NYT/Editorial: A Good Approach on Wall Street

[markpkessinger]

Community Board 1 in Manhattan, which represents residents and businesses in the neighborhood surrounding Zuccotti Park, has come up with a proposal which, as the Times says in its editorial, represents a good starting point for negotiations between the OWS protesters and the area's residents and businesses. Their proposal makes an honest attempt to balance the rights of the OWS protesters with the concerns of those who live or own businesses in the surrounding neighborhood. Kudos to Community Board 1!

A Good Approach on Wall Street

After more than a month of the Occupy Wall Street encampment at Zuccotti Park, the complaints are mounting. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, perhaps reflecting the irritation of his former colleagues on Wall Street, has said “the Constitution doesn’t protect tents. It protects speech and assembly.” And he suggested last week that the city would start enforcing city rules on marches by the protesters unless they have the required permits.

Fortunately, the people most inconvenienced by the encampment, its neighbors, have a more sensible response. Community Board 1, which represents residents and businesses in Lower Manhattan, is expected to vote Tuesday evening on a resolution that endorses the right to protest and opposes “the use of excessive and unnecessary force by the City of New York” or the owners of the park, Brookfield Properties. (The resolution also endorses the extension of the “millionaire’s tax” in New York State to soften cuts to education and other services.)

The community calls on everyone involved, including protesters and elected officials, to address the problems this event has created around the park. The resolution asks for drums, tambourines, bugles, air horns, shouting and chanting to be limited to two hours at midday. That’s not realistic, but it might be a place to start talks about whether the all-night noise must continue.

The resolution, written by Julie Menin, the community board chairwoman, asks the city to arrange for off-site, portable bathrooms to be paid for by local donors. The community board also wants the city’s 311 operators to document complaints about noise or lack of hygiene in the park.

[mmonk]

1. Well good for them but of course, protest isn't about convenience.

If it was, it wouldn't work.

[markpkessinger]

2. That may be true, but ...

... if OWS is going to maintain a round-the-clock presence, the there does need to be some balancing of their rights versus the rights of people who live in the immediate area.

[Nye Bevan]

3. Sounds good. I wouldn't want to listen to drumming all night (nt)