#OccupySantaCruz Direct Action Faction "Repurposes" Abandoned Bank - RAW FOOTAGE

#OccupyingEnemyTerritory ... November 30 2011 Approximately 630pm pst.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

The Repurposing of 75 River St

Santa Cruz, CA, U.S.A.- November 30, 2011

The formerly vacant building at 75 River St. is being repurposed by an autonomous group, in solidarity with Occupy Santa Cruz. Formerly a big bank, it was bought out by Wells Fargo. Subsequently, the building closed, and has remained vacant for nearly three years. Today this group has, without breaking & entering, taken the building with intentions of using the space in a productive way that benefits the community of Santa Cruz . The property will no longer be left open by big development companies as a sign of the economic despair in this county, but will rather be used to enrich and teach the local community.

While the middle class quickly falls toward the poverty line, the big banks and the extremely wealthy continue to get rich at the expense of all. Across the United States 1.05 million properties were seized by banks in the year 2010. In Santa Cruz County alone 1,594 homes were auctioned off between November 2010 and October 2011. The foreclosed and vacant buildings in this country serve as a reminder of the ever-growing gap between the 'rich' and the 'poor'. As people are left without shelter and social space due to foreclosures and a declining economy; big banks and developing companies buy out space to simply leave empty.

An existing time-honored U.S. and California law allows for the transfer of a property title when a property is occupied and taken care of by an alternative party for an extended period of time. This law is called adverse possession. The law was born out of the belief that society's best interests are met when land and property are utilized productively rather than sitting vacant. Today, the building at 75 River St. has been adversely possessed. No longer will the property exist only as an empty parking lot and a vacant building with a sign re-directing people to Wells Fargo across the street. It will be repurposed and used to benefit the community instead of Cassidy Turley, the large-scale commercial real estate company currently leasing the building, and Wells Fargo bank.

Instead of an empty space, there will be a space for community teach-ins, an open library, and discussion forums. The space will be offered to Occupy Santa Cruz as an opportunity to have a roof over its head and allow for more organization to take place. The space will be safe, non-violent, non-destructive and welcoming. The building will be a forum for individuals in the community to learn from one another, and help the Occupy movement grow.

There is a hope to see community support for the reclamation of property and space from the very wealthy, the 1%, back into the hands and benefit of the community.

This action was not decided on by the General Assembly of Occupy Santa Cruz. This press release is not from the Occupy Santa Cruz media team.

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/11/30/18701380.php

Also see:

The building is being re-purposed under Federal and State laws surrounding "adverse possession." This law states that space is most beneficial to the people who use it. Spaces like this one, reclaimed from the wealthiest 1%, are places where we can seek redress to our grievances.

In the years to come, this space will be used to organize humanitarian efforts, house a library, and provide a forum for discussion. The General Assembly of Occupy Santa Cruz is also invited to use this space.

http://occupywallst.org/forum/immediate-support-needed-at-new-santa-cruz-occu...

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• California

[rotagen5]

Yeah when the cops realize their pensions are gone, stolen, no retirement, nothing...then will progress occur or are they so brain-dead there is no point...perhaps we should pith them.

[YouBastard95060]

@rotagen5 It's unlikely to happen though. Despotisms will pay their 'soldiers' until there is no money left, and pay them quite handsomely. That IS the distinguishing feature of a despotism. The Military and policing apparatus are respected more and paid better in the society than a teacher poet, artist, farmer... perhaps even doctors and healers.

In California, a prison guard is paid better than a school teacher.

[Death2Evil]

So how did this end?

[YouBastard95060]

@Death2Evil Read the uploader note. The still-unleased building is now surrounded by a chain link fence with a regular private security patrol and newly installed cameras.

[Death2Evil]

@YouBastard95060: DAMN!

[YouBastard95060]

@Death2Evil From a purely tactical perspective it's suicidal to try to hold ground... Just ask the Native Americans. Hit and run is the only option, and it works quite well. Just ask the Taliban, or the Viet Cong, or for that matter the Minutemen of the American Revolution.

[YouBastard95060]

@Death2Evil As far as the building's current state, the end result displaced a number of homeless people sleeping around the perimeter (including occasionally me), but I have no problem with the outcome. Every time someone looks at the building now they think about that occupation, and the waste of space, and a community center that could have been.

Agitprop, especially when the 'enemy' creates their own... Priceless.

[YouBastard95060]

They cleaned up and bailed last night before the police moved in again. They are planning on other actions to assist foreclosed homeowners protect their homes.

There was minor damage... but the local Yellow Rag won't put it like that.

The Sheriffs showed up this morning to clear the campers around the courthouse and the Geodesic dome that was erected by the steps but the encampment in the park below the court house is safe at least until Jan 3 pending a Fed court hearing on the city injunction

[YouBastard95060]

@raultalbot7

Sorry Jackass

No suggestions of violence from either side of the story, and as soon as I get done typing this, no you. You've been blocked