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Indybay Feature

City Council May End Enforcement of Overnight Parking Restrictions on Delaware

by Santa Cruz News
On Tuesday, February 26 at 7pm, the Santa Cruz City Council will discuss the declaration of a homeless shelter crisis, and act on a motion directing the city manager to end enforcement of overnight parking restrictions on Delaware Avenue between Swift Street and Shaffer Road, where parking is currently prohibited between the hours of 12am and 6am. A comprehensive set of policy and action items are scheduled to be discussed during the council's evening agenda that are intended to ease the impact on the homeless community that will result when authorities clear, by March 15, the large homeless encampment called the "Heroes Camp", which is located between Highway One and Gateway Plaza in Santa Cruz. Photo: Heroes Camp. Credit: Santa Cruz City Councilmember Drew Glover.
sm_heroes_camp_ross_camp_gateway_plaza_santa_cruz.jpg
A robust anti-homeless NIMBY campaign urging the council to oppose the easing of parking restrictions on Delaware has been launched by residents on the Westside, including former Santa Cruz Chief of Police Kevin Vogel.

One fear-mongering flyer being distributed on social media warns that RVs will be allowed to park without restriction on Delaware avenue "24/7", which will lead to "crime, drugs, pollution, and toxic waste".

Personal injury attorney Marc C. Schwartz wrote a letter to the city council threatening that if overnight parking were allowed to occur on Delaware, "lawsuits will follow".

The politically conservative Scontriano's have as an entire family publicly opposed the easing of parking restrictions on Delaware. Failed city council candidate Ashley Scontriano, who is a Republican and rabidly anti-homeless, is using her 2018 campaign website to mobilize opposition to the proposed parking changes, and both of her parents, Marita and Peter, have passed along to the council a chain letter (sent by others as well) that contains a somewhat illogical warning:

"Should council members Krohn and Glover and any others vote in favor of this they will be held in breach of duty, negligence of duty, and the only thing needing further is damages to be resultant from their actions to disregard or suspend current city ordinances City council members are not above the law. They can and will be held civilly and criminally liable for any damages that result from their actions to waive, suspend or amend any state, city, or county ordinances that they have taken an oath/are sworn to uphold."

Opposition to easing the parking restrictions has also been heard from more moderate members of the community. Local artist Janet Allinger sent a strong anti-homeless message to the council:

"We are opposed to the intentions of council members Krohn and Glover concerning parking for transients on Delaware Avenue. I ride my bike down Delaware often when heading to or from Wilder Ranch and it is a mess! Tired of seeing RV owners leaving garbage, human waste, working on their broken down vehicles and drug use/sales. I, along with many neighbors do not feel comfortable walking down Delaware anymore. I’m sure visitors who come to enjoy the beach or Natural Bridges park feel the same way. I’ve lived her in SC for over 20 years and I think it’s the worst it’s ever been. So sad."
§Agenda Report
by Santa Cruz News
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§Westside Fear-Mongering
by Santa Cruz News
sm_westside-homeless-alert-rv-parking.jpg
§Public Comment from Marc C. Schwartz
by Santa Cruz News
sm_marc-s-schwartz-personal-injury-attorney-santa-cruz.jpg
§Public Comment from Marita Scontriano
by Santa Cruz News
sm_marita-scontriano-dolphin-restaurant-santa-cruz-ashley.jpg
§Public Comment from Peter Scontriano
by Santa Cruz News
sm_peter-scontriano-dolphin-restaurant-santa-cruz-ashley.jpg
§Public Comment from Janet Allinger
by Santa Cruz News
sm_janet-allinger-santa-cruz.jpg
Public Comment from Janet Allinger
§Attack on the Ross Campground
by Santa Cruz News
sm_attack_on_ross_campground_santa_cruz.jpg
"Attack on the Ross Campground Means a Crackdown on All Homeless"
steve-schlicht-santa-mierda-take-back-santa-cruz.jpg
Take Back Santa Cruz member Steve Schlicht who is "Ben Dover" of the Santa Mierda hate blog is calling for people to block homeless advocates from entering city council chambers on Tuesday night.

Background info:
Steve Schlicht and Take Back Santa Cruz are Linked to Hate Sites
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2017/03/02/18796943.php
§Westside Warning (About Previous Flyer)
by Santa Cruz News
sm_westside_warning_flyer_santa_cruz_homelessness_rv_parking_delaware_avenue.jpg
Homeless advocates are distributing this flyer in response to the anti-homeless one.
In a 4-3 vote, the city council decided to lift the March 15 closure date for the Heroes Camp until more people from the camp are found housing. The issue of parking restrictions on Delaware was not heard by the council. The issue may come back at a later date.

Here is an article about the meeting. There is an interesting quote about vigilantism in it as well.

"Any end or closure date for the Ross homeless encampment has been put on hold for now as Santa Cruz city leaders discuss how to transition those living at the camp site into shelters."

Two homeless residents were interviewed:

"Both say some "vigilantism" from residents is making it harder to live at the encampment but they're doing what they can to begin the transition into a shelter."

Read more:
Closure of "Ross" homeless encampment put on hold, for now
https://www.kion546.com/news/santa-cruz-closure-of-ross-homeless-encampment-put-on-hold-for-now/1045726696
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