Holiday with the HUFFsters: Renewed Vigil Against Two Wars

Another merry sing-along, sip-along, speakout in front of the Coonerty Clan's Bookshop Santa Cruz with HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom).

The expanding War Hysteria against the populations of Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and now Yemen creates more discarded homeless veterans, millions of homeless refugees abroad, and billions of dollars diverted from human needs to war profit and death. HUFF has traditionally urged the City
Council to take more direct action such as ending city investment in war profiteers, calling for immediate withdrawal of troops and bases from Afghanistan and Iraq, & ending the bombing of Pakistan and other foreign countries.

Carrying on in the tradition of the 12-22 Unsafe to Be Homeless in Santa Cruz protest, [http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/12/19/18633184.php ], HUFF will encourage oppostion and resistance to the anti-homeless Downtown Ordinances [http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/01/23/18565324.php ].

These laws give broad and selective powers to the SCPD, the Downtown Association's "Hosts", and Chief Ranger John Wallace's "Rangers" to criminalize homeless people in public spaces for innocent and frequently necessary life-sustaining behavior including
sleeping,
covering up with blankets,
setting up a tent against the weather,
taking shelter in a parking garage,
sitting on down on any non-downtown sidewalk near a building,
peacefully sparechanging in most places at most time,
performing for donation in most places,
politically tabling on any non-downtown city business sidewalks
and many other normal innocent behaviors.


Recent moves to constrict public space for the poor include

the new public-art-for-profit statues placed up and down Pacific Avenue (illegal to sit down, sparechange, politically table, or perform for donation within 10-14')

removal of still more public benches without public hearing, notice, or record near Quiznos and elsewhere leaving no benches at all on the west side of Pacific Ave. between Cathcart and Soquel Aves.

increased police patrols on Pacific Avenue with harassment ticketing by Officers Forbus and Winston unchecked by Sgt. Harms

the "no smoking" ban, expanded from parks to include Pacific Avenue and adjacent streets

ignoring the recent White v. City of Sparks Federal Court ruling upholding the right of visual artists to explicitly sell their paintings on the sidewalk without permits (http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/opinions/view_subpage.php?pk_id=0000001015)


Recent attacks on vehicular residents, whose only shelter is their car include:

new 20-minute parking restrictions along Westcliffe Drive near Lighthouse Field to oust the Three Tree Lot community

vigilante attacks on homeless campers north of Santa Cruz with rocks thrown through car windows menacing families and children

retired police officers joining vigilante "Take Back Santa Cruz" groups to harass those sleeping in their vehicles on the West Side

slamming nails and screws into tires of homeless vehicles to "send them a GET OUT" message


HUFFsters will be circulating petitions & coraling volunteers in support of various positions such as:

to support legal Tent City locations where those without housing can sleep safely and band together against street violence,

to oppose the City's proposed ban on new medical marijuana dispensaries coming up for a vote on 1-12 at City Council

to oppose Downtown Association, Santa Cruz Neighbor, and "Take Back Santa Cruz" moves to discourage direct charitable food and clothing donations to the poor

to show solidarity with homeless activists in Fresno, San Francisco, Sacramento, Santa Barbara, and Santa Monica who are backing lawsuits to end Sleeping Bans in their cities.

to monitor and document illegal seizure of homeless property--the acknowledged city policy and ongoing practice of Chief Ranger John Wallace

to end the local Drug War (especially against Marijuana) & restore the Measure K protections gutted by the City in spite of the will of the voters [Next Meeting Thursday 1-28 5:30 PM, City Council chambers:

to urge new anti-war measures by the City Council and organizing by the citizenry against the foreign wars and occupations which rob the poor of resources at home, recruit them as imperial assassins abroad, and kill hundreds of thousands abroad.

NOTE: Illness may force a postponement of this event. Contact 423-4833 to be sure it's going forward.