The cleanup effort of Zuccotti Plaza in Lower Manhattan where Occupy Wall Street protesters have been camped out for a month was postponed, early Friday.
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Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway said the owners of the private park, Brookfield Office Properties, put off the cleaning, scheduled for 7 a.m.
More than an hour beforehand, supporters of the protesters had started heading into the park, while a crowd of several hundred chanted and cheered.
In an official statement by the owners of Zuccotti Park:
“Late last night, we received notice from the owners of Zuccotti Park – Brookfield Properties – that they are postponing their scheduled cleaning of the park, and for the time being withdrawing their request from earlier in the week for police assistance during their cleaning operation. Our position has been consistent throughout: the City’s role is to protect public health and safety, to enforce the law, and guarantee the rights of all New Yorkers. Brookfield believes they can work out an arrangement with the protesters that will ensure the park remains clean, safe, available for public use and that the situation is respectful of residents and businesses downtown, and we will continue to monitor the situation.”
So for the moment, the protesters who have been occupying Wall Street for the last 29 days can stay in Zucotti Park.
