Across America, businesses in economic decline increasingly turn toward repressive methods to banish homeless people from near their businesses. As homeless people have no other choice than to sleep out or camp out, conflicts arise. In Santa Cruz, California, a resort community on the north end of Monterrey Bay, homeless activists confront downtown business owners who are using police like a private security force to enforce unpopular and possibly unconstitutional ordinances selectively applied to poor people, homeless people, and to their advocates.

http://beckyjohnsononewomantalking.blogspot.com/2009/07/move-along-law-p...

August 7, 2009

by Becky Johnson

Santa Cruz, Ca. USA -- While Santa Cruz enjoys a liberal reputation in much of the world, the Downtown Business community is in sharp contrast. They support MC 6.36.010 section a & b which outlaw the act of sleeping at night out of doors on both public and private property within the City limits. Section b outlaws the use of a blanket out of doors at night.

Under former Mayor Emily Reilly, the City passed an ordinance which requires political tables (regulated as non-commercial display devices) to "move-along" every hour and not allowed to return to the same location for 24 hours. The ordinance was introduced by Cynthia Mathews, a councilmember at the time. Mathews is Santa Cruz' current mayor.

Recently, HUFF (Homeless United for Freedom and Friendship)activists have been tabling in front of Bunny's Shoes and have been forced to Move-along under police pressure.
The link below shows a past protest against the Pacific Trading Company and where HUFF activist, Mathew Hartough civily resists efforts by police to "Move-along" our political table.

http://beckyjohnsononewomantalking.blogspot.com/2009/07/move-along-law-p...