Heroes of The Storm.

[palmspringsbum]

I've been homeless (because I'm a medical marijuana patient) for a couple of years now in Santa Cruz, California, Compassion Central, Land of The Free and Home of the Brave.

We had the storm of the decade last week. At the height of the storm, 2 undercover and 2 police had time to run me out from under an awning, into the rain, with my laptop, bags, etc...

Here is the first message I posted in a Thread titled Heroes of the Storn on the local daily's website forum. For the unabridged version, see my blog To Kill A Mockingbird

Originally Posted by Heroes of The Storm

Pergolesi was probably about the last place to close in town, after the power went out. They closed about noon, best I can recall. When the storm was still at it's height.

I made it to the awning of the flower shop on the next block, and resolved to stay there until things cleared up.

I hadn't eaten, and I remember wondering how long it would be before the power was on and I could eat.

I was just finishing a bowl when a someone shouted something from a passing car. They said, "Is that medical" and showed me a badge. I said yes.

They stopped got out, and informed me I was on private property.

They told me it was illegal to smoke in public and to do it in private.

I told them it wasn't.

They ran an ID check on me. I got out my paperwork, but they didn't want to see that.

The whole point was to run me out in the rain.

So I hope you will help me salute these heroes of the storm:







And let's also salute Ryan Koonerty and the City Council and the Downtown Association, who have lead Santa Cruz to surpass the Old South in downright cruelty and meanness.

For local comment see:

• Heroes of The Storm
• Smoking in the Rain

[The Rev]

Police work attracts bullies. Sorry to hear you got treated like that.



The Rev

[Dell Brandstone]

"Let me guess. You were probably the big asshole in your high school, right? You'd pick on guys like us every day. But then graduation came, and we went to college and you went nowhere, so you thought, "How can I still give them shit? I know! I'll become a cop!" Well, congratu-fuckin'-lations. Your dream's come true."

sucks to hear it man. can only imagine it from your position.

[mr.nobody]

Being homeless really really sucks, Went through that shit. Keep in there man.




----

[surf*and*smoke]

i swear i've been pulled over by the guy in the dark blue before, if it was him he let me off after hasseling me for racing when i wasn't



sorry to hear about your problems with the po po

[JonSmoke]

Man, cops are nothing but trouble in my area. There really isn't any real crime to speak of, so they just go around giving speeding tickets to people going not more than 3 or 4 mph over the speed limit or busting up "loitering." Its a joke.

[myxomatosis]

I'd have asked you to move if you were on my property smoking in broad daylight.

Had you just been homeless and staying out of the storm I'd have had no problem letting you stay there.

How are you paying for a cell phone and other luxuries whilst being homeless?

[DeafTones]

Cops are bastards sometimes, but that picture doesn't show me any signs of the storm of a decade. The weather looks to be just rain and drizzle.

Maybe smoke behind the building next time.
Remote atm building.
Remote bus waiting facility.
Woods.

[Dezzy]

are you trying to make people feel sad for you because your homeless if so i hope it isnt working on anybody else because it isnt for me. IF YOUR NOT SUPPOSE TO BE THERE DONT TRESPASS. and dont be a thief stealing peoples internet i hope this is a joke.

If this post get deleted im going to be really pissed because this guy is breaking 3 laws 1 of which was trespassing another smoking "medical marijuana" in public, which isnt legal and for you to think that is just ignorant and 3rd being a thief and stealing the internet. If we cant post sources which i agree with we cant have this shit either.

[mattsaysfooey]

Stealing the internet man alot of places have free wifi and if a dude thats homeless wants to connect to my wireless go ahead. Man he's friggin homeless you jerkass.

[ANOK]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

are you trying to make people feel sad for you
...If this post get deleted im going to be really pissed because this guy is breaking 3 laws 1 of which was trespassing another smoking "medical marijuana" in public, which isnt legal...

Actually you are wrong. If you have a prescription you can smoke anywhere that allows cigarette smoking, and not within certain distance from schools or other areas where there are kids (100 yrds or something?).

I walk around town smoking from my chillum all the time.

Why are Americans such sticklers for the law anyway? The laws are made by the man for the man. Maybe you need to smoke more pot...lol Or quit, it's making you uptight and conservative... Loosen your tie mate...

I think I liked pot better before the straights started smoking it...

[It's A Way Of Life420]

haha, I like the way you think, good call^

[Flamingnun]

I still wouldn't particularly want some homeless dude hanging about getting high on my business premises, during opening hours.

[B.]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

are you trying to make people feel sad for you because your homeless if so i hope it isnt working on anybody else because it isnt for me. IF YOUR NOT SUPPOSE TO BE THERE DONT TRESPASS. and dont be a thief stealing peoples internet i hope this is a joke.

If this post get deleted im going to be really pissed because this guy is breaking 3 laws 1 of which was trespassing another smoking "medical marijuana" in public, which isnt legal and for you to think that is just ignorant and 3rd being a thief and stealing the internet. If we cant post sources which i agree with we cant have this shit either.

wtf?


I somehow doubt standing under the awning of a shop, on the sidewalk, is trespassing.
Smoking medical marijuana is apparently not illegal... and where the hell did you get stealing the internet from?

You strike me as delusional.


In response to the original post, I feel for ya dude. There is nothing more irritating than a cop with nothing better to do...

[ANOK]

Originally Posted by Flamingnun

I still wouldn't particularly want some homeless dude hanging about getting high on my business premises, during opening hours.

Don't 'own' a business then. Turn it into a cooperative and quit exploiting people!

"Some homeless dude'? What's that supposed to mean? How about 'Some uptight business dude' won't let me shelter from the weather and take my medication because he thinks he's better than me cause he exploits people, and I shelter from the elements.

People are more important than business.

You get 'high' from smoking bud? Some of us, including the homeless, need it for far more serious reasons than just getting 'high'...(especially if it's pissing down with rain and you ain't got nowhere to go, you ever experienced that?)

[highanddry]

Originally Posted by ANOK

Don't 'own' a business then. Turn it into a cooperative and quit exploiting people!

"Some homeless dude'? What's that supposed to mean? How about 'Some uptight business dude' won't let me shelter from the weather and take my medication because he thinks he's better than me cause he exploits people, and I shelter from the elements.

People are more important than business.

You get 'high' from smoking bud? Some of us, including the homeless, need it for far more serious reasons than just getting 'high'...(especially if it's pissing down with rain and you ain't got nowhere to go, you ever experienced that?)

Ya ya people are more important... You probably don't understand this being homeless, but Business owners CANNOT allow people to illegally squat.. It is totally un-professional, horrible for business and illegal in many places..

[ANOK]

Originally Posted by highanddry

Ya ya people are more important... You probably don't understand this being homeless, but Business owners CANNOT allow people to illegally squat.. It is totally un-professional, horrible for business and illegal in many places..

I'm not homeless and I understand plenty, thanx.

Un-professional? I don't care about your business, I care about people.

How about inhumane?

Your business and your capitalism makes you insensitive to other Humans needs.

Capitalism is a disease and the homeless are a symptom of that disease. Your business is part of the cause.

I find it funny that you talk about law when you are on a forum that supports an illegal activity.

People not profit...

[highanddry]

Originally Posted by ANOK

I'm not homeless and I understand plenty, thanx.

Un-professional? I don't care about your business, I care about people.

How about inhumane?

Your business and your capitalism makes you insensitive to other Humans needs.

Capitalism is a disease and the homeless are a symptom of that disease. Your business is part of the cause.

I find it funny that you talk about law when you are on a forum that supports an illegal activity.

People not profit...

I'm not saying that you shouldn't be provided for as a homeless person*, or that homelessness isn't a low priority among legislatures. All I'm saying is you won't find a business owner who's cool with you basically warding off customers.. Ok congrats, you understand that we live in a brutal capitalistic society.. Now the part that I don't think you understand is that you cannot just condemn capitalism and rage against it. You have to play by the rules to some extent and live in this society the way it is, not the way you hope it should be. I feel like most of the homeless are result of poor policy for war vets, addiction and mental illness which is a shame, but you seem cognitive enough to keep on your feet and get a home, not smoking in public just because it is your "right"... "rights" by the way are subjective in most places, so as you win your philosophical points with security guards, you lose you practical battles. Don't get me wrong guy, I'm a humanist.. a lover of people