Four Minutes Worth of Reasons Why We Need To Dump the Kennedy Council

Expanded Speech to UCSC Community at the Santa Cruz City Candidate Forum 10-28-04

My name is Robert Norse. I've been a FRSC radio broadcaster for 10 years in Santa Cruz. Just left my show tonight. I focus on the Santa Cruz City Council's denial of basic rights to poor and homeless people. Hence the bathrobe and teddy bear. There's no legal place for 1500-2000 people to sleep; emergency shelter for only 40 of them. The infamous Sleeping Ban.

The names Robert Norse (and that of my running mate Coral Brune) will not appear on the ballot. To vote for us, write in Norse and Brune one the lines below the other candidates.

All four incumbents are running again, well-funded with posters all over town. These politicians gutted the only rent control Santa Cruz had--for De Anza seniors and Clear View Court Latinos. Backed by money and name-recognition, they're more than likely to return to power again next week. That's how elections go: We get expanded ongoing war in Iraq whether Bush or Kerry elbows their way into office. And locally we'll get more war against the poor in Santa Cruz with this bunch.

Send a message. First: Vote for Norse and Brune--and two others--you can vote four four total. Four who haven't been shoveling cash at the police department for the last two years. Second: Stand up for the issues in the months to come. I've been an activist writing, speaking, and organizing for sixteen years here. That won't stop on November 2nd.

We've seen heavy rains. Winter is coming. Last year there were over 40 preventable homeless deaths in Santa Cruz County. Under the Kennedy Council, it's been a crime in Santa Cruz to sleep after 11 PM at night, to cover up with a blanket. To put up a tent against the elements. Our fight against that law and other laws that criminalize the homeless and poor, including a massive lawsuit will go on night-after-night, month-after-month. Go to www.huffsantacruz.org for more details

On November 3rd, there'll still be torture at Guantanamo and U.S. bombing of Iraqi civilians in Falluja. And there'll still be war on the poor in Santa Cruz. A vastly-overfunded SCPD will continue to roam the downtown streets, sidewalks, and beaches, unnecessarily hassling hippies, students, bicylists, and musicians. I hope you'll go on line to www.santacruzcopwatch.org to learn how to fight back against police misconduct.

For the next year, you can expect no meaningful community access to the city council agenda. No protections for critics trying to present their opinions at City Council. No medical marijuana distribution center in the City. No strong protections against "Patriot Act" style invasions like Arcata and Palo Alto have voted. No independent check on an entrenched and insulated bureaucracy. No alternative to City-Manager-for-life Dick Wilson and City-Attorney-Of-the-Deep-Pockets John Barisone.

These powerful men need to be replaced along with Mayor Kennedy's entire City Council. We need competitive examination for their positions--and public input--as there should have been for the police chief, as there should be for the new Sheriff.

How do we make these changes? We ask for them quietly, reasonably, articulately. Then, we are ignored--as has been the case repeatedly for the last decade, we insist on being heard; we speak up more loudly; we protest; we march; we take peaceful direct action. Passivity and silence lead to disaster. To stop the international murder and to stop the prospective drafting of students in the illegal Iraqi War by either the Bush or Kerry Administrations, we cannot put our faith in politicians. Soothing election eve words are followed by quiet sell-out--as in the case of Dean and Kucinch.

In Santa Cruz we must use strong voices and peaceful direction action. That's the way to restore justice for renters and youth in Santa Cruz, to stop the endless gentrification,

For the specifics on the sordid record of the Kennedy Council check out www.santacruz.indymedia.org and google for their names (Reilly, Kennedy, Porter, and Primack). Dump the Kennedy Council

Vote for Norse and Brune for justice at Clear View Court and De Anza Mobile Home Parks. Vote for Norse and Brune for city-wide rent control and protection against eviction. Vote for Norse and Brune to tax and discourage real estate profiteering, and big development giveaways. Vote for us to restore democracy at City Council. Stop the Kennedy Council's stifling of dissent and gagging of critics under the guise of "decorum" rules. Stop the lavish grants for the police department--encouraging them to harass the young, the poor, and the homeless downtown under the "Don't Sit", "Don't Sparechange", "Don't Table", "Don't Perform" laws that put 80+% of the sidewalks off-limits to public use.

Vote OUT the four incumbents.