No Homeless Shelter & the Sleeping Ban: Shelter Providers & Mayor Rotkin Speak

On Thursday August 19, the Board of Directors of the Homeless Services Center had its monthly meeting and heard the request of Peacecamp2010 and Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom speakers.

See "Correcting the Record at the Homeless Services Center Today" at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/08/19/18656366.php

We asked HSC to
(a) present an open letter to the community verifying that they haven't had and won't have any walk-in emergency shelter until mid-November (and haven't since mid-April), and (b) have available a person on call in case shelter opens up to so advise the police and homeless community.

The next morning (Friday August 19), Mayor Mike Rotkin met with a group of homeless people on the Sidewalk, including a Sentinel reporter. The group vigorously debated repealing or suspending the Sleeping Ban.

Rotkin adamantly refused and expressed no regrets about the arrests, seizure of signs, Klieg lights, and confiscation of survival gear at Peacecamp2010 (see "Lights, Camera, Tickets! Klieg Lights at City Hall--Throwing Light on the Shelter Shortage" at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/08/19/18656364.php).

The Sentinel's shoddy story can be found at http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_15847852?IADID (while it lasts--Sentinel stories soon disappear or can only be found in paid archives).

There may also be some audio interviews with Sara, a pregnant homeless woman, who was deported to San Luis Obispo on an outstanding camping ticket, but returned a few days ago. Her boyfriend Mark Greer was repeatedly smeared in the Sentinel as a "child molester" for a sexual relationship he had with a 13 1/2 year old girl when he was 14, according to her account. Contact 423-4833 for more information.