This was passed onto me to share via Occupy Los Angeles PR Team -- please read and post around the internet! -Liz
The Los Angeles City Council voted on Oct 12th to support the Occupy Los Angeles activists congregating downtown. We are very thankful for their support and are encouraged by the good will shown by all City officials and the LAPD in particular.
Regarding what City Hall Support does and does not mean; it means they like us. However it does not mean that Occupy LA was granted the right to have camp tents on the grounds 24/7. City ordinance in fact states that tents must vacate the lawn at City Hall between 10:30pm and 5am. Thus far LAPD has not enforced this ordinance. Their leniency has made the occupation less stressful for many of us. As a result roughly 400+ Occupiers In tents have occupied the grounds around the clock.
Within the last week, in a private meeting with City officials, the Farmer's Market was issued verbal notice, as was Occupy LA, stating that if tents are on the South lawn or blocking the sidewalks adjacent the South lawn (excluding 1st St) the Farmer's market would not be allowed to set-up. The Farmer's Market hours are every Thursday between 4am- 6pm. Obviously this South lawn schedule overlap is a concern for both our awesome local farmers as well as our amazing Occupiers.
Fortunately this past Thursday and option was offered by the City that allowed the Farmer's Market to set-up across the street. It has not been announced by the City if this is going to be an ongoing solution. Occupy LA respectfully request a formal and public statement to clarify the City's position on this matter.
We thank everyone involved in making this a peaceful and safe Occupation.
Buy local!!
-Occupy Los Angeles PR Team
6 Comments
Allow the farmers!
Submitted by rwillhite on
They were ther first and while we are occupying for the 99%, they are struggling to survive, and their buyers are support local small business. I think it is a travesty that after we voted to move tents for their market, some 'campers' refused. What good are our proposals, if our own people won't abide by them.
Think about the message that you are sending LA Occupiers!
Rob - what you believe is what you manifest
Re:
Submitted by john20 on
In my opinion, this post has some great piece of information.
Headway University
The GA did not reach consensus to move.
Submitted by PJOccupyLA on
Many Occupiers were willing to free up space for the Farmer's tents and some were not. The latter felt other options existed and that moving tents could damage and displace the Occupation. It is a complicated issue. However a solution was met last week without displacing Occupiers. We all understand that Farmer's 'were there first', but an OWS Occupation is also unprecedented at City Hall and this matter does require special consideration. Rather than pit community against community (not that Occupy LA could ever be 'against' local farmers) we ask the City make available a choice piece of real estate that offers the farmers a safe and highly lucrative point of operation during the Occupation. Farmers are the 99% and we Occupy for them too. ~pj
pj
good - more than one location for farmers market profits too
Submitted by maryjanie on
repeating essence of longer comment made on same topic previously = the farmers market is not a higher, better, more socially conscious or a political social movement than OLA is....
if the market has been [temporarily or longer] permission to set up near by and not in same space as established OLA has become now, so a good compromise has been offered and accepted.
to feel pity, sympathy just because they dont own a store front brick and mortar does not make these sellers more holy or honest or elite than other stores even if many like their products, stalls, and stories. They are still for profit and sellers are not the farmers but hired help and a business is a business and hopefully WE at OLA are not that....
as OLA has stated no money exchanges are to be on premises while occupied for other than commercial reasons, this is fine with the officials having nicely cooperated with OLA again.
so what's the complaint ? or is it an appreciation that it worked out for both...the sellers making their money and OLAers making their demonstration, changes and improving the world for all, hopefully.
a word from a vendor
Submitted by vendorgirl on
Hello, I am a vendor at the farmers market and must admit that we are in a tricky place. In many ways we can relate to the protestors of occupy LA, however as small business owners and employees, we also have a commitment to our families and our jobs. 2 weeks have gone by since occupy LA has been in our market location and ALL of our sales have taken a hit. Farmers market behavior is that our customers come out and expect to find us in our usual location and often when we are not, they don't come looking because they assume we are not there. Last week, some of the vendors whose location was in the courtyard above Main grossed close to zero. So yes, we would be willing to compromise if people would come out, but unfortunately there is a direct correlation with our grosses. I am not against the protestors, and it's a funny place to be in, but I think that protesting is a choice, and for those of us with kids and families to support, we need to keep this job and this one thursday a week will likely put a huge dent in our lives if we cannot get people to come to the market. Also, to touch on the gal who mentioned that just because we are not "brick and mortar store fronts"- that's because many of us can't afford to be and this isn't helping! So as a vendor I would appreciate having my normal location back, and while "being right across the street" sounds like it shouldn't make a difference, if you do the numbers, it does. The point that I would like to get across is that the true compromise is that if the farmers market moves for the protestors than the protestors should try to get the word out about where we are so we don't lose our jobs and homes and end up on the streets as well.
Do not obstruct the Farmers Market.
Submitted by emwoccupyla on
There should be no question or need for discussion the Farmers Market was there first. Occupy should be the ones relocating to allow these folks to do what they do, obstructing the Farmers Market goes against the ideals that Occupy stands for in principle. I was just as disgusted when the nice lady selling bacon wrapped hotdogs was chased away and screamed at. What right does Occupy have to tell her ha se cannot operate her business where ahe has for years. If you want to reject he esablishment and corporations and allow working people to earn a living in principle how can you stand in the way of actual people actually doing it. If you want to talk the talk, then walk the walk.
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