Writer Gabriel Kittle-Cervine saw a person passed out on a Santa Cruz sidewalk and gave them a wide berth. The encounter made him realize how desensitized we’ve all become to suffering. From houselessness at home to violence nationwide, oppression has become normalized, even among those who care deeply. Amid ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions, local protests and growing calls for accountability, he challenges Santa Cruz residents to confront the human cost of complacency and asks whether the city’s values truly align with the community it claims to be.
