NYC, UPJ agree on new rally site and march route

[bpcmxr]

It's going to end up in Union Square. Didn't see this posted yet, apologies if a dupe.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/26/rnc.protests/index.html

[LeftofBklyn]

1. well, i'm annoyed they lost, but union square is better than the wsh

[newyawker99]

14. Hi LeftofBklyn!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[KurtNYC]

2. So Central Pk won't hold 250K but Union Square WILL?

Better than nothing.

Boy that Great Lawn grass is so much more important than the Third Article of the Bill of Rights.

Hope they got a sound permit!

[starroute]

9. Union Square amounts to not quite three full city blocks

Figuring at 20 north-south blocks per mile, and 10 east-west blocks, that comes out to something well under 400,000 square feet.

Assuming 250,000 protesters, and allowing some space for the speakers' area, that means less than 1.5 square foot per protester -- say a square about 14 inches on a side.

Well, they'd better be prepared to have people slopping out along the streets on all sides.

[mrbill]

17. according to the nyc parks web site...........

Union Square is 3.593 acres.

An acre is 43560 square feet.

3.593 acres x 43560 = 156,511.08 square feet.

Union Square is not all open space, playgrounds and structures take up some of this area.

250,000 people is a total imposibility unless they form a five or six high human pyramid.

Don't forget to save some room for the porta-potties.

Nearby Washington Square park has 9.75 acres.

[deutsey]

3. Maybe this will deflect any possibility for clashes in Central Park

i.e., protesters going there to rally without a permit.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. I think the idea is that the park is open, but no rally in park

[deutsey]

6. I was hearing that some groups were threatening to go to Central Park

for an impromptu rally after NYC slapped down UFPJ's request.

I imagine it could have led to some nasty confrontations with police if enough people showed up. I remember something like that happening in NY during the Feb. protest. It was nothing huge, but I heard there were some clashes between police and protesters attempting to stage an unpermitted rally somewhere.

[seventhson]

4. Very cool !!! It will be crowded but I LOVE Union Square!

It is a GREAT PARK - LoveLy area (I used to live near IT)

[JackintheGreen]

8. where is it?

Pardon my ignorance. It's been a long time since I was in the city, but if you give me streets (or jazz clubs) I can get an idea.

[newyawker99]

15. Hi JackintheGreen!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[starroute]

10. Map

[Cassandra]

7. Not that bad a choice

Union Sq. was the traditional site for political rallies during much of NYC history (I think the draft riots started here). It's got some seating, easy site lines, protestors are there every week. Certainly better than the WSH, with plenty of food and water in the neighborhood. If they set up speakers, they can use the back of the park as well, where the greenmarket usually is (but not on Sundays).

[Stephanie]

11. Not bad but too small

Definitely too small.

[autorank]

12. Perfect, they'll fill lower Manhattan for blocks!

Well isn't Bloomberg stupid. Central Park would have been more scenic but we'll have pictures overhead of blocks and blocks of lower Manhattan filled. Impeach Bloomberg anyway! And make Koch live on Staten Island!

[milkyway]

13. This is good news! It might be better than Central Park. I live a few

blocks from Union Square. It's an historic park, famous for many progressive protests for a century, and also for the spontaneous memorials following 9/11. The above posters are right--it's way too small! But this could be a good thing because the entire Union Square area will be filled with protesters. How symbolic it will be that this area bordering Greenwich Village, the East Village, the Flatiron District and Chelsea will be filled with people rising up to repudiate the bush misadminstration.

I might be in the minority here, but I don't think that the City was entirely unreasonable in denying the use of the Great Lawn. People point to the large gatherings there in the 80's, but since they redid the lawn they have not had any. The biggest was the Dave Matthews concert, but the City would not allow 100,000 people. They made the promoters limit tickets to 70,000. I think UPJ is low-balling its' estimate of 250,000--it will be a lot more than that.

But the City was wrong to offer the West Side Highway. That was some kind of sick joke. I thought Times Square would end up being the compromise location because it's used to holding 2 million people every New Year's Eve. Because of Union Square's history and the neighborhood, this will probably keep a lot of people from going to Central Park on their own, which I'm sure pleases both the City and UPJ. I thought UPJ had really blown the negotiations with the City and lost some credibility, but getting Union Square is a win for them. UPJ pushed the City hard for the Great Lawn, but when the City wouldn't budge UPJ got a great alternative.

[ldf]

16. absurd substitute

there is no way the crowd will fit.

i imagine the rally will be short, so everyone can go "take a walk in the park". it's really beautiful this time of year. :-) and of course everyone from out of town should make a point to see one of the most beautiful parks on the planet. it's simply one of the must-see tourist destinations! no visit to the big apple is complete without seeing it. so what if you participate in a little good 'ol fashioned american grassroots democracy while you are there. you'll be glad you did! we can all have a :grouphug:

like martha says, it will be a good thing. :evilgrin:

that's what i'm going to do. i'm sure i won't be alone.