Sin Biscuits

Sin Biscuits #1                                          March 14th, 2018
a blog by: Marlene Mayhem

It's funny, anyone that knows me knows that I am rarely at a loss for words. I love talking, sharing my thoughts and views with anyone that will engage, and listening and learning from their unique point of view. My personal motto is to Never Stop Learning, and I vow never to waver from that sentiment. Its my purpose. Learning about different people and expanding my knowledge base is what brings my heart joy.

But when it came to starting this blog, days have gone by without a way to begin this story. So, now, I'll just write the way my brain works, and hope the message gets through my static...(How many run on sentences was that so far?) The name, Sin Biscuits speaks to the purpose of this blog, and that is to get the message to fellow concerned citizens about the corruption and heartlessness of the county and city officials(and don't forget our good ol' boys in blue...sorry, threw up in my mouth a little just then...Focus!)of our dear Santa Rosa.

Here are the facts thus far:

• There are currently 130+* people that reside in an encampment in Santa Rosa, more specifically Roseland. This encampment, though it has grown by 500% since the homeless from 6th street were shuttled in by ( you'll never guess...)city officials! has been in this space of dirt for almost 3 years.
• During this time there has been a tentative agreement with local law enforcement and county officials for a safe place to be.
• Before Roseland was absorbed by Santa Rosa, County officials were delegated the responsibility of Roseland and its occupants.
• I am one of the inhabitants of the aforementioned encampment. I have been homeless since November, 2016, when I finally left a body and soul crushing marriage of 18 years after a machete attack by my nightmare of an ex. I suffer from Bi-Polar disorder, Anxiety, and PTSD as a result.
• I have become an activist for the homeless community, which is huge and grows by the day. My encampment only makes up a small percentage of the total number affected.Homelessness is a nationwide epidemic that cannot be ignored. This is simply a human rights issue. We are still people, even if some wish we would just...go away.
• The out loud, disturbing moves against the homeless began on August 14th, when an area known as "homeless hill" was raided and destroyed by police, scattering its inhabitants,(those that weren't arrested, anyway.)
• Then came the equally out loud and cruel eviction of the homeless encampment on 6th street on November 1st, 2017.. If you read the articles in the Press Democrat on this move by law enforcement, the timing of the scattering of yet more homeless citizens, was so as not to discourage holiday shoppers and their fat wallets, having to see the unsavory types that are we. Essentially, they were bad for business.
• Our encampment is slated to be shut down on April 3rd, 2018. In the last update meeting i attended 2 days ago, we were assured that if not gone on that date, there would be police enforcement. They will arrest as many as they can, and site out,(aka give us a ticket for illegal camping) the rest. They have made us that cannot afford rent into criminals. Criminals with no recourse. So here is our voice. And the Sin biscuits have begun to be flung...