Hundreds of people participated in the 7th Annual Last Night DIY New Year’s Parade on December 31st, 2011 in downtown Santa Cruz, California. Hundreds more lined Pacific Avenue to watch and document the grassroots New Year’s Eve celebration created by the community. The event has become both a homespun, family-friendly alternative celebration and a controversial embarrassment for the city.

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On December 3rd, a meeting was convened inside the occupied building at 75 River St. in Santa Cruz. At the meeting, a two page handwritten letter was composed, addressed to the Santa Cruz Police Department from The 75 River Street Community Center. The letter was left on a table for the police to find when they enter the building.

Below is the transcribed text, along with photographs of the original handwritten letter.

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On November 30th, more than a hundred activists in Santa Cruz demonstrated in front of a Chase bank, before marching to and occupying a vacant bank building on River and Water Streets at 3 PM. A communique handed out shortly after the building was entered states, “This building is being re-purposed in solidarity with Occupy Santa Cruz. Formerly a Coast Commercial Bank, the building was bought by Wells Fargo, closed, and has been vacant for the past three years. The company leasing the building manages foreclosures for Wells Fargo.

“The building is being re-purposed under Federal and State laws surrounding ‘adverse possession.’ This law states that space is most beneficial to the people who use it. Spaces like this one, reclaimed from the wealthiest 1%, are places where we can seek redress to our grievances.”

Photos: Vacant Bank Occupied Part 1 | Part 2

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