Bloomberg Tells Occupy Wall Street to Leave Zuccotti Park

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The evacuation and clean-up comes after NYPD's Kelly received a letter and numerous complaints from Brookfield Office Properties, the management company that now owns and controls the public Zuccotti Park. Mayor Bloomberg's long-time girlfriend, Diana Taylor is, coincidentially, on the Brookfield Office Properites' board of directors.

In their letter, Brookfield asked for assistance from the NYPD.

"[Zuccotti Park] was recently renovated at Brookfield's considerable expense as an amenity for the general public. It is intended to be a relaxing tree-filled oasis in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Lower Manhattan," the letter explained.   

The management company seemed most concerned about the health and public safety issues of the park, claiming "conditions at the Park have deteriorated to unsanitary and unsafe levels."

"Complaints [received from concerned citizens and office workers in the neighborhood] range from outrage over numerous laws being broken including but not limited to lewdness, groping, drinking, and drug use."

The letter also expressed concern for the lack of security and screening for the large number of packages that have been delivered to the park.  

"Brookfield protocol and practice is to clean the park on a daily basis, power-washing it each weeknight, and to perform necessary inspection, maintenance, and repairs on a regular, as-needed basis. Since the occupation began, we have not been able to perform basic cleaning and maintenance activity, let alone perform more basic repairs. For example, if the lenses to the underground lighting have become cracked, water could infiltrate the electrical system, putting occupants of the Park at risk of an electrical hazard or causing short-circuiting which result in repairs requiring the Park to be torn apart for rewiring," the letter continued.

"Brookfield has rights, too," Mayor Bloomberg told chanting protestors in Zuccotti Park Wednesday evening.

Authorities say new rules will be enforced after the clean-up and evacuation tomorrow.

"The protesters have set up living spaces with tarpaulins, mattresses, sleeping bags, tables, bookshelves, gasoline-powered generators and other items that are inconsistent with the rules and normal public use of the Park," the Brookfield letter stated.

Occupy Wall Street protestors claim the "cleaning" is a de facto eviction as the City plans to ban sleeping bags, other "gear," storage of personal property on the ground, and lying down on the ground or benches after the clean-up.

"The last three weeks have created unsanitary conditions and considerable wear and tear on the park," a statement from Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway said. "The situation is not in the best interests of the protesters, residents or the city."

Protestors issued a statement Thursday stating plans to lock arms in defiance of the police and in defense of First Amendment rights. The demonstrators plan to resist and encourage protestors to join the coalition at 6 a.m. Friday morning.

A declaration released by OWS protesters states: "After General Assembly on Thursday, we'll have a full-camp cleanup session. Sanitation can coordinate, and anyone who is available will help with the massive community effort! Then, Friday morning, we'll awake and position ourselves with our brooms and mops in a human chain around the park, linked at the arms. If NYPD attempts to enter, we'll peacefully/non-violently stand our ground and those who are willing will get arrested."

"We won't allow Bloomberg and the NYPD to foreclose our occupation. This is an occupation, not a permitted picnic," the statement continued.

Organizers are putting $3,000 of their funds towards paying for cleaning workers and supplies. A teacher's union is also allegedly donating space to store protesters' possessions Friday morning during the cleaning. Email, phone, and social media campaigns have been launched to encourage demonstrators to protect their protest.

Mediation attempts have begun as well. Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and Community Board 1 Chair Julie Menin held a press conference Thursday to urge New York City to continue negotiations with Occupy Wall Street. Stringer and Menin fear that the clean-up Friday morning might prompt a confrontation between protesters and police.

A press release from Stringer's office reads: "This morning, the Borough President met with members of OWS and encouraged them to formalize and publicize a 'good neighbor policy' to address community concerns about the quality of life impacts of their ongoing protests."

Mayor Bloomberg Stops By Zuccotti Park Wednesday: