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Indybay Feature

Shaming Santa Cruz California For Its Negligent Treatment Of Its Homeless Citizens

by Razer Ray
Considering that local 'homeless activists' are the 'housed leading the homeless', and just CANNOT feel the rage...
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The following is boilerplate from a National Weather Service warning to State /Local governments, and other agencies/NGOs that occurs when temperatures are expected to drop below freezing for at least two hours (cached @ google).

"A FREEZE WARNING MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE IMMINENT OR EXPECTED FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS. APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN TO ENSURE TENDER VEGETATION AND OUTDOOR PETS HAVE ADEQUATE PROTECTION FROM THE COLD TEMPERATURES. YOUNG CHILDREN...THE ELDERLY AND THE HOMELESS ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO THE COLD. TAKE MEASURES TO PROTECT THEM."

Tomorrow morning, after a cold rain, the temperature is expected to be ONE DEGREE above freezing for 'at least 2 hours' at Santa Cruz California. This city, am alleged 'vortex' of progressive liberal politics, a city that (falsely) claims it provides SOoooooo many homeless services that the homeless allegedly 'flock to Santa Cruz' for those 'services', will do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to protect it's homeless and other at risk citizens who for some reason cannot utilize the overcrowded and unhealthy-for-habitation armory "shelter", except perhaps let them 'shelter in place' under a cardboard box. Even as their new Golden State Warriors D-League covered/heated stadium near to the downtown area remains unused 95% of the year by the city, a city that at best.is capable of sheltering 10% of it's at-risk from the weather citizens under any circumstances .

The image below (highlights added, click for larger image) is a warning relayed from Arizona state agencies to a behavioral health provider who then notified their agents... in a state alleged to be one of the most hostile to the homeless in the United States.

Even in a state with a redneck 'sheriff' like Joe Arpaio, recently removed-by-force from office for various federal civil rights violations there is more concern for their homeless. NO SUCH WARNINGS will be issued locally by anyone alleged to be 'responsible' for the city's unsheltered citizens.
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Crossposted @Tumblr
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by Razer Ray
shitsandwichgirl_clean.jpg
[Image: Shit Sandwich, no trimmings, for the so-called "Public Safety Commission"]

From the current NWS forecast:

"VERY COLD AIR WILL RETURN POST FRONT LEADING TO AT LEAST TWO MORE MORNINGS BELOW FREEZING IN MANY AREAS. **FREEZE WARNING** HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR MOST OF THE AREA FOR SUNDAY MORNING."

Page: http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=MTR&product=AFD&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1

Let's see the Santa Cruz City Council Public Safety Commission get 'on the stick' about the public safety of their homeless residents instead of discussing unidentified feces claimed to be of human origin in a TBSC supporter's driveway as was so crassly stated in the public comments last Tuesday.
I am not situated to conduct this, so I am making this suggestion to other activists. Start a campaign to "Open the gates!" to freezing Santa Cruz homeless people. Our demand is that the City and County of Santa Cruz immediately open the doors of all available unused buildings to provide local homeless people a warm, safe place during this freezing cold weather.

1. Post an online petition calling for this as described here: http://www.movements.org/how-to/entry/how-to-create-and-promote-an-online-petition-for-your-cause/

2. Create a Facebook group for this campaign.

3. Plan a protest event on this Facebook campaign group. Broadcast it on all your other Facebook groups and to all your Facebook friends. Ask your groups and friends to disburse it to others.

4. Write a press release for this protest event. Email it to Santa Cruz area news media and regional news media as well as local politicians:

http://www.santacruzchamber.org/cwt/external/wcpages/living/newsmedia.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_in_the_San_Francisco_Bay_Area
http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/index.aspx?page=268
http://www.scottsvalley.org/council/city_council.html
http://www.cityofcapitola.org/citycouncil
http://cityofwatsonville.org/city-government/city-council
http://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/Government/BoardofSupervisors.aspx

5. Telephone/email all your friends and have them telephone/email all their friends to invite them to this protest event.

Run with it . . .

by Robert Norse
xmas_parade_flyer__12-7-13.pdf_600_.jpg
Download and distribute
The American Psychological Association (link to article below) says:

"homeless people bouncing from shelter to shelter were more likely than homeless people living on the street to commit violent crimes"

So Robert, when are you going to stop pandering your useless 'organization' to that nepotistic perception management generator CRCH for TBSC and the Senile like you always do and GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE WAY?

We DO NOT need your 'help'. You are an obvious eminent DANGER to the people you claim to be assisting. Our only hope is the people of Santa Cruz consider you so ignorant they can laugh at you along with the houseless citizens as a solidarity building exercise

YOU and your friends have NOTHING to offer. Not even political clout.

To wit, appearing in front of the City Council's Public Safety Commission meeting with that ignorant and inflammatory drawing of an SCPD officer shooting someone in the head is proof of both points that you are a danger, and you have literally squandered any political clout you MIGHT have actually had.

JOBS. REAL HOUSING. ENFRANCHISEMENT and SECURITY, not the disenfranchisement and endangerment you cause with those graphic images, referring to the SCPD as "Gunmen" on IndyBay forums that TBSC members are free to read, or doing TBSC's promotional work for their friend's fraudulent homeless bashing vids.

APA: "Moving them quickly into housing rather than relying on temporary shelters is probably a pretty good way to prevent this..."

Here's an article from them that's actually doing... instead of alienating any possible base of mass citizen support:

Beyond Shelter: Housing First, Ending Homelessness
http://www.beyondshelter.org/aaa_initiatives/ending_homelessness.shtml

This article with links to more information about supplying REAL housing SEEMS to go against your partner Brent Adam's contention that he has a viable solution by providing still more services (as a business) at a dysfunctional but never to occur 'sanctuary camp'. Nevertheless moving you and him down the road would be a good start to reduce violence against the homeless in Santa Cruz.
by Razer Ray
Because the people who really have the 'skin in the game', the un-housed, are much too busy surviving to do much in the way of organizing, cajoling city hall, etc. That includes me, who shows up occasionally to speak my piece but more often simply glares at the council from outside the council meeting hall.

As far as Steve Schnaar. I know little about him but his pointing out the city sweethearted bikes to other organizations leaving the Bike Church, a non-profit organization, out of the queue, IS a legitimate observation and his group from the needle exchange effectively debunked the Safety Commission's methodology in determining how many police officers Santa Cruz REALLY needs.

Re: Don Lane... I DO NOT trust ANYONE involved in the utterly dysfunctional CRCH. The major problem being it has funding interests first, and the welfare of the complete homeless community, including it's now diminished population of displaced workers second. Leaving us with a shelter system that stakes it's existence (and defines it's services needs based...) on it's 'host', the 'gubmint check' receiving homeless, like an economic tick. MH Cann Behavioral Heath services actively canvasses the houseless at a number of gatherings of the houseless around town (The Red Church Monday meal for one) to 'admit' they have psych problems so they might receive those 'gubmint checks' but there IS NO SOLUTION in that approach, and indeed it is INSULTING to many of us who were literally programmed to be 'worker bees' yet find ourselves without.

To say that socioeconomic situation defines some form of mental illness could only lead to even MORE despair and hopelessness among displaced worker, and more alcohol/drug abuse.

But hey! There's FUNDING for those issues.
by Indybay Volunteer
Comments were removed from this article that violate Indybay's editorial policy.

See: https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2003/12/08/16643971.php and https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2002/08/04/1395001.php
by it is their agenda
the idea that the homeless are hated because of activists is ridiculous. do you really think norse has that kind of power? what about the hatred of the homeless in other cities? norse too? or perhaps adams this time? utterly ridiculous.
the idea that "you can't speak for us because you are housed" might have some merit if it wasn't followed by "the homeless are too busy just surviving and can't organize to defend their rights"
who does that leave to stand up for homeless rights? TBSC?
the 2012 sweeps that have decimated the local homeless were also hardly a response to norse or adams. expect more sweeps in the future because local government would rather spend federal money on salaries for their friends rather than housing for the homeless.
by Robert Norse
2nd and Final Reading shortly after 2 PM of the Public Assembly Constriction Ordinances at City Council...

https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/12/09/18747527.php .
by Razer Ray
greetings_from_a_santa_cruz_local.gif
[Image: Local resident with a greeting for the City Council's Public "Safety" Commission]

I intend to respond to 'it is their agenda's post "Blame TBSC" (There's really a VERY SPECIAL place in hell for their founders & organizers) shortly but I just ran into an idea/resource list that would be worthwhile to share.

From #OpSafeWinterUS

https://piratenpad.de/p/OpSafeWinterUS

IDEAS:
More homeless die from freezing than from starvation. If you are wondering where to put emphasis, put it on warmth. Distribute blankets (wool ideally), space blankets, hand/toe warmers, and anything else that can help to this end.

The best thing you can contribute is a warm place. If you can, open your place to the homeless. This isn't to say you have to give up your whole house or anything, but a place to stay for a night can go a long way. You may even meet another anon or two!

If you want to open up room in your house to help the homeless, PUT A SIGN UP IN YOUR WINDOW! Get their attention, let them know you are willing to help.

Join https://www.couchsurfing.org/ !

Put up flyers offering your services (place to stay, shower, blankets, toothbrushes, etc.)

Where should things be distributed? Look at what organizations in your area already work with the homeless (soup kitchens, shelters, etc.), and start networking/distributing goods there.

Look for any other areas where homeless hang out, get some friends and set up a network/distribution point there.

There are tons of empty houses and buildings not being used that can keep people housed and safe. Do some urban exploration, and find places that are neglected/not for sale (some town websites have databases of abandoned properties, you might also consult these). Try setting up Squats in multiple locations (consult http://www.squattheplanet.com for more in depth info.). Make sure you pick structurally safe/sound locations. Fix them up, like you would your own home, and find ways to get the right people there. Keep a good reputation with the surrounding neighbors, and output a positive community presence.

DO NOT start fires in squats unless you have made sure it is safe to do so. This is how some abandoned buildings catch fire.

Razer Ray Adds: DO NOT START FIRES @ SQUATS PERIOD!

Some homeless could use help simply storing things so they don't have to bring everything, everywhere, all the time. Try creating an outdoor locker system that homeless can retrieve a key from and stash things when they need to.

if we organized a network that could visit all the sandwich shops at the end of the working day we could collect the food then distribute or give it to food banks?

We also would like people to list down any places we can tap into, to create a bank for Christmas presents to give out too.

We'll also need to give out toiletries and wipes etc

What about asking for donations from the army n navy shops for blankets n camping ect

Also at the end of season in some major super markets that sell clothes they have to get rid of their stock, usually to a charity, would be nice if they played ball

what about food factories and clothing factories and getting the seconds

also your local salvation army doesn't mind showing you how to with info

the food that super markets throw out is criminal, could something be done about it, and they put locks on their bins now so ppl can't take the good food away, maybe if someone offered to take it away with transport that was reliable, they may give it to us.

http://michaelrakowitz.com/projects/parasite/ <- contact and get design specs? how much do they cost to make would it be viable investing in the project to give out the shelter? [creator has been emailed]

we could get loads of space blankets atm they cost $2.00 each or you can get the triangle ones that act like a tent for $5.00 each

Link for cheap thermal blankets http://bit.ly/1ef83PS

On both Thanksgiving and Christmas we should go to a homeless shelter to server food, I know I am going.

If you are a college student, offer the idea to philanthropic organizations on your campus. This small gesture can make a HUGE difference.

Brief guide on doing a one day (or sustaining a weekly) free store.

http://freedomsson.tumblr.com/post/54305724073/starting-a-freestore-is-an-easy-and-most (A)




by Razer Ray
beware_of_natives.jpg
[Image: Warning the affluent white transplants about the natives, South Africa circa late 1950s]

> the idea that the homeless are hated because of activists is ridiculous.

I said he ENDANGERED. I said Robert is A DIVISIVE ENTITY in the houseless of Santa Cruz' attempt to find some sort of enfranchisement in a town that doesn't generally do anything but disenfranchise the less-than-affluent.

> do you really think norse has that kind of power?

Yes.

There's power in being a "Clown" for the media. Just ask Abbie Hoffman's ghost. Because Robert COULD NEVER even hope to live up to Abbie's intellectual standard (or Abbie's ability to FOCUS on the issue at hand) it's important to note what Theo Roszak said in "Making of a Counterculture" about how the media interacts with a subculture by noting the most extravagant bizarrely behaving people and reflects it back in a "Fun House Mirror", not only to that subculture, but to the rest of society as well, who mimic it when they involve themselves in that alt culture, altogether changing the nature of it to mimic those most extravagant and bizarre behaviors.

Robert alienates EVERYONE, and the response by anyone who observes him as some sort of 'homeless advocate' will be to alienate the people he allegedly advocates for, even before the viewer/readers are alienated from him. After all, he's in the media so he gets SOME cred from the viewer, unlike those unseen he claims to represent, who the viewer/reader is lead to believe think their fine SCPD officers execute the homeless as illustrated in the picture Norse has been carrying about like a totem to Council meetings.

It's transference. The speaker doesn't get blamed, but the people he speaks of do.

When Robert describes the SCPD as gunmen, and the lowbrow SUV surf jocks of the "Clean Team" as thugs, they WILL tend to act in a manner fitting that description. The homeless will act in a more hostile, defensive posture towards those people as well, further shaping the TBSC crowd's belief that what they've been disinformed with is true.

> what about the hatred of the homeless in other cities? norse too?

You mistake fear for hatred. Don't be ignorant.

> or perhaps adams this time?

Brent Adams is a Norse wannbe, and has been described by a local lawyer who works with the homeless as "A nightmare". He has other social problems that always seem to get my comments pulled when I bring them up so I won't. Right now.

> utterly ridiculous.

Have you gotten the drift I don't care what you think is ridiculous?

> the idea that "you can't speak for us because you are housed" might have some merit if it wasn't followed by "the homeless are too busy just surviving and can't organize to defend their rights"

I said: "...to do much in the way of organizing, cajoling city hall, etc."

Most of the homeless I know are EXPERT at defending their rights. That's why Robert only gets on-tape/air complaints from winos, druggies, people seeking personal publicity (Look ma! I'm on RADIO!) and other co-dependents. The rest of us treat our dealings with the SCPD as business-as-usual, and potential thuggery by confused violent people with a very real "Lets see who dies first little boy" attitude. The SCPD is MUCH MORE FEARFUL of one of their gentry's kids getting hurt in a troll-bashing incident than a homeless person getting hurt... for GOOD reason.

> who does that leave to stand up for homeless rights? TBSC?

Again. WE (the editorial "We") DO NOT NEED OTHERS TO STAND UP FOR OUR RIGHTS. We need people who stand up for THEIR RIGHT to treat the homeless as individuals and not be coerced to following the TBSC/HUFF 'paint them all with the same tar' brush. Me, You, anyone walking by in solidarity. Actions such as dunning and shunning people who speak bady about a COHORT instead of an individual they've had problems with, the former being the way Robert and his cult are prone to speak about the SCPD... and TBSC, the anti-cult to HUFF.

> the 2012 sweeps that have decimated the local homeless were also hardly a response to norse or adams. expect more sweeps in the future because local government would rather spend federal money on salaries for their friends rather than housing for the homeless.

To the first. It decimated THE DISPLACED WORKER and "Harmless hippie" cohort within the local homeless population. For what it's worth that constitutes most of the NON-GUBMINT CHECK RECEIVING HOMELESS. Funny how THAT happened.

On the OTHER hand, the sweep did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about speedfreaks winos junkies, predatory sociopathic homeless. They don't give a fuck about 'sweeps' Just as I don't. The tickets RN whines about are just so much asswipe really, and late night wake up calls from the SCPD on the RARE occasions they occur? I'm used to weird hours and being woken up by people who could be MUCH more of a problem than the SCPD and their tickets.

To the second... No brainer. The point of this post in the first place is to get some action on that, instead of the welfare-mother of a city we live in continuing to simply take funds for whatever 'homeless services' are available. Even if, like Brent Adam's "Sanctuary Camp" concept, the funds are for programs that do not fit the needs of the local homeless population. The city REALLY NEEDS TO RE-PURPOSE their treasury wasting 'security guard' program, a program that should be fully funded by the downtown businesses if they feel they need it, and use those freed-up funds for programs that offer REAL security for the WHOLE community (and lead to the need for less or NO security guards and a reduced police presence downtown). Those programs should lead to an integrated-into-Santa Cruz society population of less than high-earners with simple employment and simple affordable housing. Even barracks or tent camp housing.
by Robert Norse
Some very good warming suggestions.

However, the poster which I presented at one Task Farce meeting and the City Council meeting that unanimously supported it is misdesccribed. It actually shows a Task Farce member pointing a gun at the head of a homeless man with the caption "When a society is unwilling or unable to find a solution to a problem, there is only one final solution to take. ["Looking In On the Public Hysteria Task Farce" at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/10/23/18745324.php] The SCPD are not mentioned.

My use of the phrase "gunmen" in a recent speech [ "Full Text of Speech to City Council on 12-3" at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/12/05/18747282.php ] is meant to suggest that police and their security sidekicks implicitly use the threat of lethal force to command obedience to laws and priorities that are ultimately life-threatening to homeless people. These, I'm afraid, are facts.

Most recently Officer Hernandez reportedly drew his gun on Jasmine Byron and her family at the Salvation Army's 10-26 Thanksgiving meal for trying to take a plate of food outside [ "Off-Duty SCPD Cop Draws Gun on Salvation Army Food Seeker" at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/11/29/18746999.php ].

Ray can be very incisive, but sometimes he's is a bit off-base.
by Razer Ray
the_other_side_of_the_coin_-_counterinsu_-_kristian_williams.pdf_600_.jpg
White Paper Attached: The Other Side Of The Coin: Counterinsurgency And Community Policing by Kristian Williams. 37 page pdf

Abstract: This essay outlines the current counterinsurgency model, with an emphasis on its domestic application in the United States. It shows that many contemporary counterinsurgency practices were developed by police agencies inside the U.S., and illustrates the transfer of theory, strategy, and technique from domestic police to the military - and back. The essay also examines the state's use of nongovernmental or nonprofit agencies, as one element of counterinsurgency strategy, to channel and control political opposition. The conclusion briefly considers the strategic implications for social movements, especially as we learn to recognize and respond to political repression.

Note this: The essay also examines the state's use of nongovernmental or nonprofit agencies, as one element of counterinsurgency strategy, to channel and control political opposition.

The example often (but not always) used is Gang-related but the overall social control strategies and tactics described speak to control of homeless populations as well. Organizations like HUFF fit prominently into the strategy by presenting a FALSE FRONT against city policy rendering any other opposition groups that may arise, or "Harm Reduction" strategies and tactics, less effective or inconsequential.

-----------------------------------------------------

Still waiting for a FULL report of the details of what happened at the Salvation Army Thanksgiving meal. IA investigations ARE confidential but THEY GENERATE A DOCUMENTATION NUMBER of some sort.

Where is it? Do you even have contact information for the victim or are you BADGERING THEM and the person is being non-responsive because if the the full details of the incident came out we could all see some culpability on that person's part?

I could start the debunking now with some speculation but I'll pass.

I want the WHOLE STORY or STFU until there's more information besides the statement of ONE INTERESTED PARTY. That's inadequate for more than saying "Someone said something happened and there were witnesses". It IS NOT an entitlement to say the incident happened as those parties alone described.

Further, I could give a flying about the "Context" of your use of the term "Gunman". You claim to represent the houseless, and the houseless get 'painted by that brush'. every time you speak. You CANNOT separate yourself from the longstanding homeless issue you claim to represent at your dis informational leisure.

If you were speaking your own opinion, you should have said so. But you stood there in the name of the homeless and used the word 'gunmen' while holding a picture of SOME government official putting a bullet in someone's head. Crass. Ignorant, inflammatory, and endangering the people in who's name you AND THE POSTER spoke of, not from police retaliation, but from some TBSC/Clean Team fool who reacts to your statement, and since YOU are not available for thugging, safely housed and all, the violence will fall on a homeless scapegoat. A proxy for you, from a group of people YOU claim to represent.

I'm not indecisive at all Robert. I said YOU endangered the people you claim to be representing, and I stand by that assertion. I also think your 'organizing' and PR efforts end up playing right into the hands of the people you oppose, which makes me EXTREMELY suspicious of your intent, because you refuse to acknowledge that obvious fact and continue being used as a shill by those elements. Most recently, as discussed above, by an inflammatory poster, and an equally rash statement about 'gunmen' in regard to the city, police officer or not represented by the poster OR your statement, and it's homeless population exacerbating an already hyper-polarized situation in the community inevitably leading to reactionary behavior by some individual or group of individuals.

You refuse to take responsibility for YOUR words and actions Robert. Unacceptable.
RR: I kindly disagree with you. I listened to Norse interviewing the assault victims — his efforts helped document for me and attorneys timely information to hold the SCPD responsible for a pattern and practice of cruel and disdainful abuse of disabled people for the U.S. Dept. of Justice and the courts.

Please read my email to SCPD Chief Vogel after listening to Norse's interviews with the victims while working off his email documentation of the same. His efforts were very useful in drawing attention to the SCPD's culture of cruelty and hatefulness towards the disabled with the outside government and nonlocal news media.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxTKPdmfF4X8Y2JpRmRfS2NNTXc/edit?usp=sharing

It seems like you and Norse have some personal battle which is distracting from the issues at hand. I don't get involved with personal baggage — I represent and advocate for (poor) disabled people with the government and the news media. I'm interested in results, not engaging in personal grudges.

I hope you and Norse can work out whatever bad blood is between you two — because I appreciate you both.

I'm only concerned with how Norse's actions help my own efforts — his advocacy has helped advance my own. So I have only gratitude for Norse (because he helps my advocacy and also funds many of my Freedom of Information requests about disability issues and homelessness).
by Razer Ray
santa_cruz_10-year_homeless__plan.pdf_600_.jpg
[Attached 90 page 3.67 mb pdf: TEN-YEAR PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS 2003-2013 in Santa Cruz See how little was accomplished except for providing services to gubmint check receiving people.]

Read what I said Colby:
"I want the WHOLE STORY or STFU until there's more information besides the statement of ONE INTERESTED PARTY. That's inadequate for more than saying "Someone said something happened and there were witnesses". It IS NOT an entitlement to say the incident happened as those parties alone described."


"It seems like you and Norse have some personal battle which is distracting from the issues at hand."

Your right. He endangers the people he purports to help. That's a little MORE than a distraction from the issue at hand The issue: HOUSING PEOPLE! NOT Making them appear to be cop haters who one REALLY wouldn't want to rent a closet to.

But it isn't a 'battle' He's a loser whose NEVER ACCOMPLISHED ONE FUCKING THING to help the homeless. His mouth caused the shelter to stop writing notes to the court unless one was 'registered' with the 'shelter'. Read the White Paper I posted in a previous comment. It references dividing the target population in it's 37 pages just like RN managed to accomplish during PeaceCamp, and despite the obviousness of what happened he STILL makes the FALSE CLAIM the shelter somehow did that preemptively when it was so fucking obvious they simply circled the wagons in the glare of a MEDIA SPOTLIGHT HE CAUSED TO BE FOCUSED ON THEM.

Psychopathic Opportunist and Cause Promoter. His BS has simply gotten too inflammatory to tolerate. It doesn't affect HIS SAFETY. It affects MINE. Get that Colby? If I have to stick some stupid kid who jumps me because of Norse's illegitimate... I'll repeat that "Illegitimate" claims about police "gunmen" dating back to (Not so happy... An angry abusive fuckwad who had a pasted-on smile really) John Dine. I'm IMMEDIATELY going to look for him before the police find me and extract my "Pound of flesh". He's got plenty to spare.
by John E. Colby
RR:

You may have some legitimate issues with Robert Norse (which aren't necessarily personal ones but grounded in your beliefs about his actions).

I am writing as a free agent who isn't a HUFF member. I am an unaffiliated representative and advocate for disabled and homeless people. I conduct independent research (often using public records requests) to gain information to aid me in advocating with the government and leveraging the media to ensure the problems of those I represent are solved.

Speaking from my own POV, Norse has been very helpful to my advocacy. Listening to his radio shows, I often come across issues which raised my own questions (leading to me seeking answers to them through FOI requests and personal research). Norse has generously offered to (partly) fund my FOI requests for the disabled and the homeless. This is very helpful because currently I have limited resources — his support is aiding me help a lot of people and uncover government corruption.

My take on Norse's journalism is that while it is not completely objective — but then who really is — often his interviews are illuminating and quite informative. For example, his questioning of the recent alleged victim of SCPD aggression was a good interview. Since I am an experienced interviewer — I often interview homeless people who can be difficult to gain useful information from — who passes the evidence I gather to federal and state agencies, I believe Norse's interviews, although sometimes "chatty", are generally of good quality.

Although I don't always agree with Norse's approach to advocacy for the homeless, he has passed victims of discrimination to me and seems to genuinely care about them.

RR: hopefully we can agree to disagree. I appreciate you commentary which is often very astute. There's no need to argue about this.
by activism is not a crime
i believe -THE DISPLACED WORKER and "Harmless hippie"you seem so ready to dismiss, also have a right to sleep without police harassment or fear. those tickets that can't harm you or the junkies, do harm someone who wants to be able to get a license or register a car someday. when you say it doesn't bother you much to get woken up by the cops because there are other more serious threats to your sleeping situation, i believe you. but if you are implying the rest of us should just man up and bend over for the system,
i simply won't.
i am also fighting for my own rights, should i become homeless myself, i don't want to sleep in fear-having to keep my sleep spot a secret. and while i can defend my rights better than most, i appreciate that other activists are out there trying to defend my rights for me. and i would never demand an activist not call a vigilante acting like a thug, a thug, because that might make the vigilante act like he is already acting.
and that goes for the pigs too.
bullies are bullies, pretending they aren't invites more bullying. exposing it to the public tends to limit it.
as to your assertion that activist antics create fear in the community and danger to the homeless. i would suggest violence and threats of violence even veiled, third party threats like the one you claim to be relaying on the Anthony thread, "come here and say that!" do far more damage to the homeless reputation than any non-violent protest can. btw i have heard you make threats of violence on several occasions, you may think that such behavior only creates fear in the housed, but it goes beyond ignorance to think it isn't creating hatred as well.
finally, HUFF CULT! hilarious! (i don't care if you don't care, i write 4 others)
robert has little power over his OWN MEETINGS much less the community or a cult. and you have been to HUFF meetings too! he must be tickled you find him so powerful. if there really is a HUFF CULT you and he must be the only members.
(do you guys sacrifice a teddy bear on the first night the armory opens?)

If this:
"i believe -THE DISPLACED WORKER and "Harmless hippie"you seem so ready to dismiss..."

was intended to be a response to me you are Sooooo far off the gist of what I was implying in that phrase, that the sweeps affected EVERYONE BUT the people the city gets 'complaints' (right or wrong) about, AND the comment in general, I don't understand how you could even derive that assumption.

I resemble BOTH cohorts Anyone who knows me visualizes a MOSTLY (usually) harmless 'hippie', and I certainly AM a 'displaced Santa Cruz worker'.

The SCPD are NOT vigilantes. Vigilantes don't get paid. Mercenaries do.

Further, and in summation: "...as to your assertion that activist antics create fear in the community and danger to the homeless. i would suggest violence and threats of violence even veiled, third party threats like the one you claim to be relaying on the Anthony thread, "come here and say that!"

I didn't say that. I made it quite CLEAR in that post Anthony's FRIENDS said that.

"One of his campmates said "He (meaning YOU) should come here and say that!" "

https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/12/11/18747660.php?show_comments=1#18747686

Further, one said "He wouldn't have stayed at any "Sanctuary Camp" anyway".

Anthony LIKED guerrilla camping, as I do, and he WAS NOT the poster child for Robert Norse's/Brent Adam's perversion of the defunct "OccupySantaCruz" solely made up of HUFF members, who would have been interested in a BUSINESS taking the place of Governmental; Responsibility, OR Brent Adams perpetually advertised @ indybay Sanctuary Camp Shelter Business

You have a SERIOUS READING COMPREHENSION PROBLEM friend, or you're intentionally disinforming. Either way, your misuse of my writings is TRANSPARENT to anyone who DOESN'T have a comprehension problem.
by fuck the pigs
"sweeps affected EVERYONE"
now it's everyone instead of just a few, either way there should have been MORE direct action by norse and friends, NOT the LESS you seem to be calling for.

"The SCPD are NOT vigilantes. "
skindog was the vigilante. the scpd are pigs.

"I didn't say that. I made it quite CLEAR in that post Anthony's FRIENDS said that."
i did say you were relaying 3rd party threats.
re·lay1
verb
gerund or present participle: relaying
riˈlā,ˈrēˌlā/

1.
receive and pass on (information or a message).


"You have a SERIOUS READING COMPREHENSION PROBLEM "
after you look up "relay", check out "hypocrisy" as well.
by Razer Ray
I'm SURE you get all sorts of world changing things done in your day-to-day so I'll try to keep this short.

> "I didn't say that. I made it quite CLEAR in that post Anthony's FRIENDS said that."
> >i did say you were relaying 3rd party threats.

You are correct. I mis-read Mea culpa Mea MAXIMA culpa.

But that's not Hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is saying one thing and doing another.


Fwiw, the person who made the comment you object to came up to me when I was first-drafting this comment and wanted to know if you'd responded. He saw it and it simply made him angrier. He's mostly taking umbrage at the soapboxing for Brent Adam's business on the coffin of his friend considering the gent claims Anthony WOULD have NEVER stayed at that "Sanctuary Camp"...

I'd add "because he saw the nightmare that was "Occupy Security" and the prog-lib codependents with their 'alternative social services' idea for making their rent by sucking the government's trickle-down funding tit." He had also made no contact with the Veteran's administration for services during his time in Santa Cruz despite being honorably discharged with benefits INCLUDING HOUSING FOR HOMELESS VETS available, nor was he interested in VFW activities... even at the local antiwar Bill Motto post. Methinks Anthony had enough institutionalization in the US military, left it all behind, and wasn't very interested in a Hipster variety of alternative institutionalization either.

Nevertheless. This IS NOT a Homeless issue. Anthony openly preferred to guerrilla camp. There was a tragic accident. Perhaps it's a veteran related issue that caused him to prefer camping to housie life or simply wanderlust.. Dunno. Does that make it a larger social issue? Dunno.

Do you? Or are you simply gonna soapbox about homeless issues on Anthony's grave and refer to the police, irrelevant to the issue as far as I can see, as 'pigs'?


> "sweeps affected EVERYONE"
>> now it's everyone instead of just a few, either way there should have been MORE direct action by norse and friends, NOT the LESS you seem to be calling for.


Regarding :"...now it's everyone instead of just a few,"

You'll have to provide a quote. You CAN produce a quote to the contrary?

Earlier I said:
> To the first. It decimated THE DISPLACED WORKER and "Harmless hippie" cohort within the local homeless population. For what it's worth that constitutes most of the NON-GUBMINT CHECK RECEIVING HOMELESS. Funny how THAT happened.

> On the OTHER hand, the sweep did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about speedfreaks winos junkies, predatory sociopathic homeless. They don't give a fuck about 'sweeps' Just as I don't.

You'll note I said the sweeps "did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ***about***", not that they didn't affect everyone in it's path.

It's been a BOON for some. There's more aggressive panhandling than ever downtown. A drunk (perhaps pill junkie) I'd never seen before (looking clean cut like a prison release who wasn't 'working out') charged up on to the other night by New Leaf literally in my face/space demanding "Can I have a bite of that?" ("That" being a food stamp purchased burrito and my meal for the day). When I just... said... no, mostly because of his expectant rudeness, he wanted to fight. He wobbled too much... couldn't focus, and eventually just slowly wandered away after I made it pretty clear using body language and moving into HIS 'zone' that he wouldn't be able to eat right for a long time if he didn't get 'out of my space'.

Continuing... Robert Norse DOESN'T "DO" "Direct Action". He does PROMOTION USING PROVOCATION, including provoking HOSTILE reactions from the housed people of SantaCruz, but he isn't very good at promotional work on our behalf. Most of us do a MUCH better job simply representing and 'selling' ourselves to the people we meet (The ones who can't are at his mercy I guess, but that doesn't make him MY representative.) no matter how much the city council or others such as TBSC attempt to pigeonhole us into that "Homeless Problem" "box".

Every time someone downtown I've never met walks up to me and says: "Are you hungry? I have these leftovers..." or finds out I've lived here for 40 years and wants to talk about 'the way it used to be', it reinforces my opinion that TBSC's bleatings, echoed loudly by a couple of council members, are a minority opinion in housed 'law-abiding' Santa Cruz society and I rarely mention or hear mention of them.

On the other hand Robert and his friends, who are never downtown unless they're 'promoting the cause', which seems to be the reactionary task of parroting, promoting TBSC's talking points in the media, including here @ Indybay, spending more time talking about his 'competitor's 'product' than his own.

Could that be because he HAS NO "PRODUCT"?

The word is Reactionary... As in nothing to offer except reaction to to other people's 'offers', and provoking reaction in response.

I'm implying he has no solutions and I BELIEVE, due to his inflammatory words and reactionary actions (again, Reactionary... As in nothing to offer except reaction to to other people's 'offers'), is is actually opposed to any rational accomplish-able solutions as he'd have to find something else to do with his life if the houseless of Santa Cruz, as he saw it, were housed and/or un-harassed.

Example of his ineffectiveness, even at a simple public relations level:

At his public sidewalk use extravaganza I pointed out to him that the un-attended sandwichboard signs littering Pacific street's sidewalks are very VERY MUCH the 'trip hazards' the Council was wont to say of manned instrument cases on the ground, and I pointed to one that was literally 2 blocks from it's store's location AND RIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION (in a way performers are not allowed to be). Instead of pointing out the hypocrisy of the city's enforcement of the council's ruling to the people listening, he simple-mindedly bellowed "ARREST THAT SIGN!

That's all. "Arrest that sign!"

He's a clown alright, but he's NOT Abbie Hoffman.


> "The SCPD are NOT vigilantes. "
>> skindog was the vigilante. the scpd are pigs.

"Skindog, along with his friends, and TJ, the perennial low-self-esteem fall guy everyone oohed and ahhed over in that NORSE PROMOTED 'falling on my sword' interview, are PUNK SCHMUCKS.

TJ is also a psychopathic liar who said he had to leave because of threats but stated in public later that he went to Oklahoma to make money doing Tornado Disaster Relief construction work, as many local contractors did.

I wouldn't assume RN has had any further contact with TJ to know that considering TJ just 'stopped by' to disseminate what TBSC WANTED RN to think.

Let me add Abbie Hoffman wrote that "Pig" was not a good description of the police and simply served to reinforce their masculine image of themselves. He said for best effect call them the now non-pc term "Faggots".

Guess that won't fly anymore as you'd be charged with 'hate speech', but I still agree with the sentiment that "Pig" simply reinforces the masculine sentiment of the cop and makes the speaker sound "big and bad" too.

Let me know when you really feel the need call a cop a pig in the standard course of your dealings with them over tickets and such, and let me know how much that helps make your case.

#Protip: The police everywhere are much more concerned with 'countercultural' people who treat them coldly and business-like. I think for obvious reasons. You're not responding to the stimulus applied by their presence as expected when they chose to stop you.

Further, I assume you're using the term "Pig" in the "Armed Thug" context. As far as SCPD goes. I disagree. I've lived here long enough to remember Cattani, Reyes Chevalier... The Code Blue goons. Off-duty cops thugging people, INCLUDING LOCALS, with bats. I knew them all too well. They were also working in collusion with on-duty SCPD. There's NOTHING like that occurring no matter Robert &Brent's un-factchecked unverified "Reporting".

Of course the institutional role does have thuggish elements. Get in a heated argument with a cop and say "I'm gonna kill you pig" as you turn your back on them... or reach into your pocket, or simply turn your back on one as if to say ""I'm doing exactly the thing someone would do if fleeing", and something would certainly occur, and you know, the Karma's on YOU if you're truly that stupid.

I think you are.
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