Cleanup or setup?: Some supporters of the OWS protest at Zuccotti Park (that would be Liberty Square) call bull%$@# on Bloomberg’s cleanliness crusade.
Making noises about sanitation, New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg has given notice to the Occupy Wall Street protesters camped at Manhattan’s Zuccotti Park that they’re going to have to give way to some cleaning machines on Friday. Might there be another, not-so-squeaky-clean agenda at play here?
Salon’s Justin Elliott takes stock, noting a vaguely worded request for NYPD assistance from the park’s corporate owner, Brookfield, submitted to Bloomberg’s HQ.
Update: The Chicago Tribune reported later on Thursday that OWS plans to push back on Bloomberg’s cleanup bid.
Salon:
The letter from Brookfield to the city, which I’ve posted below, argues that “conditions at the park have deteriorated to unsanitary and unsafe conditions” and requests “the assistance of the New York City Police Department to help clear the park” for inspection and cleaning.” The letter then continues, ambiguously:
Once we have completed our cleanup and maintenance, we would ask that the Department assist Brookfield on an ongoing basis to ensure the safety of all those using and enjoying the park.
That line could be interpreted as a request to permanently evict the occupiers. The letter also claims that having mattresses and sleeping bags in the park violates Brookfield’s rules. So the city’s pledge that protesters will be able to return — but only if they follow Brookfield’s rules — could be interpreted as a de facto eviction announcement.
Also worth remembering here: Bloomberg’s longtime girlfriend, Diana Taylor, sits on the board of Brookfield.
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Mild showdown, I guess. It looks like the NYPD was ready for one when they
showed up in riot gear this AM.
Brookfield Properties reneged on kicking OWS out. LIkely their own cleanup
crews and the NY Lawyer’s Guild of a 1rst amendment challenge against
Brookfield circumvented it. Or there’s more than meets the eye.
Of course, this was solely Brookfield’s concern. There wasn’t any nepotism
going on because Bloomfield’s girlfriend is on the Board of Directors. It wasn’t a
concerted effort of any kind between Bloomberg’s office, the NYPD, and
Brookfield. Or Bloomfield’s other half on Wall Street. Now, may I interest you in
some really hot credit default swaps on the Brooklyn Bridge?
Tomorrow’s thing might be a trial balloon, or a feint. See how many people turn up to resist, tire the occupiers out a little. I’m sure Bloomie is sitting around calculating the odds and the consequences very carefully.
I don’t think anything is being taken at “face value”. It’s been made clear that lying
down on benches or on the ground will be prohibited. OWS is not going along
with what is categorically an eviction. The NYPD is prepared to forcefully remove
those staying in the park tomorrow morning.
Could this create a precedent in other cities? One thing is for certain, there will be
a showdown of sorts tomorrow between the demonstrators and the NYPD. I would
think with all the publicity the police have received from their aggressive tactics,
that there will less physical aggression than in the past.
The thermodynamics of action and reaction will certainly be interesting to watch.
For everybody. For the world.
On Wednesday/Thursday, all campers/supporters should reach out to friends/family/anyone to donate or purchase brooms, mops, squeegees, dust pans, garbage bags, power washers and any other cleaning supplies to be collected at sanitation. The sanitation committee should move full-speed ahead on purchase of bins allocated by consensus at GA.
After General Assembly on Thursday, we’ll have a full-camp cleanup session. Sanitation can coordinate, and anyone who is available will help with the massive community effort! Then, Friday morning, we’ll awake and position ourselves with our brooms and mops in a human chain around the park, linked at the arms. If NYPD attempts to enter, we’ll peacefully/non-violently stand our ground and those who are willing will get arrested.
Afterwards, we’ll march with brooms and mops to Wall Street to do a massive #wallstcleanup march, where the real mess is!
The show begins (or ends?) Friday, October 14, 7 a.m.
Less aggressive suggestion: Take Brookfield’s letter and Bloomberg’s clean-up issue at face value without reading in anything ahead of time. Meet both with by requesting “how we can help” and “what specific things do you need us to do to make your clean-up job easier.” Say thanks for the offer of extension. Ask how presence of sleeping bags etc., might be avoided, or problem with same modified, ad-justed etc. Arbitrate this issue via mutual interest-based bargaining if at all possible. Tone of resistance to requests and orders is a critical issue in nonviolent actions. So far OW has handled issues quite skillfully.
The point is, instant opposition without offering help in finding solutions (no matter where it comes from) arouses anger, not further cooperation. OW is running well on its own using cooperation and help in finding solutions. That’s what it’s about. That’s what it wants to elicit from government and Wall Street.
New “horizontal” methods of problem-solving depend upon eliminating confrontation in favor of cooperation.
Truthdig and other media are NOT helping by stating
“information” in the language of confrontation: “skepticism” “making noises about sanitation” (which is not a phony problem!) “not so squeaky-clean agenda at play here” “could be interpreted as ...” etc.
Maybe the implications in this TD article will turn out to be justified, but setting them up in advance is a kind of “jumping the gun” which leads to resentment in the “opposition” and makes touchy relationships deteriorate.
Bloomberg is essentially evicting the OWS from the park. Yesterday there were
complaints on major media sites about unsanitary conditions. I didn’t find them
that credible. From the OWS website, though it’s not stated, you get the
impression that the food and clean up crews are well organized. From the
media reports, you’d think folks were squatting for relief on the streets.
Anyway after the clean up, the demonstrators specifically will not be allowed
tarps, which would have provided some shelter for inclement weather, or to
even lie down in the park. It’s eviction, clear and simple.
The timing coincides handily not only with the prior reports portraying filth but
also with the world solidarity day on Saturday.
Who is pulling Blooberg’s strings besides the obvious, Wall Street? I question if
he’s the ultimate in charge.
By bigjohn756, October 13, 2011 at 11:40 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Of course, the Occupiers are responsible people and the cleanup crews will have it easy. A drive through would be all it would take to collect bagged trash. Unless Bloomberg is just simply showing his ass again. He never has been a proponent of individual rights.
By Jim Michie, October 13, 2011 at 11:20 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
No question about it, the NYPD will be evicting the Occupy Wall Street folks from the Zuccotti Park on Friday. The operative sentence in the letter to Commissioner Kelly:
“Once we have completed our cleanup and maintenance, we would ask that the [New York Police] Department assist Brookfield on an ongoing basis to ensure the safety of all those using and enjoying the park.”
So Bloomberg’s walk-through of the park yesterday was not to glad-hand the demonstrators. He obviously wanted to be able to say that, when push came to shove on Friday, he could say he had been there and personally had seen the unsanitary and unsafe conditions and that’s why the action to remove the demonstrators. So prepare yourselves.
My first comment on this disappeared. Perhaps the dingo ate it?
Anyway, I comment again that I recently spotted one of the most puerile and gratuitous pieces of propaganda I’ve had the misfortune of viewing in a while (and heavens knows there’s enough of that going around but I usually don’t frequent FAUX News). Reading this article makes it clear that the other POS was setting the mood for Bloomberg to move in for the kill. Too bad Bloomberg isn’t half as concerned about creating jobs as he is about sanitation and busting the very union those workers are a part of.
“Living on Wall Street”
Since the protests started, the neighborhood of Wall Street has changed, and some residents are fed up.
Truthdigger of the Week: Sen. Angus King
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By Oceanna, October 14, 2011 at 7:52 am Link to this comment
Mild showdown, I guess. It looks like the NYPD was ready for one when they
showed up in riot gear this AM.
Brookfield Properties reneged on kicking OWS out. LIkely their own cleanup
crews and the NY Lawyer’s Guild of a 1rst amendment challenge against
Brookfield circumvented it. Or there’s more than meets the eye.
Of course, this was solely Brookfield’s concern. There wasn’t any nepotism
Report thisgoing on because Bloomfield’s girlfriend is on the Board of Directors. It wasn’t a
concerted effort of any kind between Bloomberg’s office, the NYPD, and
Brookfield. Or Bloomfield’s other half on Wall Street. Now, may I interest you in
some really hot credit default swaps on the Brooklyn Bridge?
By Matt, October 13, 2011 at 7:09 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Oh the poor rich people who live on wall street!!!1! they have to walk around people, and look at them!!! oh noes!
Report thisBy Robespierre115, October 13, 2011 at 4:52 pm Link to this comment
Probably nothing to worry about…yet.
Don’t expect NY to look like this anytime soon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUyib7FeuF4&feature=channel_video_title
Report thisBy Anarcissie, October 13, 2011 at 3:00 pm Link to this comment
Tomorrow’s thing might be a trial balloon, or a feint. See how many people turn up to resist, tire the occupiers out a little. I’m sure Bloomie is sitting around calculating the odds and the consequences very carefully.
Report thisBy Oceanna, October 13, 2011 at 2:27 pm Link to this comment
I don’t think anything is being taken at “face value”. It’s been made clear that lying
down on benches or on the ground will be prohibited. OWS is not going along
with what is categorically an eviction. The NYPD is prepared to forcefully remove
those staying in the park tomorrow morning.
Could this create a precedent in other cities? One thing is for certain, there will be
a showdown of sorts tomorrow between the demonstrators and the NYPD. I would
think with all the publicity the police have received from their aggressive tactics,
that there will less physical aggression than in the past.
The thermodynamics of action and reaction will certainly be interesting to watch.
Report thisFor everybody. For the world.
By FRTothus, October 13, 2011 at 1:08 pm Link to this comment
Ironic that concerns about sanitary conditions come from a Mayor who over-sees the cesspool of Wall Street.
Report thisBy Anarcissie, October 13, 2011 at 12:35 pm Link to this comment
Here’s their plan, according to The Gothamist:
The show begins (or ends?) Friday, October 14, 7 a.m.
Report thisBy gerard, October 13, 2011 at 12:03 pm Link to this comment
Less aggressive suggestion: Take Brookfield’s letter and Bloomberg’s clean-up issue at face value without reading in anything ahead of time. Meet both with by requesting “how we can help” and “what specific things do you need us to do to make your clean-up job easier.” Say thanks for the offer of extension. Ask how presence of sleeping bags etc., might be avoided, or problem with same modified, ad-justed etc. Arbitrate this issue via mutual interest-based bargaining if at all possible. Tone of resistance to requests and orders is a critical issue in nonviolent actions. So far OW has handled issues quite skillfully.
Report thisThe point is, instant opposition without offering help in finding solutions (no matter where it comes from) arouses anger, not further cooperation. OW is running well on its own using cooperation and help in finding solutions. That’s what it’s about. That’s what it wants to elicit from government and Wall Street.
New “horizontal” methods of problem-solving depend upon eliminating confrontation in favor of cooperation.
Truthdig and other media are NOT helping by stating
“information” in the language of confrontation: “skepticism” “making noises about sanitation” (which is not a phony problem!) “not so squeaky-clean agenda at play here” “could be interpreted as ...” etc.
Maybe the implications in this TD article will turn out to be justified, but setting them up in advance is a kind of “jumping the gun” which leads to resentment in the “opposition” and makes touchy relationships deteriorate.
By Oceanna, October 13, 2011 at 12:01 pm Link to this comment
Bloomberg is essentially evicting the OWS from the park. Yesterday there were
complaints on major media sites about unsanitary conditions. I didn’t find them
that credible. From the OWS website, though it’s not stated, you get the
impression that the food and clean up crews are well organized. From the
media reports, you’d think folks were squatting for relief on the streets.
Anyway after the clean up, the demonstrators specifically will not be allowed
tarps, which would have provided some shelter for inclement weather, or to
even lie down in the park. It’s eviction, clear and simple.
The timing coincides handily not only with the prior reports portraying filth but
also with the world solidarity day on Saturday.
Who is pulling Blooberg’s strings besides the obvious, Wall Street? I question if
Report thishe’s the ultimate in charge.
By bigjohn756, October 13, 2011 at 11:40 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Of course, the Occupiers are responsible people and the cleanup crews will have it easy. A drive through would be all it would take to collect bagged trash. Unless Bloomberg is just simply showing his ass again. He never has been a proponent of individual rights.
Report thisBy Jim Michie, October 13, 2011 at 11:20 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
No question about it, the NYPD will be evicting the Occupy Wall Street folks from the Zuccotti Park on Friday. The operative sentence in the letter to Commissioner Kelly:
Report this“Once we have completed our cleanup and maintenance, we would ask that the [New York Police] Department assist Brookfield on an ongoing basis to ensure the safety of all those using and enjoying the park.”
So Bloomberg’s walk-through of the park yesterday was not to glad-hand the demonstrators. He obviously wanted to be able to say that, when push came to shove on Friday, he could say he had been there and personally had seen the unsanitary and unsafe conditions and that’s why the action to remove the demonstrators. So prepare yourselves.
By TheEnd, October 13, 2011 at 10:38 am Link to this comment
So NYC brass want the park nice and clean one day before the big Oct 15 protest? Hmm. How thoughtful of them.
Report thisBy MK Ultra, October 13, 2011 at 10:37 am Link to this comment
My first comment on this disappeared. Perhaps the dingo ate it?
Anyway, I comment again that I recently spotted one of the most puerile and gratuitous pieces of propaganda I’ve had the misfortune of viewing in a while (and heavens knows there’s enough of that going around but I usually don’t frequent FAUX News). Reading this article makes it clear that the other POS was setting the mood for Bloomberg to move in for the kill. Too bad Bloomberg isn’t half as concerned about creating jobs as he is about sanitation and busting the very union those workers are a part of.
“Living on Wall Street”
Since the protests started, the neighborhood of Wall Street has changed, and some residents are fed up.
http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/10/07/multimedia/100000001098525/living-on-wall-street.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=thab1
Report this