Occupy Philly appeals proposed permit
As expected, members of Occupy Philly today appealed the proposed permit that was offered by the city earlier this week.
Occupy Philly appeals proposed permit
David Gambacorta
As expected, members of Occupy Philly today appealed the proposed permit that was offered by the city earlier this week.
City officials on Monday laid out the terms of a permit that would have allowed the protesters demonstrate on Thomas Paine Plaza, outside of the Municipal Services Building, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. until Dec. 20.
Tents and overnight sleepovers would not have been allowed.
Members of Occupy Philly voted on Tuesday to appeal the proposed permit, as well as the city's rejection of an application that members of the group filed last week that was aimed at allowing camping at the new site.
The protest movement has called Dilworth Plaza home since early October. The plaza is scheduled to soon undergo a $50 million makeover.
The appeal (you can read it here) claims the movement wouldn't adversely impact public health or safety, which were reasons cited by the city for why it couldn't allow a campsite to form at Paine Plaza.
Mayor Nutter and other city officials complained last week about worsening conditions at the Dilworth encampment, from a handful of assaults to a reported rape to worsening sanitary conditions.
Mayoral spokesman Mark McDonald said Occupy Philly's appeals are "under review."
City Managing Director Rich Negrin is working to have a response ready after the Thanksgiving holiday, McDonald said.
It's unclear if the appeal will lead to further negotiations with the city.
On Monday, Everett Gillison, Mayor Nutter's chief of staff, said the city would provide the protesters with a two-day notice before evicting them from Dilworth Plaza. He also noted that they were allowed to stay at Dilworth until construction on the plaza is about to begin.
A start date for the project has not been set.
This is beyond ridicuious, moving on to another article!!!— Dadair1- Filthydelphia - Tourist rejector - left wing trash can - union garbage truck - bankrupt city = -0 quality of life .— goodsax
Comment removed.- Mayor Goode would have handled this already. Nutter should ask them to MOVE and give them a wink.— Captain Terrific
- Rizzo would have had the cops beat up the protesters. Bad PR move!. Goode would have let the cops set the camp on fire. Bad PR move. Nutter is giving them rope so they can hang themselves. Good PR move.— DonQ
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David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics – which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com
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Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans. E-mail tips to ransomj@phillynews.com
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Sean Collins Walsh is from Bucks County and went to Northwestern University. He joined the Daily News copy desk in 2012 and now covers the Nutter administration. Before that, he interned at papers including The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News and The Seattle Times. E-mail tips to walshSE@phillynews.com
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