FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NOVEMBER 29, 2018

SANTA ROSA CA

CONTACT: KATHLEEN FINIGAN, HOMELESS ACTION! (707)480-6201

HOMELESS RETAKING OF CAMPSITE IN ROSELAND FAILS

Threatened with Multiple Serious Charges, Sent into Storm; Belongings under 101 Overpasses Later Destroyed

The attempted retaking of Camp Remembrance in the Roseland neighborhood of Santa Rosa, CA by a group of about 30 homeless people ended after three days.  On Tuesday afternoon, nine police, many park rangers, and other county and agency officials stood over campers for hours as they disassembled their shelters and hauled loads of their things away. Most moved to a nearby library and waited under the eaves, discussing where to go and hoping the weather would change. Some eventually made their way back to the 101 overpasses downtown, hoping to pass part of the winter there, like last year.

The Camp Remembrance property is owned by the county, who claims they cleared the camp to begin construction. Yet two nearby businesses that also have to be closed still operate as usual, and both plan to stay open an estimated six months longer. Steve Singleton, a leader of the effort, said, “They told us they would throw the book at us, that we’d get all kinds of charges if we stayed. We didn’t mind trespassing charges, but we can’t go to jail for a long time.” Others agreed.

Singleton has PTSD, and shouldn’t go into shelters; others have severe anxiety, bipolar disease, or refuse to go into Sam Jones shelter because of bad experiences. Homeless Action! estimates that about 40% of those on the streets should not be in warehouse-type shelters because of physical and/or mental disabilities. Police insist instead that everyone should go into a shelter– which is the tenuous legal position the​ city and county are taking in the federal lawsuit filed against them by local homeless people earlier this year. One police manager told a camper he could get “an upper bunk” at the shelter to take care of his mental condition, or he could ask for a “partition.”

Jennielynn Holmes of Catholic Charities said there was space at Sam Jones shelter for all the campers who wanted to go there, but some who went were rejected.  Rose, a 72 year old Native American woman, got to the shelter, but was told she would have to go across town the next day to the Catholic Charities intake office to apply for admission. Rose, crying and angry, got help from her daughter to push and drag the bin containing her belongings to under Highway 101 at College Avenue for the night.

In public statements, county officials accused activists of fomenting the campers’ action, but activists found out about it after the move had already started. Some volunteers drove back from Paradise, CA, where Homeless Action! Members were helping with fire refuges, to help with the police and the support needed during sweeps.  Homeless Action! co-founder Adrienne Lauby said, ”The county doesn’t want the public to know that desperate, angry homeless people planned and did this all by themselves, just like they’ve done in Oakland and San Jose. The truth doesn’t jive with their constant lie that all their homelessness problems are caused by a small group of crazy activists.”

The day after the sweep, Rose left her purse, camping gear, clothes, personal identification and papers, and jewelry in her bin, stored neatly off the walkway under the 101 overpass, while she ate and did chores. At about 1 PM, witnesses saw city police seize everything she owned and take it away in a truck. Steve Singleton lost all his possessions while he was gone in the same way, as did several others. Sergeant Jonathan Wolf of downtown homeless enforcement did not return calls as of the next morning asking for information. Police administration said later in the afternoon after the seizure that they had no record that the city seized and destroyed anyone’s belongings, and they didn’t know where anything was or if anything could be saved. Campers searched with little hope in nearby dumpsters, in the slim hope they might contain their things.

Contact: Kathleen Finigan  (707)480-6201

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A friend of mine, Jonathan Wolf, just turned on me. Attacked my character, accused and intimated I was engaging in conspiracy and immoral acts, and was in general barky and babyish. If we had done a logic dance-off at any point, first graders would’ve laughed at the way he was thinking. Right after we hadn’t seen each other in awhile, he told me I had 3 minutes before I was going to be messed with majorly. He caught me by surprise. I was like OK OK, YO– so that doesn’t work for me. So he gives me 10 minutes. Then he gives me 3 again. Then 30, In two plus hours, I was castigated, accused, and had to endure an assertive rudeness. All while I was forced to do a lot of hard work. In the rain, which came down in pails. At the time, I tried to restrict myself to comments about how rude he was being; I lost it a little here and there, mostly about the rudeness itself. 

With most friends, that means a pause in their usual routine of hanging out and playing pool. But our friendship began from our work relationship at encampments that he’s scattering. He is the police officer in charge on site; I represent the campers and their needs.

If it goes well with Jonathan, we are clear and helpful for the suffering people we impose upon. They get the time they need to move, and the police help with the this-and-that people need, like storage and transportation and phone calls. Other government agencies are involved healthily. If it goes poorly, as it did yesterday, many ill events can occur for others.

So when he turned on me yesterday, it hurt my feelings, and scared me for my friends. It wasn’t just toward me; Jonathan Wolf turned his back on others he formerly treated with dignity and respect.

I want my friend Jonathan Wolf back: his politeness, his politesse, his clarity and consistency. I don’t care what he’s done. It’s true that he destroyed all worldly goods of at least 4 people, and destroyed many other’s people goods partially on September 28, 2018. I’m sorry that I was obligated to say to you in public that we hold the police severally and individually liable when such acts are perpetrated, and I’m sorry that I have to repeat it occasionally. You don’t have to take it so seriously. As you said, people “threaten” you like that all the time. Why let it affect our relationship? I didn’t mean anything by it; we just need you to stop that blatant disrespect for private property and due process, whether or not your bosses have figured out how stupid and dishonest it is.

We have a good relationship still, as far as I’m concerned. I don’t take the things you told me yesterday seriously. Governments and their idiots come and go. I know you to be a good man, and temperate.

For the sake of the poor whom we both serve, please accord us the dignity and respect our humanity deserves. We will be better able to get the basic life services we need, and you will do your master’s bidding with far more safety and far less pain. Yesterday, we were the enemy; while we worked, scattered from unused public land, you and yours stood a few yards distant for hours, in clumps, catching up and relaxing. Tomorrow, be our friend again; help us again.