[GPSCC-chat] homeless feeding and action(s)

[Jim Doyle]

Mike Fischetti sent an email:

hi
an opportunity for the green party occupy to participate
many groups are represented

i am participating on behalf of "hope's corner" which is a Saturday 
feeding program
for hungry and homeless at trinity methodist 1 block from mountain view 
city hall.

we serve about 80-100 and many of our clients - individuals and families 
- sleep and
shower at cubberly . the palo alto city council is wanting to pass and 
ordinance
making sleeping in you car illegal

see below on plans for 7/28 and 8/5
mike

        as you may know the palo alto city council is proceeding with 
consideration
of an ordinance banning the homeless from sleeping in their cars!   this 
is especially
aimed at those at cubberly in palo alto  where many sleep in their cars 
or in the open
and use the early am showers (many to be presentable at work).

        where should they go? they plan to offer social services -- a 
sham -- the lists are
already years out and the supply of housing is woefully inadequate.  
there are 7000
nitely homeless of which 700 are veterans.

       26 of 28 speakers at a policy committee 2 weeks ago spoke 
articulately against
the ordinance but the 3 council members on that committee blithely 
passed the ordinance
on to the whole council for consideration.

      about 70 met last saturday at the Unitarian unilateralist church 
in palo alto,  many
homeless shared their stories.

      last nite a dozen of us met there and formulated a plan as 
outlined below

      it is likely that the palo alto council will consider the 
ordinance on august 5th - in the
short interval we plan to demonstrate opposition and to garner publicity 
(notifying the press etc) with 2 actions
                     1. 7/28  an evening meal and a sleep in (cars or 
otherwise) at cubberly
                     2. 8/5 at 4 pm a rally at city hall plaza and a 
tent in overnight

      the next meeting of the group is this saturday at the Unitarian 
universalist church
on Charleston in palo alto at 2 pm

      perhaps you would like to be at that meeting

      i will keep you posted

mike