Occupy Santa Cruz  Meeting minutes for May 18, 2013
5:30PM  @ Santa Cruz Main Post Office steps

Colin facilitator, Caleb co-facilitator
Becky: notetaker
?? stacker

Inspirational moment: Linda Lemaster

SC Eleven support Working Group report by Robert Norse:
Only 4 defendants left: Gabriella Ripley-Phipps, Brent Adams,
Cameron Laurendau & Franklin “Angel” Alcantara
Next trial date is not until August. Question for group
is do we pay $125 to bring webpage back to life?

Report on past resolution:
Becky: HSC Kris & Chris said they will issue receipts to anyone
who signs up for their waiting list, and have asked 4 our help
to supply the forms.

Proposals:
RN :public safety task force- median trespassing ordinance
is coming down the pike.

Campground??

Colin: go 2 Red Church, inform people to get on waiting list
and to ask for a receipt. Build pressure Over time
Coral: Motion to form new WG  2 get
Weekly event 2 get more ppl over 2 HSC 2 ask 4 receipts

Homeless Justice Working Group formed –1st meeting 5PM @ Red Church
coffeehous
Coral: align w FNB
FNB 2 City Council mtg.

(Woman) OSC supports FNB special event/feeding during week around social
justice issue
Motion by LL: OSC shall support and attend a 2nd FNB event/feeding TBA
sometime during
week. 2nded. passed.

Women from Occupy Monterey reports that their group is still holding regular
meetings,
and has taken on a homeless rights agenda

Colin:  Motion to 2 support Bradley Manning by planning a demo of support at
clock tower
3PM Sat. “I’ll be there with a sign. I hope more people come with signs”
2nded, passed.

Linda L: Motion to buy video camera/s 4 homeless people
Blocked by Freedom as waste of time & money

REPORT: 2 died @ Natural Bridges B/C someone assaulted them for their phones
1st mtg. 2 B @ Red Church Mon. May 20th @ 5PM

CC: will speak @ City Council and urges others to as well, and to watch what
council does and make reports
Coral: We need to open bathrooms in City
Becky: Motion, 2nd, passed:  Resolution: That the bathrooms at Kaiser
Permanente Arena Shall B opened
on a 24 hour basis due 2 lack of bathrooms downtown, and to avert a public
health crisis.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

RN: AB 5 ACLU 2 discuss @ Mon. Night mtg. 7PM Mon Louden Nelson

From: Linda
Date: April 22, 2013 12:56:38 PM PDT
To: OSCMediaGroup
Subject: Homeless Persons Bill of Rights: Action Needed

Much support was felt at Occupy Santa Cruz’s general assembly on Sunday, April 22, 2013, for people who are homeless in Santa Cruz County.

People from the Visible Sleepers’ vigil at main Post Office plaza shared their experiences of police and ticketing and passers-by, so far. Now into day four.

They ask us for more support in terms of visiting, most especially early morning hours. Freedom said, “if you’re lonely or want company, any time, think of us.”

They literally have “no other place to be,” since getting raked out of a Pogonip sleep camp by City police.

Then, Santa Cruz Sanctuary Camp shared news of their great, fresh video created for the edification of the larger community and potential supporters. And planned community engagement goals. Brent Adams said they meet every Wednesday evening near Harvey West Park and are open to everyone who wants to help.

‘SCSanctuary …” has a FaceBook page and the video of same name, Santa Cruz Sanctuary Camp. Check it out!

Contact HUFF, (831) 423 – HUFF, to offer support if you cannot visit the sleepers directly. The have tickets and jail prospects. Where can they sleep TONITE that’s safer?

Last but maybe not least…

Homeless Persons Bill of Rights, action needed!

Keith McHenry, Becky Johnson and I shared news about Assembly Bill 5, brought by San Francisco’s Democrat Tom Ammiano. This Bill faces a Judicial Committee Tuesday.

Then, Occupy Santa Cruz’s general assembly consensed on the following position about this Bill:

OCCUPY SANTA CRUZ SUPPORTS THE ‘HOMELESS PERSONS BILL OF RIGHTS, also called AB 5, AMMIANO, AS IT I S CURRENTLY CONFIGURED.

We thank WRAP supporters in San Francisco for their incredible help with the bill’s outreach to homeless folks and the larger population.

We will do everything in our power to help Homeless Persons Bill of Rights to become law in California — to the extent it values and protects people who are or who become, homeless.

This Bill promises to decriminalize or neutralize many segregating rules and laws that were created (or selectively enforced) to control and ostracize homeless people.

For instance, if it passes without losing it’s teeth or guts, vehicle dwellers will be permitted to sleep in their wheeled homes 24/7, as long as they ‘behave’ and their wheels are legal. (Imagine – just like a housed adult can, now.)

The Bill also promises Hygiene Centers (water, etc.!) built to state specs a d funded by Calidornia.

If it is passed, the Lodging Law will again pertain to actual lodgers instead of the (current) opposite, and ordinances like the ugly City of Santa Cruz camping ban, 636.010, will presumably die.

I feel the Homeless Persons Bill of Rights is challenging the bigoted status quo and it’s supporters. I’m doubtful it can pass unless most of the people who are homeless find out and get behind it.

Pass it on!
On behalf of Occupy Santa Cruz and
Housing NOW! In Santa Cruz

lighthouse Linda

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

City council mtg. This Tues.

Keith McHenry coming April 14th

SC11 needs to meet, those interested should call

423-4833

… death statement has been posted online

with the notes for Feb 16th, 2013 GA

WORKING GROUP REPORTS

Sanctuary Camp. April 6th planning mtg.  Initial

mtg. will be held @ SubRosa Café 2 noon on Feb 27th

Discussion of possible sites:  Clock tower is proposed

Mar 21st- Gary Johnson appeal

for his “lodging” conviction will b held at 4PM dept. 5

: suggest Site next to county bldg.

: Get support from other cities,

:  plan 4 wen cops come

Necessity defense 4 homeless ppl only

: Sycamore grove location?

– video,4 homeless issues

– supports commercial

DISCUSSION: The need is clear–don’t need Support from r-wing groups

: make a flyer 4 outreach?

: make presentation 2 WILPF

: go 2 city council & give intention

: police Can decide 2 enforce any of a number of laws.

Ppl don’t want homeless here at All

: proposes meeting some city electeds

: right 2 not b hassled

-set up steering committee

will make flyer

: county bldg. prop & stand against drug war

: ppl need a safe place 2 B

180/180 no landlord is going 2 rent 2 inebriate

Flyer–

Working Group: on Wed.noon-Sub Rosa

Reaffirms Vote from Feb 16 to allocate: $50 for flyers

–Notes

Notes edited 4/4/2013 – per a request to remove one name, *all* names removed.

Quick notes:

Announcements:  

1. Topic of discussion for next Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) Santa Cruz meeting will be 180/180 plan for housing the chronic homeless.  HUFF plans to flyer at the event.  Tuesday, Quaker Meeting House, check for time (7PM?)
2. Stop Keystone XL Pipeline of Canadian tar sands oil to the US!  National demonstration on global climate catastrophe.  Sunday, Feb 17, demos in SF and Monterey, noon-2PM. Carpools/caravan to SF available 10 AM at Scotts Valley transit center.
3. Presidents’ Day NO DRONES rally.  Santa Cruz, clocktower, 3-5PM.
4. Santa Cruz 11 Support.  Contact Robert
5. Occupy Movie Night/Open Mic.  Contact Raven

Announcements/Working Group Reports

1. Move to Amend formed a local chapter in Santa Cruz.  ”Corporations Are Not People.  Money Is Not Speech.”  See movetoamend.org
2. Keith McHenry, co-founder of Food Not Bombs, invited to speak in Santa Cruz.  (March or April)  Process of schedule coordination and event planning has been started.  Next FNB meeting will be Tuesday, 5 PM, Max House.

Announcements

please add your announcements in comments section

Occupier seeking court support for car impoundment due to speeding ticket, driving without registration because of inability to pay the ticket, etc.  This is part of the “war on the poor” tactic to get revenue in whatever way possible in a post-Proposition 13 California, where the rich do not pay their fair share of taxes, so it falls to the poor to pay disproportionately more in fees for minor offenses.  Court date this Wednesday morning, time TBA.  Contact Raven.

See indybay.org/santa cruz for story of another occupier fined for “sitting within 14 feet of a building” while cop-watching in downtown Santa Cruz, author: brent is found guilty

Agenda

Discussion on needle exchange program, lack of transparency in public decision-making by Santa Cruz City Council.  Those interested in doing research and publicizing the “target the homeless” aspects of this issue contact Robert.

Food Not Bombs.  Proposal to have the next GA on Saturday, February 9, 5PM, post office steps, and continue at that day and time weekly.  Consensus.  This will coincide with FNB weekly meal service.  The feelings expressed by the group were that the FNB meal has had a lot of energy, was a direct action that Occupy Santa Cruz supports, and has a celebratory atmosphere.  Also generally agreed that the GA time and day may change in future depending on whether there is interest and whether it “works” to have a meal served at the same time.

Adjournment

Inspirational minute

We are here.

Agenda

Food Not Bombs servers warned by authorities of alleged trespass on Federal property yesterday (Saturday, January 19). Consensus of Occupy Santa Cruz to support Food Not Bombs servers in whatever way their collective sees as appropriate.  Next FNB meeting scheduled this Tuesday.

Bill Monning public event.  Scheduled for Thursday, January 24, at the legislator’s offices in the Santa Cruz County Building. 4 PM?–time unsure. Hope expressed for an Occupy Santa Cruz presence, attempt to demonstrate our solidarity with Linda Lemaster in her campaign against the California “Lodging Law” 647(e) under which she has been convicted and other Occupy Movement folks are still facing charges across California.  No action taken.

Occupy Open Mic at SubRosa.  Plan to initiate theme night to recur monthly, perhaps on first Thursday of each month 8PM.  Request for help–input of ideas.  Contact Raven.

Announcements

Santa Cruz 11 arraignment: Tuesday, January 22, 8:15 AM.  Three defendants’ court date.  Arraignment on three remaining charges.  Please come out to support if you can.

Other announcements, add your comments (sorry folks, “non-notes” from memory again;)

Apologies again, notes from memory (please add yours in comments section)

Agenda: 

1. Discussion of Occupy Ashland.  Four campaigns, including “decriminalization of sleep,” “Move to Amend”– about fighting the Citizens United Supreme Court decision allowing unlimited corporate campaign contributions, anti-GMO, and anti-foreclosure.  Question about local contact for Move to Amend, does anyone have any info about this?  Please let us know, pass it on.