On September 11th, 2007 Robert Norse was prepared to present a speech to the community and City Council of Santa Cruz during the Oral Communications period of the City Council meeting. The first two minutes of the speech was read by Coral Brune. However, Mayor Reilly did not allow Robert Norse to speak during Oral Communications, citing a lack of time, and therefore prevented the full speech from being heard during the City Council meeting.

Speech to Santa Cruz Community and City Council by Robert Norse 9-11-07

In Iraq, the U.S.-funded murder machine as well as the number of U.S. mercenaries in and out of uniform continues to “surge”. From the City Council? Silence. No investigation of what city investments go to fund war profiteers, as I’ve repeatedly requested. No declaration of censure against Assemblyman John Laird for voting to join Bush’s propaganda war against Iran by disinvesting. No criticism of Rep. Farr who supported this year’s biggest-ever military appropriation. Why take a risk? After all, politicians Reilly and Coonerty seek higher office and need to keep their fund-raising sources intact.

What can we do to fight the phony hysteria generated by the bogus “War on Terrorism”, the phony but fatal “War on Drugs”, and very real War on the Poor? Keep an eye on the armed police goon squads that hover in military formation this Halloween roaming the streets in packs to “protect” us. Raise your voices when they arrest the poor for a (triple fine!) open container that the wealthy drink freely from at sidewalk cafes that cater to their booze-soaked dollars.

Sleepcrime ticketing is up. More than ten times what it was in the summer of 2000. The police like to use the new tools and toys the Council has given them. Shelter space is stagnant or dropping. Space for 40. Hundreds and hundreds outside with no legal place to sleep. Less and less place to park legally at night. New hassles for RVs along West Cliff. And, of course, no public bathrooms at night. Read the Full Text of the Speech