Last week’s Tucson Mayor and City Council meeting was variously described as “raucous,” and “inspiring.”

Protesters from Occupy Tucson packed the meeting and testified for hours. They pleaded with the Mayor and Council to intervene with the Tucson Police Department to stop against the $1000/night fines against the Occupiers and to intervene with the Parks and Recreation Department to end the $150/night camping permits (the biggest camping permit I know of) and the requirement for insurance.

No decisions on these items could be made last week because these issues were not officially on the agenda.

These issues are still not on the agenda for tonight’s Mayor and Council meeting. Instead, they are flagged as an executive session item on the  study session agenda. In addition to not dealing with the Occupation in public today– unless, of course, Occupiers speak at the call to audience again– the Mayor and Council are not scheduled to have another open meeting until Wednesday, November 9 (after the election).

Also of interest to the 99% and also on today’s study session agenda is a follow-up to a 2007 report on Poverty and Urban Stress in Tucson. This is an excellent report conducted by former Councilman Steve Leal; unfortunately, after he retired, the report was shelved– until a few of us rabble-rousers (including Leal) started making noise about it. Watch for more on this.

Poverty, homelessness, and unemployment are out of control in our city, but if you listen to the Democratic and Republican mayoral and city council candidates, you’d think the biggest issues facing our city were development-related fees and the self-perceived hassles developers have when dealing with the city’s bureaucracy. (Give me a break.)

It’s time for our elected officials to open their eyes and look around. Maybe they should be talking with the 99%– instead of holed up behind closed doors with attorneys, current and former law enforcement (ie, our new city manager), and other bureaucrats.

UPDATE: The Occupiers are going to march from Armory Park to the City Council Meeting later today. The march begins at 4:30 p.m. The City Council Meeting begins at 5:30.

According to Occupy Tucson’s facebook page, 259 citations have been issued in the 10 days since the Occupation began. There are 50 tents at Armory Park, but that number should swell this weekend with the planned Family and Friends Campout on Friday, October 28.

UPDATE 2: For moving Occupy Tucson testimony from the 2 City Council meetings were no action was taken by the Council on the issue of park permits and citations, check out these links. Particularly moving is the homeless man at the beginning of part 2 of the October 25 meeting.

October 18, 2011 Tucson Mayor and Council Meeting

October 25, 2011 Tucson Mayor and Council Meeting

Speaking with commentator Keith Olbermann on national television , Occupy Tucson spokesman Craig Barber outed the Tucson’s Mayor and Council for “hiding behind” the bureaucrats in Tucson Police Department (TPD) and the Parks and Recreation Department and avoiding to make a decision regarding the legality of the peaceful Armory Park occupation.

Prior to Tuesday’s City Council Meeting– which was flooded with Occupy Tucson supporters– City Council Members told the Occupiers that their “hands were tied” and that the Occupiers had to comply with the city’s anti-vagrancy laws which dictate a 10:30 p.m. park curfew. Since the beginning of Occupy Tucson on Saturday, October 15, 2011, TPD has been arresting protesters and dispensing fines up to $1000 (for breaking the curfew) nightly.

Since it is against state and federal law to step on anyone’s first amendment freedom, the protesters are dubbing the $1000 fine– “The First Amendment Fine”– and their lawyers are investigating legal recourse.

At Monday’s Mayor and City Council candidate forum, City Council Member Shirley Scott dismissed Occupy Tucson, saying that the protesters were just a bunch of rabble-rousers from out of town.

Shirley, honey, lend an ear. Tucson has the highest rate of poverty of any city in the sunbelt. There are not enough local business owners to re-elect you; you are going to need some of the rest of us– some of the unemployed and underemployed– to check your name on the upcoming ballot to retain your seat on the City Council. Shirley, your constituents are the 99%– not the 1%. Your constituents are at Armory Park.

The above loneprotestor video accurately shows the wide cross section of people occupying Tucson’s Armory Park. Yes, in the video, you will see old hippies and college students, but there are also young mothers and babies, union members, nurses, teachers, retirees, unemployed workers, political activists, a Congressman, a mayoral candidate, even a certain progressive blogger– in other words, the 99%.

At Tuesday night’s City Council Meeting, Shirley and others had the opportunity to be up close and personal with 100+ supporters of Occupy Tucson. From the Tucson Weekly…

Old and young dressed in everything from jeans and sweaty T-shirts to full suits came to address Tucson’s council, mostly about Occupy Tucson, the Occupy Wall Street affiliated event that began Oct. 15 at Armory Park.

Their main gripe against the city were 109 citations protestors received Saturday through Monday, according to TPD, for staying at the park “after hours,” in this case after 10:30 p.m., which is a criminal trespassing violation under city code.

According to a press release sent out by Occupy Tucson itself, their demands were clear: “waive or reduce the citation fines levied against protestors,” it said.

“The cost every night to keep citing people is going to bankrupt you, I just hope you guys know that,” said protester Phillip Benoit during the call to the audience.

Benoit and many more spoke for almost two hours at the meeting for three minutes each, invoking the words of icons like Albert Einstein and Thomas Jefferson, and with topics ranging from corporate greed to water rights to the legacy of the unborn to crippling debt. But the Occupy Tucson crew rallied around one central idea—their right to free speech.

It often got personal.

“We gather not to cause trouble but to share our troubles with the rest of the 99 percent—which includes you,” said Kristina Ruiz.

“How will your descendents speak about you?” Michael Migliore asked the council.

Even calls of “shame on you!” were applauded by the group, though raucous applause often dwindled to jazz-hands-style finger waving during speeches to show approval.

Since there was nothing on the agenda about the citations, council members couldn’t act on what was discussed. Instead, they listened quietly to every individual with state-prescribed stoicism—though an occasional nod, raised eyebrow, or smile escaped the faces of several members and the mayor himself.

Overall, this was a particularly rowdy council meeting, with cheers and applause breaking out after most speakers. The energy was palpable. The crowd was particularly energized by the words of 62-year-old Margie King, a Tucsonan who has spent years in China teaching U.S. History.

“The American government supported the Tiananmen Square movement after 10:30 at night,” King said to cheers. “The American government supported protests in the middle east after 10:30 at night!”

After the call to the audience was adjourned, the group reassembled in front of City Hall, and a cry of—“To Armory Park!” could be heard in the crowd. [emphasis added]

Tucson’s Mayor, City Council, and police have been taking a somewhat passive aggressive approach to the Occupy Tucson movement.

As reported in the Arizona Daily Star, 53 people were arrested in Armory Park on Saturday night, the first day of the occupation. Tucson Police have been using an anti-vagrancy law to ticket protesters who stay in the park over night.

Before the Occupation began, Occupy Tucson organizers called several City Council members and asked for their help with park permits and the 10:30 p.m. park closure ordinance. These calls primarily fell on deaf ears. The Council members who bothered to call the Occupiers back said their “hands were tied.” At least one council member warned the protesters that Parks and Recreation may turn the sprinklers on the overnight protesters.

Now Occupy Tucson organizers are asking for your help with Tucson’s Mayor and Council, who have a meeting tonight.

On facebook, they are organizing a march from Armory Park to the Mayor and Council Chambers. Check out this facebook event or show up at 4:30 p.m. at Armory Park.

Here is a release from the Occupy Tucson movement.

The City of Tucson has chosen to deny the peoples right to peaceful assembly as guaranteed by both the US and Arizona Constitutions. They’re doing so by using a city ordinance written as a measure that prevents the homeless from living in the parks. That form of enforcement of a local issue is not required when applied to a political protest as it prevents a peaceful assembly for the common good.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” – US First Amendment, Bill Of Rights

“The right of petition, and of the people peaceably to assemble for the common good, shall never be abridged.” – Arizona Constitution, Article 2 Section 5 [Note that under this section, camping in the park because you are homeless (for personal gain) might be illegal, but for the common good (political protest) it is a protected activity]

The Arizona Daily Star reported 53 citizens given citations and charged with vagrancy last Saturday night as they stood up for their First Amendment right to peacefully assemble at the Occupy Tucson event at Amory Park. Included was philanthropist Peggy Hitchcock. Peggy had to search for a police officer willing to give her a citation once they realized who she was. Also, given citations were:

* Mary DeCamp, Green Party activist and candidate for Tucson ’s mayor;

* Arlene Leaf, local small business owner and activist;

* Jon McLanne, one of the Occupy Tucson organizers;

* John R Brakey, election integrity activist and many more.

The encounter between the Tucson Police Department and the peaceful assembly of citizens was a model of civility with mutual respect and good communication appreciated by both sides. This is in contrast to what happened in Phoenix where people were sprayed with pepper spray and forcefully arrested as they said “we love you” to the Police. (must see video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_ZS9EqjE90

The Tucson Police used a velvet glove approach to the assembly here. They are doing “catch and release” ticketing of anyone in the park after hours (10:30pm-7am). The Tucson Police gave criminal citations knowing they will be challenged in the courts and at the city council.

As civil as everything is the Tucson Police will continue giving criminal citations on a nightly basis. It is the hope of the citizens that this is not a strategy to financially intimidate the peacefully assembled citizens to interfere with their rights to assemble for the common good.

There is a sense of urgency for the City Council to quickly address this issue by putting it on the agenda for the Tuesday Oct.18 meeting (5:30 pm at City Council Chambers). Arguments will be presented to acknowledge the importance of not abridging Arizona and Federal constitutional law. A number of people who were cited have asked Attorney Bill Risner to speak on their behalf. Others are encouraged to speak also.

Since agenda items must be posted prior to the meeting, people are urged to call the Mayor and City Council Members immediately to make this request.

Link to members and numbers can be found by clicking on the below here: http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/citygov

You can also find their information below.

Regina Romero – city council Ward 1
Phone: (520) 791-4040 Email: regina.romero@tucsonaz.gov

Paul Cunningham – city council Ward Two
Phone: (520) 791-4687 Paul.Cunningham@tucsonaz.gov

Karin Uhlich – Vice Mayor and city council Ward III
Phone: (520) 791-4711 Email: karin.uhlich@tucsonaz.gov

Shirley Scott – city council Ward IV
Phone: (520) 791-3199 E-Mail: ward4@tucsonaz.gov

Richard Fimbres – city council Ward V
Phone: (520) 791-4231 Richard.Fimbres@tucsonaz.gov

Steve Kozachik – city council Ward VI
Phone: (520) 791-4601 E-Mail: Steve.Kozachik@tucsonaz.gov

Mayor Bob Walkup
Phone: (520) 791-4201 mayor1@tucsonaz.gov

Co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and CD7 Representative Raul Grijalva talks about Occupy Tucson, the ideas behind the Occupy movement, and progressive initiatives that address jobs, universal healthcare, and deficit reduction.

The Occupation of Tucson (and dozens of other cities, including Phoenix) began yesterday, October 15, 2011. Early in the day, as many as 500 people came to Armory Park, south of downtown, to protest corporate control of the US government, to demand an end to our corrupt corporate-financed election system, to advocate for jobs, healthcare, and housing for the 99%, and to send a wake-up call to our do-nothing Congress.

People of all ages marched into downtown and back to the park around midday, while some peacefully took their protest into the Tucson Meet Yourself event, taking place in and around the city’s center.

Occupy Tucson was well organized with music, a kitchen, and several tents. According to the Arizona Daily Star, approximately 150 camped out over night. Some protesters were arrested in Tucson and Phoenix, according to the Star.

Here is a loneprotestor video showing the march from Armory Park to downtown (and the edge of Tucson Meet Yourself).

Late last week US attorneys announced a crackdown on the “large, for-profit medical marijuana industry” in California.

From CNN…

[The attorneys sent] letters of warning to landlords and lien holders of places in which marijuana is being sold illegally, “civil forfeiture lawsuits against properties involved in drug trafficking activity” and numerous criminal cases. The latter refers to arrests in recent weeks related to cases filed in federal courts in Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento and Fresno, all part of an effort that [US attorney Benjamin] Wagner claimed has resulted in the seizure of hundreds of pounds of marijuana, tens of thousands of plants and hundreds of thousands in cash.

In 1996, California became the first state in the US to legalize medical marijuana, and since then, dispensaries and growing operations have multiplied and prospered in California. In a domino effect, 15 states– including Arizona– have followed suit and created boutique laws regulating the sale, cultivation, and distribution of medical marijuana, AND cities and counties have created lower tiers of regulations to control where dispensaries and growing operations can be located and who can grow their own marijuana.

Even with layers upon layers of legislation, the bureaucrats and politicians have not been able to really control the spread of marijuana use. According to US government statistics, 16.7 million Americans 12 and older used marijuana at least once in the previous month (2009 data). Marijuana is believed to be the most widely used illegal “drug” in the US.

A poll released in August 2011 revealed that 55% of Americans support full legalization of marijuana– with Democrats (63%-33%)  and Independents (61%-34%) favoring marijuana legalization and most Republicans (46%-56%) oppose the change. An ABC News poll from 2010 showed 81% of Americans support medical marijuana. Many states, counties, and cities have decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana.

With such widespread use of marijuana, majority support for legalization, and a burgeoning industry: What’s the big deal? Why are the feds cracking down now, when they have allowed this industry to grow and spread for 15 years? Because they’re making money. Legislation in California, Arizona, and other states dictates that medical marijuana should be a nonprofit industry. (What’s up with that? Aren’t we a country of capitalists?)

From FOX News in LA…

Pot shops around Southern California have been raided, including a growing operations in Riverside County. In Orange County, federal agents moved to seize a property in a forfeiture action on Thursday, and Drug Enforcement Agents raided several shops in San Diego County.

Federal agents announced Friday that medical marijuana shops operating outside of state law must close within 45 days or face civil and/or criminal prosecution.

“While California law permits collective cultivation of marijuana in limited circumstances, it does not allow commercial distribution through the store-front model we see across California,” U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte Jr. said yesterday.

Warning letters have been mailed to dozens of pot shops and landlords that have been targeted.

Marijuana advocates said it was waste of federal resources.

A year or more ago, as many as 1,000 pot shop were in business in and around Los Angeles as confusion reigned over state and local laws regulating marijuana.

Back to my question: Why crack down now? My personal theory is that this is all Governor Jan Brewer’s and Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne’s fault. Arizona voters legalized medical marijuana in 2010– much to the chagrin of our Nanny State government. Since that passage, the state, county, and city governments in Arizona have thrown up dozens of roadblocks to implementation (ie, strict local zoning laws for dispensaries and growers, licensing fees*, a steep $130 annual fee* for medical marijuana cards, physician referrals, etc.)

The biggest roadblock Horne and Brewer could come up with was a full-on legal challenge to the federal government (something Arizona relishes). Horne and Brewer are asking the feds to clarify the question of legality. How can medical marijuana be legal, when marijuana is illegal? Can state employees be arrested for participating in the distribution of marijuana? Even though 1000s of Arizonans have jumped through the hurdles, paid the annual fee, and now hold a medical marijuana cards, Horne has halted implementation of the law until he receives a ruling from the federal government.

The federal government’s stance on medical marijuana is untenable. In some ways, the policy of looking the other way while marijuana use proliferates is like the government’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy. “Hide your sexuality, and we won’t prosecute you.” “Hide that joint, and we’ll pretend you’re not smoking pot.”

US attorneys are challenging and shutting down a well-established, wide-spread, successful industry in because distributors are making money– not unlike the German brewers who were targeted by the temperance movement. Except for the temporary prohibition of alcohol– which led to widespread illegal use– what other product or industry has been persecuted like this?  The sale of other mood-altering and sometimes-addictive drugs– pharmaceuticals, alcohol, and tobacco– is legal in the US and those industries do not have nonprofit status forced upon them. Why marijuana?

Maybe the time has come for legalization. I believe that the US attorneys are forcing a lawsuit (or multiple lawsuits) by cracking down on the country’s largest medical marijuana businesses. The patchwork of marijuana laws across the US is silly and inefficient, and the nonprofit requirements for medical marijuana are contrary to the country’s pro-business, for-profit underpinnings.

Many progressives have been disgruntled with President Obama’s conciliatory behavior toward Congressional conservatives; they feel that he has too often given in or compromised too early. Obama’s administration is not without progressive milestones. He increased the minimum wage, passed landmark healthcare reform, passed banking reform, repealed Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, extended unemployment benefits, funded 1000s of teacher salaries and other public jobs when the states went broke, caught Osama bin Laden, tried to pass the DREAM Act, and continues to try to protect social safety net programs from Republican raids. What if he brought home the big kahuna– legalization of marijuana?

One of the reasons President Roosevelt and progressives repealed the prohibition was that the country needed that tax revenue from the sale of alcohol; our country could use the tax revenue from the sale of legal marijuana now. For this reason, some economists have predicted that legalization of marijuana is inevitable.  Tom Horne and Jan Brewer may have pushed this issue forward.

*P.S. The 1000s of medical marijuana cardholders who have paid $130 for a card and the dozens of businesses who have rented space and paid state fees and have been prohibited from conducting legal business by Horne’s political lawsuit should sue the state.

OK, I know Glenn Beck is nuts, but millions of people listen to him… unfortunately.

On his radio show today, Beck called the Occupy Wall Street protesters dangerous revolutionaries who want to take down the US government. He asked the federal government to shut down the Occupy demonstrations by sending in the Marines and called on capitalists and Democrats not to trust the protesters or work with them.

From the Huffington Post…

Speaking on his radio show Monday, Beck made his already-crystal-clear disdain for the protests, which have spread across the U.S., even more plain. He took a slightly surprising turn, though, in warning establishment Democrats like Nancy Pelosi (who has voiced her support for the movement) as well as any rich backers of the protests not to trust anyone in Occupy Wall Street…

“Capitalists, if you think that you can play footsies with these people, you’re wrong. They will come for you and drag you into the streets and kill you…they’re Marxist radicals…these guys are worse than Robespierre from the French Revolution…they’ll kill everybody.”

A video link with Beck’s full rant is here.

For the opposite opinion, check out this video interview between Keith Olbermann and Michael Moore.

In the shade of Veinte de Agosto Park, Occupy Tucson enthusiasts met on Sunday to plan the occupation of downtown Tucson, slated for Oct. 15.

By some estimates, approximately 200 people showed up to discuss logistics– including Mia Hansen, executive director of Tucson Meet Yourself (also slated for said park on Oct. 15). The catch for the Occupiers is that Hansen purchased permits for Veinte de Agosto Park, Presidio Park, the Courthouse Courtyard, and several other locations around downtown to hold one of the city’s largest events.

During General Assembly negotiations on Oct. 1 , the Occupiers discussed location for at least an hour. Armory Park, Presidio Park Reed Park, DeAnza Park, and Veinte de Agosto Park were all considered and voted upon. Despite the known conflict with Tucson Meet Yourself, the Occupiers voted to overlap the occupation with Tucson Meet Yourself.

Yesterday, those present reversed their decision–much to the delight of Hansen, who said that holding the Occupation would be “disrespectful to Tucson Meet Yourself and all those involved in organizing it”.  She spoke wistfully– in a kumbya sort of way– of the hundreds of individuals and groups that come together each year to make this signature event possible.

Hansen said that she had a medical marijuana petitioner removed from last year’s festival, and she didn’t want politics to spoil this year’s festival. She also said she decided to come to the Occupy Tucson meeting after she saw calls for port-a-potties, generators, tents, sleeping bags, and a soup kitchen to support the Occupiers. You can imagine her horror at the thought of Occupiers (my heavens with bull horns and signs!) lying around Veinte de Agosto Park smack in the middle of the festival. She admitted that yes, indeed, political protest is part of Tucson, but it was not happening at her event.

At any rate, her plea to the Occupiers worked. They voted to start the Occupation at Armory Park at 9 a.m. on Oct. 15 and move to Veinte de Agosto Park after Tucson Meet Yourself. Stay tuned, this is a moving target.

Occupy Tucson poster. (Image Credit: OccupyTucson.org)

Now in its third week, the Occupy Wall Street demonstration has inspired marches and/or live-ins in approximately 566 cities worldwide including Tucson. (When I originally wrote this story less than 24 hours ago, there were protests planned in 300 cities. The number cities has almost doubled in 12 hours.)

As the movement spread, the corporate media could no longer ignore it. The current corporate media story– also repeated on NPR [heavy sigh]– is that the reasons why people are occupying Wall Street or elsewhere are unclear. Except for a handful of progressives– like our own Congressman Raul Grijalva– politicians are not commenting on the Occupy movement at all– including President Obama [another heavy sigh]. How can the politicians go on their way and ignore the anger and frustration that is erupting around them? Political pundits from Amy Goodman to Ann Coulter to Tucson’s own Jon Justice are commenting. (I’m soooooo disappointed that Justice didn’t link to my video on his trash-talk blog post.)

For those of you who don’t know why the Occupy movement is growing or what all of these people are complaining about, I offer these compelling articles and photos from the Huffington Post.

‘We Are The 99 Percent’: Stories Of The Great Recession’s Victims (PHOTOS)

Candidate-Specific Super PACs Offer End Run For Maxed-Out Donors: Study

Eric Cantor Staffer Creating Leadership Super PAC

House GOP Targeting Title X In Push To Axe Family Planning Programs

New Trade Deal Would Benefit Big Pharma At AIDS Programs’ Expense

Follow the Money: Behind Europe’s Debt Crisis Lurks Another Giant Bailout of Wall Street

JPMorgan, Bank of America, Wells Fargo Accused Of Overcharging Military Veterans

Executive Pay Spiraling Upward As Corporations Race To Pay Their Bosses The Most

Are you thoroughly disgusted? You should be.

Upcoming from Occupy Tucson

October 9: The next Occupy Tucson General Assembly is Sunday, October 9 at noon at Viente de Agosto Park (AKA Pancho Villa Park) downtown.

October 15: The Occupy Tucson event begins on Saturday, October 15 at the same location.

For more information, check out the Occupy Tucson website or check out their facebook page.