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Indybay Feature
Sounding a Warning in the Benchlands and the Broader Community
On Tuesday, the Federal magistrate Susan Van Keulen ended federal protection of the Benchlands surivival campground for the last 6 months by dissolving the Injunction issued in January. I've been passing out flyers there regarding upcoming meetings to resist the dispersal order City authorities that will inevitably follow in the months ahead replete with false promises.
Activists give their own reactions to the final June 29th hearing and the subsequent Van Keulen order dumping the campground into the tender clutches of City Manager Martin Bernal at https://www1.huffsantacruz.org/lost/1%20FRSC%207-1-21.mp3 .
The text of the order and my more limited commentary is at "Judge Dumps Benchlands Survival Camp, Ignores Shelter Emergency" (https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2021/06/30/18843516.php) .
Two Sentinel stories, generally dodging the elephant in the room--the City's lack of available shelter alternatives and the lies and false promises of the City Manager's homelessness "experts" (Lee Butler, Susie O'Hara, Megan Bunch) and others, are also reprinted.in the comments below.
Across the state (if not the country) authorities are moving to bulldoze and displace homeless encampments, given that the non-Delta COVID menace is waning. In Santa Cruz, activists are meeting in solidarity with homeless encampments city-wide and the Benchlands encampment in particular.
The City's traditional non-Solution ("hide out or get out") with its usual phony wrapping ("we have plenty of shelter--these druggies, crazies, bums, just won't or can't follow rules") is their likely default choice.
The new anti-homeless camping law, going into force in early July as well as a variety of deceptive alternatives ("blocking the sidewalk", "closed area", "illegal lodging") is the Mills'-SCPD answer to the Martin v. Boise decision ("no citations unless indoor shelter available"). If you can't threaten with the Camping Ban, use whatever "tools" you can.
Community members who want to prepare to resist the City's future deportation efforts should contact Keith of Food Not Bombs at 575-770-3377, Alicia of the Santa Cruz Homeless Union at 831-431-7766, or Robert of Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom at 831-423-4833.
My earlier story "Real Struggle to Support Survival Camps While Council Gentrification Juggernaut Grinds On" is at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2021/06/21/18843369.php
The text of the order and my more limited commentary is at "Judge Dumps Benchlands Survival Camp, Ignores Shelter Emergency" (https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2021/06/30/18843516.php) .
Two Sentinel stories, generally dodging the elephant in the room--the City's lack of available shelter alternatives and the lies and false promises of the City Manager's homelessness "experts" (Lee Butler, Susie O'Hara, Megan Bunch) and others, are also reprinted.in the comments below.
Across the state (if not the country) authorities are moving to bulldoze and displace homeless encampments, given that the non-Delta COVID menace is waning. In Santa Cruz, activists are meeting in solidarity with homeless encampments city-wide and the Benchlands encampment in particular.
The City's traditional non-Solution ("hide out or get out") with its usual phony wrapping ("we have plenty of shelter--these druggies, crazies, bums, just won't or can't follow rules") is their likely default choice.
The new anti-homeless camping law, going into force in early July as well as a variety of deceptive alternatives ("blocking the sidewalk", "closed area", "illegal lodging") is the Mills'-SCPD answer to the Martin v. Boise decision ("no citations unless indoor shelter available"). If you can't threaten with the Camping Ban, use whatever "tools" you can.
Community members who want to prepare to resist the City's future deportation efforts should contact Keith of Food Not Bombs at 575-770-3377, Alicia of the Santa Cruz Homeless Union at 831-431-7766, or Robert of Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom at 831-423-4833.
My earlier story "Real Struggle to Support Survival Camps While Council Gentrification Juggernaut Grinds On" is at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2021/06/21/18843369.php
For more information:
http://www.huffsantacruz.org
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In the June 28th edition of the Sentinel at https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2021/06/28/federal-judge-to-decide-santa-cruz-homeless-camps-next-step/ . However it's inaccessible unless you pay for it. Here's a free look:
Again no coverage of the actual lack of shelter space and the past history of misleading city official statements regarding this situation.
Please find a safe quiet spot for them asap.thank you Denise
Thank you, Robert. I am with you in solidarity for stopping the sweeps. I think the whole of SLP should become a people's park, and the camp and grounds should be given to people who have no home. And the money sent by the Federal and State government funded the city to end Homelessness be used for permanent homes. The money squandered on the staff, endless meetings, and consultants with no viable action for permanent housing must be paid back to the Funds to stop homelessness, and immediate action be taken to provide permanent housing for all people without homes until death or until they willing want to leave. And if the police attempt to disperse The people from the Benchlands without permanent shelter, peaceful protest of the housed and unhoused need to assemble in masses to protect the camp. And a massive letter campaign to Judge.
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