misleading solicitation
8. remove prohibitions against leaning on public property while soliciting
We prefer that the City send this matter to the Downtown Commission for a thorough examination and review first. Reasonable and humane ordinances in other cities can also be studied. HUFF will remain available as a community resource for feedback on proposed language.
--- Becky Johnson of HUFF
HOMELESS UNITED FOR FRIENDSHIP & FREEDOM
309 Cedar St. PMB 14B
Santa Cruz, Ca. 95060
(831)423-HUFF
http://www.huffsantacruz.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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