Direct Recording Electronic machines, (DRE) or touch-screen technology is rapidly replacing the paper ballots hand-marked by voters. However, DRE technology has raised questions about the reliability of this method unless it has a verifiable paper trail. Stanford Professor David Dill added his voice to the rising concerns of computer scientists and professors. Dill's concerns include the possibility of programming errors, equipment malfunctioning and malicious tampering.

Concerned citizens are also joining the fray. Recently, Maureen and Michael Smith of Aptos have begun an educational public campaign regarding safeguards necessary for electronic voting.

[ Resolution on Electronic Voting ]

Our colorful living town has become so f*cking sterile!!! As I walk down the mall downtown today I am struck by the total sterility. Not a single musician in site or sound. No kids hanging out, no creativity...

This coming Saturday, July 19th, 1:30PM at Cooper and Pacific Ave. Swami X will be appearing to give tarot card readings as a fund-raiser for Mayor Emily Reilly's re-election campaign. Bubble-blowers, frisbee tossers, hacky-sackers, and chalkers are most welcome indeed!!

We might as well test as many of these stupid laws as possible---and how else, but in a massive show of civil disobedience which may not "move-along" after 1 hour. For more info: Call HUFF at 423-HUFF

Full Story and Flyer for Saturday

Repression of the First Ammendment is rising on Pacific Ave. On Monday June 30th, two Downtown-For-All activists were ticketed for playing a video on the street in front of the Pacific Trading Company. A third man got a ticket for "sitting on" the recently adjusted Walnut St. planter. On Sunday July 6th, two men were arrested while distributing literature on Pacific Avenue. Both had their literature tables, signs, and literature confiscated by the police and taken in as evidence of their supposed crime.

While being filmed by fellow activists, both Steve Argue and Matt Hartogh refused to move their political table and refused to sign a ticket when asked to do so. Steve Argue instead cited the right to free speech under the First Amendment to the Constitution and pointed out that the Santa Cruz City Council and the arresting officers were the ones who were actually in violation of the law.

[ Police Shut Down Video Screening I Political Tablers Arrested I Resisting the "Move Along" ]

 

Man arrested for juggling three lemons! Our "liberal, progressive" city council has outlawed bubble-blowing, frisbee toss, hacky-sacking, and hopscotch. Music and political tables are limited to 1 hour per day (in one location) and the locations available must be 10 feet from a building, crosswalk, intersection, kiosk, fence, telephone, drinking fountain, and 50 feet from an ATM! Police are arresting people for feeding the birds and for failing to "move-along." Now, the DA is putting together a list and photo album of "chronic offenders" who will be banished entirely on threat of arrest from Pacific Ave. Our wonderful town has been turned into a police state run by the merchants. The first amendment is moribund. Call Mayor Reilly at 420-5020 and voice your concern!

[ Arrested for Juggling I Privatization on Pacific Ave. I Betrayal by City Council ]

During a one week period a couple of weeks ago, John Maurer was given four different citations by the Santa Cruz Police Department, including one for having a sign on his hat saying
"Fuck the Pigs (Police)" while panhandling. As this was the second citation for the same offense, he faces possible misdemeanor charges on the second infraction. In neither case was the offensive sign or language used while soliciting anyone for money.

In a state report investigating the cause of the New Orleans disaster, Louisiana officials have concluded that the cause was levees that were allowed to fall into disrepair by the federal agencies that were entrusted with their care.

This is the complete statement concerning "CIA torture flights" read by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, this morning, December 5, 2005 as transcribed by the US State Department.

On the Judicial Branch

Have you heard about this yet?

In a resounding gesture of humanitarian internationalism, CITGO, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA, began shipping 12 million gallons of discounted home-heating oil for 45,000 low-income families’ and local social service organizations in Massachusetts the week of Nov. 27.

A similar program began in the Bronx this week and preliminary discussions regarding possible CITGO heating oil subsidies are taking place in Maine and other parts of the U.S. where deadly cold weather is a factor.

On November 30, 2005, Santa Cruz was declared as a "World City Against the Death Penalty" by Santa Cruz Mayor, Mike Rotkin. Santa Cruz is one of more than 300 cities worldwide calling for an end to the death penalty.

About thirty people came to Santa Cruz City Hall to protest the planned execution of Stanley "Tookie" Williams and speak out against the death penalty. David Sweet introduced local activists including Ray Glock-Gruenich, Darrell Darling, Betsy Fairbanks, Emily Malony, Wanda Conaway-Knight, Sandino Gomez and Kenny Swain.

Sandino Gomez of the Watsonville Brown Berets, the Resource Center for Nonviolence's Youth Empowerment Coordinator and 'The Global Local' host on Freak Radio Santa Cruz did not have any prepared statements and speaks his heart when it comes to matters like this. Sandino was born and raised in Santa Cruz. He discusses some of his experiences of racism growing up and going to school in Santa Cruz as well as the racial and class prejudice within the entire judicial system, dysfunctional democracy in the US and failed imperialist attempts to "bring democracy" to Iraq and other parts of the world.