The American Red Cross in Santa Barbara had a policy of rejecting "homeless" people who had de facto camps within the fire impact zone and "referring" them to homeless "services" bureacracies in nearby towns. This is based upon statements by the senior ARC official at the recent GAP Fire, and there are no indications that this policy has changed as 30,000 evacuees flee the current JESUSITA Fire.

Apparently the ARC is designed to serve only those middle and upperclass people who can afford to rent or own houses, condominiums or other structures. People who live in teepees, geodesic domes, tens, lean to or whosleep under the stars, in undesignated locations, are given the proverbial bums rush.

This is in stark contrast to the policies of the International Committee of the Red Cross, which serves populations in countries where millions of people "squat", which is to say that they live in places which are not officially zoned for residential living. In fact, many such people vote under a system in which thumbs are dyed purple.

By contrast, in Santa Barbara, Registrar of Voters Joe Holland parses voter lists for what his right wing supporters call "fraud" but is actually only the registratrion of one person one vote at addresses not zoned residential. But under this logic, Mr. Holland should also scrutinize voter-homeowners for violations of the building codes. If a homeowner puts an addition onto their home without obtaining the necessary permits, they continue to vote. But if a so called "homeless" person puts up a makeshift shelter without obtaining a lease on residential zoned land, they are tossed from the voting list.

Ironically, law enforcement, with its gritty realism, poo poos calls for gestapo-like sweeps of homeless camps, recognizing that they need to prioritize fighting predatory criminals and not harass those who are so down and out that they can't win a lease or a subsidized housing arrangement. In fact, one angry anti-homelss activist was recently arrested for assualting the chief of police in a racist rant against "Mexicans" and "bums". (The chief is Hispanic).

Unfortunately, however, the department has a spotty record in prosecuting and investigating crimes against the homeless, a deficit which has brought the chief under increasing pressures.

Remember that ALL homeowners are subsidized by home loan mortgage interest deductibility and also other tax breaks. On top of that, the recent Federal bailouts are designed to help homeowners with their inflated mortgages. Where is the bailout for the homeless?

Apparently, in the same place as the fire disaster relief for the homeless: a pie in the sky.