OccupySacto.org

OccupySacramento General Assembly Minutes – DAY 59

Saturday, December 3, 2024 5:35 p.m. PST
Location: Cesar Chavez Plaza

Facilitator: Tiffany
Stack Taker: Cesar
Time Keeper: Zee
Vote Counter: Darrell
Crowd Facilitator: Alex
Minutes: Michele

OS = OccupySacramento
F = Facilitator
P = Proposer
R = Reporter (for report back from committee or working group)
PoP = Point of Process
PoI = Point of Information
CQ = Clarifying Question

1. Facilitation
1.1 Welcome
1.2 Introductions
1.3 Explanation of Hand Signals
1.4 Introduction of Agenda - report backs, old business, new business, announcements, chant, adjournment, soapbox

2. Report Backs

2.1 Darrell – Finance Committee
We got a couple of days’ worth of donations - $70. Thank you to those folks! It will be deposited on Monday (money is in the lockbox for now). It will put us at about $250 per account. We expect to get money from SEIU. Other committees and working groups have started getting their own donation systems – like food. We are looking for contributions for Education for things like t-shirts. Scott Conroy is still inputting everything into accounting system. It will be put online so we will have total transparency. We need to have another election, because some members haven’t been able to do their duties – would like to spread responsibilities around.

CQ: What is the truck situation?
R: It’s gone. We’ve asked for a smaller, lockable trailer. We put it out to the Unions to loan it to us. Also a food cart that could be wheeled out from Mark Marin’s office, as well as power unit for coffee for folks outside, generator, batteries.
PoI: Thank you, Darrell – I love you!

2.2 Brother Carter – Urban Outreach
We had a big event today and needed to canvas, but we had more people talking about new actions than working – let’s focus on what’s in front of us. The first march is Tuesday, December 6, Occupy Foreclosures. We need committed people marching to the Department of Justice (will be having some kind of auction) and over to the banks. We need to march and, at the same time, promote the next event – distribute literature for December 7 First Amendment party. Note: it’s at 11 p.m. and will possibly get arrested. Something happened here last night – someone was using his First Amendment right to pray.

PoI: He was arrested and has marks on his arms and on his throat from where he was choked.
R: We will do a press conference. The next event is December 10 – Universal Declaration of Human Rights event at the park. We need everybody out here to both participate and get information out. It is very important. Flyers are on the table.
CQ: Are flyers on Facebook with events page?
F: Please talk to Ricky after GA.
R: Five days later, there will be Bill of Rights event. There is no flyer for that yet. At the December 10 event, Cindy Sheehan will be speaking.
CQ: Is there anything on the 12th for solidarity with the west coast?
R: We talked about it at yesterday’s GA and we probably won’t be participating. We need to take care of Sacramento.
CQ: We could at least march here in solidarity.
R: We’d like to. Maybe you could put that together.
F: You can talk to Brother Carter about that.
PoI: We have a port here that does business with every other port.
R: Flyers are being put out for events.

2.3 Autumn - Media
There is no solid media team anymore. It is now an independent group. We need one that is accountable to us and need anyone who wants to volunteer. I’m working on a radio station for us. It will be up soon and I need volunteers. I’ll have more information on that on Monday.

2.4 Alex - Nonviolent Communication Committee
We had a meeting today plus a great teach-in with a lot of people who had great input. If you have any questions, talk to Tiffany or me.

2.5 Cesar – Coordination Committee
I attended the first meeting. There will be meetings once a week with one representative from each committee and working group. We are trying to keep everyone in the loop.

2.6 Sean Laney – Education
I’m sorry to report we still have problems with the t-shirts. I’m meeting with another person who will promise Union, cruelty-free, local, everything we want with guaranteed 72-hour turnaround. We’ll be submitting some art. I looked into button press and believe we’ll be able to afford that, too.

2.7 Sean Laney – Public Affairs
OS was quoted on the front page of the Huffington Post regarding Govenor Brown’s slow response to the pepper spray incident. Brother Carter, Bob, and I were quoted.

CQ: What was your quote?
R: The pepper spray incident "was so clearly wrong that it should have met with swift condemnation by everyone,” and Brown’s decision to not publicly denounce the incident was “a failure of leadership.”
They got a good cogent response from OS that shows we know what we’re talking about. Public Affairs is going well. The media is giving us a positive slant, and we are getting recognition from other Occupations.
CQ: When are Education meetings?
R: We haven’t had any recently – Amani hasn’t been able to.
Russell: I’ll help facilitate a meeting.

2.8 John – Safe Ground
There are 100 tents posted on the river and we told the police we are not moving. It is similar to Occupy, but these people have no place to go. Some police visited today with notice to vacate (not dated, so not legal). It had a note about Winter Sanctuary – but that only has 50 beds and we have 100 people. There is a business (didn’t catch name – can check Livestream for it) that wants to push all homeless out of Sacramento. A private business association is telling the government what to do – we need to keep an eye on it.
Also, when OS goes to City Hall, there is a lot of profanity. How does that help? People should go to City Hall and advocate.

2.9 Gary – Newsletter Working Group
Everyone has had an event they didn’t know about or missed an activity. I am going to disseminate information on the information table. I want one representative from each committee to provide material. I will have a calendar there and put out a newsletter.

CQ: Are you announcing a Working Group?
R: Yes.
CQ: How do we get your contact information?
R: I’m here 24 hours per day and you can use my cell phone.
F: Can you announce when you’ll be meeting?
R: This is action – I won’t do any meetings.
F: Thank you.

2.10 Sean Thompson – Legal
Nineteen multiple loiterers are facing trail on the 13th. Nine didn’t take the deal of six hours community service or $100 class. We expect the others won’t either.

CQ: Did they change the charge from loitering?
PoI: The charge is “remaining in the park after certain hours.”
R: You can see me after the GA. If anyone has information about last night, I need it.
PoI: Greg has the information.
R: If the four of you who were arrested are watching, we’re going to take care of you.

2.11 Sean Thompson – Action Working Group
All places with deep water ports will have the port shut down. We will be posting events on Facebook and inviting people to join in.

PoI: Yesterday we heard there was a flyer from Cesar.
Cesar: We have to run it by the Unions first to not upset anyone. It is possible in the future.
PoI: How about a working group for that – talk to the Unions, Oakland.
PoI: Urban Outreach has Union contacts.
R: I’ll run it by the relevant committees.
F: Run it by Karen Bernal, who’s probably in contact with Union people, also.
CQ: Are there any plans regarding the California marathon tomorrow to make our presence known and take advantage of press coverage?
R: I expect we’ll be involved.
PoI: It starts early in the morning.
PoI: It ends at the Capitol and is an international event.
PoI: They have a whole row of flags from around the world – maybe we could take pictures to show this is a worldwide problem.
PoI: I have cardboard if you need it.
CQ: Do we have information about the march route?
R: We’ll put details on Facebook.

3. Old Business – None.

4. New Business

4.1 Proposal from YMCA Protest Working Group: Peter Clark, Brother Carter, and Darrell.

MOTION: Put on the agenda in 72 hours the following motion from Peter Clark: Support march on behalf of my son Joaquin Clark, at YMCA daycare on Thursday, December 8, 2011, 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Joaquin was made to fight at the YMCA and consequently he was severely bruised, scratched, and swollen. Daycare licensing conveniently never interviewed Joaquin or the child he was made to fight. Much covering up was done at several levels. A march, I know, will raise attention and get California State Auditor’s and Attorney General’s investigation started.
WHO WILL THIS AFFECT: At the micro level, Joaquin – justice for him. At the macro level, any other children harmed at this untouchable “YMCA,” whose parents are afraid to come forward. They may then come forward.
WHAT WILL THIS CHANGE: Hold corporate brands and organizations like daycare licensing accountable to actually thoroughly investigate, take action, and reform, when harm is done to kids. Instead of, like banks and business, using their muscle, connections, and power to evade accountability. Who would have believed what occurred at Penn State? It took over eight years for an investigation to start. Please, for Joaquin, the other child victim, please not eight years.
WHY IS THIS NEEDED: 1. To dissuade organizations in powerful positions like YMCA, Day Care Licensing and powerful supporters from violating the rights of the weak, then relying on their strength to thumb their noses and evade accountability.
2. To empower the poor, disenfranchised, and afraid to come forward, in day care abuse and other cases. In my case, the YMCA not only used its power to obstruct me pertaining to getting an investigation, but also to impede me in Family Court, impede Joaquin’s therapy – so he would not talk – and to defame, disenfranchise, and make me look unreasonable for not going away, pertaining to the abuse of Joaquin and their efforts to cover up. “How dare you want to have the YMCA investigated,” was the sentiment. If I did to Joaquin what they did, I would have had swift justice, consequent to a full investigation. Other families have been affected, and God knows how many more, because of neglect, abuse, and them not being honest - for example, Ms. Herrera Hogan – and their ability to have their brand name intimidate families and keep investigations away. A march will raise awareness, prompt an investigation to get started!! A thorough investigation by California Auditor and Attorney General is all I ask for – let it take its course. Resources are available for park sleeping, etc., it must be allocated for child abuse.

F: Remember we are just deciding whether to put this on agenda in 72 hours.
CQ: What is the exaction location?
P: W & 21st.
F: The motion is that we support and join you in the march?
P: Yes.
CQ: How old is your son?
P: Eight years old.
PoI: 72 hours is Tuesday, when there is no GA.
F: We can push it to Monday. Let’s vote on whether we want to put the motion on the agenda on Monday as an emergency motion.

Temp check – consensus.
Vote – 15 for, 0 against.

MOTION PASSED – Item will be on Agenda on Monday.
PoI: Please post information on Facebook – OccupySacramento – so we can have maximum participation on Monday.
P: I’ll get my daughter to get me on Facebook.

5. Announcements
.
5.1 David: Last Sunday during the facilitation teach-in, we talked about how much we don’t find out about. I would like to have a newspaper with articles, news about unique qualities of OS, information on other Occupations. OWS just put out 100,000 copies of their newsletter, “Occupy Wall Street Journal.” We need to start taking things in, digesting them, and putting them out.

PoI (Darrell): There was a proposal by Dave Jenet of Crime Watch a few weeks ago to have a “Pillow Talk” newsletter to sell to local small businesses and raise funds from advertising. He’s no longer involved. You should coordinate with the Working Group – don’t leave it just to Gary – we need to get going on this.
CQ: What is your contact information – I would love to submit columns.
David: I would love that.
PoI: Just make sure to coordinate with Gary.
F: The first step might be conversation with Gary.
PoI: Thank you, David!

5.2 Darrell
Remember the California Marathon. We can Occupy along the way. I’m going to occupy my corner in Carmichael.
PoI: Someone is bringing back tons of flyers. Take them with you if you’re doing that.
CQ: Do we know when they’ll be in front of the Capitol?
PoI: At the end of the race.
PoI: We’ve been handing out Foreclosure flyers all over downtown.

5.3 Sean Thompson
It’s really cold now. Can we get a temp check on that? (GA agrees.) Imagine how cold it is for people Occupying all night. We need blankets, sweaters, hats, gloves, pillows. And go over and say hi and help motivate them.
PoI (Brother Carter): We’re working on getting them warm food and coffee in the morning.
Darrell: I’ll come out with coffee for them tomorrow morning.
Brother Carter: We need to get them hot food at night – fluids like soup, oatmeal.
Sean: Cigarettes help with the cold – a pack of cigarettes for them to share would go a long way.
I would like everyone to join in at a meeting at Broadacre Coffee. I’d like to create a new core group – we’ve lost a lot of the original one.
PoI: I’m really excited about this.
PoI (Russell): We’re aware of other groups doing this. This is a really good thing. Some people have worried these meetings wouldn’t be open, but Sean’s announcing it openly. Please leave your egos at the door and participate.
PoI: Meetings like this are about team building, not exclusion – rededicating our dedication to this movement.
Russell (to Livestream): Get together wherever you are, or come down here – we’re not excluding you. If you’re homebound, start an online discussion.
Brother Carter: The first floor of the parking garage across the street is warm – let’s think of using it for GAs.
F: Do you think security would eject us?
Brother Carter: no.
PoI: What about a speakerphone for more people to participate?
Russell: Great idea to bring up at Soapbox.
CQ: What time is meeting?
Sean: We’ll head over as soon as GA is over – after Soapbox.
PoI: Last week we were talking about moving indoors.
F: Sean Laney was going to make a motion, but the coordinating group had a consensus that their heart was to not move. Plus, it could affect the legal cases of those Occupying across the street.
Russell: The symbolism is important. It’s important that our GAs are here. It’s also important to have some meetings indoors as long as it’s announced, but it’s important to remember where we came from and the symbolism of being here.
CQ: How do we get in contact with the lawyers?
Sean: Talk to me after GA.

6. Chant: The people united will never be divided! (louder) The people united will never be divided!! (louder) The people united will never be divided!!!
Adjournment – 6:50 p.m.