Sleep is a Crime in Santa Cruz
Ask Tony Madrigal Why ?

The City’s Sleeping Ban law--MC 6.36.010a affects 1500-2000 homeless, only 160 of which have any emergency shelter tonight. The rest face $90* fines, midnight wake-ups in freezing weather, police searches, jail & an arrest record for failure to appear in court, & dispersal from the safety of sleeping in groups. Santa Cruz law sets impossible conditions for those outside (no sleep or covering up with blankets 11 PM – 8:30 AM on any public property).

While running for office in 2004, Councilmember Tony Madrigal committed himself to reexamining this anti-homeless law. After one public meeting on the issue with the Human Rights Organization, Madrigal refused to state his position on the law. He declined to sponsor or support even minor modifications of the law (such as allowing a family in a vehicle to sleep more than three nights in a private driveway with the owner’s permission per month). When the audio tape showing his contradictory position was played on Free Radio Santa Cruz, he declined to meet with the HRO again.

Madrigal’s response when the issue is raised publicly is to shake hands, smile, and hurry on to the next subject. With winter weather setting in and the death toll rising, there is one last City Council meeting (Tuesday December 13) at 3 PM. Mayor Mathews has eliminated the evening session, set the only public comment period at a time uncertain, and plans no second session in December to address the Human Rights crisis for the homeless, particularly painful during the winter. Madrigal has taken no action here either.

If Madrigal opposes torture, let him take some action where he has the power to do so: How about public hearings on SCPD use of tasers, a suspension of the SCPD drug war which fills our County jail, and an emergency suspension of the Sleeping Ban over the winter? How about a “just eviction� protection law defending renters?

Call Madrigal at 420-5028 and ask him to call back with some answers.