San Jose Homeless Sweep Creates New Dangers
^Care Courts will solve nothing, except to create a new class of drug addicts, to make people see why they have to avoid the shelters, as they are internment camps, and to give the Democrats more of these Mental Health and Social Workers to vote for them.
^ a good article!
Resistance needs to be organized, people need to know how to fight this on the ground, and in court.
I would say refuse to tell the cops anything which goes beyond the immediate situation. Say, "I've been instructed by a civil attorney to never talk about anything beyond the immediate situation, never to talk about anything which gets to constructing a biography on me, because I may be taking some actions in the civil court to redress historical wrongs."
This might infuriate police as they are not used to people standing up to them. But let them arrest you whatever. And same for a judge and same for any of these Social, Mental, and Behavioral Health Workers. Try to not even be in the same room with them.
So tell them nothing, and just face them down, and you should be able to avoid drugging, which is the the most important. And if they talk about shelter or any other programs, "I have been ordered to give no response at all."
They never really have anything on you unless you discuss your biography with them. And anyone who lives on the street has already had their biography nullified.
And when they try to put words into your mouth do not take the bait, just stick to your own line. If unhoused never affirm it, and resit any temptation to plead for pity. This is what talking to them really amounts to.
Anyway, this needs to be organized by lawyers. And we need to set up safe houses and an underground railroad.
Our jails are always full to capacity with all the Drug and Domestic Violence cases. What they can really do to people who defy the Care Court will be limited. We need to resist in mass, and we need to prepare people for this. And we need to shut down the Los Angeles County Street Drugging Team.
Newsom Signs Bill to Allow Homeless to Keep Emotional Support Dogs in Shelters, Hertzberg SB-774
Is Orange County Gutting Local Homeless Resources Needed by CARE Court? VOICE of OC
California’s CARE Court: A Step in the Right Direction or ‘Terrifying’ Step Backwards? VOICE of OC
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria in Netherlands studying bike lanes as homeless crisis grows
San Francisco sued by homeless demanding affordable housing
Cities can’t prohibit the homeless from using blankets or pillows on public property, court rules
Homeless Advocates Sue San Francisco To End Homeless Encampment Sweeps
Crisis Intervention Teams have advantages over CARE courts
”
Debates about Gov. Gavin Newsom’s CARE Courts program have raged across the state in recent months. A major point of contention is whether Californians with mental health challenges will be helped or hurt by being pushed into the legal system.
In Portland, Oregon, there is a different approach that has proven successful for many years.
Crisis Intervention Teams (CITs) (Mobile Crisis Services) work with local crisis centers to “provide people in mental health crisis the care they need instead of incarceration” …. “Community Mental Health Programs in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies have established CIT programs across the state to de-escalate crisis situations involving individuals with serious mental illness.”
CITs Mobile Services respond to a mental health crisis in the community, with police normally already at the scene. The Mobile Services deescalates the situation–without using force–to get the person in crisis to agree to go to a crisis center and avoid being booked by the police.
”
”
CITs assure that most folks being dropped off in a mental health emergency don’t end immediately up in jail or in court because of their medical condition. CITs aren’t a panacea. The people helped often came back later in another crisis because their living circumstances hadn’t changed and homelessness is a permanent crisis if you’re homeless.
”
”
CARE Courts force people into a treatment program and apply penalties for non-compliance “…, the consequences for being found “non-compliant” with a CARE plan or not attending court hearings are serious: a possible referral to Lanterman- Petris-Short Act (conservatorship) proceedings with a presumption that there is no suitable community-based alternative for the person.
This creates a direct route to conservatorship – a legal determination that deprives a person of the right to choose where to reside, to make medical decisions, to vote, to decide social and sexual contacts and relationships, and other fundamental rights.
This is a strategy for assuring people comply with mental health treatment programs, but in my opinion, it is needlessly punitive and not based on proven effective treatment strategies.
”
”
The CARE Courts will throw Californians already suffering from several life crises into an unfriendly and intimidating system, when what people in crisis need is compassion and help.
”
It is remarkable the number of people that have gone along with Care Courts even though it is so obvious that it is just wrong.