Videos: FDNY Seize Food Vendor's Generator Used To Power Occupy Wall Street

(Flickr User Scoboco)

[UPDATE BELOW] The battle for power at Occupy Wall Street continues! Yesterday firefighters seized a generator belonging to a licensed food vendor who operates a cart on the sidewalk outside Zuccotti Park. The vendor, who has only been identified as Ali, was reportedly running a power cord from his cart to the protesters' media tent. In seizing the generator, the FDNY cited "failure to provide a permit for the storage of gasoline and failure to have a permit to change out propane tanks." Regarding the first violation, Ali tells A Great Big City the gasoline canister was empty. Here's the first video:

Fire Marshals Cite Occupy Wall Street Electricity Supporting Food Vendor - NYC from JoeyBoots on Vimeo.

A Fire Marshal at the scene explained that in New York City, "The fire code states that an empty gasoline canister is equivalent to a full canister." See, the crackdown on Ali had nothing to do with helping Occupy Wall Street! Here's a second video, recorded after the generator was seized. It shows what appears to be few grouchy undercover cops being scolded by a handful of tenacious protesters, as the offending generator is taken to a nearby firehouse.

The photographer who took the photo above writes, "The number of firefighters who showed up to remove the empty gas container and generator was so silly; they, I think, felt kind of ridiculous, just sort of milling around to no purpose, and in full gear. Unsurprisingly, the NYPD presence was huge as well. And then the news crews were right there, recording the solemn 'handing of the violations' to poor Ali, who looked totally stricken.

"What was funny was, toward the end of drama, an Occupier starting strumming and singing an improvised 'Ballad of Ali's Generator.' Even the cops were cracking a smile at some of the lyrics." The FDNY and an Occupy Wall Street representative did not immediately respond to requests for comment; we'll update if we hear back.

Speaking of generators, don't think the protesters have forgotten about the other ones the FDNY seized last week. Lawyers for the demonstrators have now sent two letters to the FDNY demanding the return of their property. Here's fiery letter number two, in which the attorneys threaten to take the FDNY to court to get the generators back:

Return the Generators... Or Suffer the Consequences

In the meantime, there's always pedal power. Surely the authorities can't have any problem with the protesters operating bikes on the sidewalk.

Update: Occupy Wall Street spokesman Patrick Bruner tells us, "From what I know the vendor was merely helping to charge cell phones and the like. This is obviously a continuation of the Mayor's extralegal policies aimed at silencing our First Amendment rights. A few days ago the mayor was lambasting our movement for hurting small businesses—in spite of the fact that the businesses are being hurt due to unnecessary barricades, and in spite of the fact that we saved Liberato's Pizza from bankruptcy—and now he's using the police to shut down street vendors for using their own permitted generators to help a cause that they believe in."

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

By John Del Signore in Food on November 4, 2011 9:42 AM

Comments [rss]

TJHillgardner

If the FDNY really cared about fire safety at Zuccotti Park, they would seize all candles in the park. But the OWS media center can't run on candles. This is a blatant attempt to cut off the worldwide Internet stream probably so that other nefarious conduct may now take place.

Guest

Having candles isn't against the law because it's common sense that people learn about around the age when they tell you not to run with scissors. However, storage of gas containers is in the books. So make some more conspiracy theories, this is pretty entertaining.

TJHillgardner

Common sense! That's a good one. If I had a dollar for every person who is dead because they didn't exercise common sense, I'd be the richest man in the world. It is a measure of how much this is about safety and how much it is about killing OWS' Media Center that police are seizing empty gasoline cans from food vendors while protestors are using candles in their tents unmolested by FDNY.

Midnight Fapper

I love how the non-violent OWS types harass the fuck out of the cops, but when the police enforce the law (after tolerating stupidity for weeks on end), it's an outrage.

They look like a bunch of crybabies.

harveyharevi

I like how a couple of permit violations required one or two dozen firefighters to come to the scene to take care of things.

Guest

Nearest firehouse is an engine company and ladder company, 11 guys all together. Like the police, the dispatcher sends their alarms over a computer on the apparatus and they have to be together near it if they leave quarters because they're still available for calls even when they're dealing with bullshit like this. Thank you and goodnight.

Guest

I like how a couple of dozen morons behind a keyboard fault city agencies for enforcing the law.

Samantha Nicholson

<3 FDNY

candyazzbb

i think its bs.. and also is every food cart guys name ali? lol kuz i remember reading an article of a supposedly dirty food cart thats racist people kept reporting

JoanAngelson

Food carts should have Inspections, just like restaurants and have to post their ratings.

Guest

So what are the "consequences" of the Fire Marshals and Police not returning the generators? By the way in response to above comments: Fire companies only came because every company has an administrative area, and when there is a violation, the officer of that company must write a violation order and submit it to the city. Actual confiscation is done by the P.D./Marshals. It is a NYC municipal code that there cannot be storage of gas containers in places like this, especially in a makeshift tent-city of combustibles.

TJHillgardner

What do you mean "in places like this" and would you please cite the code.

Francisco Daum

Uniformed Firefighters Association local 94 is under the AFL-CIO. The AFL-CIO put out a statement in support of Occupy Wall Street. The mayor and management seems to have FDNY and NYPD in complete control (despite corruption and racism). But I still feel disappointed that cops and firefighters are harassing peaceful non violent people who are practicing their rights to assemble and freedom of speech.To me, Ali is the hero for supporting Occupy Wall Street.

crusher153

why is the fdny racist? is it the fact that they give a simple reading comprehension test (that anyone can pass if they can read)?

lets get one thing straight. most firemen don't give a fuck what race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, etc... you are as long as you do what you are supposed to in a fire/ emergency and you are not an ass in the firehouse. if you are a complete bag of shit, you will know.

it's just my observation and experience that the hard lined vulcans are the only ones that have a problem with anyone other than their own. work in Engine 234 as a white guy for a day and their captain wont say two words to you just because of your color. he's one of the men to bring this senseless lawsuit against the city by the way. thanks for the ot cap!

what usually happens to these people is they yell, racism, sexism, antireligion, or whatever else they can- instead of addressing the real problem which is like 99 percent them. the city usually backs away because if they act in disciplining the complainant, it usually means a lawsuit.

so please stop with this whole racist bullshit! i'm sick and tired of hearing about it. if you want this job file for the test and get in the upper 90's. if you do that and you have a clean record. there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to become a fireman. oh excuse me, a firefighter.

JoanAngelson

The FDNY are not harassing anyone.

TJHillgardner

The FDNY are doing what they are told to do - which is to harass the OWS protestors anyone giving them comfort.

Guest

How is enforcing municipal codes and fire prevention laws "harrassing" people? This is done every day in buildings where people are storing propane tanks, etc when neighbors make complaints. It is a violation of the law.

TJHillgardner

Because as your previous post stated, these violations trigger seizure of the fuel. Here they seized the generator. The two charges do not justify seizure of the generator. This is a political decision from on high.

strayrats

The UFA may support the ideas that OWS stands for but the FDNY still has an obligation to protect life and property and enforce the fire code. Your "hero" was obviously in violation.

TJHillgardner

There is nothing obvious that Ali did anything justifying seizure of the generator. This was a political hatchet job. The two permits he was cited with not having concerned storage of gasoline and changing propane without a permit. On the first charge, and making the huge assumption that the charge is justified by the facts, that would justify seizure of the gasoline. It would not justify seizure of the generator. On the second charge, the second charge is strange. Did they catch him in the act of changing the propane tanks? Again, I do not see how either violation justifies seizure of teh generator as the generator may be operated on site without further gasoline or propane (until it runs out). Meanwhile, the City is completely ignoring that the park's owner, Brookfield Properties, is in violation of its obligation (imposed by its agreement with teh city and city regulations governing these public/private spaces) to deliver electricity to Zuccotti Park.