Agent Provocateurs hit Watsonville
by SARAH RINGLER
On June 3, the yellow poster below, circulated online around Watsonville. By Thursday, many businesses at the Overlook Shopping Center and downtown on Main St. began, at great expense, to install plywood over their windows.
According to locals,
Photo by Ringler
Watsonville Police notified residents that they were aware of the flyers, took it seriously and were committed to protecting the community. They also encouraged the public to stay out of downtown. However, no "barbaric protest," as promised below, happened that evening.
The poster appears to be directed at people who are protesting the systematic racist policies that led to the brutal killing of George Floyd on Memorial Day, March 25, in Minneapolis, MN. It attempts to encourage them to be violent.
If you look at this poster closely, it resembles the work of an agent provocateur, a French word meaning, “inciting agent,” and long used throughout history as a technique to discredit a person or group.The evidence comes from misspelling of "citys" and the nonsensical reference to a "Watsonville cat."
Infiltrators can be part of any movement. Art Pearl, author, Professor of Education, dock worker, labor organizer and more, always said he welcomed infiltrators into his groups, saying that, “they might learn something.” However, in a divided country filled with high powered weapons compounded by the anonymity of the internet, we need to be very cautious.
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<The online poster exhibits some of the signs of social bots or sockpuppets, the modern version of agent provocateurs. The misspelling of “citys” and the archaic use of “Watsonville cat” are indications that this may not be authentic.
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Life is a hard battle anyway. If we laugh and sing a little as we fight the good fight of freedom, it makes it all go easier. I will not allow my life's light to be determined by the darkness around me."
Sojourner Truth 1787-1883
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County Covid-19 Report
by SARAH RINGLER
Every Wednesday, the Santa Cruz County Health Department releases data on the current status of Covid-19 in the county. The data has been fairly consistent over the months. As of June 10, it continued to show a gender gap; 44% of the people tested positive were male and 56% were female.
By age, out of 254 cases, in the category of 18 to 64 year olds, 76% tested positive. Those aged 65 or older made up for 14% of the positive tests and 10% were 17 and younger. This distribution has been steady over the last month.
The Safeway at 2720 41
st
Ave. in Soquel has two workers who have tested positive for Covid-19. According to Wendy Gutshall of Safeway, they have received medical care and have not been at the workplace for over ten days. Their close contacts are being monitored.
Any worker who has been exposed will be eligible to receive up to 14 days quarantine pay. The store remains open with thorough cleaning and disinfection protocols practiced throughout the store.
I got the results of the test I took last week at Ramsay Park. I’m negative, which by the time I got tested, after having a week’s delay because I forgot my Patient ID number the first time, matched how I felt. I have had a few phantom bouts of Covid-19, mostly of the psychological strain, I think.
http://santacruzhealth.org/HSAHome/HSADivisions/PublicHealth/CommunicableDiseaseControl/CoronavirusHome.aspx
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County Housing Report
Here is the Housing Inventory Snapshot of our county from Raeid Farhat Real Estate Inc. as on May 28, 2020.
Single Family homes: The average list price: $1,030,189 and average sold price: $896,484.
Luxury Family homes: Average list price: $3,301,540 and average sold price: $2,187,500
Condo/Townhomes: Average list price: $612,793, average sold price: $566,889.
Luxury Condo/Townhome: Average list price: $1,094,114, average sold price: $908,788
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YOUR STORY HERE
: Many of you are active in the community in various ways. Please submit a story that you think would be of interest to the people of Santa Cruz. Photos and drawings are also welcome. Try and keep the word count under 400. Also, if possible, suggest an action item. For the mid June issue, please submit by June 17th. Sarah Ringler: coluyaki@gmail.com
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W
e the People of Santa Cruz County.....
Over time, our county has grown more stratified and divided with many people feeling left out. Housing affordability, racism and low wages are three obvious factors. Many groups and individuals in Santa Cruz County work tirelessly to make our county a better place for everyone. These people work on the environment, housing, economic justice, criminal justice, disability rights, immigrant rights, racial justice, transportation, workers’ rights, education reform, electoral politics and more. Often, one group doesn’t know what another is doing. The Serf City Times is dedicated to serving as a clearinghouse for those issues by letting you know what is going on and how you can support them.This is not a profit-making enterprise. All work is volunteer.
Sarah Ringler
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