OCH GA Notes - Sat., 5/26/12
Joni Craig
OCH GA Notes – 11 am, Sat., 5/26/12
PRESENT: Martin, Gerardo (Moderator), Joni, Nick, Cathy, Zachary, Jamontee, William, Damaso, Carlos, Doc, & Melissa.
AGENDA ITEMS:
· FORECLOSURE FIGHTERS: Need to research other home occupations nationwide for “best practices” / Deliver flyers to pre-foreclosure (auction-scheduled) homes in 92105 to see if they want/need our help with occupations to prevent foreclosures / RV is available for our use as needed / Matthew & Avery are working on flyers / ACCE & Home Defenders have not been particularly helpful (for Joni’s neighbors facing foreclosure…)
· CITY HEIGHTS SURVEYS: Joni will send to Google Group / Zach will take to local schools / Martin has blank copies & some completed surveys…
· COMMUNITY SERVICE: Martin suggested OHC community clean-ups, planting, feeding the hungry, clothing drives, etc. to enhance community impression of OSD / OCH (publicity, etc.) / Gerardo stated: “Once revolution starts, everyone’s gonna need to eat” (create gardens, etc.) / Cathy pointed out that there are lots of local collectives doing gardening & that Cristie is working on a clothing drive, time-banking is getting started, etc. / Matthew suggested that we tie a community garden to a social center squat / Joni was concerned that social service can distract us from social change (i.e., the former should be secondary to our goals) / Damaso stated that many others (non-profits, especially) do service re: food, clothing, etc. / Zach said we should connect with local businesses for seeds (such as City Farmers’ Market) / Nick discussed garden excess, creating an exchange and an autonomous area / Matthew suggested doing an occupy garden at the currently vacant YMCA lot by the I-15 / Cathy brought up “Food Currency Trade” and other food swap opportunities / Nick suggested that we add gardens to the City Heights Resident Surveys / Gerardo talked about involving the community in caring for an OCH garden / Cathy pointed out that we need to connect with existing garden groups in City Heights / Zach noted that food unites a community / Cathy is willing to create a list of C.H. gardens / Carlos is starting a directory of gardens, markets, sustainability workshops, etc. throughout SD / Martin will organize guerrilla succulent plantings throughout City Heights under OCH name (approved by consensus).
· HOUSING CRISIS: Joni suggested a community sharing session for C.H. folks to discuss their experiences with short sales, auctions, foreclosures, bank battles, etc. (as opposed to a panel of “experts”). She will work on concept, venue, date, etc. with her neighbors, etc. (Temperature Check: Approved for Joni to proceed & report back to OCH).
· COMMUNITY CENTER SQUAT: Damaso stated that some folks are looking into a possible place (address unknown) / It was noted that there’s an abandoned church in C.H. with no sign, etc. / All is being kept quiet for now / Quotes: “Still an abandoned building. Mini-training. Security culture. Til it’s done enough good to speak for itself.” (Side note from Joni: LOVE you all for the obscure wording of this!)
· COP WATCH: Carl was absent… / Tuesday night protest against Citizen’s Review Board was announced / Committee Against Police Brutality will have next meeting Sat., 6/2, after OCH GA (location TBD)—Cathy can give rides. J
· OUTREACH: Need to start w/ Farmers’ Market / NEED MORE FLYERS! / Try next week after OCH GA…
· GUERILLA THEATRE: Zach wants to start this up—music, acting, awareness, etc. / Cathy brought up Occupy Puppetistas, Space for Arts, Puppet Insurgency, & MORE! / Matthew suggested that the Performance Annex stage is perfect for this / Zach will talk to arts people he knows / Cathy noted that the Puppetistas are addressing border issues…
· SPEAK CITY HEIGHTS: 4 (or 5?) pm-6 (or 7?) pm on Sat., June 2 @ Hoover High School—discussion re: curfew sweeps, etc. Martin suggested that we hand out OCH flyers, do surveys, etc. / Cathy will ask Carl to speak.
· ANNOUNCEMENTS: Carlos—TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership) coming to SD July 2-10—Event working group has been started / Carlos—June 10—Free, free Market coming to City Heights (need donations of books, clothing, etc.) / Cathy—Noon, June 7, @ Influx (on Broadway)—Meeting re: Violence Against Women Act (specifically as it relates to undocumented women, women on reservations, etc.) / William—6 pm, June 7, @ C.H. Rec Center--Pivot to Asia Forum sponsored by ISO / Martin—7 pm, June 7, Community Radio Meeting @ ASD, plus room available in co-op house for $350/mo., plus talk re: possible café &/or film series @ ASD.
· NEXT OCH GA: 11 am, Sat., 6/2/12 @ City Heights Performance Annex (in the park near Fairmount & Wightman).
· CORRECTIONS / ADDITIONS TO NOTES: Please post on FB (OCH group page) and/or via OCH Google Group… Thank you! J
(My apologies for not posting these notes by Monday as promised & planned—Sometimes “life is like a box of chocolates”... See y’all at 11 am!)