Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz ‘Stay Away’ Law Banishes the Homeless

Features   Uncategorized
New stay-away law targets the poor, people of color and the unemployed. It is a not so thinly veiled effort to drive away “undesirables.” “This new law is designed to punish and exclude homeless people without the need to go to court and actually prove a crime,” said Robert Norse.

Gimme Shelter!

Features   Uncategorized
The 2013 Homeless Census and Survey reported that about 3,500 men, women and children are unsheltered in Santa Cruz County every night. That number is acknowledged by the census takers themselves to be underestimated by as much as 50 percent! Fewer than 700 shelter beds are available in the entire county.

A Plan to Establish Homeless Courts in Santa Cruz

Features   Uncategorized
The time is right for a new holistic approach to justice that enables homeless people to lead fulfilling lives in their community. Whether it is in the name of social justice or criminal justice or restorative justice, the Homeless Court program will advance human justice for those in our city experiencing homelessness.

Moratorium on Sleeping Ban Gains Support from ACLU in Santa Cruz

Features   Uncategorized
Rough sleepers and homeless activists believe the camping ban is a bad law because it criminalizes public nighttime sleeping, a necessity to survive. Outdoor sleeping is banned everywhere in Santa Cruz. Housing NOW believes that because this law is part of a system used to criminalize homelessness, it is unconstitutional.

Activist Linda Lemaster Convicted of Illegal Lodging

News
Homeless advocate Linda Lemaster asked, “Is Santa Cruz County still under the Constitution that we think of as the lead legal document of our land, where people — even if they happen to be homeless — have certain civil rights, and even some human rights are acknowledged in our constitution?”

The Santa Cruz Eleven Are Political Scapegoats

Opinion
After protesters occupied a vacant bank building in Santa Cruz, the district attorney wildly over-reacted and began prosecuting media workers, community activists and caregivers whose work seems to be more reportorial than conspiratorial. This makes it appear that the Occupy Movement was the real target of the district attorney.

Arrested for ‘Sleepcrimes’ at Peace Camp in Santa Cruz

Features
Laying down for the right to sleep is dangerous in Santa Cruz. The jurors found all but one of these “sleep criminals” guilty. Actually, it was a homeless man’s dog who was found not guilty. When the courts have criminalized sleeping by the poor, how can anyone sleep well tonight?