Is the City of Santa Cruz Adopting Trump's Program of Hate?

This year, the Salvation Army has agreed to up security at the VFW site to assuage neighborhood concerns, with a security guard stationed on-site, in addition to metal detection wands at the door. Both the camp and VFW site require people to be bused in, rather than allowing walk-ups.

On the same day that the Sentinel announced the closing of the River Street Campground city officials fenced off San Lorenzo and Grant Street Parks, closed its bathrooms and posted signs saying “PARK CLOSED Until further notice for - Focused Maintenance - Public Safety”. Access to the Pogonip from the River Street side has been “caged off” by the city, making conventional access to traditional homeless encampments along the creek impossible.

Private security guards were busy rousting homeless people from the area telling them to cross the river into downtown. The city has already fenced off Garfield, Star of the Sea, and Laurel Parks and is stepping up harassment of those without housing seeking a place to rest downtown.

Santa Cruz currently has no walk-in shelter with long waiting lists for programs at the Homeless Services Center. Police and rangers are also violating the Martin v. City of Boise - Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling against ticketing and arresting people who have no place to sleep subjecting local homeless community members to what the court says is cruel and unusual punishment.

If you agree the city has embarked on another form of cruelty, come to our Food Not Bombs meetings with suggestions for action.

Call 1-800-884-1136 to get involved

For more informationfrom the city contact:

Tony Elliot Director of Parks and Recreation - 831-420-5270
Susie O'Hara, Principal Management Analyst, (831) 420-5365