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Sorry, OWS: Zuccotti Park Needs Beauty Rest, Claims Brookfield Properties
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 2, 2012
Modified Jan 2, 2012
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 2, 2012
Modified Jan 2, 2012
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Last night, Occupy Wall Street protesters found their favorite meeting place, Zuccotti Park, was closed. (See video below that shows police stifling dissent by threatening to arrest activists trying to meet in a different privately-owned public space.) And Zuccotti Park remains closed today. Does this mean the rumor that Zuccotti Park is closing for months-long renovations actually true?
One spokesman for Brookfield Properties, which owns the space, tells us, "The park is closed today for maintenance and cleanup. Over the weekend the park sustained broken tree limbs, broken glass and cut electrical wires. We are hoping to reopen the park on Tuesday morning." But a different Brookfield spokesperson is even more explicit: "Damage was caused by drunk and disorderly OWS protesters in the park on New Year's Eve resulting in 79 arrests; NYPD closed the park due to the unsafe conditions. We are currently cleaning up the broken glass and broken tree limbs, and repairing electrical wiring and outlets that were damaged. If all goes well we will open the park tomorrow morning."
After running that through our de-PR-speak-ifier, the translation is roughly, "Uh, remember how hundreds of OWS protesters were having their little party at Zuccotti Park on New Year's Eve? The one with people tearing down police barricades and climbing trees? This is what you get, punks." Anyway, here's that rather infuriating video of police prohibiting activists from peacefully assembling and discussing politics at a privately owned public space at 100 William Street:
Tagged
beauty rest
brookfield properties
occupy wall street
ows
Zuccotti Park
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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