Time to take a meaningful stand

Join us on Saturdays!

We meet every Saturday, 2 to 3pm at the FireFly Coffee House located at 131 Front St. in Santa Cruz.

Current discussion on the Downtown Commission's review, now in progress, of the Downtown Ordinances. Soon to be sent back to the City Council. What can we do to make our appeal for civil rights heard while it is open to public review and comment?

The callousness of the Santa Cruz City Downtown Ordinances that restrict space and time that a citizen can occupy within the city limits is an attack on civil rights. The target being the homeless, the poor, the youth and anyone else deemed undesirable by local business and elitist homeowners. These regulations, created to control the streets and sidewalks for those in power (wealth is power), is a failure of leadership within the city council to consider our common humanity. With meaningful goals in place powerful interests opposed to equal rights can be deflected It should be up to all of our citizens to say to the City Leaders, the Police, and the City Manager what they want done and what principles to follow.

The harsh methods of enforcement and selective use by local police have many considering downtown Santa Cruz a mini police state. These laws make it so that a homeless person has no legal place to sleep in public. Fear of police enforcement discourages our homeless residents from sleeping in groups. Outside of a group, women, children and other vulnerable individuals are more at risk for crimes against them.

Feel free to peruse our website, and send us an email with any questions or comments!

Seeking plaintiffs!
Recently the Federal 9th Circuit Court ruled these types of laws as "cruel and unusual punishment" under the 8th amendment. Are you on the road and find yourself an unhappy camper, and unwelcome in Santa Cruz? Are you homeless and being harassed by police for sleeping? Join the lawsuit against these anti-homeless laws. We are looking for persons that have received any of the citations under the Camping Ordinances 6.36.010 (a) (b) or (c). We have significant interest from attorneys who may wish to interview you. Be part of fighting back against these harsh laws.
Email us at info@humanrightsorg.org