48 replies to this topic

[robberry]

http://blogs.wsj.com...ayor-bloomberg/

OCTOBER 12, 2011, 8:21 PM ET
Zuccotti Park Gets a Visit From the Mayor

By Erica Orden

Two days after saying that the Occupy Wall Street protesters are welcome to stay, Mayor Michael Bloomberg made a surprise visit Wednesday to the Lower Manhattan park that has for weeks served as the demonstration

[robberry]

http://nymag.com/dai...nally_paid.html

I guess this might put an end to the "the management company is letting us stay here talk."

[Rionach aka Spec K]

I figured something like this was coming one of these days

[DancingBearly]

Raiding Austin too.

[TakeAStepBack]

I think the folks down there protesting should clean it up personally. I'd be pissed if a bunch of people decided to camp on my land and made a mess of it and I was forced to clean it up. That's just disrespectful. I'm sure the owner can apply for some federal government money to recuperate the loss.....

[DancingBearly]

In Austin, was watching the live feed at work, the police were going through a tent and throwing out into the garbage a girls belongings. She spoke up but the police did not say a thing and continued to throw out her stuff. Only watched for 5 minutes or so.

[Rionach aka Spec K]

http://www.kxan.com/...stin-protestors

Police arrest Occupy Austin protesters
City tried to clear out plaza for cleaning
Updated: Thursday, 13 Oct 2011, 5:16 AM CDT
Published : Thursday, 13 Oct 2011, 5:07 AM CDT

Chrissy Mazzone
AUSTIN (KXAN) - A handful of Occupy Austin protesters were arrested early Thursday morning.

Wednesday afternoon, city officials asked the group to temporarily leave the plaza in front of Austin City Hall for cleaning.

City officials asked protesters to leave from 2 a.m. until 6 a.m. While most left the area, several refused. Austin Police arrested four people for misdemeanor criminal trespassing.

“We greatly appreciate the fact that the vast majority of the people out here were exercising their right to be here, but understood that the city wanted to make this a clean area.” said Sgt. Scott Perry, Austin Police Department. “That’s all they’re trying to accomplish, there was no ulterior motives.”

The city wants to clear the area daily for cleaning, as the protests continue.

“By arresting them for being on city property, even if it is city hall, it's city property, they are violating their right to be there,” said Eric Wincott, with Austin Cop Watch. “In protest, under their first amendment right, which should be protected, regardless if they are power washing the front steps.”

Several protesters told KXAN they were upset because a tent left on the plaza was removed by the cleaning crew. Austin police tell us security officials warned the group anything left on the site would be considered trash.

Organizers intend to continue their protests non-stop until December 6. Protesters said they are standing up against corporate greed and the income disparity.

[DancingBearly]

Funny they decide to "clean" NY and Austin at the same time.

[Jabadoodle]

I'm sure the owner can apply for some federal government money to recuperate the loss.....

Yep. It's called CARP.

Crazy Agitator Relief Program.

[wonka]

I think the folks down there protesting should clean it up personally. I'd be pissed if a bunch of people decided to camp on my land and made a mess of it and I was forced to clean it up. That's just disrespectful. I'm sure the owner can apply for some federal government money to recuperate the loss.....

they may be. It also could be that the city stopped picking up the garbage bags in an effort to play the unsanitary card.
I know that when we camp, we keep our site clean, and end up with a full garbage bag every couple of days. Without the ability to have those bags removed, they would certainly pile up after three weeks...

[Java Time]

I think they're just gonna clean it up...and they'll let em stay. Hasn't the owner been griping about this from the start?

[TakeAStepBack]

Yep. It's called CARP.

Crazy Agitator Relief Program.

[Feck]

as a life long NYC're all i can say is that from what i've been seeing, at this point in time; this mayor is only concerned about his image. i do not think he would have even;gone down there if the plan was to force them out " for cleanning" and not let them return. If he felt it would help his image, he would not have a problem staying home and using the NYPD to shut it down.

Hopefully the message was heard by enough people so when the police do arrest anyone that stay behind, there is no confusion like last time. they didn't force me out of the park so i shouldn''t have been arrested .

if the city or owner stopped picking up the garbage, is that a reason enough to let the place get dirty ?
there are trash cans on almost every corner downtown, if it piles up, why not do something about it ?

i did hear they have asked that they do this themselves today, asking for donations of cleaning supplies, so the city won't have too. which is good news. It also sounds like this is a real problem and not just the owners way to move them.

why did they wait until it was a problem ?

[In A Silent Way]

they may be. It also could be that the city stopped picking up the garbage bags in an effort to play the unsanitary card.
I know that when we camp, we keep our site clean, and end up with a full garbage bag every couple of days. Without the ability to have those bags removed, they would certainly pile up after three weeks...

It sounds like they failed to ask for trash pickup services in #needsoftheoccupiers. It wasn't until late last night that they started asking for brooms and cleaning supplies.

[Feck]

"a development that may signal an attempt to evacuate the group is under way"

spin, paranoia or a little of both ?

[DancingBearly]

"a development that may signal an attempt to evacuate the group is under way"

spin, paranoia or a little of both ?

A little of both mixed with a lot of truth?

[Feck]

why would Mike even show up if the plan was to move them out ?

why wait until now to start cleaning up ?

[Jabadoodle]

There may be issues beyond cleaning that the protesters can't do themselves:

One safety issue, according to Clark, is that if the "underground lighting" has been "cracked, water could infiltrate the electrical system, putting occupants of the Park at risk of an electrical hazard."

http://www.capitalne...uccotti-park-fr

[Feck]

"underground lighting" has been "cracked, water could infiltrate the electrical system, putting occupants of the Park at risk of an electrical hazard."

Clark also said a woman complained to the company that she had been "verbally abused in front of her 5-year-old child" and "that she had a package stolen from her as she tried to cross the Park."

no word on who cracked the lighting, might have been OWS sleeping on them, might have been cracked all along.

[vic]

"underground lighting" has been "cracked, water could infiltrate the electrical system, putting occupants of the Park at risk of an electrical hazard."

Clark also said a woman complained to the company that she had been "verbally abused in front of her 5-year-old child" and "that she had a package stolen from her as she tried to cross the Park."

no word on who cracked the lighting, might have been OWS sleeping on them, might have been cracked all along.

this also could be a clever ruse to start doing construction work in the park so the protesters can't camp there anymore

but who knows:dunno:

[Rionach aka Spec K]

http://gothamist.com...mberg_shows.php

Twitter is buzzing with reports that Mayor Bloomberg just took a tour of Zuccotti Park—possibly to tell the protestors he's sending in the cleaning crews, but they would be allowed to return after the cleaning is done.

@RDevro: One protester asked Mayor Bloomberg if Liberty Square could get a permit for amplification equipment. He said no. #ows
@RDevro: One onlooker yells to Bloomberg, "About time." Another says, "Get that man a plate of food." #ows

@CityHallNews: @MikeBloomberg went to Zuccotti Park today to tell #OWS protesters the park would be cleaned [Friday], but that they would be allowed to return

@mgouldwartofsky: Mayor #Bloomberg greeted with chants, jeers, Bronx cheers. "Whose money? Our money." "Whose city? Our city." "Whose park? Our park." #OWS



Mayor Bloomberg isn't the only celebrity coming by this week— tomorrow at noon Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine is slated to play perform for the demonstrators.

Update: Azi Paybarah reports that Brookfield Properties, which owns the public plaza, asked NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly for some help because they really want to clean up Zuccotti Park; check out the letter below. Also, Brookfield Properties is concerned about the Occupiers' many packages (which aren't being screened) and apparently lawless behavior, which ranges from—per the letter—lewdness, groping, drinking, drug use and, in one case, verbally abusing a woman in front of her 5-year-old child and also stealing the woman's package.

Document

[TakeAStepBack]

Our park? Down with private ownership?

[Feck]

this also could be a clever ruse to start doing construction work in the park so the protesters can't camp there anymore

but who knows:dunno:

the park is a mess, there were options for garbage disposal and clean up, but yeah it could be a ruse, or spin, or parinoia.

so far, all i've seen is spin and parinoia.

[Feck]

Lauren DiGioia, 26, who has spent the past week at Zuccotti Park and is a member of Occupy Wall Street's sanitation committee, said she was concerned that violence could break out in New York if workers attempted to enter the camp.
"I'm worried there is going to be a riot," she said.

i bet some folks here would welcome more violence, like they wished for before.

[vic]

i bet some folks here would welcome more violence, like they wished for before.

who exactly wished for violence?

[Joker]

Lauren DiGioia, 26, who has spent the past week at Zuccotti Park and is a member of Occupy Wall Street's sanitation committee, said she was concerned that violence could break out in New York if workers attempted to enter the camp.
"I'm worried there is going to be a riot," she said.

i bet some folks here would welcome more violence, like they wished for before.

What violence would there be if the clean up workers showed up there to do their jobs?

This makes it sound like she's threatening them

[Feck]

i'll go back and look, i think it was the day before the march to foley sq.

[Feck]

this...police brutality will be far more difficult when uniformed millitary vets are standing between cops and protesters

in the same breath, i hope that if cops do fuck with the uniformed vets, or try to fuck with protesters anyway, that the vets don't spark violent clashes...if they're gonna be there, they need to also remain non-violent...an officer striking a vet without the vet striking back will only be worse for the reputation of the police force, but if it becomes a scuffle, there'll be a full speculation over 'who started it'

i guess you meant the police calling them names or making funny faces at the vets, but i could be wrong

[In A Silent Way]

[jg]

Our park? Down with private ownership?

Its a zoning thing. NYC will often let developers build taller buildings if they put aside pieces of property for use to the public as a park area during the day.

[vic]

i guess you meant the police calling them names or making funny faces at the vets, but i could be wrong

the words non-violent are all over that post...there was an IF before what you bolded, followed by i HOPE it DOESN'T spark violence...what were you reading it as?

[vic]

EMERGENCY CALL TO ACTION: Prevent the forcible closure of Occupy Wall Street!
Posted Oct. 13, 2011, 2:14 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Tell Bloomberg: Don't Foreclose the Occupation.
Join us at 6AM FRIDAY for non-violent eviction defense.

Please take a minute to read this, and please take action and spread the word far and wide.

Occupy Wall Street is gaining momentum, with occupation actions now happening in cities across the world.

But last night Mayor Bloomberg and the NYPD notified Occupy Wall Street participants about plans to “clean the park”—the site of the Wall Street protests—tomorrow starting at 7am. "Cleaning" was used as a pretext to shut down “Bloombergville” a few months back, and to shut down peaceful occupations elsewhere.

Bloomberg says that the park will be open for public usage following the cleaning, but with a notable caveat: Occupy Wall Street participants must follow the “rules”. These rules include, "no tarps or sleeping bags" and "no lying down."

So, seems likely that this is their attempt to shut down #OWS for good.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PLEASE TAKE ACTION:

1) Call 311 and tell Bloomberg to support our right to assemble and to not interfere with #OWS. If you are calling from outside NY use this number 212-NEW-YORK.

2) Come to #OWS on FRIDAY AT 6AM to defend the occupation from eviction.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Occupy Wall Street is committed to keeping the park clean and safe — we even have a Sanitation Working Group whose purpose this is. We are organizing major cleaning operations today and will do so regularly.

If Bloomberg truly cares about sanitation here he should support the installation of portopans and dumpsters. #OWS allies have been working to secure these things to support our efforts.

We know where the real dirt is: on Wall Street. Billionaire Bloomberg is beholden to bankers.


We won't allow Bloomberg and the NYPD to foreclose our occupation. This is an occupation, not a permitted picnic.

http://occupywallst....le-closure-occ/

[TakeAStepBack]

If Bloomberg truly cares about sanitation here he should support the installation of portopans and dumpsters. #OWS allies have been working to secure these things to support our efforts.

Edit: misread.

Shouldn't they work with the owners of the park and the city to have these things?
Has this been done and they are being blocked?

[vic]

Mayor Bloomberg has announced that sometime Friday, as early as 6am, as late as Saturday morning, Mayor Bloomberg will begin forcibly removing protestors from the square for "Cleaning Operations".*
Upon "being allowed to return" protestors will have to stay in accordance with his new "Brookfield Rules" which include bringing no equipment into the park, no tents, no water proof tarps, and NO LYING DOWN AT ANY TIME.
.
WHY THIS MOVE BY Mayor Bloomberg WAS EXPECTED
Not only are these Rules untenable, but this is the exact same manner in which Bloombergville (a 2 week occupation at City Hall earlier this summer), was shut down, as well as the same way the M-15 encampments in Barcelona and Madrid were ended last Spring.
.
WHY THIS IS NOT REALLY ABOUT SANITATION
While OccupyWallStreet's sanitation teams have repeatedly welcomed help from the city for keeping the park clean, we have been repeatedly refused, with the city turning off power, and blocking all attempts for PortaPoties and Dumpsters near the Occupation Site, making us reliant on the help from local businesses. Even getting trash and recycling collected by the sanitation department has proven difficult. If Mayor Bloomberg was really interested in sanitation, he would have worked with us to achieve such goals on his behalf.
.
WHAT WE ARE DOING
As OF TODAY #OCCUPYWALLSTREET is beginning Operation Sanitation. Our internal sanitation teams are currently going into overdrive. Brooms, trash bags and powerwashers will be going for the next 24 hours.
.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
WE NEED PEOPLE TO PROTECT THE SQUARE. WE ARE NOT LEAVING. Come to Liberty Plaza, wearing suits or well dressed, and bring cameras. If you are a member of the military, a veteran, a firefighter, ex-police officer, union member, or anyone who is, or sympathizes with, the 99%, this would be a great time to show of support! Don't let them shut us down. We need you there for AT LEAST 24 hours, starting tomorrow at 6am.
.
Call 311 (or 212-NEW-YORK if you're out of town) and tell Bloomberg to support our right to assemble and to not interfere with #OWS. It seems the Mayor has forgotten who he is supposed to represent. Remind him!
.
DON'T LET THEM FORECLOSE OUR HOME
NY POST Article
*These times were stated by the mayor, and are therefore not guaranteed.

[DancingBearly]

They are raiding Seattle right now. Arrested 6 people so far for "breaking park curfew" which the city says is 10pm.

[Rionach aka Spec K]

So I'm watching the livestream from Zuccotti Park - 6:40 am and loads of chanting and noise - aren't they just defeating their own cause by causing such a comotion? (violating quiet hour, etc.)?

[DancingBearly]

"Cleaning" postponed by request of co. that owns park.

[Rionach aka Spec K]

I understand that part of it, but now they are violating quiet hours ...
Not being very courteous to their neighbors

[DancingBearly]

It's 7am. NY is not at all quiet at that time.

[Rionach aka Spec K]

they started well before 7 am. And no, any city couldn't be all quiet but the ruckus they're making is extraordinary.

[Rionach aka Spec K]

seems to me that everyone in the area of Zuccotti Park, businesses and residents, have been cooperating, accomodating and sympathetic to those occupying the park and yet it seems like they're not getting the same respect in return:dunno:

[DancingBearly]

They are getting mainstream media attention this morning at least. Watching CNN. There going to a host a debate between a representative from 99% and one from the Tea party with in the hour.

[TakeAStepBack]

A debate between a tea party and 99%?

I only hope people realize what this means......they're co-opting this into a left/right argument.....I knew it would happen.

[DancingBearly]

Exactly what I just watched. Spin spin spin.

[TakeAStepBack]

We knew it would happen...look how badly things went for the tea party when koch coopted. Obama is the dems only card in this game.

[vic]

A debate between a tea party and 99%?

I only hope people realize what this means......they're co-opting this into a left/right argument.....I knew it would happen.

let's not jump to this conclusion just yet.

who 'represented' the 99% in that debate?

[TakeAStepBack]

I dont know. But thats the point. A debate like this will deliberately attempt to pigeon hole the movement

[In A Silent Way]

Screw that. I'm changing my voter registration.

[DancingBearly]

let's not jump to this conclusion just yet.

who 'represented' the 99% in that debate?

Rick forgot last name w/ Family something or other PAC
Totally co-opted.