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The Coonerty Watch Continues: Upchucky Updates
Constitutional purists will gather again outside 1520 Pacific Sunday September 16 at 2 PM to debate Constitutional Lawyer, Vice-Mayor, Aspiring Mayor-to-Be, and Bookshop Impressario Ryan Coonerty. The topic: Is the City's Municipal Code 6.36.010a, (banning sleep outside or in vehicles after 11 PM at night) simply an unconstitutional nightmare from which we'll awaken soon? A clerical error? A misplaced police department wet dream? Join us to probe these mysteries. Warning: Vice-Mayor Coonerty is a perpetual no-show and may be represented by proxy.
More clips from last week's CoonertyWatch (of Sunday September 9th) can be found archived (soon) at http://www.radiolibre.org/brb/brb070916.mp3 .
"Banned for Life at the Bookshop Santa Cruz" as well as "Not Yet Banned at the Bookshop Santa Cruz" buttonstickers will be available for those wishing to nudge the Bookshop management into the 20th Century.
New fliers will be available summarizing more succinctly the issue for politicians who find the "need to sleep" issue hard to grasp.
On Tuesday night, a day after Mayor Reilly stood up Homies for the Homeless for the third time [see "Mayor Bails Out Again; Homeless to Catch Her at City Council 7 PM Tuesday at City Hall" at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/09/10/18446665.php],Reilly gave extra time to SEIU workers and other speakers, but then refused to allow me (as the last speaker) to speak for the two minutes allowed the other folks.
My speech I reprint in the next comment for those interested. (I'll also try to link it to this comment to download)
PUBLIC RECORDS STILL WITHHELD
Attempts to get the SCPD records were again stalled by SCPD Records Chief Trisha Husome.
A Public Records Act request filed August 20th for the week that the Homies for the Homeless [HfH]stayed at City Hall [August 12-18] was still unavailable on Friday in spite of numerous e-mailed requests.
In an article justifying the Sleep Stormtroops running the homeless away from their safe sleeping spot, Zach Friend accused HfH of numerous criminal actions ["Homeless camp-in booted from lawn in front of Santa Cruz City Hall" at http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive /2007/August/19/local/stories/03local.htm] But, Trish has still declined to call me announcing the release of the records (in spite of a deposit of $35 left at the SCPD at her insistence).
Also still unrevealed are the records of Councilmember and ACLU Board Member Mike Rotkin's call to the police on August 26th. On that date Rotkin supposedly claimed criminal behavior by me and other activists who he personally blocked from entering a public ACLU meeting because we had some signs with us which we refused to relinquish or leave outside. (see "Rotkin Responds to the ACLU Scandal: Signature Hypocrisy of Phoney "Progressive" Politics" at http://www.indybay.org/ newsitems/2007/09/08/18446314.php] Did Rotkin make a false police report (itself a crime)? Only Trisha Husome knows and she hasn't yet released the info.
Steve Hammack, Parks and Recreation Superintendent, has made the rather implausible claim that absolutely nothing was written down when he and his department made the decision to exclude RVs from 4 coastal parking lots. (See "Superintendent Hammack Stonewalls on RV Ban in Coastal Parking Lots" at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/09/12/18447267.php)
As more volunteers contact HUFF, we'll try to investigate this murky labyrinth of fabulous fairy tales. (Want to volunteer? E-mail me at rnorse3 [at] hotmail.com or call at 423-4833).
Coming Up Next Sunday September 23: a merry march to San Lorenzo Park to encourage the San Francisco Mime Troupe audience to Boycott Bigotry at the Bookshop Santa Cruz and also expose the Coonerty City Council's sweetheart deals with U.S. war profiteers (see "Desalination and War Profiteering in the City of Santa Cruz" at http://www.indybay.org/news items/2006/09/27/ 18314697.php as well as a radio interview with author Ike Solem at http://www.radiolibre.org/ brb/brb070913.mp3).
ELDERLY HOMELESS MAN HARASSED OUTSIDE LIBRARY BY COPS AND SECURITY GUARDS
Elderly Homeless Medical Marijuana Activist Craig Canada reported last night that he was harassed by two First Alarm security guards last night outside the library. He was sitting on a bench at 1 AM outside the library, working on his laptop, when two male guards, who refused to identify themselves, demanded he leave the public bench and public area saying it was "closed". They added that the City Hall grounds were also "closed" and that he couldn't go there. When he refused to leave, they continued to harass him and called the police.
SCPD officer Forbes then told him he would be charged with "theft" for using his computer and the library's wireless internet (which apparently extends out from the library). He was not plugged into any city power, and the charge sounded ridiculous to me, an attorney I spoke with, and a legal worker. In addition, when local RV dweller Shane Maxfield, parked nearby, came out of his van to support Craig, he demanded with a tape recorder on, for the officer to repeat his charge. "I'll be bringing out my computer as well," Shane said. At this point, according to Shane, the officer turned silent and retreated.
But they did succeed in upsetting and driving away Craig Canada, who has a psychological disability (doesn't respond well to threats of ticketing and jail at 1 AM).
NEW STREET SPIRIT AVAILABLE
The new Street Spirit with two articles on Santa Cruz should be available shortly in the Santa Cruz library and a limited number will be available at the Coonertywatch Protest tomorrow.
We are working to scan in and put on line older articles about the Santa Cruz Homeless Civil Rights Struggle from back issues of Street Spirit.
"Banned for Life at the Bookshop Santa Cruz" as well as "Not Yet Banned at the Bookshop Santa Cruz" buttonstickers will be available for those wishing to nudge the Bookshop management into the 20th Century.
New fliers will be available summarizing more succinctly the issue for politicians who find the "need to sleep" issue hard to grasp.
On Tuesday night, a day after Mayor Reilly stood up Homies for the Homeless for the third time [see "Mayor Bails Out Again; Homeless to Catch Her at City Council 7 PM Tuesday at City Hall" at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/09/10/18446665.php],Reilly gave extra time to SEIU workers and other speakers, but then refused to allow me (as the last speaker) to speak for the two minutes allowed the other folks.
My speech I reprint in the next comment for those interested. (I'll also try to link it to this comment to download)
PUBLIC RECORDS STILL WITHHELD
Attempts to get the SCPD records were again stalled by SCPD Records Chief Trisha Husome.
A Public Records Act request filed August 20th for the week that the Homies for the Homeless [HfH]stayed at City Hall [August 12-18] was still unavailable on Friday in spite of numerous e-mailed requests.
In an article justifying the Sleep Stormtroops running the homeless away from their safe sleeping spot, Zach Friend accused HfH of numerous criminal actions ["Homeless camp-in booted from lawn in front of Santa Cruz City Hall" at http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive /2007/August/19/local/stories/03local.htm] But, Trish has still declined to call me announcing the release of the records (in spite of a deposit of $35 left at the SCPD at her insistence).
Also still unrevealed are the records of Councilmember and ACLU Board Member Mike Rotkin's call to the police on August 26th. On that date Rotkin supposedly claimed criminal behavior by me and other activists who he personally blocked from entering a public ACLU meeting because we had some signs with us which we refused to relinquish or leave outside. (see "Rotkin Responds to the ACLU Scandal: Signature Hypocrisy of Phoney "Progressive" Politics" at http://www.indybay.org/ newsitems/2007/09/08/18446314.php] Did Rotkin make a false police report (itself a crime)? Only Trisha Husome knows and she hasn't yet released the info.
Steve Hammack, Parks and Recreation Superintendent, has made the rather implausible claim that absolutely nothing was written down when he and his department made the decision to exclude RVs from 4 coastal parking lots. (See "Superintendent Hammack Stonewalls on RV Ban in Coastal Parking Lots" at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/09/12/18447267.php)
As more volunteers contact HUFF, we'll try to investigate this murky labyrinth of fabulous fairy tales. (Want to volunteer? E-mail me at rnorse3 [at] hotmail.com or call at 423-4833).
Coming Up Next Sunday September 23: a merry march to San Lorenzo Park to encourage the San Francisco Mime Troupe audience to Boycott Bigotry at the Bookshop Santa Cruz and also expose the Coonerty City Council's sweetheart deals with U.S. war profiteers (see "Desalination and War Profiteering in the City of Santa Cruz" at http://www.indybay.org/news items/2006/09/27/ 18314697.php as well as a radio interview with author Ike Solem at http://www.radiolibre.org/ brb/brb070913.mp3).
ELDERLY HOMELESS MAN HARASSED OUTSIDE LIBRARY BY COPS AND SECURITY GUARDS
Elderly Homeless Medical Marijuana Activist Craig Canada reported last night that he was harassed by two First Alarm security guards last night outside the library. He was sitting on a bench at 1 AM outside the library, working on his laptop, when two male guards, who refused to identify themselves, demanded he leave the public bench and public area saying it was "closed". They added that the City Hall grounds were also "closed" and that he couldn't go there. When he refused to leave, they continued to harass him and called the police.
SCPD officer Forbes then told him he would be charged with "theft" for using his computer and the library's wireless internet (which apparently extends out from the library). He was not plugged into any city power, and the charge sounded ridiculous to me, an attorney I spoke with, and a legal worker. In addition, when local RV dweller Shane Maxfield, parked nearby, came out of his van to support Craig, he demanded with a tape recorder on, for the officer to repeat his charge. "I'll be bringing out my computer as well," Shane said. At this point, according to Shane, the officer turned silent and retreated.
But they did succeed in upsetting and driving away Craig Canada, who has a psychological disability (doesn't respond well to threats of ticketing and jail at 1 AM).
NEW STREET SPIRIT AVAILABLE
The new Street Spirit with two articles on Santa Cruz should be available shortly in the Santa Cruz library and a limited number will be available at the Coonertywatch Protest tomorrow.
We are working to scan in and put on line older articles about the Santa Cruz Homeless Civil Rights Struggle from back issues of Street Spirit.
For more information:
http://www.huffsantacruz.org
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I saw this article in the local paper, and actually went down that street to see this graffiti. It had already been painted over, and there was 'crime scene' tape all around. The spots with graffiti weren't that large. Is there any local angle on this? I would note that this is a very busy part of town, near many downtown attractions. Recently there have been a variety of accusations of the homeless movement people trashing things, particularly smearing poo. Yet in several of these cases, there was no incentive at all to do anything of the sort from the perspective of the sleeping ban position. People at the city hall sleep in didn't notice anyone smearing poo, but this was attributed to them. Similarly, it doesn't make sense that anyone would retaliate against the city council by causing destruction in Santa Cruz bookstore. Anyway, this all brings up the question of why someone would do this, when the key sleeping ban folks can't guess who it is.
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2007/September/19/breaking/stories/01breaking.htm
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2007/September/19/breaking/stories/01breaking.htm
Unfortunately, things like the sleeping ban tend to create mental illness. As many of the people involved in these protests are mentally ill and unsupported by the system, it does not surprise me that some of them would be unable to control themselves. Making up conspiracy theories about how "the cops did this themselves" is not helpful. I'm sure Robert and Becky would report anybody involved in such destruction to the police if they find out who did it.
Interesting line of argument there. So people become mentally ill because the citizens don't want them to pitch a tent downtown? Put another way, the solution to mental illness is to allow people to set up camp in the middle of the business district. Interesting. Hmmmmm.....
I'm equally sure that the Huffies would NOT turn in the perpetrators of the vandalism. For all we know, they actually do know who it /they were. They're not telling. Why would they? It's not like they care about the town or anything.
I'm equally sure that the Huffies would NOT turn in the perpetrators of the vandalism. For all we know, they actually do know who it /they were. They're not telling. Why would they? It's not like they care about the town or anything.
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