According to 77 pages of documents released by the U.S. Park Police in response to a FOIA request, the owner of Zuccotti Park, Brookfield Properties, contacted the USPP regarding a possible eviction of an Occupy DC encampment just 48 hours before the NYPD raided Zuccotti Park. "I have received several e-mailed [sic] from across the country I. e. Denver and Portland about police taking action against protest encampments located in the City parks," Brookfield's portfolio manager Don Orcutt wrote to the USPP. more ›

[UPDATE BELOW] A judge ruled on Friday that Brookfield Properties, through the actions of the NYPD, had the right to evict Occupy Wall Street protesters from Zuccotti Park on November 15. The ruling arose after a lawyer for the protester Ronny Nunez asked judge Matthew Sciarrino Jr. to dismiss his client's charges because Zuccotti Park is required to be open 24 hours. The Times quotes the judge's opinion: “It is clear that when the defendant was ordered by the police to vacate the park, he was not legally entitled to refuse." more ›

Lawyers representing Occupy Wall Street have dropped their appeal of a judge's ruling on November 15th barring camping at Zuccotti Park. The Post reports that the attorneys were due to file the appeal on Friday, but instead notified the court that they wouldn't pursue it. Randy Mastro, the attorney representing downtown businesses and residents hailed the decision. "There will no longer be the ability to set up an encampment for 24 hours a day in what's supposed to be a park, with neighbors' lives torn asunder and unable to enjoy their downtown surroundings." A city attorney concurred: "We think the plaintiff made the right move in withdrawing her case, as it has no merit." more ›

Less than two days after the NYCLU demanded that Brookfield Properties remove the barricades preventing the public from easily accessing Zuccotti Park, the property management company has done just that. Earlier this evening, the barricades were removed and stacked off to the sides, permitting visitors to enter the park wherever their heart's desire, instead of the narrow security checkpoints. FREEDOM! But with freedom comes responsibility; according to one occupier, "Brookfield Security said unless we do something stupid the park will remain open!" more ›

Two months after Zuccotti Park was forcibly evicted by the NYPD, the metal barricades and constant security presence remain, making the space less like a public park and more like a frozen zone. Today the NYCLU, the Center for Constitutional Rights and the NLG fired off a letter [pdf] to Department of Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri asking him to "ensure that Zuccotti Park is open and accessible to all members of the public on an equal basis." more ›

Members of Occupy Faith, "a small group of Christians, brought together by our time living at Occupy Wall Street," is asking Brookfield Properties to allow then to host a 24-hour prayer vigil in Zuccotti Park on Christmas Eve. With the assistance of the NYCLU, the group has drafted a letter to city [pdf] officials and Bookfield, detailing the ceremony that will begin "with a midnight service on Christmas Eve and culminate with a closing ceremony at midnight on Christmas Day." Additionally, the vigil calls for Occupy Faith to "bring into the park food for meals as well as bread and sacramental wine for communion," as well as the requisite instruments. more ›

While Occupy Wall Street in New York (and in many other cities) have been facing trouble with the police the Occupy DC movement has been left in relative peace. Last night, to show solidarity with their siblings up north, its protesters took to the streets and decided to briefly occupy a building owned by Brookfield Properties, which owns Zuccotti Park here. more ›

A judge issued a temporary restraining order against the City of New York, the NYPD, Brookfield Properties and other agencies allowing protesters back to the space with their belongings. more ›

Next week will mark the second full month that Occupy Wall Street protesters have been encamped in Zuccotti Park. And ever since an aborted attempt to clean the park in early October, there hasn't been much movement to remove them from there. But it seems part of the reason for that may be because neither Mayor Bloomberg nor Brookfield Properties, who own the publicly-owned private space, want to take responsibility over enforcing the so-called park rules: "The city of New York enforces all the laws. It's not our business to enforce the laws. We have regulations for the site. That's a different thing. But as far as the laws are concerned, they enforce the laws," Brookfield chief John Zuccotti told the Post. more ›

A group of attorneys from the National Lawyers Guild just fired off a letter (below) to Brookfield Properties, which has thus far refused to negotiate with demonstrators occupying Zuccotti Park. At press time, Mayor Bloomberg and the NYPD have given no indication that they are persuaded by the protesters' DIY cleanup, and the stage is set for mass arrests tomorrow morning (or maybe in the dead of night, if Boston is any indication). Bloomberg spokesman Marc La Vorgna just sent this statement: more ›

[Updates Below] Brookfield, the company which owns Zuccotti Park, is distributing flyers (see below) to protesters today informing them that the western portion of the park will be closed at 7 a.m. Friday for cleaning. The cleaning will take approximately four hours, and then the demonstrators will be allowed back in that area—"for lawful use consistent with our regulation." But the new regulations that Brookfield created would prohibit many of the things that have enabled the occupation to continue; among other things, the new rules prohibit sleeping bags, tarps, and even sleeping on the ground. more ›

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. more ›

Brookfield Properties, which had offered a plan to bring back streets - as well as 12 million square feet of development and 15 acres of public space - to the West Side Rail Yards, has declined to continue in the bidding process. The MTA had requested revised Hudson Yards proposals with more financial details by yesterday and the bids received were from Durst and Vornado, Tishman Speyer and Morgan Stanley, Extell, and Related Companies. more ›