Time for More Privacy, Decency, & Accessibility at Salvation Army's 1220 River St. Camp

The press conference/protest follows up on last May's appeal to the Salvation Army management.

That event urged the Army to allow greater freedom and privacy for camp residents and to provide important upgrades in the living conditions there such as showers and protection from the heat.

See https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2019/05/13/activists-question-new-santa-cruz-homeless-camp-operations/

Today's event is again sponsored by the Santa Cruz Homeless Union, Conscience and Action, Food Not Bombs, and HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom).

It will be followed by a supportive visit to Monterey Superior Court (1:30 PM, Department 13, 1200 Aguajito Road ) in support of the Salinas Homeless Union's court suit seeking to stop the police harassment of folks outside at Sherwood Park in Salinas.

It follows a partially successful challenge to the City's discriminatory closing of bathrooms prompting City Council last Tueday night to act. An unusually cohesive Progressive majority voted 4-3
(1) to reopen the City Hall bathrooms (closed since the Freedom Sleeper protests of 2015-2017);
(2) to refer the Louden Nelson bathrooms issue to the homeless-focused CACH group, and
(3) to require the Parks and Recreation manager Tony Elliot get approval from City Council for any future closings of City facilities.

Activists have also scheduled a Direct Action 'Open the Damn Bathrooms" event for Tuesday September 3rd at 1:30 PM at Louden Nelson Center. Concerned community members are invited to attend, witness, and/or participate.