Photo by TARMO HANNULA
Doesn't everyone deserve a nice little place to live in a nice neighborhood? Malaika Kanaaneh Tapper of the Sacramento Bee reported on August 1 that approximately 7% of renters in California either didn't make their July rent or had it deferred. Editor
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If you get evicted, don’t just go
By GRETCHEN REGENHARDT
In order for a landlord to terminate a tenancy, they must start by issuing a termination notice. At the expiration of the notice, if the tenant has not moved out, the landlord must file an eviction lawsuit. Once the lawsuit is filed, the court issues a summons which must be served on the tenant and which requires the tenant to respond to defend against the case. Eventually, there will be a trial and a judgment and, if the landlord wins, the court issues an eviction order allowing the Sheriff to carry out the tenant's eviction. This is the only legal way to remove a tenant from rented property.
On April 6, the Judicial Council of California, the body which controls the processes of the state courts, adopted emergency rules 1 and 2 designed to keep people in their homes during the pandemic as a public health measure. The rules were designed as temporary measures to enable the state Legislature to enact a more permanent measure.
Under rule 1, the courts are not to issue Summonses in unlawful detainer, eviction cases, unless the landlord can show that an eviction is necessary to protect health or safety. Cases that were already pending at that time would not be set for trial unless necessary to protect health and safety and the Sheriff's Departments would not carry out eviction orders. This order was to remain in effect until 90 days after the Governor declares an end to the emergency.
The Judicial Council has now declared that the protections under the emergency rules will expire in August but the Legislature has still not acted to protect tenants. This means that as early as mid-August, courts may begin issuing summonses again and tenants could be evicted.
Take Action!
Also, communicate with your state representatives, Mark Stone and Robert Rivas in Santa Cruz, to support AB 1436, currently pending in the Legislature. This bill would eliminate Covid-19 related nonpayment of rent as a cause for eviction and would prevent a landlord from suing a tenant for unpaid rent that is Covid-19 related through the eviction process.
Also, anyone having problems can also contact Tenant Sanctuary.
Zav Hershfield, Program Coordinator(they/he)
703 Pacific Ave
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Phone: 831-200-0740
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National Coin Shortage Affects Our Homeless Laundry Program
By BRENT ADAMS
Warming Center Program's Footbridge Homeless Services Center features a weekly laundry program that does as many as 60 loads of laundry per week. In fact, we've done well over 2,000 loads in the past year. The program is a game-changer for those who sleep outside and is the reason we've begun using the term, "transformative" for our center because it truly has become that.
Unfortunately, this program is now in jeopardy. Because of Covid-19 social distancing and a general business slowdown, the US Mint has vastly reduced the amount of coins in circulation. This has affected all businesses in Santa Cruz, especially coin-operated laundromats. Our laundry program is being quite hard-hit as we use $400 quarters weekly. Over the past three weeks we've struggled to access the amount of quarters needed.
If you're sitting on a stockpile of quarters (even as little as $10), we can use them to maintain the program until this situation begins to balance. If you can help, click here to contact the Warming Center.
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Santa Cruz County Berners' Report
By JEFFREY SMEDBERG
People's Assembly: Building Beyond Bernie - Aug 15-16 Weekend of Action Be part of these exciting series of free events organized by CA Bernie Convention Delegates. Just before the Democratic National Convention, we want to remind the DNC and the public that Bernie’s vision for transformative change is more relevant than ever especially during this Covid era. We're elevating and celebrating voices from the grassroots. See the Full Schedule of Events including inspiring speakers and links to Zoom registration and FB Livestream.
Medicare For All Day of Action - Car Caravan - Sat. Aug 22, 12:30-2:30 pm
Meet at the County Courthouse Parking Lot, 701 Ocean St, Santa Cruz. Join our parade - a Covid-safe way to build support for single-payer universal healthcare at a time when the pandemic has made the need even more glaringly obvious!
How does it work?
1. We'll all make signs at home promoting Medicare For All (we'll supply everyone with one official campaign placard and will have other slogan suggestions in a later post). Please don't attach signs at home.
2. We'll meet at the County Courthouse parking lot at 12:30 pm to tape the signs to our cars. We'll strictly observe social distancing, wear masks while we decorate the cars, and only share vehicles with folks already in our intimate circle.
3. We'll all line up together and weave very slowly through downtown Santa Cruz, then out along West Cliff and back again while honking our horns and getting as much friendly attention as possible.
4. We'll return to the courthouse to remove the signs and congratulate ourselves on a successful action.
Sound like fun? RSVP to Ginny or text 831-345-2749 or Sally or text 831-334-1348. Hope to see you there!
California Propositions Endorsement Forum - Mon Aug 31, 6-8pm via Zoom
Twelve statewide measures are on the Nov. 3 ballot, and millions will be spent on glossy mailers and sound bytes. Sort out the facts from the hype with concise pro & con presentations. This is a SC4B forum so to join or to find out more information, contact santacruz4bernie@gmail.com
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"Everything will change. The only question is growing up or decaying."
Nikki Giovanni
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Sarah's County Covid-19 Report
By SARAH RINGLER
The Santa Cruz County Health Department regularly releases data on the current status of Covid-19 in the county. The following announcement was added to the site last week and continues to be shown:
"Due to a significant and unresolved problem with the State of California’s CalREDIE reporting system, the County of Santa Cruz Public Health Department, as well as county public health departments statewide, are experiencing significant under-reporting of COVID-19 testing results. Because of this problem, the information presented in this dashboard/these dashboards may be incomplete. We will provide updates on the status of these reporting delays as soon as they are available. Additional information about these delays may be available from the State of California."
As on August 13, , there are 1,357 reported cases who have tested positive. This is an increase of 12% from last Thursday. Six people have died.
To get tested without a doctor’s request, call 1-888-634-1123 or go online at https://lhi.care/covidtesting. The testing clinic is at at Ramsay Park in Watsonville.
To visit the website for the Santa Cruz County Health Department:
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Tested positive by age:
17 and under - 11%
18-34 - 36%
35-49 - 24%
50-64 - 19%
65 or older, 8% tested positive
Tested positive by ethnicity, rounded off:
5% Multi-Race and other - 9% of the county's total population
36% white - 56% of the county's total population
58% Latinx - 34% of the county's total population
Tested positive by gender:
53% female
47% male
0% Under investigation - was "other"
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Weekly increases in positive tests:
June 12-19 - 7%
June 19-26 - 23%
June 26 to July 3 - 22%
July 3-9 - 23%
July 9-16 - 40%
July 16-23 - 20%
July 23-30 - 27%
July 30-August 6 - 13%
August 6-13 12%
Tested positive by jurisdiction:
3% Capitola
18% Santa Cruz
2% Scotts Valley
17% unincorporated
51% Watsonville
Under investigation 9%
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YOUR STORY HERE: Please submit a story that you think would be of interest to the people of Santa Cruz County. Photos are also welcome. Try and keep the word count around 400. Also, there should be suggested action if possible. Submit to coluyaki@gmail.com
If you are enjoying the Serf City Times, forward it on to others. We need more readers and writers. Thanks, Sarah Ringler
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Welcome to Serf City Times. Over time, our county has grown more stratified and divided with many people feeling left out. Housing affordability, racism and low wages are the most obvious factors. However, many groups and individuals in Santa Cruz County work tirelessly to make our county a better place for everyone. These people work on the environment, housing, economic justice, criminal justice, disability rights, immigrant rights, racial justice, transportation, workers’ rights, education reform, gender issues, equity issues, electoral politics and more. Often, one group doesn’t know what another is doing. The Serf City Times is dedicated to serving as a clearinghouse for those issues by letting you know what is going on, what actions you can take and how you can support these groups.,This is not a profit-making enterprise and all work is volunteer.
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