Thanks to James Brown! I just checked with a live person at the Superior Court and he is correct.

Though Marigonda (henceforth to be called Muddybrained Marigonda) told all of us that the Friday trial was at 10 AM on June 24, it's indeed scheduled for 1:30 PM instead. Interestingly enough, neither the Court nor the City Attorney advised us of the time change.

Folks should be aware that this is a non-jury trial before a judge--as is the case in all Infraction cases. Judge-not-jury Infraction trials deny the indigent defendant the free advice of a Public Pretender, er, Defender, and also eliminate the requirement for a jury trial.

An infraction trial does provide the benefit of denying the judge the option of sentencing the defendant to jail if found guilty. (However the SCPD has found a "repeated infraction" a good pretext for jailing someone pre-trial) Instead the defendant may have to pay an exorbitant fine or a lesser "fee" to do "Community Service" (more properly known as Community Slavery).

My apologies for any confusion--though it's a pity. Salinas activists from the Union of the Homeless were going to truck over and video the proceedings were the trial to be held earlier as scheduled by Marigonda.

Salinas activist Wes White will be giving an update on the nightly Salinas City Hall Sleep-Out tonight on Free Radio Santa Cruz 6-6:30 PM at 101.3 FM (freakradio.org).

Free Radio has restored call-in capability (831-427-3772) so feel free to call in with your thoughts. Folks should also call that number with breaking news at any time--though you may not find someone in the studio.