Posted on 10/31/2011 11:48:22 AM PDT by NYer
Soojee Eckhardt-Rigberg of Albany plays with her dog Obi near her tent (not shown) on snow remaining from the previous night's surprise snowstorm, at the Occupy Albany encampment in Academy Park on Sunday Oct. 30, 2011 in Albany, NY. She has been camped there since last Friday, the first day of the protest. (Philip Kamrass / Times Union )
ALBANY -- They have tents and propane space heaters, but demonstrators at Occupy Albany are considering more permanent shelter: either a walled canvas tent or a wooden yurt, complete with a stove.
"I think yesterday showed us it's going to get quite cold, and these tents are not going to survive in January and February," Michael Fiske, a 29-year-old Albany Law School student, said, gesturing to the encampment that has dotted Academy Park since Oct. 21.
He said he had researched tents as large as 16 feet by 20 feet, or yurts 16 feet in diameter. A yurt is a circular shelter first used by central Asian nomads that's usually arranged around a stove, traditionally made of bent wooden supports and covered with animal skins or fabric.
This would allow the encampment to have its nightly general assembly -- at which decisions are made by consensus of those present -- "in warmth and comfort," and would allow people to stay overnight near a heating source.
It also may test the patience of Albany city officials who have let protesters stay in the park provided their demonstration remains peaceful -- as it has. There is a city ordinance placing an 11 p.m. curfew on the park, but citing past instances of non-enforcement and an unwillingness of Albany County District Attorney P. David Soares to push trespassing charges against demonstrators, police have let the encampment be.
Other cities have been less tolerant. In New York City, officials have refused to let protesters pitch tents at Occupy Wall Street, which was the genesis of Occupy Albany and other movements, and confiscated electrical generators last week.
A more substantial tent or yurt might require some kind of building approval. A stove may constitute a safety hazard. Albany police spokesman James Miller said Sunday night he was unaware what regulations might apply. And he added: "We're not aware of any kind of request on their part to us on building any type of structure."
With good reason: It's better to ask forgiveness than permission, the protesters figure, and the city maintains plausible deniability if protesters never make a formal request. It's a very different calculation to tear down a structure, possibly by force, than to prevent it from being erected.
"We welcome dialogue, but we're not asking for permission," said Mark Mishler, an attorney aligned with the movement.
He and others confirmed the protesters would meet with Albany police and other city officials Tuesday, at the city's request. It's unclear what will be discussed. Fiske's stove proposal was tabled at Sunday evening's general assembly to be further developed by a new subcommittee.
Fiske estimated the cost at around $1,800, which would require group authorization. Currently, Occupy Albany is keeping its donations in cash at a secure location, but on Tuesday should open a bank account supervised by the Social Justice Center, according to Matthew Jager, 34, a member of the finance working group. He estimated they've raised between $2,000 to $3,000.
The focus on cold-weather logistics was obvious Sunday, after Occupy Albany dealt with 3 inches of snow that fell starting late Saturday evening. City officials placed electronic billboards warning people about to enter the park that winter weather advisories had been issued, according to Miller, and officers cautioned against setting up tents under tree limbs that could fall under the weight of the snow.
People took turns taking a broom and wiping the wet snow off the tops of the tents, and waking up those sleeping to make sure they hadn't passed out from hypothermia. Some estimated about 40 people stayed the night, up from about 25 the week before.
"All you have to do is bundle up and stay warm," said 23-year-old Schenectady resident Zach Ryan, who slept in a donated tent with his mom, Dyette Putnam.
http://www.timesunion.com/mediaManager/?controllerName=image&action=get&id=1714382&width=628&height=471">
Snow from a surprise snowstorm from Saturday night partially covers the ground near tents at the Occupy Albany encampment in Academy Park on Sunday Oct. 30, 2011 in Albany, NY. (Philip Kamrass / Times Union )
Welcome to tent city! Your tax dollars at work.
This sounds perfect for these yay-hoos, except for the part about animal skin.
And just where do they put their number 1 and number 2??
I hope they’re smart enough to not kill themselves with CO from space heaters in an enclosed space... but there’s always the chance that they aren’t.
I’m anticipating that, given their slovenly approach to such matters as sanitation and food safety, a little common-snese thing like fire safety will will probably escape them.
This means that we’ll soon be treated to a never-ending flow of sob stories and and weepy memorials to those who are burned alive in tent and flimsy, flammablwe structure fires.
Obama has been using it to drum up sympathy for his cause, and it's time to make him own it.
Start calling it:
I'm betting you're right. They've already won the sympathy of the media.
Snow from a surprise snowstorm from Saturday night partially covers the ground near tents at the Occupy Albany encampment in Academy Park on Sunday Oct. 30, 2011 in Albany, NY. (Philip Kamrass / Times Union )
Justlurking - think we can photoshop Obamaville on this photo?
If the city allows this for these “pro-pesters” then how in the world could they stop homeless people from gathering up scrap wood, et all, and building shelters for themselves? They couldn’t.
How’s this.
Albany establishes a city within their city called obamaville. Give the tents addresses. Then issue property tax bills. And come in with all the rules and regulations they use on real homeowners. If they don’t pay, bulldoze obamaville.
just thinking.
I like it!
Wonder how long I could stay camped out in a city park? Ok, Ok. I’ll put up a sign protesting zero and the 47%...
But it sounds like I can just become a squatter.
Wherever the spirit moves them to leave the deposit.
That depends on how you vote...
***A yurt is a circular shelter***
Tell’em to go sit in the corner!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
