NYPD halting drum circle in zucotti now

[hootinholler]

Via livestream - http://theother99.tv

[uppityperson]

1. :(

[Huey P. Long]

2. posting to support theother99. Great citizen and journalist.

[hootinholler]

3. Zucotti security asked drummers to stop

Drummers said no thanks we prefer to drum.

Cops announce that if they don't leave the park they will be arrested for criminal trespass.

Drummers begin marching on the sidewalks around the park.

I wonder how long they will keep marching.

I also wonder how it is that Brookfields properties can make up rules at the drop of a hat?

[mythology]

4. Given that the park is private property,

it's nothing that any other privately owned place couldn't do. For example, if people went to the grassy area outside my place of work and started drumming, my employer would call the police.

[hootinholler]

6. Is the grassy area outside your workplace a POPS?

POPS: Privately Owned Public Space. Is a term for public spaces in NYC where private interests have ceded covenants to allow the public use of property in exchange for zoning exceptions. In the case of Zucotti, I think it was US Steel who was granted a height extension on a building in exchange for the park.

A subtle difference. I could be wrong, but my understanding is that rules changes are subject to a public hearing process.

[SammyWinstonJack]

8. Private property publically owned space and the drummers have been given

authorization to play between 12/2 and 4/6 pm by the community board.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

15. The community board does not control the space

Not clear the local GA does for that matter.

[Bjorn Against]

10. It is a privately owned public space, it is not in the same category as your work place

Brookfield Properties made an agreement with the city that they would maintain Zuccoti Park and keep it open to the public in exchange for favorable zoning ordinances. In other words Brookfield was previously given special treatment by the city of New York in exchange for agreeing to keep Zuccotti Park open to the public. To call Zuccoti Park private property is somewhat misleading, while it is technically privately owned it is a privately owned public space and that designation as a public space requires Brookfield to be more accomodating to the public than other private property owners need to be. Unless your workplace has been designated a privately owned public space you really can not compare it to Zuccoti Park.

[coalition_unwilling]

11. I don't know how many times we have to have the same discussion

here. Zucotti Park is not 'private property' the same way your place of work is 'private property.' It is a privately-owned public park. That means that, in return for zoning and tax considerations from the City for other developments, Brookfield Properties opened the space to the public.

Given your screen name, it's hardly surprising that you would sport this spurious defense of Brookfield's nominal property interest.

But whatevs

[Warren Stupidity]

13. not exactly private property.

The space is a privately owned public space governed by this regulation: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/priv/101707_final_approved_text.pdf

The owners cannot just make up rules for its use or decide who gets to do what when.

[krucial]

5. Drummers

Wow,looks like the Drummers are being drummed out of the Park.
Where,how where can a drummer go drumming now?

[BoWanZi]

7. I'll be honest here, I don't understand drum circles, whats the point?

Drum circles just seem to me to be mildly embarrassing to the people who are in them. What I mean is that I find them embarrassing to watch. Get a group of people who just start banging away during a protest, why? It just seems so pointless and distant from the core of the protest agenda.

What next? Flute triangles or oboe squares?

Its just one of the few aspects of protesting that doesn't make logical sense to me.

Someone explain so I can understand them better and not feel embarrassed when I watch them on tv or videos or whatever.

[Bjorn Against]

12. It is a cultural expression

Drum circles are usually not meant to send a message, they are meant to bring people together through music. Not every single aspect of a protest has to be about sending a message, it is important to build community as well and that is what drum circles do.

[BoWanZi]

14. Bring people though music, that explains why I don't get it, I am musically poor

I enjoy music but not so much the rhythm, but rather the melody and just enjoy how certain things sound. But when it comes to playing it or listening to lyrics or deep meanings, its all lost on me.

I have an extremely hard time understanding lyrics to most music unless I am reading along with the lyrics.

[immoderate]

16. I belong to drum circles. It's nothing to do with protests or messages.

I'll give you my take on it all. Because that's all I've got.

Drum circles are about rhythm, which people have in varying degrees. When a rhythm is going, anyone can join in. Ability, above that of finding the beat, is irrelevant, and everyone contributes to the collective effort. Really great drummers get to show off their skills against a background of steady, but evolving rhythm. Everybody rocks. Everybody grooves. Kumbaya.

We've had kids as young as 5 sit in. Some demonstrated great precocity. And a single person usually can't derail the group. Sometimes players will introduce other instruments. Flutes and recorders are most common, I've brought my guitar.

But what's it really all about. Some people use rhythm to discharge anxiety. (Some use other means.) Drumming, dancing, playing an instrument are all methods that can be used to productively channel anxiety. Those kinds of people, confined to a park, will find each other, and get to drumming, as sure as gamblers would start a poker game. As I kid I drummed on desks at school, pots and pans at home, garage bands later. Drum circles are great fun, and are pretty much anarchistic. Perhaps that's why they appear so easily out of OWS groups.

The rub for me, and perhaps them, is that drummers can be hard to tune out, especially when they go on 24/7. The drums command attention, but they are not shouting truths; I think they're a distraction for the movement, not necessary but inevitable, given the density of people and the low threshold for drum circle "music." People love to make music. :)

I think limiting the hours, or to marches makes sense. Otherwise a drum circle is like a corporation. It can't die.

--imm

[Huey P. Long]

9. 3pm marching >Egyptian consulate & company that makes the tear gas used in Tahrir Sq

Catherina_News Catherina
MT @Dwayne_wins: Direct Action: 3pm marching >Egyptian consulate & company that makes the tear gas used in Tahrir Sq near 58 & 2nd Ave #ows
5 minutes ago