NCRC Stopping All Services Dec. 31

The North Coast Resource Center in Arcata notified the public today that they will be suspending their services as of December 31, 2011. The NCRC, which was formerly known as the Arcata Endeavor, provides essential services to homeless people and low income residents. Services that will be stopped include food boxes, showers, lunches, and mail. A staff member said that they were closing in order to reorganize. Lack of funding has been a severe problem for the NCRC for several years.

Occupy Rally at HSU on Thursday

From Occupy Humboldt:

Occupy Humboldt will be using the winter break to re-energize, strategize, and build support networks for what we know will be a very active Spring. Join us for the Rally of the People, by the People, for the People on Thursday, December 8th. On December 9th, we will roll up the tent demonstration!

Sit-in Protest at Bank of America

About 35 occupy protesters staged a sit-in at the Arcata Bank of America today. They entered the bank shortly after 2 pm and sat down and chanted om. They left peacefully after police arrived. Prior to that, it was a confusing day for Occupy Arcata. The encampment at city hall fell apart. In the morning several campers took their tents down, which led others to do the same. Rumors spread that there had been a raid. As the encampment weakened, the city took advantage and pushed for more stuff to be removed. Little remained by afternoon. Protesters said that they would regroup and reorganize.

Police Give Occupy Arcata Eviction Notice

Arcata police chief Tom Chapman delivered a letter to Occupy Arcata today. The letter amounts to an eviction notice, and is like the ones in other cities that were given before a police raid. There is little doubt that APD is planning to raid the protest soon.

Community Shows Support for Occupy Arcata

After high profile evictions of occupy camps in New York, Eureka, Portland, Oakland, and other cities, members of the community in Arcata have come by to show their support for Occupy Arcata. Daniel Duncan of Small World Book Press brought a kiosk that he made. A man driving by shouted "Keep it going, they shut down New York". A family came and stood on the corner, waving and holding a sign that said "End Corporate Personhood!" A woman drove up and donated chocolate and nuts. And this was all in the short span of time that I was there earlier today.

Occupy Arcata Marches to Corporate Banks

For the last two days Occupy Arcata has marched in the downtown area to protest against large corporate banks. Protesters hope to march against banks every day at about noon. Occupiers chant "Banks got bailed out, we got sold out".

Bank Transfer Day

Today is Bank Transfer Day. The occupy movement is urging people to transfer their accounts from the big banks to local credit unions. Occupy Arcata is planning a march in observance. The local movement is still going strong at city hall. I am surprised at how many local shop owners have come by to express their support and drop off donations. A lot of the problems with disruptive persons has diminished, but their is still a need for more dedicated people that can maintain peacekeeper monitoring 24 hours a day.

City Council to Consider Supporting OWS

On the agenda for tomorrow night's meeting of the Arcata City Council is consideration of Resolution 112-26 - In Support of the Occupy Wall Street Movement. Occupy Arcata is urging citizens to come to the meeting, which starts at 6 pm. Public restrooms in the downtown area is also being discussed.

Occupy Arcata Protest Moves to City Hall

The Occupy Arcata protest has moved to Arcata City Hall on F Street.

Occupy Arcata Protests Bank of America

Activists from Occupy Arcata protested against the Bank of America for about an hour today.

Occupy Arcata GA Adopts Good Neighbor Policy

Today, after visits from city officials, the General Assembly of Occupy Arcata adopted a good neighbor policy and made other changes that should give the protest a different look and feel by tomorrow. The good neighbor policy will be like the one adopted in New York by Occupy Wall Street which reads as follows:

GOOD NEIGHBOR POLICY

Posted Oct. 13, 2011, 2:10 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Following respectful and good-faith dialogue with members of the local community which has been rebuilding since the trauma of 9/11, Occupy Wall Street hereby announces the following Good Neighbor Policy:

OWS has zero tolerance for drugs or alcohol anywhere in Liberty Plaza;

Zero tolerance for violence or verbal abuse towards anyone;

Zero tolerance for abuse of personal or public property.

OWS will limit drumming on the site to 2 hours per day, between the hours of 11am and 5pm only.

OWS encourages all participants to respect health and sanitary regulations, and will direct all participants to respectfully utilize appropriate off-site sanitary facilities.

OWS will display signage and have community relations and security monitors in Liberty Plaza, in order to ensure awareness of and respect for our guidelines and Good Neighbor Policy.

OWS will at all times have a community relations representative on-site, to monitor and respond to community concerns and complaints.

Occupy Wall Street October 13, 2011

Note: In conjunction with local community members and their representatives, OWS is also working to establish off-site sanitary facilities such as port-a-potties.

Police Reported Ready for Occupy Raid

Occupy Humboldt has warned that police in riot gear are forming up around the courthouse and may be getting ready to raid Occupy Eureka or Occupy Arcata!

Two Arrests at Occupy Arcata

Two protesters were arrested today at the Occupy Arcata protest site. The trouble started when officers tried to give a ticket to a protester for having a tent. Police arrested him after he refused to sign the ticket. One other activist was also arrested for reasons that are not clear. Both were taken to Humboldt County Jail. Police took the one tent that was at the site. Now there are several tents. The police action seems to have galvanized the activists and brought more community support. Here is a video of the incident:

Mayor Ornelas Visits Occupy Arcata

Arcata's mayor, Susan Ornelas came by the plaza today to check out the Occupy Arcata protest and talked with protesters. Her visit comes after occupiers reported increased police harassment last night.

Plaza Occupation Continues

The Occupy Arcata protest on the plaza is still going strong. Arcata police chief Tom Chapman came by today and talked with protesters.

24 Hour Occupation of Arcata Plaza

Last night at least 25 people camped on the Arcata Plaza, as part of the global Occupy Movement that was inspired by Occupy Wall Street in New York. There is a general assembly planned for today at 5 pm.

Occupy Protesters Do Short Sit-ins at Two Arcata Banks

Early this afternoon protesters from Occupy Humboldt staged short sit-ins at the Chase Bank on 7th Street and at Wells Fargo Bank on G Street in Arcata. The activists sat on the floor and meditated for five to ten minutes, then got up and left before police arrived. Police caught up to them on G Street and talked to them for awhile. I'm not sure what was said.

Arcata Mayor and Councilman Support Occupy Movement

Arcata Mayor Susan Ornelas and Councilmember Shane Brinton came to the plaza yesterday, to show their support for Occupy Wall Street and the local Occupy movement. The two city officials joined dozens of activists who gathered on the plaza and marched around town. Mayor Ornelas said she was one of the ninety-nine percent. Activists from Occupy Humboldt circulated a petition to HSU President Rollin Richmond asking that the University allow the Occupy protest on campus to continue. They passed out flyers that claimed "CSU administrators are threatening to suspend students and eject protesters for participating in the Occupy movement". Occupy Humboldt is calling for as many supporters as possible to come to the protest site on Sunday.

Occupy Wall Street Comes to Humboldt

A protest encampment at the HSU is entering it's second night at the lawn below the Art quad. Earlier in the day Occupy Humboldt and Occupy Arcata marched on the Arcata Plaza in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street protests that started three weeks ago in New York and have since spread nationwide.

Police Action on Giuntoli Lane

Many police with guns drawn converged on the Animal Hospital at 1300 Giuntoli Lane at about 2:35 pm today. Northern Redwood Federal Credit Union is at 1270 giuntoli and may be in the same building. The bank across the street was robbed yesterday. I thought I smelled gunsmoke as I passed by.

Protest Against B of A and Budget Cuts

There was a protest yesterday afternoon in front of the Bank of America. Protesters held signs and a banner in the rain to protest against corporations for failing to pay their fair share of taxes. The protest was organized by US Uncut and Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County.

Fallout Fears in Arcata Cause Surge in Iodine Sales

Fear of nuclear fallout from Japan's nuclear meltdown crisis is causing panic buying of iodine pills, kelp and seaweed in Arcata. The North Coast Co-op struggling to meet the demand of customers looking for products that will help protect against radiation poisoning. some of my friends have recommended taking kelp, seaweed, and leafy greens to mitigate the danger. The Co-op was restocking their kelp pills this morning, but was out of iodine pills that customers keep asking for.

Fire on the Plaza

Many police and fire vehicles responded to some kind of incident on the plaza, about an hour ago.
There was evidently an underground fire near or under the liquor store.

Snow in Arcata

It was snowing this morning in Arcata.