Fighting the Power: Freedom SleepOut 18 Coincides with Key Council Meeting

POSSIBLE FUND CUTOFF AND LAWSUITS IGNORED
Mayor Lane and his City Council continue to ignore the looming shadow of the Department of Justice and HUD with likely federal court attacks on the Sleeping Ban and federal fund cutoff's for criminalization of the homeless.

Other Council members have declined to support and Lane has as yet not agendized his proposed modification of the Sleep Deprivation Ordinance revealed in a lengthy facebook lament at http://www.facebook.com/Don.Lane.SC/posts/1039891709365296 .

My reaction to Lane's piece is at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2015/10/31/18779460.php ,

Freedom Sleepers continue their Tuesday night Sidewalk Safe Sleeping Zone -- "safe" apparently from sleeping tickets, which continue to be given out regularly elsewhere in the City. The next one is November 10th, beginning in and around City Council's afternoon meeting.

Agenda Items ##16, 17, and 18 concern HUD funding for housing, the Beach Flats Garden project, and the airbnb Summer Rentals issues--all of which impact unhoused folks and their allies

A LOOK BACK TO LAST WEEK
Last week cops and bureaucrats expanded the roped off area outside City Council to further isolate and distance homeless protest from the Study Session of City Council. In addition, the entire grassy area from the City Council chambers to the sidewalk was--for the first time--marked a "no go zone"--This eliminated the prospect of unhoused people resting there during the day--something grudgingly allowed though harassed by roaming First Alarm "security" thugs.

Inside, the Council heard a three hour police panhandling and PR session celebrating their follow-up on the blatantly anti-homeless 2013 Citizens Public Safety Task Force recommendations. What are the costs, consequences,and effects of the anti-homeless laws spurred by this Task Force "public safety" concerns? Who knows? Police didn't tell us.

There were no citations at the Sidewalk Safe Slumber Zone that followed, though the night was colder and the number of sleepers fewer.

For an account of the night see "Temperatures drop at the 17th Freedom Sleepers Community Sleepout" at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2015/11/04/18779658.php

More background: https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2015/10/30/18779456.php

COMING UP THIS TIME AT CITY COUNCIL
Items /#16, 17, and 18.

#16 covers some HUD funding--which may be impacted by Santa Cruz's anti-homeless laws and HUD's supposed new "end criminalization" requirements.

#17 involves the latest sell-out to the Seaside Company, offering a 3-year lease proposal that would only cover 2/3 of the Community Garden--in spite of the pleas and demands of hundreds of people two weeks ago.

#18 involves real estate owners moves to okay airbnb summer rentals

§ Granny Units (ADUs) or vacation rentals: 2:30 pm (?) Item 18. Introducing an ordinance amending portions of the Santa Cruz Municipal Code to limit short term/vacation rental use of Accessory Dwelling Units [ADU's]. Tenant activists note that allowing ADU summer rental use:
§ removes affordable housing units from the local market;
§ caters to out-of-town visitors instead of local housing needs;
§ creates businesses within residential neighborhoods;
§ violates the intent of ADUs to increase long-term, small-scale rental housing.

ON THE HORIZON
Last week CPVAW asked for emergency shelter for women outside to be created along side of the anti-homeless RV measure coming back on November 24th. Assistant City Manager Scott Collins, cheerleading for the "no RV parking for the poor" resolution upcoming, cut short discussion time and cut off speakers.

Coming Up December 13th--a special Freedom Sleepers Presents event featuring attorney Tristia Bauman from the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, survivors from last year's "disperse and destroy" raid on the San Jose homeless Jungle, and more! Scheduled for the Resource Center for Non-Violence at 6:30 PM.


PORTAPOTTY POLITICS
In spite of two unanimous Council votes early last summer directing staff to open TWO 24-hour bathrooms, Public Works has only opened one (at the Soquel St. garage). And they are still complaining this essential service remain only a "pilot project" in spite of very few problems--according to the workers there (and even the staff report itself).

Meanwhile the Freedom Sleepers continue to provide a portapotty each Tuesday night, given the City's refusal to either open the promised Locust St. facility or keep the City Hall bathrooms open at night.

A festive Portapotty Parade is in the works for 6 PM after the afternoon Council meeting. The mobile comfort station has been with the Freedom Sleepers for 18 weeks now.

The usual coffee and crunchables will be available at times during the night and for breakfast in the morning.



The Right To Sleep is the Right to Live.