City Council Chatter, March, & Safe Slumber Event #16

FREEDOM SLEEPERS TO RETURN FOR SLEEP-OUT #16
After a success bannerwalk in the UCSC Slug parade on Sunday, Freedom Sleepers will return to City Hall in support of the Beach Flats Garden.

See "March to City Hall to Support Beach Flats Community Garden" at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2015/10/25/18779243.php .


COUNCIL TO VOTE ON PARTIAL RESTORATION OF SERVICES
We will also be watching agenda item #18 in the afternoon involving partial restoration of drips-and-drabs homeless services The proposal is to keep the Paul Lee Loft open--but only to those who have a "pathway to housing".

Meanwhile Council is ok-ing the shut down of meals, laundry, and bathroom access for the general homeless population. There is no provision to restore them in spite of conversations with Councilmember Posner on this subject three months ago.

Even the restored shelter proposals still leave the overwhelming majority of unhoused folks outside in the face of Sleeping Ban harassment and an El Nino winter.

See the Staff Report at under Item #18 of the City Council Agenda at http://scsire.cityofsantacruz.com/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=683&doctype=AGENDA .


MY PERSONAL VIEWS ON ITEM #18
All these barely-more-than-token homeless shelter options are being presented as the usual cosmetic (and legal) cover for the holiday season. The venomous impact of Take Back Santa Cruz, NIMBY neighborhood bigots, and the Terrazas-Mathews Council majority seems to have had its destructive impact.

The Council has provided a steady stream of anti-homeless laws over the last five years as well as stepped of enforcement of the Sleeping Ban, the "in the park after dark" Ban, and other nasty ordinances.

HOPE ON THE HORIZON?
On the positive side, apparently the Northern California ACLU with help from fighting lawyers from Southern California as well as the D.C.-based National Law Center for Homelessness and Poverty are considering a lawsuit on behalf of the Santa Cruz homeless (though they may choose another California city).


BRING YOUR SLEEPING BAGS
There has been vigorous discussion in the Freedom Sleepers movement, whether to step up the pressure on City Council during their meetings and what to do with them in and outside Council chambers.

Folks are invited to bring their Sleeping Bags on the march from the Beach Flats Garden and Raymond and 3rd at 5 PM. Blankets and signs can be carried on the march and brought into City Council.

The proposed support recommendation for the Garden and extensive correspondence is at http://scsire.cityofsantacruz.com/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=683&doctype=AGENDA --Item 1 in the 7 PM agenda.

Council will vote on whether to stop the Seaside Company's proposed November 13th eviction deadline. After we have all supported the Beach Flats Garden survival, folks may decide what to do regarding the failure of Council to restore shelter, civil rights, and basic dignity to the unhoused folks outside.


ANOTHER NIGHT UNDER THE STARS ON THE SIDEWALK
Either inside or outside, there will be a Freedom SleepOut at City Hall. There will be modest food and coffee support (Food Not Bombs chefster Keith McHenry may be spicing things up with his usual flurry of cooking).

Last week's Freedom Sleep-Out increased its numbers where several dozen found a tolerated (but not legal) spaceIncreasing areas of exclusion?


WHILE SANTA CRUZ MAKES VEHICLE SLEEPERS CRIMINALS, COURTS IN L.A. MOVED A YEAR AGO THE OTHER WAY:
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-los-angeles-homeless-vehicle-ban-overturned-20140619-story.html

For more historical background on Freedom Sleepers, go to https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2015/10/17/18778977.php and follow the links.


DISCLAIMER
This description of events represents my views and may or may not represent the position of others in the Freedom Sleeper Movement. There are varying shades of opinion in the group and among its allies.

Come anyway. Do what you think is right! Support the Freedom Sleepers and the Beach Flats Garden.