Special thanks to journalists Vinnie and Bradley for braving the near-freezing weather at midnight last night to report on the Robert Wagner vigil. Eduardo, the Latino police bear, featurned above, also expressed his appreciation.

We began our St. Louis-style funeral march to the accompaniment of “Big Barrel� Brent’s steady beat and the gentle wail of Joe Breakfast on sax in front of Borders Book Store. The two knew Robert Wagner and readily agreed to forsake their usual downtown gig to fuel the memorial procession. About 13 of us “took� Pacific Avenue as we made our way to City Hall--with the few onlookers out on that cold night either interested or supportive and a few cars behind us honking impatiently.

“Memorial Vigil for the Freezing and Frozen� read one hand-held sign. “Cold,
Dying, --and still a Sleeping Ban?� read another. At City Hall, we were joined by more folks, who'd heard the word on the street. Around 11 PM, Jumbogumbo Joe Schultz (formerly co-owner and master chef of India Joze, now a caterer and instructor) provided luxury leftovers including cordon bleu, smoked sturgeon, jumbalaya, and shrimp a-plenty.

Stormstreaker Steffan and Tio Nicho added poetry and passion to the evening.

At City Hall, the Planning Commission was holding hearings on the Coast Hotel boondoggle--the Rotkin Council’s proposed $22 million development megalith. The chambers were packed, and some vigilers added their “End the Sleeping Ban� signage to the décor as well as speaking against massive gentrification developments while the Rotkin Council was too cheap or timid to fork over a fraction of that sum for a homeless campground or warming station.

Dark horse Council candidate Coral Brune also made an appearance along with Greathearted Gregory Montoya Montoya called Commission members on their smirking when Human Rights Organization activist "Bashful" Bernard Klitzner reminded the Commission that there were people dying while they greased the wheels for another rich man's project.


Clearview Court residents, recently divested of their “rent control in perpetuity� by Rotkin and the four other hold-over Council members, were there speaking out against the hotel and parking lot development.

Long-time community activist Ralph Myberg came outside and spoke at length with the vigilers, though he had few encouraging answers. I asked why working class and poor people should ally with stand-pat homeless-aphobic West Side residents,. We both oppose the hotel, but the north of Mission St. gentry have been largely silent or hostile to the homeless human rights struggle the last few years.

Audio tape on the vigil, some memories of Robert Wagner, Myberg’s analysis, and related commentary will be aired over Free Radio Santa Cruz Sunday 9:30-10:30 AM, and then archived at www.huffsantacruz.org.

Mayor Mike Rotkin was invited to attend the vigil, but declined to return a phone call.

Those interested in holding the City Council and its backers accountable might look to noon December 10th when Rotkin and mayors from three other cities are scheduled to gather in front of the County Building to celebrate “Human Rights Day�. Bring your rights with you; they won’t be provided free.

NOTE TO READER: As you read this sensitive and caring article from the Sunday Sentinel, remember that the Sentinel barely reported the 37 homeless deaths a year ago (our count was 43). Nor is there any mention of whether Wagner had a blanket at the time he died. Use of such a blanket is illegal under MC 6.36.010 section B. The article does not mention whether Wagner had availed himself of the emergency shelter services of the ISSP program. The ISSP does not accept inebriated individuals. The city's Homeless Issues Task Force of 2001 issued a recommendation calling for a "wet" shelter where those currently suffering from substance addiction can find shelter. That recommendation, along with 26 others, was dumped by the Santa Cruz City Council. The council currently refuses to place reform of the Sleeping Ban and Blanket Ban on the city council agenda despite major lobbying by advocacy groups to do so. --- Becky Johnson



FROM THE SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL
December 5, 2004


Robert Wagner, 58, died of exposure during cold spell
By TOM RAGAN
Sentinel staff writer

Visit "the otherpress" section on SC-IMC to read the article.

santacruz.indymedia.org/otherpress/display/349/index.php