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Take Back Santa Cruz accountability
Take Back Santa Cruz continues to use tactics of spreading fear in the community based on rumors. Typically , our homeless neighbors are targeted. TBSC has learned nothing from the expensive arrest and 18 day jail time of an innocent homeless "flower thief" who eventually was released and charges dismissed. The group admin continue to post unsubstantiated rumors, stories, and photographs of people sleeping, if it achieves their goal of spreading fear and stirring emotions.
Take Back Santa Cruz (TBSC) is a registered non-profit that claims to be interested in safety but instead seems more concerned about achieving certain ideological and political goals. Though posturing itself as an open community group, in truth, TBSC is run like a dictatorial cabal with a very small group of people dictating its direction. The 12,000 member Facebook group is not only closed from public view but is also tightly controlled by administrators who are handpicked by the secretive non-profit directors. Any member can attempt to start a thread on the TBSC FB group but only threads which agree with the political ideology of the group are approved. A quick examination of the the FB group shows a multitude of fear based threads that are often based on rumors, loose facts, hearsay and even urban legends- all seemingly designed to drive members to changing the political direction of the Santa Cruz City and County. (Not too surprisingly, TBSC is now fronting candidates for all sorts of city and county offices and positions. ) The most frequent targets of hatred and derision from the cyberspace mob are homeless people and substance abusers. Homeless people are typically referred to as bums, losers, dirtbags, substance abusers are called zombies, junkies and other de-humanized terms.
One of the most common fear mongering tactics by TBSC is to portray children as being in mortal danger from homeless people. CHILDREN MUGGED BY HOMELESS MAN. The thread from Sept. 28 is a perfect example of an unsubstantiated story being used to rile up fear and anger of group members towards the homeless. Notice that no one asks questions about the story everyone assumes that kids were mugged by a homeless man on the Westside simply because someone claimed it was so. There were lots of angry posts (now removed) which demanded a political change in Santa Cruz, fantasized about violence towards the homeless man, celebrated SCPD arresting the man and so on. Hours later the truth emerges that it wasn't a mugging that occurred, it was a dispute over the kids paying for damaging the man's bike. Even so, note that Steven Marcus tells the teens they should have "smacked the homeless man upside his head with a skateboard"
TBSC has never been a group to let facts get in the way of of their fear based agenda. Even urban legends are put to good use not only by the group's admins but by Analicia Cube, the group's founder as well. In a thread dating back to Feb. 2 someone urges members to be "extra vigilant" because supposedly their friends' dog had to be put to sleep because he ate glass laden meatballs.
A noteworthy data point is that SPCA, Animal Services and various law enforcement agencies had no reports of glass infused meatballs fed to dogs. When called by phone the SPCA responded that "the story was a hoax." Note that no posts were made by TBSC members challenging the story. Everyone basically accepted it as well as the unfounded claim by Analicia Cube that Santa Cruz had becoming a dog killing ground via poison and glass infused meatballs. The facts didn't really seem to matter. What was important is that the fear and anxiety level of members were successfully raised and thus members would be more apt to accept the premise that Santa Cruz was going to hell and only the election of TBSC candidates would solve the danger.
Conservatives have long used the fear and safety card to spook voters into voting their candidates into office and now TBSC is using the same ploy to drive their agenda. In the last year alone members have been rallied to support Santa Cruz City stay away orders, RV bans, restrictions on the HSC and needle exchange as well as the election of TBSC backed candidates for Santa cruz city council.
One of the most common fear mongering tactics by TBSC is to portray children as being in mortal danger from homeless people. CHILDREN MUGGED BY HOMELESS MAN. The thread from Sept. 28 is a perfect example of an unsubstantiated story being used to rile up fear and anger of group members towards the homeless. Notice that no one asks questions about the story everyone assumes that kids were mugged by a homeless man on the Westside simply because someone claimed it was so. There were lots of angry posts (now removed) which demanded a political change in Santa Cruz, fantasized about violence towards the homeless man, celebrated SCPD arresting the man and so on. Hours later the truth emerges that it wasn't a mugging that occurred, it was a dispute over the kids paying for damaging the man's bike. Even so, note that Steven Marcus tells the teens they should have "smacked the homeless man upside his head with a skateboard"
TBSC has never been a group to let facts get in the way of of their fear based agenda. Even urban legends are put to good use not only by the group's admins but by Analicia Cube, the group's founder as well. In a thread dating back to Feb. 2 someone urges members to be "extra vigilant" because supposedly their friends' dog had to be put to sleep because he ate glass laden meatballs.
A noteworthy data point is that SPCA, Animal Services and various law enforcement agencies had no reports of glass infused meatballs fed to dogs. When called by phone the SPCA responded that "the story was a hoax." Note that no posts were made by TBSC members challenging the story. Everyone basically accepted it as well as the unfounded claim by Analicia Cube that Santa Cruz had becoming a dog killing ground via poison and glass infused meatballs. The facts didn't really seem to matter. What was important is that the fear and anxiety level of members were successfully raised and thus members would be more apt to accept the premise that Santa Cruz was going to hell and only the election of TBSC candidates would solve the danger.
Conservatives have long used the fear and safety card to spook voters into voting their candidates into office and now TBSC is using the same ploy to drive their agenda. In the last year alone members have been rallied to support Santa Cruz City stay away orders, RV bans, restrictions on the HSC and needle exchange as well as the election of TBSC backed candidates for Santa cruz city council.
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I've often asked exactly WHOM they were taking Santa Cruz back from.... even a friend who belonged to the FB group couldn't tell me that. To me they strongly resemble the "Troll Busters" which a local high school coach started in the late 70s... at that time many homeless lived in fear of being attacked by thugs with baseball bats who were "busting" them for being "trolls" (ie: slept under a bridge for shelter)
I've been in Santa Cruz since '78 and I can't wait until I'm old enough to collect SS and move away from here. I still love the natural beauty but the ugliness of much of the community is driving me away.
I've been in Santa Cruz since '78 and I can't wait until I'm old enough to collect SS and move away from here. I still love the natural beauty but the ugliness of much of the community is driving me away.
Santa Cruz is finally catching on! It's just a matter of time before before state authorities get involved. This line from the article hits the nail squarely on the head:
"The facts didn't really seem to matter. What was important is that the fear and anxiety level of members were successfully raised and thus members would be more apt to accept the premise that Santa Cruz was going to hell and only the election of TBSC candidates would solve the danger."
"The facts didn't really seem to matter. What was important is that the fear and anxiety level of members were successfully raised and thus members would be more apt to accept the premise that Santa Cruz was going to hell and only the election of TBSC candidates would solve the danger."
Normally, I don't look at this site but a friend alerted me to this post in which you have used a message I sent to the TBSC Facebook group as proof of some sort of hidden agenda for creating fear in the community. I believe you have selectively edited the facts of this issue to fit your narrative.
Regarding the claim:
"Note that no posts were made by TBSC members challenging the story. Everyone basically accepted it as well as the unfounded claim by Analicia Cube that Santa Cruz had becoming a dog killing ground via poison and glass infused meatballs. The facts didn't really seem to matter. What was important is that the fear and anxiety level of members were successfully raised and thus members would be more apt to accept the premise that Santa Cruz was going to hell and only the election of TBSC candidates would solve the danger."
If you look at the complete thread of discussion you will see that the above claim is completely untrue:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/takebacksantacruz/permalink/10153110089653420/
Just to be clear, I posted to TBSC since I saw this as a rumor and wanted to get clarification/validation before I propagated it more widely. If you read the full thread (before it was hijacked) it was pointed out a 3 year old news story about poisoned meatballs. I decided not to propagate the warning any further. I contacted my original source of the rumor and presented her with the facts I discovered and mentioned that this was probably not a current concern. The original post would claim that she would “post this everyday for the next 5 days” but when I presented her with this information she did not post any further. This issue was dropped and the post was no longer shared. In my mind the TBSC facebook group served it's purpose by dispelling rumors. In the post thread, Analicia apologized for being suspicious when she read about the older news item.
I would appreciate it you can issue a correction to this story clarify the points and intentions that were made with the "meatball" story. Your claims about this particular anecdote are definitely not true and in fact, the TBSC group was used to clarify and dispel fear based rumors.
I am accountable for all words attributed to me. I will change my ideas, opinions and values in the face of new facts. I only hope that you and your editor can do the same.
Regarding the claim:
"Note that no posts were made by TBSC members challenging the story. Everyone basically accepted it as well as the unfounded claim by Analicia Cube that Santa Cruz had becoming a dog killing ground via poison and glass infused meatballs. The facts didn't really seem to matter. What was important is that the fear and anxiety level of members were successfully raised and thus members would be more apt to accept the premise that Santa Cruz was going to hell and only the election of TBSC candidates would solve the danger."
If you look at the complete thread of discussion you will see that the above claim is completely untrue:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/takebacksantacruz/permalink/10153110089653420/
Just to be clear, I posted to TBSC since I saw this as a rumor and wanted to get clarification/validation before I propagated it more widely. If you read the full thread (before it was hijacked) it was pointed out a 3 year old news story about poisoned meatballs. I decided not to propagate the warning any further. I contacted my original source of the rumor and presented her with the facts I discovered and mentioned that this was probably not a current concern. The original post would claim that she would “post this everyday for the next 5 days” but when I presented her with this information she did not post any further. This issue was dropped and the post was no longer shared. In my mind the TBSC facebook group served it's purpose by dispelling rumors. In the post thread, Analicia apologized for being suspicious when she read about the older news item.
I would appreciate it you can issue a correction to this story clarify the points and intentions that were made with the "meatball" story. Your claims about this particular anecdote are definitely not true and in fact, the TBSC group was used to clarify and dispel fear based rumors.
I am accountable for all words attributed to me. I will change my ideas, opinions and values in the face of new facts. I only hope that you and your editor can do the same.
The link Mark Davidson provided leads to the closed, private TBSC group that has blocked dozens of local citizens for no reason other than their political veiwpoint.
That link in itself is proof of nothing.
Let's see a copy of the whole thread with screen caps to verify his claims are true and to help us judge the situation for ourselves.
That link in itself is proof of nothing.
Let's see a copy of the whole thread with screen caps to verify his claims are true and to help us judge the situation for ourselves.
One thing that a friend told me about TBSC when she was in it was that they will often severely edit threads. Lots of posts are removed so that what was originally there being debated looks better in retrospect. She too felt like it wasn't important to have convos with lots of facts but more about having people get on the bandwagon. Thats also why thier group is hidden.
Mark,
Prove your point!
The subsequent posts by A.Cube underneath yours, are quite damning, and are contrary to what you're saying. Why don't you post a screenshot of the entire conversation?
If TBSC did in fact did use this thread to dispel this myth, then why did their administrator post a reply agreeing with your original post?
Post it!
Prove your point!
The subsequent posts by A.Cube underneath yours, are quite damning, and are contrary to what you're saying. Why don't you post a screenshot of the entire conversation?
If TBSC did in fact did use this thread to dispel this myth, then why did their administrator post a reply agreeing with your original post?
Post it!
Do they (TBSC directors or admins) really promote specific candidates on their group forums? That's a great way to lose your 501(c)3 non-profit status.
So Mark is embarrassed he fell for an urban legend? It happens. It is not his fault that the post made it to TBSC- falls on admin . No one can just post on TBSC it has to be approved. Truth is TBSC shares so much bull shit , " I heard this ..." stories that has gotten them in hot water and they still do it. About that other story. Now lets think on that a minute. So 5 kids were mugged. Now 5 kids, anywhere in Santa Cruz County were mugged ( by anyone, for the sake of argument lets throw out the accusation that it was a homeless guy) and that story does NOT make the news. I mean anywhere? I mean at all ??? Is there a red flag there? anyone? Does anyone on the admin have a phone or a computer. It's almost like they are excited to share this propaganda especially if it involves a homeless person . Some kind a crazy. Where have I read T H I N K . Is it true ( nope) is it helpful ( only if you want to flip everyone out) is it inspiring ( yeah it inspires the angry torch carrying mob) is it necessary ( bull shit is not necessary ) is it kind ( more like a rant )
Here is a capture of the complete thread.
For the record, I'm not an officer or admin of TBSC. I joined the group because of my concern about crime in Santa Cruz. I thought that the posts were public - at least they were when I joined the TBSC group about 5 years ago.
Razer Ray: Comparing TBSC to fascists? Really?
I think you folks are reading too much into the objectives and tactics of TBSC.
For the record, I'm not an officer or admin of TBSC. I joined the group because of my concern about crime in Santa Cruz. I thought that the posts were public - at least they were when I joined the TBSC group about 5 years ago.
Razer Ray: Comparing TBSC to fascists? Really?
I think you folks are reading too much into the objectives and tactics of TBSC.
Mark,
To me, nothing in the thread that you posted verifies your claim that, "Just to be clear, I posted to TBSC since I saw this as a rumor and wanted to get clarification/validation before I propagated it more widely. If you read the full thread (before it was hijacked) it was pointed out a 3 year old news story about poisoned meatballs." That sounds like nothing more than a backtrack, and if you really wanted a verification you could have called the SPCA, police, or Animal Services. A neighbor of mine on Nextdoor did just that, and was quickly told that there have been no such reports. They were told this by all three agencies!
In fact, in your original post, you state, "Is there something we can do?" This indicates that you believed the rumor to be true, and that you were looking to get support from your fellow Take Backers, NOT looking for verification.
When admin A. Cube jumps in with the first comment and claims, "...a warning has been released. A number of dogs have been poisoned around Santa Cruz county," it more than verified your original post. I say "more than" due to the fact that the Take Back minions hold Cube's words in high regards. As some sort of gospel. Where was the verification of this imaginary warning? Maybe there was a link to a legitimate source like the Sheriff's Department? Why didn't she post it?
Because it doesn't exist!
In place of the poisoned meatballs, insert any other threat mentioned on the Take Back FB page and ask yourself if there is actual, legitimate verification. Oftentimes you'll find that the verification comes from nothing more than what amounts to a mob. I have seen many threads on their page do a complete 180, where the original victim turns out to be the perpetrator.
Homeless>Junkie>Thug>Bike Thief>Someone Driving a Motorhome>The Boogieman
I'm sorry that you were duped by the meatball rumor, a lot of people have been, but I'm more sorry that the good citizens of Santa Cruz continue to be duped by Take Back.
Get smarter, Santa Cruz!
To me, nothing in the thread that you posted verifies your claim that, "Just to be clear, I posted to TBSC since I saw this as a rumor and wanted to get clarification/validation before I propagated it more widely. If you read the full thread (before it was hijacked) it was pointed out a 3 year old news story about poisoned meatballs." That sounds like nothing more than a backtrack, and if you really wanted a verification you could have called the SPCA, police, or Animal Services. A neighbor of mine on Nextdoor did just that, and was quickly told that there have been no such reports. They were told this by all three agencies!
In fact, in your original post, you state, "Is there something we can do?" This indicates that you believed the rumor to be true, and that you were looking to get support from your fellow Take Backers, NOT looking for verification.
When admin A. Cube jumps in with the first comment and claims, "...a warning has been released. A number of dogs have been poisoned around Santa Cruz county," it more than verified your original post. I say "more than" due to the fact that the Take Back minions hold Cube's words in high regards. As some sort of gospel. Where was the verification of this imaginary warning? Maybe there was a link to a legitimate source like the Sheriff's Department? Why didn't she post it?
Because it doesn't exist!
In place of the poisoned meatballs, insert any other threat mentioned on the Take Back FB page and ask yourself if there is actual, legitimate verification. Oftentimes you'll find that the verification comes from nothing more than what amounts to a mob. I have seen many threads on their page do a complete 180, where the original victim turns out to be the perpetrator.
Homeless>Junkie>Thug>Bike Thief>Someone Driving a Motorhome>The Boogieman
I'm sorry that you were duped by the meatball rumor, a lot of people have been, but I'm more sorry that the good citizens of Santa Cruz continue to be duped by Take Back.
Get smarter, Santa Cruz!
Col. Ed Lesnoswicz seems to have educated his daughter well about closing down a democracy.
https://youtu.be/aW9PulYpjGs
https://youtu.be/aW9PulYpjGs
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