Taking a Pledge in Support of the Homeless Community in Santa Cruz

Thanks, Bradley for the great photos, the legwork, and the publicity. Mighty oaks from tiny corns do grow.

These are not the typical black and white, copy and rip to shreds type of flyers that Robert usually hands out. Good job!

These signs seem like a cop out to appease everyone. No one would argue that homeless people shouldn't be able to sleep anywhere at all. Considering (I am pretty sure) that Norse's position is that homeless people should be able to sleep pretty much anywhere on public property they wish, these signs do not reflect their actual goal. By phrasing it the way he did, almost everyone agrees with the sign, which is at odds with the fact that (apparently) a minority of people share Norse's views.

Yes, the declaration sounds like something that a PR firm hired by the downtown businesses would print out. You know, like an oil company with a picture of wildlife on its home page.

While some do support a broader right to sleep anywhere on public property (provided health and safety codes aren't violated), HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom) has taken a more limited position.

MC 6.36.010a, the City's anti-homeless Sleeping Ban section of the Camping Ordinance, forbids sleeping on any and all public property after 11 PM at night.

See HUFF letter to vice-mayor Coonerty at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/12/06/18335394.php

Also an important case is described in detail in an older issue of the Bay Area Street Spirit monthly newspaper at http://www.huffsantacruz.org/StreetSpiritSantaCruz/244.Homeless%20Man%20Defends%20Himself%20In%20Court%20Wins%20Crucial%20Ruling%20Agsinst%20S.C.Sleeping%20Ban=8-2007.pdf
and http://www.huffsantacruz.org/StreetSpiritSantaCruz/245.Victory%20Over%20S.C.Sleeping%20Ban(cont.1)=8-2007.pdf and http://www.huffsantacruz.org/StreetSpiritSantaCruz/246.Victory%20Over%20S.C.Sleeping%20Ban(cont.2)=8-2007.pdf

The federal court decision on this issue (no longer binding since the Jones settlement resulted in the decision's being depublished) but still relevant: [http://peopleproject.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/jones-v-l-a-appeal-2005.pdf , p. 16., 26] This decision provides the logic that persuaded San Diego, Fresno, Los Angeles, Richmond, and Laguna Beach to do what Santa Cruz City Council refuses to do: change its laws to make sleeping legal "not anywhere and everywhere, but somewhere".

6.36.010 CAMPING PROHIBITED.

No person shall camp anywhere in the city of Santa Cruz, whether on public or private property, except as hereinafter expressly permitted. “To camp” means to do any of the following:

(a) Sleeping – 11 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. To sleep at any time between the hours of 11 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. in any of the following places:

(1) Outdoors with or without bedding, tent, hammock or other similar protection or equipment;

(2) In, on or under any structure not intended for human occupancy, whether with or without bedding, tent, hammock or other similar protection or equipment;

(3) In, on or under any parked vehicle, including an automobile, bus, truck, camper, trailer or recreational vehicle.

(b) Setting-up Bedding – 11 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. To establish or maintain outdoors or in, on or under any structure not intended for human occupancy, at any time between the hours of 11 p.m. to 8:30 a.m., a temporary or permanent place for sleeping, by setting up any bedding, sleeping bag, blanket, mattress, tent, hammock or other sleeping equipment in such a manner as to be immediately usable for sleeping purposes.

(c) Setting-up Campsite – Anytime. To establish or maintain outdoors or in, on, or under any structure not intended for human occupancy, at any time during the day or night, a temporary or permanent place for cooking or sleeping, by setting up any bedding, sleeping bag, blanket, mattress, tent, hammock or other sleeping equipment or by setting up any cooking equipment, with the intent to remain in that location overnight.

(Ord. 99-01 § 1, 1999: Ord. 78-29, § 2, 1978).

This is a quote from one of Robert's radio shows. It is his view and HUFF's official position. Hardly a cop out since only a few businesses were willing to post this in their windows. If the signs are so slick that they make you sick, well so be it.

Where does HUFF advocate that homeless people should be able to sleep then?

HUFF doesn't offer a solution because that's not their focus. They are interested solely in publicity stunts that stroke their own egos. If they wanted to offer a solution it would have been offered 20 years ago.

And no, Robert and Becky, allowing camping on the streets isn't an option. We tried that, remember? Miserable failure...

How 'bout YOUR properties?

Becky Johnson and other HUFF volunteers have done extensive research on possible locations for a public campground or over-night car park, as well as safe sleeping zones, and have put this into writing several times and circulated it widely. We are not the only organization who has put forth proposals of this sort, either, or advocated for revocation or modification of the sleeping ban. Advocating that everyone in this town has a safe and legal place to sleep at night is hardly revolutionary or outside of the mainstream.

However, until the powers that be in this community, public and private, behind the scenes and on the dias at City Council and in the Supervisor's chambers, decide that a solution of this sort is desirable, and put a concrete proposal on the table, HUFF can't really provide concrete details. ... and quite honestly, for all sorts of obvious reasons, political and otherwise, a workable solution has to come from elsewhere. We're not social service professionals, or professional public policy advocates.

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/07/10/18606739.php

You tell me there are definitive recommendations by Huff, but repeated requests on repeated threads of this website have as yet resulted NO postings of the options.

YOu say they exist? Show them!

The Santa Cruz Homeless Issues Task Force took a lot of recommendations from HUFF. See http://www.indybay.org/comment.php?top_id=18612318 Why won't you?

We have fallen into this trap in Berkeley endlessly working on very resonable solutions only to be repetedly shot down by those dedicated to no solution and JAIL AS A SOLUTION. Just a waste of my time and I say if your interested in a solution put forward your own.

But don't be put out when it's shot down for every stupid reason a pig can invent.