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FDNY, NYPD Raid Zuccotti Park, Seizing Generators And Bio-Diesel Fuel

102911zuccotti.jpg
(Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson tweeted this photo today showing a warning sign about flammable fuel at the Occupy Wall Street encampment in Zuccotti Park)

Earlier this morning the FDNY, accompanied by the NYPD, conducted a surprise safety inspection of the Occupy Wall Street encampment at Zuccotti Park. An FDNY spokesman said inspectors were looking for generators, propane and gas tanks, open fires, and any other fire hazards. Apparently, they found what they were looking for: Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson wrote on Twitter that the FDNY "removed generators and fuel from Zuccotti that posed a fire safety threat. no arrests no violence." On his weekly Friday morning radio show, Mayor Bloomberg was asked about the raid.

"There is nobody that is a bigger defender of the First Amendment than I am," Bloomberg declared, according to Capital New York reporter Azi Paybarah. "The story of this morning is that there is no story... We asked everyone to take [generators, fuel] out of the park." Bloomberg went on to say that the protesters will be allowed to cook as long as Brookfield Properties, the park's owner, doesn't complain, but without heat or electricity it's unclear how that works. He also said that the tents would be allowed to stay, but again that is contingent on Brookfield allowing them.

The Mayor's Office also wrote on Twitter the "FDNY & NYPD deserve credit for carrying this out professionally and w/ restraint." Greg Mitchell at The Nation was watching the LiveStream from the park as the items were seized, and he says "the campers pointed out they only use 'bio-diesel.' As one says, '"the hippies' insist on that. Cops and firemen sniffing bottles and jugs." It's not just the kitchen that will be hamstrung by this; without generators, the Occupy Wall Street media team is going to face challenges as well.

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By John Del Signore in on October 28, 2011 9:55 AM

Comments [rss]

  • chee1rs
    zombie park
  • Carmidgen
    Bloomberg pretends to support free speech but he's trying to stifle it.  Hypocrite and liar.  Because of actions like his, the only way to make a meaningful protest is with a bomb.
  • chee1rs
    time for some serious skull cracking
  • Bawny_Fwank
    You morons do know that a bike generator will barely provide light at night and will not cook enough food to keep up with the calories necessary to pedal don't you?
  • DirectDescndtOfFoundngFather
    Ooooee! Tempers are flaring.  Looks like Michael needs some help, because he's mostly right--without the dying parts.  Looks like you OWS folks need some help, because you've been taught some seriously scewed American history lessons and have, apparently, received an extremely poor education in the law, especially considering the money you probably had to pay for it.  So, let's have a real dialogue here that we all can learn from, huh?  I'll try to hit on all the contentious issues and if I miss some you can let me know.

    As for generators in tent cities: All who are experienced campers or sailors already know how dangerous this is.  It's not just the flamability factor, it's the exhaust too.  Why do you think even experienced sailors won't use anything but alcohol stoves on their boats, huh?  Because people die otherwise.  In fact, people die every winter from improper use all over America.  The police know this because they're the ones who have to pick up the bodies. Mmmm, how pleasant.  And, having generators in the midst of a tent city of many who are inexperienced, and some who are too drugged to walk straight, is asking for accidents.  Your homework on this issue is to start combing the local news stories for 5 of these incidents.  You should easily find the recent one about several biker family/friends, including children, on a charity ride who had a small hole in their camper near the generator which was sitting outside.  The exhaust entered the hole and all died in their sleep.
  • chee1rs
    sleeping on  concrete , next to another unemployed art major .....  zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
  • If you oppose and act against the very tenants of what this country was built on, then you are an enemy of the state and a traitor.  I oppose that. Very much.  And would execute or exile anyone who held these beliefs. 

    As to murderers, anyone who was found by a jurt to be killing not in self defense should be shot and killed themselves.  I just felt like saying that :-0)
  • Do YOU even understand what the hell this country was founded upon? Because your every argument insinuates you only observe the letter of law and seek to maliciously rape its spirit for your own gain.

    P.S. You are utterly horrible and I am laughing at how stupid you are to be letting everyone know you want to torture to death anyone who disagrees with you.

    I warms the cockles of my heart to realize you have no brain to understand that the rest of humanity are not heartless vikings raping and pillaging everything that does not agree with them.

    You will soon enough be festering in problems derived from your own hatred, I hope you enjoy it. :)
  • tpmco
    Nice. But don't run down people who will save your ass.
  • BoogieDown
    I think you mean "tenets".  Yes, you must be a real legal expert.
  • EdwardAmame
    He sounds kind of like a jailhouse lawyer. And it was probably his shitty outlook on life and nasty temper that got him in the big house.
  • I didn't say protesting is treason.  I said "Yes, but when you come out against Constitutionally protected rights, such as land ownership, you are a fucking traitor."  That is the truth.  You have the right to protest at certain times as per the First Amendment.  If you want to protest the banks and the bailout and corruption, I agree with the basic message. Do I think a never ending "sit in" is a justifiable response.  Hells no.  Is it an intelligent response?  Hells no.  At least not to me.  But I agree with the subject being protested and the fundamental dislike of the govn't bailout.  What I find despicable is people who would protest fundamental American freedoms, such as private land ownership.  Capitalism.  People who are protesting the very principles this country was founded on should leave.  That, to me, is traitorous, and while you  (proverbially the OWS movement--not singling you out in particular here) do have the right to say what you want, I too have the right to say what I want and to react to what you say (as do you of course).
  • picaflor
    Great. Then we agree. You have an opinion and have every right to it. I have mine and have every right to it. To go so far as to wish physical harm, though, because we disagree is despicable. I would never wish harm on people, even if they want to disappear me and those who believe what I believe.
  • chee1rs
    what about the drummers ... are they OK ?????

    I worry about them
  • StarryGordon
    Bloomie is trying for this year's Orwell-speak prize.
  • baruch herzfeld
    Here is a video of the bike generator 
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
  • bobloblawslawblog
    Despite the fact they mostly look like dirty hippies, I think he bike generator is pretty awesome.  Feels very "Soylent Green".
  • chuzzlewit
    i love that. donation made.
  • BKExcuse
    I don't understand why it's so hard to get 8k when OWS has over 500K.
  • That's because they want 8k for DRUMS, which are not exactly essential considering people need to be fed and sheltered.
  • theevilerone
    Oh lots of non-essential crap gets approved. Like stickers. And a Halloween budget! Fiscal geniuses.
  • BKExcuse
    In the video posted the Times Up guy is saying they need 8K for 11 generator bikes. Bikes which are required to power hot plates which are required to make food.
  • theevilerone
    They'll have to save money for taxes. After all, all of the money they collect before receiving 501(c)(3) status can be taxed.
  • BKExcuse
    They've used less then 20% of funds collected.
  • Gothampc
    "There is nobody that is a bigger defender of the First Amendment than I am," Bloomberg declared

    Too bad you weren't concerned about people's rights when you stole a third term as mayor.
  • diablofreak
    wouldn't they have rather left them there and hoped for some of this stuff to explode? instant protester reduction!
  • Thing is that these entitled parasites would end up blaming the city for anyone that got hurt due to their generators or propane tanks blowing up. So the mayor preemptively got rid of them before getting blamed for a tragedy they created themselves.
  • You do realize that it's virtually impossible for diesel to just explode right? And that any mysterious "explosion" at an occupation would be because someone planted an explosive device right? Or perhaps were you hoping for just such a situation to occur?
  • Yes, Chris you're right. Sabotage would be the ONLY way those tank would explode or leak. 

    Accidents never happen.
  • Diesel can't just explode. It has to be highly pressurized and heated. The chances of the generators exploding are the exact same as the chances that either government or a privately paid operative for a company would infiltrate the camp and literally plant a bomb.
  • imadick
    "FDNY & NYPD deserve credit for carrying this out professionally and w/ restraint." Becuase god knows they WANTED to bust some hippie skulls. it's only natural to have those urges.
  • I know I sure do--and would encourage and applaud the use of force in Zucotti!
  • theevilerone

    Oh the weather outside is frightful,
    And having no fire is so delightful
    And since we all want you to go
    Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
  • Oh but we have no intention of stopping,
    we'll get those new bike-generators a popping
    No matter how hard you try to bring us down low,
    We won't go, we won't go, we won't go. ;)
  • BKExcuse
    You know the bikes will only be able to run 1 or 2 small heaters right? And that's with someone constantly peddling.
  • Here's a hint, we've had occupiers already being admitted to hospitals for hypothermia elsewhere. You think we're going to let winter silence freedom? You think so little of our resolve. ;)
  • AaronRed99
    "Bio" diesel is just as flammableas regular diesel. Do we really need another tragedy in the shadow of the new WTC?
  • Politburo
    So it's not very flammable, then?

    You can drop a match into diesel fuel.
  • cr17
    Didn't you read what he/she wrote? They said it was "pretty stable" which means it'll only "pretty explode" if you drop match in it.
  • Detex
    If you dropped a match into a tank of Diesel, chances are it would go out. If you dropped a flair into a tank you would have a burning tank, not an explosion.
  • StarryGordon
    Evidently you city folk don't know much about diesel.  It has as much chance of exploding as the olive oil in your kitchen cabinet.  It has to be atomized and compressed in a diesel engine to burn (not 'explode').
  • Detex
    science, add that to the list of things people don't understand...
  • bobloblawslawblog
    Thank you! I'm amazed how little people understand about the resources we use.  I always urge people to at least read "how stuff works" before they go off.

    For at least an intro to bio-diesel: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/...
  • TrollyMcTrollington
    Diesel is pretty stable as fuels go.
  • 5w30
    Remember to text Mumsie up in Darien to come down on the train with some nice woolen mittens and scarves. Plus some s'mores. Rice Krispie treats or those magical brownies the cook makes. Also to hit REI for those hand warmer thingies. Thanks, love you!
  • nunyadamn
    wait so now they are trustifarians? which is it - dirty hippies, unemployed losers, criminals?  I can't keep up.
  • StarryGordon
    You don't have the right stupid-comment-generating program on your computer.
  • Trustafarian
    hey, i resemble that comment
  • Gothampc
    One doesn't preclude the other.  And yes, a few trustfarians have been identified in Zuccotti Park.
  • Identified in Zucotti Park? You do realize anyone can walk in their, hold up a sign and get "identified" by photography right?

    This is the exact reason everyone says not to identify singular individuals with the movement. Because it's trivial for anyone who wants to discredit the movement to walk up, make an isolated incident, and then get reported on by the media.

    We have records released under FOIA that state that the government and state/local law enforcement has done this before during the 1960s. They pay people to stage false-flag moments to discredit peaceful and honest movements.

    So saying you "identified" someone like that means absolutely nothing. You need to prove the movement on a whole was in any way supportive or welcoming of them and their practices.

    You sir, lose the game! :D
  • Gothampc
    "You do realize anyone can walk in their, hold up a sign and get "identified" by photography right?"

    I know the difference between "there" and "their".
  • And I know the difference between a cheap attempt to distract from the issue and insinuate that I lack intelligence because of a mere typo, and a legitimate counter-argument based on factual information.

    ;)
  • 5w30
    And if Mumsie doesn't come up with the goods it's time to Occupy St. Barth's. Really. Or stay thru New Year's for the Phish concert at the Garden.
  • Detex
    yeah, but I did not get any Mail Order tix so i have to buy them from the man, um, ticketmaster!
  • Gothampc
    Forget Barts.  Have to stay in town because Anderson Cooper is having a kick-ass trustfarian party.  If you haven't yet received your invite, then you just aren't rich enough.
  • Sugarbop
    The beginning of the end! Yay! I definitely had a big grin on my face as I walked by and saw the FDNY and PD walking through the "park" a.k.a protester wasteland.
  • good for you. go back to your little life where everything is great (for you) and people who actually give a shit about america and the future and are trying to do something lose a little ground.

    have fun in your sad unhappy little life.
  • Keep suffering in your self imposed woe is me--the govnernment is not fair---it's not paying me to sit on my ass---life.   This is music to my ears.  Now if only we can start a little tear gas raid like in Oakland.  I keep watching the live stream in hopes of seeing all you OWS  idiots bloodied and driven out of the Park!  It's coming!  I just hope there's a big announcement so I can be sure to go down and watch it live!
  • Why do you hate liberty? Why do you hate the rule of law? Do you think we'd have courts if the law was meant to only be taken at the letter and not interpreted towards a greater meaning within society?
  • Sugarbop
    Thank you, I will go back to my great life where I am thankful for everything I have been blessed with and work for.

     I am just as entitled to my opinion as everybody else, but God forbid I, or anyone else,for that matter says something against these protesters, we are the bad people, right? Get over it guy and don't be so damn bitter.
  • You are entitled to your opinion, and I am just as equally entitled to challenge you and point out that your opinion boils down to  "F-u, got mine! *kick* Stupid hippies should shut up!"

    If you would like to explain how you are not an objectively horrible human being with no compassion for his/her fellow human, by all means go for it. Something tells me you won't though. ;)
  • Damn right I got mine.  And you know what, I don't have much pity for bums normally---so why in the world would I have pity for OWS!!!????   NOT MY PROBLEM.  I am anti-welfare, anti-extended unemployment and honestly, I'd shoot you all if I was in charge and you acted like a public loitering nuisance.  Bums, OWS, same shit.  Want to be a rat? Die like a rat.
  • Why thank you sir, I am actually flattered that you could at least be honest about your utter lack of humanity.

    At least you're not going to lie about it like the politicians do. :)
  • I reserve compassion for those who truly deserve it.  Not for those who took on mortgages they couldn't pay or who are having trouble finding the job of their choice while simultaneously turning their noses up at jobs available to them right now.
  • "I reserve compassion for those who truly deserve it. People like me who are ready to rape, murder and destroy everything that dares disagree with us!

    Slice the hippies in two! torture them! HOW DARE THEY SPEAK OUT! Silence them at all costs! MURDER THEM NOW!!!"

    You do realize we have already proven in court that those banks which gave those loans LITERALLY LIED to customers to gain those loans? Are you telling me that someone lied to is now responsible for being lied to?

    How the hell do you excuse institutionalized defrauding? Are you telling me Bernie Madoff was entitled to every dollar he made? If not DEFINE WHEN it is acceptable and when it is not to lie to make money. Because I'm betting you have no way you can differentiate either.

    Because the loans the banks gave sure didn't serve a purpose except to enrich their primary investors.

    Turning down jobs? turning down WHAT jobs? Show me what these jobs are that aren't being taken but oh-so-obviously need to be filled? Seriously, give me a link and prove you aren't just making this up so you can go crack some skulls, because your posts leave me with little faith in your authenticity.
  • chuzzlewit
    "i reserve compassion..." is a disgusting phrase. please do, reserve your compassion until you choke on it.
  • Not everyone is deserving of compassion.  Chuzzleit--you made your bed on a street corner, enjoying freezing to death.
  • And you can live with me providing a heat source to prevent me from dying or you can go choke on your own bile.
  • picaflor
    Stop talking out of your ass and provide proof that jobs have been turned down. Or is this nonsense your personal experience? What with you being a "lawyer" and such...
  • Go on any job site.  There are jobs.  GO compete.  Stop being a pussy. Don't expect anything handed to you merely b/c you have a college degree.  You still KNOW NOTHING.
  • Any jobs site?

    Seriously dude, you are reaching for an excuse. PROVIDE EXACT DETAILS, otherwise YOU ARE LYING.

    Can you not give step by step directions or are you just barely smart enough to figure out how to type on a computer?
  • randomtransplant
    You are "entitled" to the opinion that its "good" when people willing to sacrifice time & comfort to back up their convictions by exercising their first amendment rights for a cause larger than themselves find their task a little bit harder. Sure.

    But at that point, people are "obligated" to point out how morally defunct and ethically shallow you are. Thats what free speech entitlements are for. They arn't for snakes like you. You are just the necessary evil.

    You can't even appreciate striving and sacrifice and humanity, what exactly do you really have to be thankful for? Freedom from compassion? A lack of that burdensome empathy?
  • You people aren't sacraficing shit!  Pay for your own food for starters.  And supplies!  And stop camping out in what was a very nice park for us regular folk who work to eat our lunches in. 

    I dno't know how many times you morons have to be told.  The First Amendment DOES NOT PROTECT WHAT YOU ARE DOING.  I am a lawyer.  I can promise you this.
  • We're entirely donation based, we ARE paying for our own supplies. In FACT we even had our own generators...until police removed them for utterly BS reasons.

    P.S. Saying: I am a lawyer! does not excuse your attempts to spew crap as fact.

    The law was meant to provide for the common good. Define how and why these protests are not for the common good? Do you even understand what is being protested? Prove it with a REAL answer, something tells me you won't though.

    You'll just spew more hate and tell me how you want to crack some dirty hippie skulls because they dared to bother your day. ;)
  • BoogieDown
    "I am a lawyer."

    This explains so, so much.
  • Yes, it means I know what you're doing is not protected by the Constitution, and should have been eliminated by Bloomberg from day 1 as a public nuisance.  But he's too much of a spineless prick, even with no possibility of a third term, to shut your moronic encampment down.  Bloomberg is a massive cancer on the City and has been since he stole the election.  See, I do share some of your views.  I just choose to make my own way and not rely on others to gift me what I hope would be a perfect life.
  • Here's a bigger hint. If you appeal only to the letter of law, and not to its enduring spirit you are either entirely misguided or an objectively horrible human being.

    Why would we have a court system if the law was meant to be followed only and literally to the letter?

    The constitution exists to ensure liberty is guaranteed, not to be abused by malcontents who would jubilantly misrepresent it to silence all those they dislike.

    You still can't even provide me with a good reason as to why you're so upset. You just keep saying how we're all evil hippies who deserve to die.

    Either you're astroturf or you are some kind of monster wearing a skin of civility. Seriously, if you are the latter, try politics! you'd be welcomed with open arms by either party.
  • BoogieDown
    Haha, whatever you say internet tough guy.  FYI - I'm not camping out (I've actually been on vacation outside the country for most of the duration of this OWS thing).  I just meant that it explains why you come across as such an asshole with severe anger management issues.
  • picaflor
    Eek, you are a lawyer and you hope for a massacre and death and pain on strangers? You are a ridiculous lawyer, Michael. A vapid, empty shell. And just as I suspected, a selfish vapid, empty shell at that. Who thinks it's "his" park but then tells everyone to stop making any demands. Loser.
  • StarryGordon
    You gave your opinion, that all's right with the world as far as you're concerned, and someone disagreed.  What's your complaint?
  • baruch herzfeld
    Removing the gas generators from the park is good policy by the city and actually helps the protestors. The encampment should be kept free of all flammable materials and objects to every extent possible.  
    Additionally, since many of the protestors are environmentalists and opposed to carbon based fuels, removing the gas generators, should make them happy as well.  
    It's nice to see the city not blundering for once.
  • Well, in the end the switch to bike generators will be for the better that's for sure. It's just that we need to make sure these generators are feeding into a good sized battery otherwise they'll be effectively useless.

    We need to be able to generate and store electricity. As long as we can do that, we'll be gravy. :)
  • Holler_Atcha_Soy
    "There is nobody that is a bigger defender of the First Amendment than I am" is the new "Some of my closest friends are black"
  • chee1rs
    love that , good one
  • ^^^hahahahaaaaa^^^
  • theevilerone
    Tick tock.
  • Bernie_Geotz_Squirrel_Luv
    Now the city got themselves some nice Honda generators for free.
  • Bicycle generator is a great idea. Didn't think of that. It would give me something to do, too. Keep me warm  :- )
  • Generators are not necessary to provide electricity. All you need is a automotive-type battery and an inverter. Use solar and wind power to charge the battery bank up.
  • SFNY
    IIRC, the NYPD already did a sweep to confiscate car batteries.
  • Bernie_Geotz_Squirrel_Luv
    That's very interesting. Can't OWS skirt around this by having a couple Rascal Scooters around? Unless there's a law against people who can't walk.
  • SFNY
    (I think the only NYC law against people who can't walk is that they can't take the Taxi of Tomorrow ...)

    There's a [rumor? true story? meme?] going around that at San Jose (CA) OWS the SJPD confiscated a wheelchair battery.
  • Bernie_Geotz_Squirrel_Luv
    I hope that's a rumor. Anyway, I think those Rascal scooters would be a hoot at OWS. It would be like pit bikes at a racetrack.
  • The Occupy Wall Street General Assembly this week approved funds to buy several bike generators, which should cover all the electricity needs of the occupiers. Just FYI.
  • chee1rs
    don't care , shill
  • Detex
    You can have the homeless people ride them as payment for their food. Issue solved.



    no need to thank me, I'm here all day...
  • randomtransplant
    This could be the most interesting, one of the most useful charity rides ever.
  • That is awesome.  I am not mad about safety inspections-- actual above board inspections, I mean, which this seems to have been-- but I was concerned for what the repercussions of it would be.  Glad to know the OWS GA is on top of it.
  • chuzzlewit
    awesome.
  • baruch herzfeld
    I saw the guy building them, at Times Up in Brooklyn.  Amazing :)
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