[AtLast]

What I am not understanding about what is going on in Oakland (a few miles South of me) is that the whole sanitation thing has been handled differently across many of the OWS protest areas across the states. In NYC, those protesting cleaned up the area themselves and all involved (demonstrators, city hall and police & fire) worked through these issues in a peaceful manner. There are usual and customary and scheduled cleaning methods used by towns and cities to keep parks clean and stop the spread of disease. These duties are performed by public employees that need their jobs.

I do just as a citizen have some issues about actual camps being set up in parks without having sanitation facilities also being set up along with people not littering or taking park space from usual visitors. for example, many elderly people gather to play chess and checkers in public parks and socialize on an every day basis. They ought to be able to use a public park in this way without being shoved out due to the protests.

I think that in some cases (not all), that homeless people are joining in because it is a way to set up a tent somewhere and blend in- and actually be in a safer (and warmer at night) environment. And no, I am not saying that all homeless people would not be part of such protests. Hell, there is a rise in homelessness that comes along with such high unemployment rates. Also, there are never enough beds or enough meals for the homeless as it is as provided by organizations that offer help to them.

I have been in many, many protests through the years and organizing sanitation as well as emergency contingency plans ate critical for long term protests. usually, permits are required that call for these kinds of contingencies. The fact is that hundreds of people in one area does pose health issues if things are not done to prevent these problems via public health practices.

There have been many nearby businesses in Oakland that do not want to continue to have non-customers use their restrooms. They have a right to feel this way as they are the ones that clean and maintain their restrooms and also want their restrooms to be used by customers.

I back this movement and want it to grow into something that effects voting and change that reflects the 99%. I don't want violent outbreaks in which people are injured, including police officers.

I don't get why the Oakland demonstrators and all involved couldn't come up with some of the same procedures as the NYC people did that made it so that the park was cleaned and the demonstrations could go on. Why not have an agreed amount of time that demonstrators leave and the cleaning is done- and also demonstrators making sure trash and litter is picked up?

I am also wondering about how at first, OWS participants came to designated areas and protested, then went home.. then came back on a daily basis. people were really rotating in and out of the protests, not living there.

Just seems like there are solutions available so that violence does not break out. I could not have all of the facts about the Oakland situation, however. I do know that if a group took over the dog park I use everyday in a way that I could not use it as a citizen, I wouldn’t like it. I have gone over to SF and participated in OWS, and then came home. I will do this again. Yet, so many people have lost their homes and jobs throughout all that has gone on with the 1% screwing common people, setting up tent cities may be a much more pointed way to draw attention to what has happened to so many… having to live in tents or cars and losing jobs.