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Bloomberg: 'Occupiers' Can Stay Indefinitely

'People want to express themselves': mayor

By Neal Colgrass, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 10, 2011 3:39 PM CDT

(Newser) – Turns out our huddled masses can breathe free as long as they want to. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said today that "Occupy Wall Street" protesters can continue to use Zuccotti Park as home base indefinitely, reports Politico via the Wall Street Journal. The park is just a few blocks away from Wall Street. “The bottom line is—people want to express themselves," Bloomberg says. "And as long as they obey the laws, we’ll allow them to."

Bloomberg's diplomatic offer amounts to an about-face from last week, when he slammed the "Occupiers" for criticizing banks—a major city employer. How long does he think they will stay? “I think part of it has probably to do with the weather,” says Bloomberg. The park's owner, Brookfield Office Properties, made no comment today but complained last week that park bans on tents and sleeping bags were being ignored, and sanitary conditions had “reached unacceptable levels.”

Nicole Von Haack folds blankets on a mattress while participating in the "Occupy Wall Street" protests in Zuccotti Park, Friday, October 7, 2011, in New York. (AP Photo/Andrew Burton)

Police officers stand nearby the encampment of participants in the Occupy Wall Street Protest at Zuccotti Park in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has allowed "Occupy Wall Street" protesters to use Zuccotti Park as a home base indefinitely. (AP Photo/Karly Domb Sadof)

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Bloomberg: 'Occupiers' Can Stay Indefinitely

'People want to express themselves': mayor

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