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Stop the "Sleep Space" at Depot Park Lot 24, Support an Encampment at Harvey West
Opening up a safe sleep located in lot #24 near Depot Park in Santa Cruz is causing an outrage from neighbors and concerned citizens. A safe sleep spot does not meet shelter criteria, and is not good for anyone. Your concerns about this are totally logical, it will force people to find a place to exist during the daytime hours in that area.
Myself, as well as the Ross Camp Council have a better idea. We have been working with the city for a few months now and would like to see this safe sleep spot scratched, and go back to our plan for a pilot encampment.
This proposed pilot encampment would be located in the Harvey West area close to the Pogonip.
This encampment would be fenced, have security, 5 basic rules, and shelter 50 people to start with. If the pilot encampment is successful it could be duplicated.
The 5 Basic Rules:
1.) No violence to yourself or others.
2.) No theft
3.) No alcohol, illegal drugs, or drug paraphernalia on-site or within a 1-block radius
4.) No constant disruptive behavior
5.) Everyone must contribute to the operation and maintenance of the Village. Everyone must do a minimum of 10 hours “sweat” equity a week.
There would be a 123 system regarding the rules, 2 warnings then expulsion from the encampment. In extreme cases such as violence, there is a no exception policy. Violence will not be tolerated.
Please sign the petition to show your support for the closure of the safe sleep spot located in lot #24 (before it even opens) AND in SUPPORT of a transitional encampment located at the Harvey West Pogonip area. It's a better plan. ❤❤❤
Please sign the petition here:
https://www.change.org/p/alicia-kuhl-stop-the-sleep-space-at-depot-park-support-an-encampment-at-harvey-west
This proposed pilot encampment would be located in the Harvey West area close to the Pogonip.
This encampment would be fenced, have security, 5 basic rules, and shelter 50 people to start with. If the pilot encampment is successful it could be duplicated.
The 5 Basic Rules:
1.) No violence to yourself or others.
2.) No theft
3.) No alcohol, illegal drugs, or drug paraphernalia on-site or within a 1-block radius
4.) No constant disruptive behavior
5.) Everyone must contribute to the operation and maintenance of the Village. Everyone must do a minimum of 10 hours “sweat” equity a week.
There would be a 123 system regarding the rules, 2 warnings then expulsion from the encampment. In extreme cases such as violence, there is a no exception policy. Violence will not be tolerated.
Please sign the petition to show your support for the closure of the safe sleep spot located in lot #24 (before it even opens) AND in SUPPORT of a transitional encampment located at the Harvey West Pogonip area. It's a better plan. ❤❤❤
Please sign the petition here:
https://www.change.org/p/alicia-kuhl-stop-the-sleep-space-at-depot-park-support-an-encampment-at-harvey-west
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Another obvious problem with the proposed Lot 24 space is its clear insufficiency to deal with the number of Ross camp residents being uprooted and dumped into parks, neighborhoods, downtown, and greenbelt.
Even adding on the "boneyard barbedwire" 1220 River St. space with 60 tents, the 50 floor mat spaces in Lot 24 can't accomodate the 150-250 folks at Ross camp.
Nor can the Ross overflow from these two sites on April 17th can go to the 7th Avenue shelter, the Laurel St. shelter, and the Homeless (Lack of) Services Center's Paul Lee Loft.
What happens to the hundreds and hundreds of homeless folks outside the Ross Camp in Santa Cruz that seek shelter every night? Are they simply to be dumped out of shelters or denied access to accommodate City Manager Martin Bernal and Mayor Martine Watkins unworkable scheme to sweep away the Ross Camp?
Bernal's lieutenants Susie O'Hara and Tina Shull are putting all their energies into creating a pretext to justify the closing of the Ross Camp homeless--regardless of its impact on the Ross Camp residents or the neighborhoods and downtown areas. They've snowed the City Council with rhetoric but been slow to provide adequate services to Ross Camp (still no laundry or shower, much overcrowding).
Months ago, Ross Camp needed an overflow area. 1220 River St. and Alicia Kuhl's proposed encampment could provide such an overflow until such time as we get real alternatives, not sunny Susie's sweet-talking speeches. It's important that the "Progressive" majority on City Council stop dignifying O'Hara's phony narrative by giving it any kind of credibility and look at the actual survival situation of folks outside.
Meanwhile Ross Camp residents are gathering for protection by pressing a lawsuit to enjoin the City from doing destroying their community on April 17th. Support them by contacting HUFF at 831-423-4833.
Even adding on the "boneyard barbedwire" 1220 River St. space with 60 tents, the 50 floor mat spaces in Lot 24 can't accomodate the 150-250 folks at Ross camp.
Nor can the Ross overflow from these two sites on April 17th can go to the 7th Avenue shelter, the Laurel St. shelter, and the Homeless (Lack of) Services Center's Paul Lee Loft.
What happens to the hundreds and hundreds of homeless folks outside the Ross Camp in Santa Cruz that seek shelter every night? Are they simply to be dumped out of shelters or denied access to accommodate City Manager Martin Bernal and Mayor Martine Watkins unworkable scheme to sweep away the Ross Camp?
Bernal's lieutenants Susie O'Hara and Tina Shull are putting all their energies into creating a pretext to justify the closing of the Ross Camp homeless--regardless of its impact on the Ross Camp residents or the neighborhoods and downtown areas. They've snowed the City Council with rhetoric but been slow to provide adequate services to Ross Camp (still no laundry or shower, much overcrowding).
Months ago, Ross Camp needed an overflow area. 1220 River St. and Alicia Kuhl's proposed encampment could provide such an overflow until such time as we get real alternatives, not sunny Susie's sweet-talking speeches. It's important that the "Progressive" majority on City Council stop dignifying O'Hara's phony narrative by giving it any kind of credibility and look at the actual survival situation of folks outside.
Meanwhile Ross Camp residents are gathering for protection by pressing a lawsuit to enjoin the City from doing destroying their community on April 17th. Support them by contacting HUFF at 831-423-4833.
For more information:
http://www.huffsantacruz.org
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