When #Occupymonterey first convened in mid-October at Colton Hall, the site of California’s first Constitutional Convention, hundreds of people arrived, ready to speak up, provide a new message in support of a different civil society, inclusive of the financial sector, and participate in a unique form of democratic assembly that would allow everyone to have a voice.  As this paper makes clear, this effort has been underway for a long while before #OWS and #occupy were commonly heard terms, but with the movement coming directly to Monterey, these social and economic issues would no longer simply be swept under the rug. A group of people was now assembling to address them, and to get these issues more directly into the public eye.

Consensus for an Encampment Date, and a Permit Process

It was at the very first Colton Hall General Assembly of #occupymonterey, on October 15, 2011, that consensus was reached for an encampment date, to begin by the 5th of November. Later actions of the Assembly, which continued to be held at Colton Hall, contemplated an encampment at Colton Hall, but resolved to Camp at Veterans Memorial Park in an effort which involved a permit process which involved suggestions for the Veterans Memorial Park location by the City of Monterey that were later accepted by consensus of the General Assembly. This involved a permit process in which the City waived ordinary codes and regulations, including fees, associated with the site, upon request of #occupymonterey. The permit also included access to electricity and amplification at Colton Hall in addition to provisions for amplification and camping at Veterans Memorial Park, at which campers had access to established toilets and showers, a kitchen area and a BBQ / fire area, electrical outlets, and even a wireless internet connection for a limited number of devices (with the on-site connection provided by #occupymonterey).

The Permit Process was Ultimately Used by the City As a Tool Against #Occupymonterey

However, this arrangement did not last. The arrangement was extended by management, and later, when City management would extend the permit arrangement no longer, an appeal was made to the City Council to extend the permit arrangement further, as well as to provide indoor space for homeless occupiers if the permit arrangement could not continue. This appeal was made as a result of consensus actions of the General Assembly, and through negotiations with the City, and as a result of provisions of local law, the #occupymonterey appeal was formally placed on the Monterey City Council agenda for Jan. 17, 2012, for action. (( The presentation from this item to the City Council can be found here: http://bit.ly/xjIW4H A larger explanation of what happened on the evening of January 17, with attachments, is found at http://www.occupymontereypeninsula.org/content/approved-permit-extension-3rd-city-monterey-occupy-monterey )) The Monterey City Council ultimately acted to extend the permit, but only through January 23rd, 2012. On that date, the occupiers and Campers of #occupymonterey packed up and moved out — and for quite a few of those who did not have a place to go and remained in the area, the woods became their home. The homeless occupiers, who had been active participants in Camp Assemblies [[ #occupymonterey Family Gatherings ]] while the Veterans Memorial Park #Occupymonterey Camp was still in existence, ultimately on their own, found an ad-hoc camping site in Monterey where police raids would be minimized for themselves and others impacted by the City action.

#Occupymonterey Work to Designate a Place to Camp Continues

At the Saturday February 18, 2012 General Assembly at Colton Hall, where various of the homeless occupiers were gathered as part of the Assembly and receiving clothing items distributed from the package donated by the #occupysupply project of Firedoglake as well as other items donated as part of a “Food Drop” established as part of every Saturday’s 2:30 PM General Assembly, it was resolved by consensus that this situation is not acceptable. A proposal of one of our occupiers for the City to consider designating a Veterans Memorial Park “Low-Income Camping Program” for “Financially Disabled” individuals was supported by consensus of the General Assembly, and will soon be brought to the City Council by an #occupymonterey participant. Part of the consensus involves direction to submit the proposal to the City as well as direction for #occupymonterey to continue to submit different proposals, and actions, if the City rejects this proposal. We have recently become aware of provisions of law, including, but not limited to California Government Code 8698 – 8698.2 (Shelter Crisis) http://law.justia.com/codes/california/2010/gov/8698-8698.2.html ; California Senate Bill 2 (Chapter 633, Statutes of 2007 (Effective Jan. 1, 2008)) (Local Planning and Approval for Emergency Shelters and Transitional & Supportive Housing) http://www.hcd.ca.gov/hpd/sb2_memo050708.pdf ; and Programs f.1.7 and f.1.8 of the City of Monterey General Plan – Housing Element. Together, these laws work together in a way which will allow us to put appropriate pressure on the City to cause shelters for the homeless to be provided where they did not previously exist, in a way that does not require any discretionary process. (An example of a non-discretionary process is a building permit or a shelter plan submittal.) While anyone in California can use the Shelter Crisis law, Senate Bill 2, or both to help others, there are undoubtedly similar laws in other states that can be used to help designate facilities on an emergency basis to assist those in need.

Photoset from #occupysupply distribution at Feb. 18, 2012 General Assembly of #occupymonterey
http://www.flickr.com/photos/20597397@N05/sets/72157629389487327/

#Occupymonterey work on Changing the Local Laws on Public Assembly

When we originally learned that the City management did not wish to allow a permit to continue that would allow an encampment at Veterans Memorial Park, #Occupymonterey General Assembly deliberated and ultimately reached consensus on the 14th of January, 2012 that it would not direct the Occupy Monterey Legal Team to seek a new permit that would only include Colton Hall or any new permit from the City, although the Assembly did arrive at consensus to direct the #Occupymonterey Legal Team to submit an appeal and a Powerpoint presentation to the City to request an extension of the existing permit. This effort is what led to the City Council action to extend the #occupymonterey permit (which included Veterans Memorial Park Camp and Colton Hall activities, inclusive of amplification and assembly) through January 23, 2012. #Occupymonterey continues its General Assemblies at Colton Hall absent a permit. Future collaboration with the City remains possible, but any collaboration would in all likelihood be contingent upon City concessions to make available indoor space or other items which Occupy Monterey has clarified through its Assembly process are necessary, and regardless of any collaboration which may or may not occur, Occupy Monterey’s General Assembly does not desire permitting for its activities including Assembly and will continue to press for changes in the City Code. The City’s Attorney at Council, in response to an inquiry from a Councilmember on legality of codes at the Occupy Monterey item on the 17th of January, indicated that they will be looking into the assembly permit ordinance — this was one of our objectives, and efforts continue in this area to change the City Code on Public Assembly, ideally in such a way that would remove the Assembly permit requirement. In fact, the City has shown that it is actually making movement in this area, and it is felt that one of the reasons that there has been success thus far is because the #Occupymonterey Legal Team and the Direct Action Team, by consensus of the General Assembly, worked together to provide input to the City as followup after the Council date of January 17, so as to give the City guidance on how the City Code on Public Assembly should change.

#Occupymonterey 2.0

#Occupymonterey is moving into a 2.0 phase which involves more emphasis on direct action, changing the laws or merely using them to our benefit, assembling without permits, making “getting money out of politics” and “move your money” concepts priorities in actions, as well as addressing social and economic inequities where we see them and where we can act upon them. An increasing discussion is also being had about how to include and engage more people online, as well, in one way, through our website at http://www.occupymontereypeninsula.org/ and via our facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/OWSMonterey/ and via other online tools, to build mechanisms for people to participate and engage in #occupymonterey affairs who may not be able to be present at the Assemblies. Hopefully, many more people who have not experienced participatory democracy in action will soon be able to do so. It’s been a blast so far.

Shoutouts
To #OpESR, #CabinCr3w, anyone who was on #OpBART or is taking interest in the Anniversary, and, to anyone with #occupy / #OWS. Special thanks to #occupysupply.