Occupy Wall Street -- just venting

[PamNY]

I posted in another thread about being told I couldn't cycle on a street near the World Trade Center. I decided tonight to walk down and observe whether bikes were on the street, and to talk with the cops.

When I got to the corner, I was nearly mowed down by a group marching to join the Occupy Wall Street crowd. I moved off the sidewalk to avoid them, and got screamed at by cops to get back on the sidewalk.

I've lived in NYC for twenty years and have never been that frightened except on 9/11.

For those who haven't been following the story, they have been allowed to camp out in a public park for ten days. Ironically, they are not bothering "Wall Street" at all but are having a devastating effect on street vendors and the farmer's market (as well as those of us who listen to their drums all day). I've tried several times to talk to them, asking if they could leave a 10 or 20 foot buffer zone around the vendors and farmers -- their eyes glaze over.

We are starting to wonder if we have a government at all. I'm used to one-day protests and parades, and I don't complain about that because it comes with the neighborhood and the freedom to do that is a vital part of America. But ten days' camping in a public park is frightening, and I'm very worried about the precedent it sets.

[TsPoet]

We are starting to wonder if we have a government at all. I'm used to one-day protests and parades, and I don't complain about that because it comes with the neighborhood and the freedom to do that is a vital part of America. But ten days' camping in a public park is frightening, and I'm very worried about the precedent it sets.

I'd never heard of it until you mentioned it in the other thread, then I did some reading up on it. The consensus in the little news that I've read is that the lack of attention being paid to it is all due to the lack of violence or anything really happening. If your goal is for them to be ignored, that seems to be working! Whereas, according to what I've read, if the police or anyone did anything, than they'd be getting national attention.
Hopefully the lack of attention will mean they will eventually go away and not come back, neither will anyone else?

[PamNY]

Whereas, according to what I've read, if the police or anyone did anything, than they'd be getting national attention.

Yes, that's pretty much the situation as I understand it. Or it was the situation -- there were some arrests this weekend, and I saw quite a few TV trucks tonight.

Probably the crowd that almost mowed me down was technically an illegal demonstration or march, but stopping them would have caused a ruckus so it was simpler for the city to just let them go. I understand that approach -- up to a point.

[ny biker]

I read about it on Bikesnobnyc's blog. He went down there today and took some photos. He also said there was toplessness. (But he did not say who was topless...I presume he'll write about it tomorrow.)

We have our share of protests with street closures here in DC but they tend to be on weekends. I did get stuck in traffic last week thanks to a motorcade, which someone said was the Vice President.

When I first moved here I walked out of work one day in Georgetown and saw sharpshooters on the roofs looking at me. President Clinton and P.M Kohl were having dinner at a nearby restaurant. It was kinda weird, since they still let me walk through the area.

[PamNY]

A few photos of the festivities from last week, including one topless lady:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8867349...th/6187611928/

[Trek420]

Ironically, they are not bothering "Wall Street" at all but are having a devastating effect on street vendors and the farmer's market (as well as those of us who listen to their drums all day). I've tried several times to talk to them, asking if they could leave a 10 or 20 foot buffer zone around the vendors and farmers -- their eyes glaze over.

I'm just sayin' if they spent their energy promoting shopping local, independent, stepping away from the mall and the big box store and favoring smaller local companies (like the street vendor instead of a fast food chain and farm market instead of super market ....) they'd accomplish more.

[KnottedYet]

The Koch Brothers (founders of Tea Party, Inc.) made a huge profit again last year. They can get media attention whenever they want.

Bunch of hippie-dippies angry at what "Wall Street" gets away with don't have money, and won't get attention.

Let's not forget what makes the world go 'round.

(hint: despite what the Hallmark cards say, it sure ain't "love.")

[PamNY]

Oh, they could easily get attention if they had a coherent message. Topless women and Glass-Steagall would be a powerful combination.

[ny biker]

As expected, with lots of photos:

http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2011...icycle-in.html

"Speaking of our financial system, it could take days or even weeks of displaying cardboard signs to bring it to its knees..."

BTW, yes, there really is an artisanal mayonnaise shop in Brooklyn.

[PamNY]

Hooray for Bikesnob. Analog Twitter feed indeed.

I was hoping he would solve the mystery of where these people are going to the bathroom. No one seems to know.

[ny biker]

I was hoping he would solve the mystery of where these people are going to the bathroom. No one seems to know.

Uh oh...

[ny biker]

This is from Mother Jones.

http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/09/occupy-wall-street

Apparently it's Canada's fault. And they never actually had a plan...