NYPD: Only Landlord Can Evict Occupy Wall Street Protesters From Zuccotti Park

micawave's flickr

As Occupy Wall Street stretches into its third week at Zuccotti Park, it seems the fate of the protest in its current incarnation rests in the hands of the park's landlord—not the NYPD. According to DNAInfo, an NYPD detective said that the executives of Brookfield Properties, who manage the park, are the only ones who can kick out protesters.

Det. Rick Lee, a community affairs officer at lower Manhattan's 1st Precinct, explained the situation to locals at Community Board 1's Financial District Committee meeting last night. "A representative for Brookfield would go into the park and say, 'You're in violation of the rules of the park. You have to leave.' If they don't leave, they're trespassing. Then the police would get involved." So it's Brookfield's move to make: "That’s the scenario. Politically, when that button is going to be pushed is beyond my pay grade...I couldn't tell you."

Last week, Brookfield officials released a statement saying that the park management recognizes people's right to peaceful protest, but they "also have an obligation to ensure that the park remains safe, clean, and accessible to everyone." It also notes that the park hasn't been cleaned since September 16, one day before the protests began, and that "sanitary conditions have reached unacceptable levels." OWS spokesman Patrick Bruner told us the group was trying to address many of those problems before things got any worse.

But the larger point is that despite his ominous intonations, Bloomberg can't personally remove protesters from the streets of the park. And even if Brookfield doesn't kick them out, protesters have another major problem on the immediate horizon: the weather. Many protesters and OWS organizers are scrambling to find a solution to cold weather conditions, and thus far have only found that they can't afford the proper gear to keep people warm.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Ben Yakas in News on October 6, 2011 6:22 PM

Comments [rss]

BlakeSDavis

The entire 'Occupy Wall Street" so called movement was planned, executed and put into place by the Administration, which set this up by claiming that unrest would happen if the jobs bill wasn't passed, then manufactured the "unrest". Note, as one commentator put it:

"Owners of Zucatti Park have received 135M from Obama's administration
for their wind turbine farm in NH. Brookfield Properties is worth 3.2B
by the way. Joe Biden's son's law firm did all lobbying on their
behalf. Protesters are protected for as long as they will squat in
Zucotti Park, with quiet permission of park's owners."

So the whole thing was a setup from the word start - and pro-Democrat media says not a word about it.

Unfortunately, the movement didn't generate the numbers and violence sought by those who put it together. It also didn't spread like they thought it would. In fact, one good cold spell or some rain and these people will go back home, hopefully to a bath.

The backers of this nonsense may be well funded but don't confuse that with intelligence. "Curses, foiled again" says George Soros!

Richard Rabinowitz

and the tea party was also orchestrated. What else is new?

"Unfortunately, the movement didn't generate the numbers and violence
sought by those who put it together. It also didn't spread like they
thought it would." That's not what I heard. What I heard was that the movement spread to various other urban centers around the country, and that it generated some large numbers - but not the violence that some people apparently were spoiling for. What violence occurred? An attempt at invading a museum? Arrests of people for walking on the wrong part of the Brooklyn Bridge? Meh. Protestors often know better than that.

Richard Rabinowitz

" In fact, one good cold spell or some rain and these people will go back home, hopefully to a bath"

Maybe so. Outdoors fun is more popular in outdoors-friendly weather.

Jeff Pyrotek

to those people who think this isn't being watched in other countries .. you are wrong .. we here in Australia have been watching with very keen interest since september 17 on social media and the past week on mainstream media .. we know that we are next .. you will have our support ..

we are the 99%

DriesN

Owners of Zucatti Park have received 135M from Obama's administration for their wind turbine farm in NH. Brookfield Properties is worth 3.2B by the way. Joe Biden's son's law firm did all lobbying on their behalf. Protesters are protected for as long as they will squat in Zucotti Park, with quiet permission of park's owners.

citylion

Has anyone made a fuss about the Zuccotti Park farmers' market employees losing days off? I also see the community there and people that go to it losing out. I love that market and really see the people there as a stupidity. If there were any real locals there they would squat on Imagination Playground off of John and Front Street, Louise Nevelson Plaza or the British Garden @ Hanover. These rainbow gathing hippies, which I've actually attended a few of, are wasting resources, reducing jobs and giving the police force which they're against more work. The tourists need to go home if they don't realize their affects and the real representatives of our society need to be well organized and take some forethought in where they gather.Heed my words and be considerate of others or be hypocrites....

Tom Pain

Obama the Corporatist

Lately many have characterized this administration as socialist, or having strong socialist leanings. I differ with this characterization. This is not to say Mr. Obama believes in free-markets by any means. On the contrary, he has done and said much that demonstrates his fundamental misunderstanding and hostility towards the truly free market. But a closer, honest examination of his policies and actions in office reveals that, much like the previous administration, he is very much a corporatist. This in many ways can be more insidious and worse than being an outright socialist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

Tom Pain

If you care about what these protesters are about then support Ron Paul.

Yishai

Isn't that lovely, a Canadian corporation is helping these people.

TimeDown

Am I missing something here? Even though the park is privately owned I thought the city made a deal with the property owners where the owners got a break on zoning and in return the park was regarded as a public area? Because if it is considered a public area as part of a deal with the city it does not matter that it is privately owned. Under the law it is to be treated as any other public space.

xXxMExXx

Please let the loons stay. Winter is coming.

valerick

Wishing physical hardship on those whose opinions differ from yours? Let me guess... you're a Republican.

yetathirduselessaccount

The protesters are in control of their own comfort and conditions. They are there VOLUNTARILY, remember?

valerick

I didn't say "forcing" physical hardship. Try reading my comment again, slowly and aloud, for better reading comprehension. You will find that your comment has nothing to do with the thread.

edgie168

do you have some sort of personal vendetta against the protesters? just wondering, cuz you--like pierce, lex, 2hard4u2c, et. all--have been continually shitting on the protesters in almost every single OWS post here.

might be time to unstuck your "repeat" button, bro.

citylion

Well, I'd like to read debate instead of reading "personal vendetta" I don't wholly agree with them but I've seen their patterns too and have made my own. Respond to them in debate instead of saying " Oh, wow. You're a big bully. " When in fact they may be stating their opinions which they probably have a right to.
Free speech right?
Please get back to me if I'm off base.