How long till Zuccotti Park is cleared of Occupy Wall Street protesters?
Michael Bloomberg, Spencer T. Tucker via flickr
8:04 am Oct. 13, 20114
Michael Bloomberg's surprise visit to Zuccotti Park last night enables him to say, first-hand, whether the month-long occupation there by protesters has led to unsafe and unsanitary conditions, as the park's owners claim.
A letter from the park's owner, Brookfield Office Properties, to the NYPD was released by Bloomberg's office shortly after his visit. In it, the park owners say the area is dirty and dangerous.
(As Capital reported earlier, the city always had the policing muscle to clear the park, but the actual decision about how long law-abiding demonstrators would be allowed to camp out there was always going to be Brookfield's to make.)
At the end of the letter, Brookfield asks for "ongoing" help from the police to keep the park clean and safe. That "ongoing" request seems to be about not allowing any future protests at the site.
The cleaning explanation allows Bloomberg to put a stop to the month-long demonstrations, or at least to move them along to a different site, while not appearing to be silencing criticism of the financial industry, which he has been defending since the protesters started.
The demonstrators have made a request for brooms to do a pre-emptive clean-up, and are planning to engage in non-violent resistance when the police come.
Some links:
Mitt Romney hopes to get the endorsement of casino developer Steve Wynn. [Page Six]
"Cuomo should be ashamed of himself for participating in the president’s 'job-creation' scam." [New York Post]
The four Republican State Senators who voted to legalize same-sex marriage will share about $900,000 from a fund-raiser in Manhattan. [Thomas Kaplan]
Questions about John Liu's fund-raising could scare away would-be supporters of his expected mayoral bid. [Sally Goldenberg and Chuck Bennett]
"Raising big money and practicing democracy are not always compatible." [Gabe Pressman]
State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is investigating the finances behind a struggling nonprofit in the Bronx. [Bob Kappstatter]
David Seifman's reporting spurred the investigation in John Haggerty's use of Michael Bloomberg's money. [Laura Italiano]
Mayor Michael Bloomberg's visit to Zuccotti Park was "surprising," especially to members of the "cleaning unit," who say the park is not unsanitary. [Erica Orden]
Protesters are planning to buy brooms and clean the park themselves. They will also resist, peacefully, attempts to remove them. [Facebook]
Nicole Gelinas of the Manhattan Institute says Occupy Wall Street protesters should focus their ire at Washington regulations, not Wall Street greed. [Bill Hutchinson]
send them by bus to Woodstock where they can stay indefinitely...
Have you check with the people who actually own the land Woodstock was held on?
They might want the local police their to enforce the laws as well.
This just goes to show the occupiers are right.
The laws which protect property rights interfere with everyone who does not own something from enjoying it.
If we just did away with all property ownership rights, and laws that protect the owners of property from theft and trespassing, then everyone could enjoy everyone else's property with out asking.
These are just the kind of solutions the 99% is looking for, right ?
Rules? Laws?
Who needs rules? Who needs laws?
Everyone should be allowed to camp out in the park.
Tourists who want to avoid paying for a hotel room should be able to setup tents and sleep there. After all it is a public park.
Tea Party members who disagree with the "occupiers" should be able to setup tents and sleep there. After all Tea Party members are also members of the public and they also have a 1st Amendment right to speak.
The media needs to cover this so they should be allowed to sleep there.
After all, Jesus was able to feed huge crowds with one loaf of bread, so the occupiers can allow an unlimited number of people to set up tents and sleep in this one small park, right?
No need enforce rules or enforce laws in this small park, once the 99% is in charge the park will work, much, much better for all.