Community Help In Living Locally (CHILL) meets this Wednesday, Oct. 12, at Noon in Garberville. In the face of a “Shock & Awe” campaign over the last weeks aimed at dislodging local homeless, CHILL is rediscovering itself as an ad hoc grouping of Human Rights advocates. Gentrification is never pretty, ironically enough, and this recent coalition of counter-cultural money, old settler money and real estate money is no exception. Although the CHILL agenda is open to those who advocate for the “at risk,” Wednesday’s meeting will therefore have a focus on legal remedies in defense of human rights. The place of meeting is at 1007 2nd St. at the Free Library in back of the old Bike Coop.
Meanwhile of course CHILL continues to promote a positive agenda. The demographics of homelessness as envisioned by CHILL activists is made up of many independent constituencies that do not fit the hateful profile promulgated by the current gentrification coalition of the rich and would-be rich. CHILL instead proposes a series of institutional solutions. The most conventional solution is a Farm Labor Camp for migrant workers in the marijuana business. Representatives of the state of California have indicated the eligibility of the Emerald region for a state funded migrant labor camp. A Sanctuary village for women and families is crucial, given the excessive vulnerability of women and children forced to live in camps, cars and on couches. CHILL also seeks to create a cooperative village on a land trust model for employed people and those with low/no income. A winter shelter is another priority for CHILL whose activists have for some years provided the volunteer staffing. Homeless veterans abound in America and CHILL hopes to be part of a movement to rebuild the Vets’ Hall at County expense. The County has shown itself to be unwilling to maintain the Hall and when completed the Hall should be wholly owned by local veterans, free of County interference.. CHILL is a grouping that is explicitly founded on opposition to violence, in particular as used against the “at risk” street population who have suffered many attacks on behalf of “localism”. CHILL wants to remove the baseball bat and the taser as symbols of this “localism.” On behalf of that effort CHILL periodically sponsors sessions in nonviolent communication and conduct. The imminent loss of the bookstore at the north end of Garberville – thanks to dictates of the currently triumphant money power - will require the recreation of a “Respite Center” named in honor of Kathy Epling whose vision it was. The bookstore has been targeted as an unofficial “Respite Center” which is dedicated to helping the helpless, lessening the levels of fear among the desperate, offering resources to the resource-less. The totally free services provide (as available) food, clothing, water, electricity, telephone, mail services, along with orientation information for travelers and for trimmers and growers alike. Also made available are extensive materials serving “Harm Reduction” - and in cooperation with medical and mental health servers, CHILL is part of the demand for appropriate County services to aid people with addiction and mental health problems. Eureka is a parasite whose population, perhaps twice that of Southern Humboldt, soaks up just about all the County welfare money. Property continues as the “sacred” watchword on behalf of dollar values which otherwise hold nothing sacred. Ownership is of such paramount importance that any “private property” anywhere in the region is under the exclusive guardianship of any self-appointed “local” disciple with the tacit or open encouragement of law enforcement . The sacred earth at Standing Rock has been re-asserted as a prime value held by Native Americans upon whose very land our local “owners” and their serfs arrogantly squat as they persecute trespassers. CHILL means to be a different kind of citizens’ movement. For information on where exactly is 2nd st and etc contact Paul 923-4488 or Debra 223-3607
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