There is snow in New York today. We really need to get in front of the problem of a winter occupation.
I'm going to speak now of the City of New York, the government of Mayor Bloomberg, the city where I pay tax and live. New York must take the lead in being the free speech capital of the world. New York City can stand by, and hope, that the cold weather will drive to protesters out of Zuccotti Park.
They're not leaving, Mayor Bloomberg.
The message to Mayor Bloomberg is: the occupiers are staying. You can have images broadcast around the world of people in New York City suffering terrible hardship--maybe things like ambulances taking people out of Zuccotti Park suffering frostbite and hypothermia. But the occupiers believe so strongly in the righteousness of the cause, that they are willing to endure these medical hardships and the brutal weather to stay in place.
Mayor Bloomberg, is this the image you want to project to the world?
There is an alternative.
The alternative, is for the City of New York to take the lead--as we always do. For Mayor Bloomberg to say, "I recognize you're not leaving, and if Brookfield agrees, the city will allow you to erect a non-permanent structure for the winter months. This is a better solution than people possibly dying from exposure."
If Bloomberg fails to protect the occupiers, can you imagine how Jon Stewart and SNL will rip him a new one.
For those of you not familiar with Mayor Mike, he's outlawed smoking, almost outlawed the use of salt, and trans fat, but in Bloomberg's New York (if he refuses to throw his support behind a winter tent), you can die of exposure because you are exercising your First Amendment rights.
This is win, win. Of course, Mayor Bloomberg will face face criticism--perhaps a lot of criticism for a few weeks, but there's one benefit to having a multi-billionaire Mayor, he can say 'fuck you' to anyone, and still get his call returned.
The people in Zuccotti Park and all up and down the East Coast and into the mid West need real protection from the brutal winter weather
An air dome, would be ideal. It could have clear panels as the walls, so the police would be able to have perfect viewing capabilities.
These are the benefits of an air dome:
Air Domes are much more than simply an alternative to conventional pole tents; they are a unique, quick, and inexpensive way to have a permanent or semi-permanent structure for your church, tennis court, concert hall, swimming pool, etc.Air Domes are very versatile and can be used in many different applications, such as a shelter for dining, a paint facility at a construction site (such as the one we installed for Disney). We have even put one OVER a classic Victorian house under renovation in a region of inclement weather! - The sky is the limit!
We can custom design your Air Domes in different shapes and configurations to meet your specific needs - WE WILL WORK WITH YOU ON YOUR PLAN!
Our Air Domes are easily heated or air-conditioned and provide a comfortable, insect-free environment compared to conventional tents, and are perfect for church sanctuaries when installed over and secured to a concrete slab. They make for an impressively beautiful, modern, and practical structure.
To those who say, a warm environment might encourage more homeless to come, I say, so be it, that is a small price for protecting First Amendment rights.
Please take a look at the excellent diary by ruleoflaw on the specifics of cold weather survival in the outdoors.