The Bigotrybusters are Back! Bring a Chair to the Sidewalk Near Lulu's

A PROTEST AGAINST THE CITY'S ANTI-HOMELESS CAMPAIGN

Two weeks ago, the Downtown Association rejected any discussion of modifying the anti-homeless 11 PM-8:30 AM Sleeping Ban.

Today the Sentinel announced another hairbrained Poverty Pimpery scam, designed to give the illusion of helping the homeless, while actually encouraging tourists to not give money to homeless people directly, but funnel it through salaried "experts" (see "A New Use for Old Meters" http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_13174847 )

On August 3rd, the Homeless Service Center began charging hungry homeless people 50 cents per meal. Homeless food seekers report this has resulted in a significant reduction of clientele. For those who have the energy, you can work 45 minutes for a meal (making the wage provided about 67 cents an hour).

Several months ago, pastor Dennis Adams's Sunday Town Clock meal was driven out of the downtown by anti-homeless bigotry. It can now be had--free--Sunday around noon out at 115 Coral St. in the "homeless ghetto".

These and other anti-homeless measures require a community response.


WHY IN FRONT OF LULU CARPENTER'S?

Four business downtown contributed declarations that City Attorneys Barisone used to secure a "one snooze downtown and you're in jail" Injunction for two homeless musicians: Anna Richardson and Miguel de Leon.

The Injunction: http://www.indybay.org/uploads/2009/07/02/richardson_injunction.pdf

The businesses are Bunny's Shoes, the Palomar, Borders Books, and...Lulu Carpenter's.

For more info: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/07/31/18613517.php

Video of past protests can be found at
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/07/31/18613467.php
&
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/08/05/18614102.php

The Non-Discrimination Pledge we suggest customers of downtown business look for before shopping in a store affirms the right of homeless people to sleep "not anywhere and everywhere, but somewhere". See http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/08/06/18614270.php

Manthri Srinath, the owner of Lulu Carpenter's has also been accused by former employees of actually instructing them not to serve "homeless looking" people or people with backpacks.
We've left messages with him and are waiting for a reply as to whether this is his current policy.

Some of Manthri's past capers, against which we've protested, can be found at:

2003
http://santacruz.indymedia.org/newswire/display/3668/index.php

2006:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/11/16/18330266.php
http://www.thestreetspirit.org/Nov2006/santacruz.htm
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/11/10/18328675.php?show_comments=1#18331443

2008:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/11/15/18551237.php?show_comments=1 see the comment: "More Audio From the Street Sunday the 23rd"

2009:
http://www.huffsantacruz.org/brb-descriptions.html go to July 26, 2009 and download. The audio segment is about 2-3 hours into the file.

We encourage Lulu's customers to ask owner Manthri Srinath what his policies are regarding serving homeless people and whether he supports the Sleeping Ban and the "no sleep" Injunction against the two homeless musicians

If he does, please encourage him to change his mind or take suggest you may have to your business elsewhere.


TENT CITY RESEARCH

Sacramento is planning to follow Portland, OR and its homeless-run Dignity Village and set up a Tent City next spring. See http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2009/08/14/nr.sac.mayor.homeless.cnn?iref=videosearch.

We'll be asking homeless and housed people whether they are interested in supporting such a project in Santa Cruz and seeking volunteers.

ICED COFFEE WILL BE AVAILABLE.

BRING YOUR OWN CHAIR IF YOU HAVE ONE (it's illegal to sit on the sidewalk, thanks to the Matthews-Rotkin law).