Occupiers Take Their Message To County Board Of Supervisors

Several members of the Occupy Santa Cruz protest took to the microphone during the County Board Of Supervisors public comment period Tuesday to ask the board to pardon occupiers in San Lorenzo Park who have been cited on the courthouse steps for violating a state ban on sleeping outdoors.

Eight occupiers have received tickets for this violation from sheriff's deputies in the last week.They are facing a maximum sentence of six months in county jail.

A spokesperson for County Administrative Officer Susan Mauriello told Patch last month that the protesters were in violation, but the county was not going to actively enforce it because they respect the right to protest. However they  did not give permission for the occupation to stay there indefinitely.

Casey Livingood, 24, was one of the protesters ticketed. He questioned whether the law defines “lodging” outdoors well enough to cite the protesters for sleeping.

“I asked them if they knew the definition of lodging. They just pointed and said, 'this,'” Linvingood told the board. “It just leads me to believe that our law enforcement officers don't know the definition of what they are being asked by you to enforce.”

Rae London, an unemployed elementary school teacher, also spoke in favor of suspending the law to maintain the protesters first amendment rights to peaceably assemble.

“ On Friday three 20-something youths were cited for sleeping," said London. "These kids could end up being the ones who sit in your seats. It wasn't a big defiant move. It was raining, they were tired, and they fell asleep,”

Supervisor Mark Stone said he did not know if the board had any authority over enforcement of the law because it is a state issue. Supervisor John Leopold echoed that assertion but added he supports the national occupy movement's work in bringing attention to many economic issues.

“Last year we changed the way we do business to work with local banks, and maintained funding last year to serve the most vulnerable,” he said.

In other action, the county spared community programs associated with the Human Care Alliance including the Santa Cruz Aids Project, Homeless Services Center and others who pick up those left behind by the private sector and government assistance from budget cuts in the 2011-12 county budget.

The flat funding this year, however, follows three years of consecutive cuts leaving them with 30 percent less in contributions from the county than they had in 2007.