Posted on 11/07/2011 10:20:11 AM PST by Cowman
A man protesting a local New York county government has been spotted dangling from the Tappan Zee Bridge, a major NYC commuter bridge.
The bridge hovers above the Hudson River connecting Rockland and Westchester County near New York City. The protester appears to hanging from the bridge over the river suspended by a rope ladder and holding a blue banner which appears to read “Rockland Executive Legislative Coverup Retaliation” and other messages that we are not able to determine at this time. The LoHud.com writes that the sign is possibly expressing anger toward County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef.
WABC-TV has live video of the ongoing incident.
Four boats are below the protester and two helicopters appear to be flying above as police are arriving at the scene to talk to the demonstrator. Traffic is backed up along the New York state Thruway for miles through Rockland County.
CBS New York reports that the incident apparently began shortly before 11:00a.m.
A spokesman for the Rockland County executive, C. Scott Vanderhoef, tells NBC New York “we don’t know who he is… we hope he comes down and tells the county executive or the legislature what is of concern to him.”
The local Nyack-Piermont Patch alleges some detailed information on the protester:
“The man hanging off the Tappan Zee Bridge is Michael Davitt, a Rockland County resident who has appeared at several county council meetings alleging that he had wrongfully lost his job with the county, according to Rockland County Sheriff James Kralik.
Davitt, of West Haverstraw, has for the past several years conducted one-man protests in front of the Rockland County Office Building in New City and has repeated spoken before sessions of the Rockland County Legislature. Kralik described Davitt‘s comments to the Legislature as ’somewhat threatening‘ and related to the loss of his job at the county’s health complex in Pomona”
...Before or after he's shackled, straight jacketed and behind bars???
Look at ME!! Look at ME!!!
If they don’t get attention, they don’t pull the stunts. When will the media learn?
He was separated from his job in 2008 from the Rockland Dept of Mental Health and allowed to retire on NYS disability. His wife supposedly recently left him and he was on some anti depressant drugs. They want to get a hold of his rope ladder and lower him down to the boats below (five of them) on the Hudson River. He’s endangering the lives of others as they figure out how, safely, they can get him down - they don’t want to cut his rope ladder.
His name is Michael Davitt. He’s been protesting his ‘separation’ from his job - unfairly treated’ for a few years in other ways.
Actually, the Tappan Zee almost hovers. It's supported only by a thin layer of rust and bird poop. If they wash it, it'll fall.
I don’t see any reason to stop traffic if he is hanging off the bridge, but as soon as I saw the headline, I figured that they would. And they did. Thousands of commuters will be stuck in their cars for hours.
So, he worked for Rockland County Mental Health before he was released with disability pay. Mental disability? A drug addict being paid government wages to counsel drug addicts?
Cut the Fxxxing rope! Get some balls.
He’s in the boat now - in police custody on the boat. He jumped off the ladder right before being lower into the boat. He swam a bit then took a life preserver and climbed into the boat. Let’s hope he gets some help.
His childhood friend called in and said he’s really a nice guy and he heard he was one of the nicest counselors - He’s not a evil doer but must be going through a lot - He always gave out practical advice and really very witty and was always upbeat.
General Patton would know what to do.
>> we hope he comes down and tells the county executive or the legislature what is of concern to him ...
What? Put the where he belongs - in jail.
>> we hope he comes down and tells the county executive or the legislature what is of concern to him ...
What? Put the NUT where he belongs - in jail.
(I REALLY hate Windows 7.)
Just one????
Remagen LOL
If this nut case is dangling below the bridge why stop the traffic needing to cross the bridge? Just let the nut hang there until he decides to climb back up.
I was thinking more along the lines of the mules in Sicily.
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