homeland security: thought police in Arcata

Homeland Security:
Thought Police in our Community
"We have to be alert to religious orders, gangs, animal rights activists, whatever group is making a statement."[emphasis added]
-Kent Bradshaw, police chief of Fortuna, quoted in the Times-Standard (2/27/05), "On Guard: Homeland Security specialists volunteer to help keep North Coast safe."
The first group listed as "identified" by "government documents," and insinuated to be engaged in "planned violence" is Earth First!, followed by the Earth Liberation Front, and the Animal Liberation Front. Of course, none of these groups EVER hurt anybody and all adhere to the philosophy of non-violence. What they all have in common is that they are making a statement that dissents against the dominant paradigm of violence and destruction.
North Coast Earth First! advocates non-violent direct action, the cornerstone of the foundation that democracy is built on. To criminalize civil disobedience is to attempt to silence the voice of the people.
"Everyone has an idea of what terrorism is, what a terrorist looks like."
-Enoch Ibarra, a counter-terrorism instructor
who volunteers with the Fortuna Police Department
quoted in same article
...of course we do, we’ve all seen images of Timothy McVeigh, clean-cut, military style; we’ve all seen images of American GI’s abusing Iraqis at Abu Gharab or shooting up vehicles full of unarmed families with children at checkpoints; we know what Henry Kissinger looks like, as do the authorities trying to press charges on him for human rights violations and war crimes in other countries; but how can we discern these terrorists from every other honest, well-meaning citizen that we see everyday?
Let us not be set upon each other like dogs in a dogfight, while politicians, militarists, and social engineers moderate the spectacle, all the while enriching themselves off the calamity and tragedy.

what the...???

What the ?!#%?
Amid all the hype about "the homeless problem" and the trashing of the plaza and downtown area, Arcata's economic development committee approved an application to sell alcohol at the Arcata Theater.
(Feb. 14, 2005) http://www.arcatacityhall.org/com_com/econ_dev_agendas/2005_02-14.pdf.
Who can deny that alcohol abuse is at the root of Arcata's problems with the trashing of public places and inappropriate behavior? What effect do committee members think that adding another drinking establishment downtown will have?
With city officials complaining that meeting the basic needs (food clothing and shelter) of those in need would attract more of the "wrong kind of people," the failure to acknowledge that another drinking establishment will attract more alcohol abuse and drunken behavior is pure hypocrisy.

arcata's homeless task farce

Homelessness Task FARCE
On Feb. 2, 2005, the Arcata silly council appointed 14 people to the homelessness task farce. Included were 3 unhoused persons; Tad, Verbena and Paul. Excluded was ranger Bob( housed), by order of the mayor of Arcata, Michael Machi (housed).
Follow the Dollars
The $42000 that the city got from the federal government to help those in need was given to Humboldt State University, and the task farce was given no dollars. The goal of the grant is to eliminate homelessness in 10 years. Some "homeless" people don’t want to be "eliminated."
So where is the money to feed people? Where is the money to house people?
Arcata’s valiant branch of FOOD NOT BOMBS! (707-822-4014) continues to serve healthy and tasty vegetarian meals on Sundays around 5pm on the Plaza (or under the awning of the closed movie theater if it rains) and maybe also Saturdays, and do so on practically no budget. They are a perfect example of what just a small group of individuals can do to help out, spread the love, and bring people together in the spirit of harmonious solutions.
A note to accentuate the positive: there are 3 unhoused persons on the task farce, and so perhaps a broader audience will hear the voice of those who live outside the box.

Homelessness Task FARCE
On Feb. 2, 2005, the Arcata silly council appointed 14 people to the homelessness task farce. Included were 3 unhoused persons; Tad, Verbena and Paul. Excluded was ranger Bob( housed), by order of the mayor of Arcata, Michael Machi (housed).
Follow the Dollars
The $42000 that the city got from the federal government to help those in need was given to Humboldt State University, and the task farce was given no dollars. The goal of the grant is to eliminate homelessness in 10 years. Some "homeless" people don’t want to be "eliminated."
So where is the money to feed people? Where is the money to house people?
Arcata’s valiant branch of FOOD NOT BOMBS! (707-822-4014) continues to serve healthy and tasty vegetarian meals on Sundays around 5pm on the Plaza (or under the awning of the closed movie theater if it rains) and maybe also Saturdays, and do so on practically no budget. They are a perfect example of what just a small group of individuals can do to help out, spread the love, and bring people together in the spirit of harmonious solutions.
A note to accentuate the positive: there are 3 unhoused persons on the task farce, and so perhaps a broader audience will hear the voice of those who live outside the box.