Occupiers Brave Rain in San Lorenzo Park

STEVE PLEICH'S REPORT

Steve's brief report noted there were at least sixty people in the park in the rain. He facilitated the General Assembly about which I got few details. Presumably they consensed on resuming the assembly at 6 PM tonight. There was also interest in having a summary of the laws which police might use to harass protesters drawn up. The hour and a half rainy day assembly included some distractions--a few homeless people who were concerned there'd now be more attention to their survival sleeping spot and a speaker or two that went on at great length, one at so great a length that the assembly simply moved to a spot 10' distant to continue their process.

The scheduled 3:30 PM march today was cancelled because of the weather. Steve estimated that the crowd was at least one-third the size of those who gathered Tuesday night in Laurel Park during the initial Occupy Santa Cruz Assembly.

Media from the Sentinel, Channel 8, and independent videojournal Alex Darocy were there. Steve gave a streaming interview available on You-Tube. 1:20 p.m.


BECKY JOHNSON'S UPDATE

She's been there for about an hour.

About thirty people are present. Folks have a tarp hung up at the oak trees directly behind the lawn bowling area. The grass is all wet. but the sun just came out. Ground is a little puddly and mushy.

No clear info on what was decided at the morning's Circle meeting where a speaking stone was used to acknowledge speakers. However folks are now making signs and have some minor food donations (peanut butter, hummus, bread). Becky herself has a tarp and blanket set up, ready to stay the night. She's also set up a HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship and Table) spot at a table, anticipating more people to come.

She suggests more will come after 5 PM when the weather improves and parking becomes officially free in the county parking lot. She urges folks to bring coffee, of which there is none there. She estimates right now that 20 will spend the night.

"They'll probably move to the area outside the County Building when they learn that it's illegal to be in the park after sunset, with no such restrictions on the area around the County Courthouse," Becky predicts.

She notes that already two camps have set up near the lawn bowling area. Some veterans from PeaceCamp2010---Frank Lopez and Diana were there. See http://peacecamp2010.blogspot.com/search/label/Dina%20Phillips and many other stories at http://www.peacecamp2010.blogspot.com/ for the the intense and lengthy struggle of an earlier encampment in the same area last year.