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BearCat Battle Moves Forward in Santa Cruz, City Council May Revisit Issue in March
February 10 marked the fourth consecutive Santa Cruz City Council meeting where residents have protested the police purchase of a $250,000 BearCat (Ballistic Engineered Armored Response Counter Attack Truck) funded by two Department of Homeland Security grants. As with the previous protests, community members again rallied in the City Hall courtyard and entered Tuesday's council meeting as a group to speak out against the purchase of the armored attack-style vehicle during the open communications period at 5pm.
A large group of community members hoped to speak to the BearCat issue, but Mayor Don Lane did not add any time to the oral communications period, as he had done at the previous two city council meetings when attendance was high. As a result, some people were not allowed to speak.
However, Council Member Micah Posner, along with Lane, announced that they would be bringing the BearCat issue back to the council's agenda in March.
"What is anticipated to come up to the agenda in March," Mayor Lane said, "is both the vehicle use policy and the discussion of the system for procurement going forward on larger items like this and the grant program, how we accept grants."
Lane said there would be time for the public to discuss the BearCat issue at the meeting in March.
Community members continue to call for the BearCat order to be rescinded.
The announcement from Lane and Posner addresses some of the subjects of interest cited by community members organizing with SCRAM! (Santa Cruz Resistance Against Militarization!), but the group's three demands remain as follows:
1) to bring the BearCat back onto the SC City Council agenda for a full public hearing and to rescind the approval
2) to establish a long term policy for grant applications and acceptance in the City that ensures timeliness, transparency, full public disclosure and input
3) to help develop and implement policies that prevent military equipment from flowing into law enforcement agencies throughout Santa Cruz County
For more information about SCRAM!, see:
Santa Cruz Resistance Against Militarization!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Santa-Cruz-Resistance-Against-Militarization-SCRAM/1020407254641174
For more background on the Santa Cruz BearCat issue, see:
Hundreds Protest Approval of Police Attack Vehicle Purchase at SC City Council Meeting
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2015/01/18/18767133.php
Activists Say Santa Cruz Police Lied to Secure Armored Vehicle Purchase
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2015/01/28/18767704.php
Alex Darocy
http://alexdarocy.blogspot.com/
However, Council Member Micah Posner, along with Lane, announced that they would be bringing the BearCat issue back to the council's agenda in March.
"What is anticipated to come up to the agenda in March," Mayor Lane said, "is both the vehicle use policy and the discussion of the system for procurement going forward on larger items like this and the grant program, how we accept grants."
Lane said there would be time for the public to discuss the BearCat issue at the meeting in March.
Community members continue to call for the BearCat order to be rescinded.
The announcement from Lane and Posner addresses some of the subjects of interest cited by community members organizing with SCRAM! (Santa Cruz Resistance Against Militarization!), but the group's three demands remain as follows:
1) to bring the BearCat back onto the SC City Council agenda for a full public hearing and to rescind the approval
2) to establish a long term policy for grant applications and acceptance in the City that ensures timeliness, transparency, full public disclosure and input
3) to help develop and implement policies that prevent military equipment from flowing into law enforcement agencies throughout Santa Cruz County
For more information about SCRAM!, see:
Santa Cruz Resistance Against Militarization!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Santa-Cruz-Resistance-Against-Militarization-SCRAM/1020407254641174
For more background on the Santa Cruz BearCat issue, see:
Hundreds Protest Approval of Police Attack Vehicle Purchase at SC City Council Meeting
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2015/01/18/18767133.php
Activists Say Santa Cruz Police Lied to Secure Armored Vehicle Purchase
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2015/01/28/18767704.php
Alex Darocy
http://alexdarocy.blogspot.com/
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thank you again Alex! - your commitment and competence are much appreciated!
but actually, the way Mayor Lane presented the agenda for March does not meet SCRAM!'s goal
we want the approval of the BearCat brought back on the agenda for a full public hearing, reconsideration, and new action - all they committed to was to review the policy of use for the vehicle that is being prepared by SCPD
but actually, the way Mayor Lane presented the agenda for March does not meet SCRAM!'s goal
we want the approval of the BearCat brought back on the agenda for a full public hearing, reconsideration, and new action - all they committed to was to review the policy of use for the vehicle that is being prepared by SCPD
I was never happy with that sentence in the article, and I went back and edited it to more clearly communicate the stated goals of community members.
For a few dollars more the SCPD could driveby snipe that hostile crowd of local homeless jobless demonstrators in STYLE!
Aptos Bike Park razed for supermarket parking lot despite protests, construction equipment vandalism
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/general-news/20150217/aptos-bike-park-demolished-despite-protest-equipment-vandalism
Corralitos, a small hamlet nearby get first FERN BAR.
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/lifestyle/20150217/hoppy-daysafter-years-of-red-tape-and-bureaucratic-hurdles-corralitos-brewing-co-throws-open-its-doors
County takes Multimillion dollar federal grant to turn drunk tank into 'recovery center' in a county where any business that can possibly rationalize it (and some that truly can't) sells alcohol.
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/general-news/20150217/recovery-center-to-replace-drunk-tank-at-santa-cruz-county-jail
Any question why the SCPD feels the need for armored protection from their own citizens?
I'd also recommend flak jackets for the area's elected officials. If I was a kid growing up here, or a displaced worker gone alcoholic, I'd show up to meet the scum who run this socio-economic shithole with a tec-9.
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/general-news/20150217/aptos-bike-park-demolished-despite-protest-equipment-vandalism
Corralitos, a small hamlet nearby get first FERN BAR.
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/lifestyle/20150217/hoppy-daysafter-years-of-red-tape-and-bureaucratic-hurdles-corralitos-brewing-co-throws-open-its-doors
County takes Multimillion dollar federal grant to turn drunk tank into 'recovery center' in a county where any business that can possibly rationalize it (and some that truly can't) sells alcohol.
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/general-news/20150217/recovery-center-to-replace-drunk-tank-at-santa-cruz-county-jail
Any question why the SCPD feels the need for armored protection from their own citizens?
I'd also recommend flak jackets for the area's elected officials. If I was a kid growing up here, or a displaced worker gone alcoholic, I'd show up to meet the scum who run this socio-economic shithole with a tec-9.
Apparently San Francisco is...
The Muni Task Force is a group of seven police officers and one sergeant, operating on overtime. It was formed to prevent terrorism and crime on Muni buses. The SFMTA pays for the unit through a $1.7 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.
In making a case for the federal grant, the SFMTA explicitly wrote to the federal government that the Muni Task Force would prevent robberies, violent crime and terrorism.
The grants never stated officers would catch fare cheats.
Homeland Security representatives told The Examiner that extracurricular use of the funds may be legal if the Police Department says catching fare cheats is an anti-terror tactic, and if no one openly complains about the practice.
Does that mean 'rule of law' really means anything goes as long as no one complains about the anti-terror 'give me more gravy' claims?
Things might have improved in some areas. The days when I served and you could get away with anything, when cops were better at accounting than at law enforcement — keeping meticulous records of the people they were shaking down, stealing drugs and money from dealers on a regular basis — all that no longer exists as systematically as it once did, though it certainly does in some places. Times have changed. It’s harder to be a venal cop these days. -- Frank Serpico
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/10/the-police-are-still-out-of-control-112160_full.html
Um, maybe.
For more information:
http://PeaceCamp2010insider.blogspot.com/
It's notable that the same surveillance company that was outed for providing full spectrum realtime satellite surveillance of EVERY INCH OF LA COUNTY for the LASD is ALSO the surveillance provider at the SCMTD's downtown bus terminal. The company changed it's name to Dojo technology after their MSM news outing. Wish I had taken a pic of their old sticker on the transit center sliding glass door before they replaced it with their new sticker.
In SOME ways it makes sense to utilize their services considering bus movements have been satellite tracked ever since the buses first started announcing stops automatically (at first there were also audio ads target-marketing businesses at the specific stops announced being force-fed to riders) and the making of the movie "Crash" about a city bus hijacking...
...and in many more ways, it simply gives me the creeps.
In SOME ways it makes sense to utilize their services considering bus movements have been satellite tracked ever since the buses first started announcing stops automatically (at first there were also audio ads target-marketing businesses at the specific stops announced being force-fed to riders) and the making of the movie "Crash" about a city bus hijacking...
...and in many more ways, it simply gives me the creeps.
Thank you for pointing this out RR. When I last used the SCMTD Downtown bus center they didn't have surveillance cameras. I want to find out where they are located, who operates them and who funded their purchase. Now this is on my pile of pending Freedom of Information (FOI) requests.
It will keep you busy and out of the way.
John, you should also file a color of law complaint with the FBI when they come to investigate your other cases. You've made it clear that the City Council will likely be arrested and I think that time is fast approaching.
The Bearcat Battle is not over! We need EVERYONE'S support if we are to win this war against the Homeland Security/DOD driven progressive militarization of our police force. Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs, Code Pink and the ACLU among others have joined the coalition of community members who are pledged to continue this fight. Please make sure that all your friends and allies sign this Petition. Abbi, Keith and all those who will be representing us in the continuing negotiations with the City and Mayor Lane need to have the power of the entire community behind them. We have over 1000 citizens who have stood up and said "No". 2000 would be a powerful statement.
We need to create regional alliances to end police militarization at the state level in California. New Hampshire is a first adopter. Create a make or break issue for the state legislature.
https://www.intellihub.com/new-hampshire-house-votes-reject-federal-militarization-local-police/
https://www.intellihub.com/new-hampshire-house-votes-reject-federal-militarization-local-police/
"What is anticipated to come up to the agenda in March," Mayor Lane said, "is both the vehicle use policy and the discussion of the system for procurement going forward on larger items like this and the grant program, how we accept grants."
They're gonna shove the thing down your throats whether you want it or not.
The ONLY THING to be discussed is USAGE and future grant policy.
Your elected officials ARE NOT going to 'give back the bearcat'.
They're gonna shove the thing down your throats whether you want it or not.
The ONLY THING to be discussed is USAGE and future grant policy.
Your elected officials ARE NOT going to 'give back the bearcat'.
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