Open Letter to Two Mayors

Martine,

This is to advise you HUFF will be speaking on Item #1 on the Evening Agenda: Community Advisory Committee on Homelessness (CACH) Initial Status and Action Report to City Council

I again also urge you and incoming Mayor Cummings to support specific, immediate, concrete, and emergency measures allowing those facing cold and wet weather intensifying this week.

These include (a) access to immediate indoor shelter in the various city-owned buildings where that shelter can be provided and/or (b) suspension of police harassment of people setting up camps or seeking to rest whether during the day or night outside by directing the City Manager to direct the SCPD to stop enforcing citations police are using in place of camping tickets, namely "trespass", "closed area", "public nuisance", "blocking the sidewalk", and "lodging" citations.

Failure to act on these issues will enrage both neighborhoods and businesses facing folks sleeping in doorways, as well as endanger the safety and security of the vulnerable people who are simply trying to survive. I am sure your Mayorship does not want to be credited with the expense and shame of a higher death rate this winter. That would not be the legacy that any of us would wish.

The agenda has no provision for immediate action in the Winter Crisis. It specifies "2) Direct the City Manager to place CACH action items on one or more City Council agendas for action as appropriate and as soon as possible."

Accordingly the City Council must make an emergency finding, given the wretched weather and worse behavior of law enforcement in forcing homeless people out of the shelter of parking garages into pouring rain, requiring immediate use of one of the empty buildings such as the Civic, the Stadium, or any of the other many shelter opportunities.

It must also direct the City Manager to direct law enforcement to refrain from destroying the shelter individual and groups of homeless people are providing for themselves. It must direct appropriate agencies to provide immediate toilet facilities, garbage pick-up's, and winter gear.

Act now, or take responsibility for the illness and deaths that inevitably follow.

Incoming Mayor Cummings has yet to make good on his public promise two weeks ago to respond to our request to meet with him regarding this issue, as well as the interview with Free Radio Santa Cruz, which was requested. This verbal promise by the incoming Mayor was referenced in two e-mails to him dated 11-27 and 12-4.

Have a happy retirement. Hundreds outside will not be sharing that happy fate though you and Cummings effectively have the decision-making power to provide the life-sustaining shelter you've thus far refused to provide regardless of the many hours spent by the CACH committee.

Thanks,

Robert Norse
HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom)

UPDATE: Mayor Watkins has responded that she will not allow group presentations on the CACH committee report. Presumably because of "time limitations" so that folks can hear speeches from her, Justin Cummings, and Donna Myers.

Since it seems unlikely either the Watkins or the Cummings Council majority will take any action to address the threats to homeless survival this winter, it falls to the community to take direct action.

Folks need to organize behind support for existing homeless encampments, however scattered they may be. More than that, if those outside and their supporters take over unused government buildings, or lodge in parking structures as a group or set up a community-backed winter camp--they will need organized and visible support.

The only justice this winter will come from the community itself.