Alex Darocy Photography

Community members in Santa Cruz gathered at the Town Clock on January 16 to tell the county Board of Supervisors to "invest in communities, not cages" and to reject the large grant awarded by the state for jail expansion, whether it be for program space or new beds. The Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) has officially recommended the distribution of jail construction funds to 15 counties, including Santa Cruz. $500 million in total is to be distributed, with $25 million going to Santa Cruz, according to Sin Barras, the group that organized the rally and has been leading the campaign to fight jail expansion locally. "Santa Cruz County has been forward thinking during California’s public safety realignment by prioritizing community-based programming and supportive re-entry services. Re-opening and expanding an unused portion of Rountree Detention Center is a significant step backwards, we are incredibly disappointed that the BSCC approved this recommend...

A diverse group of mothers, women, and grandmothers dressed in white attended the January 7 Sonoma County Board of Supervisors meeting to stand with Sujay Lopez, the mother of 13-year-old Andy Lopez, who was killed by Sonoma County Sheriff's deputy Erick Gelhaus on October 22. During the open comment period of the meeting, community members seeking Justice for Andy demanded an end to what they perceive as inaction from the board, and many also brought mirrors to hold up so supervisors could, according to an event announcement for the demonstration, take a "hard look" at themselves and answer the question, "why have they done nothing to indict Deputy Gelhaus?" A Community member reflects the image of Sonoma County Supervisor Susan Gorin back at her. The Supervisor's Chambers was overflowing as community members waited for the public comment period section of the meeting to begin. In addition to wearing white clothing and holding mirrors of various siz...

Community members have rebuilt the memorial for Andy Lopez that is located at the site of his death. The new memorial is larger than the one it replaces, which was damaged in the middle of the night when it was set on fire on January 2. [Photos taken January 6, 2013] Andy was killed by Sonoma County Sheriff's deputy Erick Gelhaus on October 22, who said he thought the boy was carrying a gun that was later determined to be a toy. Family members and supporters have gathered at the location of Andy's death, a vacant lot on Moorland Avenue, to grieve and to distribute information. The memorial at the site gradually grew as community members brought flowers, toys, items of worship, and protest signs demanding justice for the boy. When the first rain arrived, canopies were erected to protect the memorial from the elements. Andy's parents have said they want the lot to become a park in their son's honor, and in November the first tree was planted by community membe...