There have been six months of largely closed-to-public-comment "hearings" by this group personally chosen without public input or homeless representation by Mayor Hillary Bryant in response to pressure from homeless-hostile groups: Ken Collins' Clean-'Em-Out Team, Pamela Comstock's Take Over Santa Cruz, and Lynn Robinson's Santa Cruz NIMBY Neighbors.

A pre-selected group with a pre-fabricated agenda has kidnapped the label of "Public Safety" to demonize homeless illegal drug users and homeless people generally.

Now their "investigation" and "research" with the usual conclusions of more police, harsher jail time for life-sustaining behavior like survival camping, and amped up Drug Prohibition is ready for ratification by incoming Mayor-to-be Lynn Robinson and her cabal of frightened or complacent politicians.

Speaking truth to this dank den may not be the most pleasant task, but the community needs to hear it.

Bring sleeping bags, signs, musical instruments, friends, and warm blankets.

Hot vegan food will be provided by JumboGumbo Joe Schultz.

We will have a speak-out to decide on next steps to address the callous crackdown and upcoming freezing winter weather.

Subsequent actions later that night will be decided then.

Sleeping or covering up with blankets is a crime in Santa Cruz after 11 PM.

It is illegal to be on the grounds of City Hall with a protest sign after City Council closes its meeting.

There is shelter each night for less than 5% of the City's unhoused population.

These facts tell the tale.