Mayor Bails Out Again; Homeless to Catch Her at City Council 7 PM Tuesday at City Hall

Reilly had previously declined to meet with homeless people who stayed the night at City Hall August 12th, hoping to meet with her the next morning. When she declined to show, they extended their stay until driven away by police with citations on August 18th.

On the 13th, DeMon, one of the protest leaders, made another appointment to meet with the Mayor on August 27th, as did four or five other homeless people in separate appointments.

When they showed up on the 27th, the City Clerk told them that she'd seen the Mayor, who was on her way to her office. Shortly thereafter Assistant City Manager told me that all the appointments had been canceled and that all appointments had to be made by special cell phone all to Mayor Reilly (831-818-6490).

In spite of this the secretary agreed to schedule appointments for DeMon and several others for two weeks later Monday, September 10th.

This morning I received a call from DeMon. She told me with some anger in her voice that the Mayor had stood them up again without explanation or apology.

As a long-time Portland, OR homeless activist before coming to Santa Cruz, DeMon recommends mass protest. She plans to peacefully confront the Mayor at the Council Meeting tomorrow Tuesday September 11th at 7 PM. Activists will be gathering at 6:30 PM in front of Council chambers to discuss support for a rumored sleepout at City Hall that night.

Tonight there is legal sleeping space in the city's walk-in emergency shelter program for less than 40 people. We estimate 1500-2000 homeless people outside in the city limits tonight.

See also "Mayor Ducks Scheduled Homeless Meeting" http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/08/26/18443447.php?show_comments=1#18444168