Opening of meeting “Go ’round”: Introductions and expectations for meeting

Participants agree to meet for 90 minutes

Presentation of “Sanctuary Camp” as currently envisioned, including references to models that are WORKING in other communities.  Also known as “tent cities” (please add a link in comments section, to the facebook page where there is a community dialogue on this.  Thanks.  I wasn’t taking notes during that initial presentation.)

Discussion (sketches):

• Assertion of Right to Sleep
• Organize for an open dialogue with community at April 6 meeting
• Question: “Who is doing what?”
• Desire to discuss details such as “where” on April 6
• County Government is currently creating a plan for rehousing “early release” prisoners due to prison overcrowding issue
• Desire to see positive use of County funds allocated for Mental Health (could that go into supportive housing?  Could that go into community mental health workers, which might be useful for a community-based sanctuary camp project?)
• Need for discussion of “lessons learned” or best practices from previous camps, such as agreements around drug and alcohol use/non use in camp, responsibilities of campers, curfews, quiet hours, inclusion/exclusion of people (e.g. “locals only”), enforcement of camp rules (including relationship with law enforcement entities), how many people?
• Question: Is this two separate projects?  One short term, another long term?
• Expression of solidarity with fulfillment of immediate needs
• Restatement of desire to discuss details later
• Commitment from one activist to promoting April 6 meeting date by distributing flyers
• Discussion of what info might be on flyer: Gary Johnson court decision to come down March 21, 4 PM, “solidarity with prisoners” rally (also scheduled for April 6), Food Not Bombs meal, Sanctuary Camp Community Meeting
• Desire for next Working Group meeting to be at Louden Nelson (decision moved to end of meeting)
• Opening of discussion of this working group’s decision-making model, with differences outlined but not fully discussed: consensus model, majority vote, autonomy, “dictatorship” (discussion shut down by meeting facilitator… sorry, I didn’t feel we had the time and energy then, uncertain if there might be two working groups moving forward, such as one for camp planning and the other for PR campaign)
• Raising briefly issues of money for porta-potties, connecting with churches
• Ideas regarding “protest camp” versus “sanctuary camp” or is this a false dichotomy: permanent camps have arisen out of protests in the past…
• Need for health services to be provided, including mental health

NEXT STEPS

1. Next Meeting: the community is invited to the Post Office steps at 4 PM this Saturday, March 2, to informally discuss ideas, thoughts, hopes and dreams, campaign strategy, life, and everything over a delicious vegan meal to be provided weekly by Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs.  Occupy Santa Cruz General Assembly follows at 5:30 PM, where discussion and proposals can be decided through the consensus process of OSC.
2. Draft of publicity flyer to be submitted for approval of GA on Saturday (Thank you!)

UPDATE: The next meeting is Thursday 15 November 2012; same time; same place.

What: Food Not Bombs Meeting

Where: TerraGnoma Garden, 1147 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA

When: Thursday 8 Nov 2012 from 6PM until 8PM

Freedom writes:

Howdy ya'll!
Food Not Bombs had our first meeting yesterday October 31 and decided to set up the next meeting for Thursday the 8th, 6pm at TerraGnoma garden. Dinner will be made AFTER the meeting if you are interested in eating please bring something to contribute and/or help prepare. Thank you to all!

What: Food Not Bombs Meeting

Where: Louden Nelson Center, 301 Center Street, Santa Cruz, CA

When: Wednesday 31 October 2012 from 2PM until 3PM

Freedom writes:

Food Not Bombs is looking to reactivate and we need your help. This Wednesday we are gathering outside at Louden Nelson Community Center to discuss preparing meals for the community. The volunteer positions needed are food collecting, preparation/ cooking, serving and cleaning. We can discuss logistics/commitments at the meeting. If you are interested in helping please attend this meeting if possible. If not and you are still interested in volunteering please send a message to keep updated. Thank ya’ll for your works.

Our 1st Amendment Rights Are Under Attack

Did you know that the county building, courthouse, and adjacent areas are closed from 7 PM to 7 AM every evening by administrative fiat?  The curfew was put in place shortly before the Occupy camp and protest were destroyed by police and sheriffs last fall.

The area in front of the courthouse steps on Water Street has historically been a “free speech” zone.  Inspired by global revolutionary movements, the Occupy movement in Santa Cruz used that area to host events, informational tables, a shelter known as the “Occudome,” and place for occupiers to set up tents to bring public attention to the disparity of wealth and political influence between a tiny fraction of the people of the United States and the rest of the population.

Ongoing “political criminal” cases:

Linda Lemaster lodging trial commences soon.  Linda was cited during a peaceful assembly on the courthouse steps in August of 2010.  “Peacecamp2010″ was established to protest the Santa Cruz law that prohibits anyone from sleeping outside in public which is enforced against homeless people sleeping at night.  She was cited under California law PC 647(e) and faces up to six months in jail.  Visit http://hearthbylinda.blogspot.com/ or indybay.org/santacruz for more information and how to support her legal defense.

Isaac Collins hearings are scheduled for November 30, readiness & December 3, pre-trial.  An African-American Occupy activist, he faces felony possession of marijuana charges after being singled out at the 4/20 demonstration at UCSC.  Follow up and support at OccupySantaCruz.org or http://www.indybay.org/santacruz/

Santa Cruz 11 pre-tial hearing scheduled to begin January 7.  Seven activists are still under charges and facing up to seven years in prison for peaceful occupation of a vacant bank building at 75 River Street in Santa Cruz last fall.  Latest information and how to support at http://santacruzeleven.org/

Inform yourself about homeless civil rights in Santa Cruz at http://huffsantacruz.org/

November 15 “Occupy Education” Rally planned, details to follow at http://occupysantacruz.org/

Hi again,

I have hand-lettered artwork for a flyer but I didn’t get to the copy place today.  I don’t know how many we need.  F. offered to invite folks at the drum circle next Wednesday.  If anyone else can distribute flyers, please tell me how many you can use and when you need them.  Also, folks can promote the event online.  It would be great if one of the team would create a facebook event page (see proposed text below).  If no one else steps forward I’ll do an indybay calendar item tomorrow, but that may not represent our collective best effort because I can’t attach a cool flyer (my tools are old-fashioned, not up to date software).

Robert offered to assist creating the message flyer for “END THE CURFEW” and Linda, Isaac, the SC-11, and “Occupy Education” — the flyer we plan to share with passersby on Halloween and table with on Nov. 2 downtown.

Here’s my text:

(less is more –

What: Nonviolence Skills  Education

Where: Resource Center for NonViolence, 612 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, CA

When: 4 Thursdays starting 25 Oct 2012 from 7:00PM until 9:00PM

Four week series on Nonviolence Skills with Peter Klotz-Chamberlin and Project Regeneration’s Irene O’Connell. 7:00 PM at 612 Ocean Street. Strengthen skills and abilities to organize nonviolent action ina mutual learning environment. The study series is based on the book, “Resource Manual for a Living Revolution.” We will include Consensus Decision-Making, Meeting Facilitation, Nonviolent Action Campaign Building, Tools to Grow as Nonviolent Activists. Sliding scale donation, no one turned away for lack of funds.

For more information visit: RCNV Applied Nonviolence Series

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2012/10/18/18724031.php 

Legal Working Group Notes

From: Steve Pleitch on Facebook on Friday 14 Sep2012

I have posted the Grand Jury Complaint that I filed this week. There is also a short article about the complaints that can be read on Santa Cruz Indy Media.

GrandJuryFinal.doc

Statement of Area Solidarity

We affirm the right of our sister Occupations to fight economic injustice using methods of peaceful protest. We make this Declaration of Solidarity and affirm that should the police attempt to forcibly disrupt ANY Occupation within 100 miles radius: we agree to rally at a massed protest organized by the hosting Occupation. We urge all Occupations to sign this Declaration as a show of Solidarity to your area Occupation. An assault to one of us: is an assault to all of us. Power to the peaceful!

http://occupysantacruz.org/statements/statement-of-area-solidarity/

Process

The working group decided to use a relaxed concensus process.

Proposed Agenda

Art Party in San Francisco on Sun 9 Sep 2012

Be-In Kickoff on Fri 14 Sep 2012

Human Be-In in Golden Gate Park on Sat and Sun, 15-16 Sep 2012

OCCUPY 1 Year! Anniversary in San Francisco on Mon 17 Sep 2012

Transportation and Housing for S17

Agenda

• Art Party in SF on S9

OSF is having a sign and protest art making party from 8AM to 2PM. This is a party where people drop by for all or part of the day to make signs, banners, and art for protest in the upcoming S17 event. Supplies are provided. For location contact George or http://occupysantacruz.org/contact/

•  Be-In Kickoff on Fri S14

Hayes Valley Farm, the Free Farm, and Kezar Gardens are all facing eviction.

A San Francisco based organizing collective known as Space TranSFormers invites the public to the Human Be-In 2012. The event is free of charge and will begin w/ live music at 3 PM on Friday, September 14th in Kezar Gardens at 780 Frederick Street.

• Human Be-In in Golden Gate Park, Sat and Sun, S15 and S16

The Human Be-In features a series of workshops and live music. Organizers call it a protest against private concerts on public land, which is why everything is free. It is a gathering to transform space, cultivate community, and to simply ‘be’.

Find the growing schedule of events at http://humanbein.org/

•  S17 — OCCUPY 1 Year!  – San Francisco

All Day – OCCUPY THE BANKS - http://occupyactionsf.org/

5PM – Convergence 555 California St at Kearny

5:30PM — March

6PM — Debt Burning
– Action Reports
– Festival

8PM — Guerrilla Movie

• S17 — Transportation and Housing

Three people are going Friday to the Be-In Kickoff and intend to spend the entire weekend and Monday.

Two people need housing for Saturday night.

Four people need housing for Monday night.

George volunteered to work with Occupy San Francisco to find housing.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned after deciding to communicate by email and call for further meetings on an ad-hoc basis.

___