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Toxic Expansion of Stay-Away Ordinance Hits Council Agenda Today
City Council will vote on the First Reading of a harsh law expanding Councilmember Terrazas' 4-Year old Anti-Homeless law today at its 2:30 PM Session. The law targets homeless community members for sleeping, being in a "park" after dark, obstructing the sidewalk, etc. It vastly expands the unconstitutional sweep of the current 13.08.100.
Agenda item #20 carries the deceptive "“Schools Safety Enhancement Zones” label to describe the vast expansion of police power
Familiar anti-homeless language like "nuisance crime" and "illegal behavior" are the usual code words for harassing and expelling homeless people from public spaces in a city with no available shelter for hundreds.
The proposed law will include not just anyone within 300' of a school, but anyone in any of the following parks as well as any adjacent sidewalks and public spaces: Arana Gulch, Neary Lagoon, Depot Park, Poets Park, Beach Flats Park, Harvey West Park, Pogonip (Open Space), Louden Nelson Park, Sergeant Derby Park, Mission Plaza Park, Star of the Sea Park, Moore Creek (Open Space), University Terrace Park .
If you're given a citation -- even it's unjustified, and dropped short of court -- you are banned from the area (and other prior areas if you've received citations) for 72 hours.
Since 2013, the use of "we don't need to charge you in court" Stay-Away orders, have systematically and specifically impacted, if not targeted, homeless folks.
The "crime wave" being addressed is the usual: sleeping, being in a park after dark, smoking. Hundreds of citations and stay away orders were issued to folks.
No actual specifics regarding these "crimes" are provided in the staff report. Nor are there any particulars of the great threat to the schools that is used to label this grotesque expansion of police power.
It also provides massive police powers to criminalize protesters, particularly homeless ones.
Second reading will be required which may give folks a little organizing time to speak against it in two weeks when it reappears for a rubberstamping.
There are many more details which I'm hoping to expand on in a future story.
Agenda report: http://scsire.cityofsantacruz.com/sirepub/cache/2/d5tnqexznorzejga3wurjtew/463088208222017083904996.PDF
Ordinance: http://scsire.cityofsantacruz.com/sirepub/cache/2/d5tnqexznorzejga3wurjtew/463088308222017083954745.PDF
Familiar anti-homeless language like "nuisance crime" and "illegal behavior" are the usual code words for harassing and expelling homeless people from public spaces in a city with no available shelter for hundreds.
The proposed law will include not just anyone within 300' of a school, but anyone in any of the following parks as well as any adjacent sidewalks and public spaces: Arana Gulch, Neary Lagoon, Depot Park, Poets Park, Beach Flats Park, Harvey West Park, Pogonip (Open Space), Louden Nelson Park, Sergeant Derby Park, Mission Plaza Park, Star of the Sea Park, Moore Creek (Open Space), University Terrace Park .
If you're given a citation -- even it's unjustified, and dropped short of court -- you are banned from the area (and other prior areas if you've received citations) for 72 hours.
Since 2013, the use of "we don't need to charge you in court" Stay-Away orders, have systematically and specifically impacted, if not targeted, homeless folks.
The "crime wave" being addressed is the usual: sleeping, being in a park after dark, smoking. Hundreds of citations and stay away orders were issued to folks.
No actual specifics regarding these "crimes" are provided in the staff report. Nor are there any particulars of the great threat to the schools that is used to label this grotesque expansion of police power.
It also provides massive police powers to criminalize protesters, particularly homeless ones.
Second reading will be required which may give folks a little organizing time to speak against it in two weeks when it reappears for a rubberstamping.
There are many more details which I'm hoping to expand on in a future story.
Agenda report: http://scsire.cityofsantacruz.com/sirepub/cache/2/d5tnqexznorzejga3wurjtew/463088208222017083904996.PDF
Ordinance: http://scsire.cityofsantacruz.com/sirepub/cache/2/d5tnqexznorzejga3wurjtew/463088308222017083954745.PDF
For more information:
http://huffsantacruz.org
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The SCPD have agreed to have constitution free zones going after specific free speech by homeless rights activists.
I have myself been attacked by a goon sent by SCPD and I have audio evidence of the SCPD telling the goon he went farther than they attended when he struck and flattened out a 73 year old man with a cane. I am still suffering dental and ewuilibrium issues. The SCPD had lied to the D.A. that they had taken statements and that there was no evidence it even happened. Then I sent the D.A. video of the many officers on scene takung statements. I do not want to go civil and when my lawyer gets voice recognition of the officer acknowledg-ing the police thugish conspiracy to dusrupt the peaceful assembly against of all things goons kicking survival sleepers and freedom sleepers at night. No, the criminal charges will be made against SCPD.
MEANWHILE City Council gives police extra legal powers with city staff encoraging double jeopardy out loud.
Santa Cruz City, shame on our new Chief of Police for being suckered by city staff. Shame on City Council for being so sleazy in useing school kids "security" to expand drastically the anti-homeless laws. Now it is criminal to nap anywhere in the city or any of its many huge near wilderness like parks.
Being in a park after dark fine goes up from $200 to $600. No available shelter and so our city steps up criminalization of the poorest of the poor with this sleazy appeal by creating "School Safety Enhancement Zones" Elimination of most our public spaces into these fascist enforce-ment zones is a crime in itself.
Look at the map on line and see these big extra law and order zones.
Why are police affraid to enforce the actual existing laws against true criminal behavior?
The PD also will eliminate free speech in these zones just to go after critics.
In two weeks this law, and this must be called a fascist law, will be voted on.
It must for me be the beginning of a full fast to decriminalize survival sleeping. I have always been thin but have lost 42lbs and lost far too much muscle. When you are over 70 the muscle not the fat goes.
I doubt I can last another 46 days or even 22 days as last fast. 88 days fasting this past year. If a younger person would go on full fast for any period of time to give relief we can as a team turn back this local fascist maneuver.
To join the Rolling Fast, take a day of the month or a day of the week and support us on full fast.
Contact greensurfer2043 [at] gmail.com
or text 831 435 0627
I have myself been attacked by a goon sent by SCPD and I have audio evidence of the SCPD telling the goon he went farther than they attended when he struck and flattened out a 73 year old man with a cane. I am still suffering dental and ewuilibrium issues. The SCPD had lied to the D.A. that they had taken statements and that there was no evidence it even happened. Then I sent the D.A. video of the many officers on scene takung statements. I do not want to go civil and when my lawyer gets voice recognition of the officer acknowledg-ing the police thugish conspiracy to dusrupt the peaceful assembly against of all things goons kicking survival sleepers and freedom sleepers at night. No, the criminal charges will be made against SCPD.
MEANWHILE City Council gives police extra legal powers with city staff encoraging double jeopardy out loud.
Santa Cruz City, shame on our new Chief of Police for being suckered by city staff. Shame on City Council for being so sleazy in useing school kids "security" to expand drastically the anti-homeless laws. Now it is criminal to nap anywhere in the city or any of its many huge near wilderness like parks.
Being in a park after dark fine goes up from $200 to $600. No available shelter and so our city steps up criminalization of the poorest of the poor with this sleazy appeal by creating "School Safety Enhancement Zones" Elimination of most our public spaces into these fascist enforce-ment zones is a crime in itself.
Look at the map on line and see these big extra law and order zones.
Why are police affraid to enforce the actual existing laws against true criminal behavior?
The PD also will eliminate free speech in these zones just to go after critics.
In two weeks this law, and this must be called a fascist law, will be voted on.
It must for me be the beginning of a full fast to decriminalize survival sleeping. I have always been thin but have lost 42lbs and lost far too much muscle. When you are over 70 the muscle not the fat goes.
I doubt I can last another 46 days or even 22 days as last fast. 88 days fasting this past year. If a younger person would go on full fast for any period of time to give relief we can as a team turn back this local fascist maneuver.
To join the Rolling Fast, take a day of the month or a day of the week and support us on full fast.
Contact greensurfer2043 [at] gmail.com
or text 831 435 0627
Note how the City is hedging against what they know is an unconstitutional law. This is surely going to end up in a federal court!
http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/home/showdocument?id=61510
http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/home/showdocument?id=61510
Robert, there is no more Department 10 Commissioner after Kim Baskett was appointed judge back in May. Judge Gallagher is now in Department 10 hearing civil, probate, and mental health cases. Baskett now has Department 4 handling vehicle code violations and infractions as usual. A simple search will get you http://www.santacruzcourt.org/info/judicial-assignments. Learn before you post before misleading readers.
Fresno City Council just gave final approval to a no-camping ordinance that carries jail time and administrative fines. The council majority (it passed 6-1) says the city is being held hostage by around 600-900 chronic campers. Essentially campers will have the choice of going to jail or to the MAP point to be referred into services. All property would be seized and could not reclaimed until the owner pays storage costs. It goes into effect 30 days from now. The ACLU-NC has put the City on notice they will be sued if they try to enforce it.
Stay away orders already have greater than imagined impact on the targeted group of homeless people.
1. These stay away orders violate their due process rights
2. In a federal court these orders would easily be deemed unconstitutional
3. These orders target homeless people for exercising their basic human rights which should not be considered crimes ie. sleeping. sitting. resting, lying, walking in the woods.
4. I see all kinds of people smoking in the park on a daily basis. Why are housed people's smoking not being targeted? Multitudes of people using the park smoke in front of law enforcement but they are not cited because they don't appear to be homeless. Selective enforcement!
Now that the city council's bigoted five — Chase, Terrazas, Mathews, Watins and Noroyan —intend to take the already illegal stay away orders and triple the time—the impacts to poor, disabled and homeless people will be even more severe. Their civil rights and basic human rights will be taken from them.
1. It's illegal and inhuman to deny homeless people access to parks that are the only public places giving them access to fundamental human needs like bathrooms and water fountains. By tripling banned time it means they lose access to basic facilities that are already few and far between. Not just a day but 3 days. This is a long time to lose access to bathrooms and drinking fountains. It goes beyond cruel and inhuman punishment. It's torture! This new cruelty will only insure more urine and feces left out in public space; the Hep A epidemic will worsen.
2. The bigoted five already know the law is unconstitutional, but they still are going to pass it. They took an "oath to uphold the constitution" — how about some consequences for thumbing their noses at their oaths. They should be recalled for knowingly violating the constitution!
3. This law will waste more money that could go to housing instead of criminalizing innocent people.
4. This law won't lower the number of homeless people just make it more cruel for all those experiencing homelessness, including women and children.
5. A lawsuit will come it is inevitable! This law is just more money spent on unfair laws and less for housing or more public restrooms.
6. This law will further ruin Santa Cruz's reputation for being the one of the meanest cities in America!
1. These stay away orders violate their due process rights
2. In a federal court these orders would easily be deemed unconstitutional
3. These orders target homeless people for exercising their basic human rights which should not be considered crimes ie. sleeping. sitting. resting, lying, walking in the woods.
4. I see all kinds of people smoking in the park on a daily basis. Why are housed people's smoking not being targeted? Multitudes of people using the park smoke in front of law enforcement but they are not cited because they don't appear to be homeless. Selective enforcement!
Now that the city council's bigoted five — Chase, Terrazas, Mathews, Watins and Noroyan —intend to take the already illegal stay away orders and triple the time—the impacts to poor, disabled and homeless people will be even more severe. Their civil rights and basic human rights will be taken from them.
1. It's illegal and inhuman to deny homeless people access to parks that are the only public places giving them access to fundamental human needs like bathrooms and water fountains. By tripling banned time it means they lose access to basic facilities that are already few and far between. Not just a day but 3 days. This is a long time to lose access to bathrooms and drinking fountains. It goes beyond cruel and inhuman punishment. It's torture! This new cruelty will only insure more urine and feces left out in public space; the Hep A epidemic will worsen.
2. The bigoted five already know the law is unconstitutional, but they still are going to pass it. They took an "oath to uphold the constitution" — how about some consequences for thumbing their noses at their oaths. They should be recalled for knowingly violating the constitution!
3. This law will waste more money that could go to housing instead of criminalizing innocent people.
4. This law won't lower the number of homeless people just make it more cruel for all those experiencing homelessness, including women and children.
5. A lawsuit will come it is inevitable! This law is just more money spent on unfair laws and less for housing or more public restrooms.
6. This law will further ruin Santa Cruz's reputation for being the one of the meanest cities in America!
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