Occupy’s planned return stirs political unease
By Dave Wedge and Christine McConville
Tuesday, September 25, 2012 -
Tuesday, September 25, 2012 -
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Mayor Thomas M. Menino
is vowing to block occupiers from digging in again at Dewey Square,
setting up a potential high-profile showdown that could cause waves for
Elizabeth Warren at a pivotal moment in her race to unseat U.S. Sen.
Scott Brown.
“We’re not going to allow them to set up camp at Dewey Square,” the mayor told the Herald last night. “Occupy Boston can express themselves. But we’re not going to tolerate them blocking traffic or setting up encampments in the city of Boston.”
Last year, the city allowed demonstrators to camp in Dewey Square for months, despite having no permits, plus reports of assaults, drug busts and thefts. While the mayor pledged to block them, some occupiers said they’re returning Sunday to mark the movement’s 1 year anniversary.
“I guarantee I will be there with my tent,” said Cambridge computer
scientist Bil Lewis. “I will do everything I can do to bring attention
to what matters. And that’s the need for fundamental fairness and
justice in society, and the idea that rich people ought to be paying the
same taxes that we do.”
The potential standoff comes just days after Menino threw his support behind Warren, who has boasted of laying the “intellectual foundation” for the Occupy movement.
Former City Councilor Paul Scapicchio, an attorney, said another prolonged encampment and battle with the city could be “worrisome” for Warren.
“I’m not sure that’s helpful for Warren,” Scapicchio said. “I don’t think (demonstrators) engendered a lot of positive feedback from the electorate last time.”
But Dartmouth College political science professor Joseph Bafumi predicted a revived Occupy Boston effort would be short-lived and have little impact.
“It probably won’t grow to the extent it did last time,” Bafumi said. “It’s probably not going to be a big enough deal to impact how people vote in this race.”
A Warren spokeswoman declined to comment while a Brown aide blasted Warren for “creating the radical Occupy movement that wreaked havoc for months and has already cost Boston taxpayers $1.4 million.”
While Occupy claims no political party, Lewis said he intends to push the agendas of President Obama and Warren.
“I hope that it really brings out the fundamental issues of unfairness, which Warren is also bringing up,” he said. “I like what she’s saying. I think she’s a good person.”
“We’re not going to allow them to set up camp at Dewey Square,” the mayor told the Herald last night. “Occupy Boston can express themselves. But we’re not going to tolerate them blocking traffic or setting up encampments in the city of Boston.”
Last year, the city allowed demonstrators to camp in Dewey Square for months, despite having no permits, plus reports of assaults, drug busts and thefts. While the mayor pledged to block them, some occupiers said they’re returning Sunday to mark the movement’s 1 year anniversary.
The potential standoff comes just days after Menino threw his support behind Warren, who has boasted of laying the “intellectual foundation” for the Occupy movement.
Former City Councilor Paul Scapicchio, an attorney, said another prolonged encampment and battle with the city could be “worrisome” for Warren.
“I’m not sure that’s helpful for Warren,” Scapicchio said. “I don’t think (demonstrators) engendered a lot of positive feedback from the electorate last time.”
But Dartmouth College political science professor Joseph Bafumi predicted a revived Occupy Boston effort would be short-lived and have little impact.
“It probably won’t grow to the extent it did last time,” Bafumi said. “It’s probably not going to be a big enough deal to impact how people vote in this race.”
A Warren spokeswoman declined to comment while a Brown aide blasted Warren for “creating the radical Occupy movement that wreaked havoc for months and has already cost Boston taxpayers $1.4 million.”
While Occupy claims no political party, Lewis said he intends to push the agendas of President Obama and Warren.
“I hope that it really brings out the fundamental issues of unfairness, which Warren is also bringing up,” he said. “I like what she’s saying. I think she’s a good person.”
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