Occupy Tampa update... so there's this

[Coexist]

They're not pepper-spraying. The protest isn't large. But local officials and law enforcement have been waging a campaign of intimidation and sleep deprivation to wear down those who Occupy. Personally, I think its a dry run for the shit storm coming next year when the RNC is in town.

And they are smart enough to keep things passive/aggressive. Police headquarters allows the protesters to use their bathrooms after the public restrooms in the park close, but they have an officer make the occupiers pick up their belongings and follow them around in the middle of the night, advising if they set them down they will be confiscated. They do middle of the night helicopter flyovers, interrupting sleep patterns. They then inform the press how they bend over backwards to work with the Occupy Tampa movement.

So... a FOIA request was placed to discover how much Hillsborough County taxpayers are contributing to these pointless exercises.

From the Occupy Tampa Facebook page:

some of you may know, members of Occupy Tampa marched down to the Police Station and made requests under the freedom of information act a couple of weeks ago.

Well, one of our requests for information was granted. We have an exact record of the expenditures of the aviation unit (the helicopter) since the beginning of September. The day after our largest march on the 6th of October, The TPD purchased a brand new gyrocam for the low price of $133,000. Coincidence? Or no? That's for you to decide.

Total expenditures from 10/1/11 until 11/15/11 reach $162,701.43, including $24,836.58 in fuel. The TPD does regular flyovers at low altitudes, sometimes hovering in place for extended periods and/or shining their spotlight on us - even when there are less than 20 people visible on the public sidewalk. Assistant Police Chief John Bennett was quoted stating that he estimated operating costs to be $600/hour. The next step is to request flight logs and and pictures (framed if possible). It will be interesting to see what kind of quality $133,000 buys, not to mention what exactly the content of these pictures are.

So how much of this money is actually wasted monitoring peaceful protesters on a public sidewalk? The answer is not entirely clear yet but you can use your own judgment.

I'll keep you updated, but man that money could've bought some textbooks or paid to employ some first responders; maybe plug a hole in a budget shortfall. I'm just sayin'...

[madfloridian]

1. Recced. Do keep us posted. Found a good picture of Occupy Tampa

AND, according to the graph I found...there is good support for Occupy Tampa.

[malthaussen]

4. That's not Tampa, it's Wisconsin!

Can't you see the palm trees?

-- Mal

[madfloridian]

8. Heh Heh

I had forgotten all about that palm tree incident.

http://wonkette.com/439639/yes-wisconsin-now-has-palm-trees


Besides, if protestors are in shorts....it's Florida. :rofl:

[Pharaoh]

2. This is not police work

Just plain harassment of the public that the public has to pay for.

I hope the citizens of Tampa wake up to that.

[malthaussen]

3. "Request" under FOIA?

It's not a request. It is a demand. Funny how that little bit of spin makes it seem like the PTB are doing us all an oh-so-nice favor. We need to stop arguing in the other side's terms.

-- Mal

[WillyT]

5. K & R !!!

:hi:

:kick:

[Aerows]

6. I lived in St. Pete-Tampa for many years

You have about as much chance of intimidating Floridians from that area as you do of flying to the moon. They won't give up. They got hit hard by the housing implosion.

[Aerows]

7. P.S. - I see you are from St. Pete

St. Pete is a wonderful area that stands the hell up for itself. Make the rest of us who have moved proud - if anyone can do it, you guys can :)

[Coexist]

9. I love St Pete

:)