Erstellt am: 21. 10. 2011 - 13:15 Uhr
Today's Webtip: OWS
In a wonderfully absurd example of the problems that put OWS protesters on the streets, New York City property owners have decided to try to convince the city government that some laws should be changed.
Anyone still wondering why the protests in NYC are taking place in a privately owned park should probably read this article, but the executive summary is this: The city found a way to reduce operating costs by trading licensing concessions for areas of public access. Real estate developers who wanted to build tall buildings needed to provide plazas and open spaces to make up for the light cut off by the high buildings. The companies had to make them open 24 hours a day, and cover the maintenance costs.
These are the same companies that have provided quite a bit of assistance to politicians campaign coffers over the years.
It's this lovely combination of issues; public space being outsourced to private companies, city parks being closed at night, the shrinking commons and increased influence of corporate influence on politics that is now being so deliciously illustrated.
One highly biased (but mildly entertaining) report can be found here: www.addictinginfo.org