Bloomberg: Something Needs To Be Worked Out With OWS Protesters
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the city will have to "work something out" with Occupy Wall Street protesters camping out in Zuccotti park.
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With the protest in its fifth week in New York City, many residents living near the park are getting fed up with the demonstrations.
On his weekly radio address Friday, Bloomberg hinted that the city could soon take a hardline against the encampment in Zuccotti Park, but says it's difficult.
"It's a little bit complicated because there is no one to work it out with," Bloomberg said. "There just is not any one group, one ideology, one objective, one person to negotiate with."
Protesters got an earful Thursday night from residents living near Zuccotti Park who are also looking for a solution to the noise, garbage and issues impacting the neighborhood.
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"Our neighbors do not break into our building and vandalize them. Our neighbors do not urinate and defecate in the street. These occupiers need to vacate our neighborhood," said Liberty Street resident Linda Fairstein.
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But demonstrators say they're not going anywhere.
An Occupy Wall Street representative told them that demonstrators plan on instituting a "good neighbor policy."
The rules will limit times for drumming and include a zero tolerance policy for abuse of property.
But some residents aren't convinced.
"I think the good neighbor policy is, quite frankly, laughable. A neighbor pays rent, mind you. These people do not pay rent to live there. A neighbor works in the city and pays their state and city income tax. It's disgusting and as someone in my age group, I'm embarrassed by what they're saying," said another resident.
While many who live near the park have complained, they still say they support the protesters' right to free speech.
Meanwhile, demonstrators are getting ready for two marches Friday and another big rally Saturday.
But Bloomberg also said Friday that the NYPD will have to do more to enforce the rules that require permits for demonstrators to stage marches and rallies.
"We're trying to find solutions to all the problems and I'm not trying to duck it, it is the city's problem and we will make a decision," he said. "It's just not so easy, you can't just walk in and say 'you're out of here.'"
Activists rallied in what's being called "Stop 'Stop & Frisk' Day" in front of the Harlem State Office Building before marching to the NYPD's 28th precinct.
Starting at 4 p.m., they'll be joining Verizon workers "to protest Verizon corporate greed" at a Verizon store.
Friday night, Parents For Occupy Wall Street will be holding a "Family Sleepover" in Zuccotti Park.
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"We're just providing the outlet for parents across the U.S. to be heard because we can't be down here, we have families to feed and children to tuck in," one of the organizers said.
Nearly 200 families have signed up for the event, which will feature music, games and other activities.
On Saturday, activists be protesting police brutality with a march and rally starting at 2 p.m. in Union Square.
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