SANTA CRUZ, Calif- Despite cold temperatures, more than 50 occupiers camped at San Lorenzo Park in Santa Cruz on Monday night. But, Santa Cruz Police hope an evacuation notice will have them gone by Wednesday.
More than a dozen Santa Cruz police officers made a surprise visit at the Occupy Camp to serve them a notice that reads occupiers must leave by Wednesday night or they will be cited or arrested.
"There's possible drug use," says Santa Cruz Police Chief Kevin Vogel. "There's prostitution. It's gotten to the point where it's just not safe."
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Department agrees, saying it received 132 reports of drug use, threatening behavior, vandalism, public defecation and urination, and public drunkenness at or near the county government center where occupiers hang out.
Since Occupy Santa Cruz protests began two months ago, it cost the county nearly $40,000. That includes $6,000 to clean up human waste, $15,000 for sheriff costs, $12,000 for security guards and $3,500 to modify security at the facility.
"I do have a sense of frustration," says Chief Vogel. "We've been dealing with this for two months. I think at this point in time, it's just time for this to end."
But Occupy protestor Dustin Brown said, the evacuation notice is just a piece of paper to him and he doesn't plan to leave anytime soon.
"There's still good people here," says Brown. "There's still good ideas here. I think it's still growing. It's a minor setback, but we need this."
Submitted by Azenith Smith, Central Coast News
