A base camp of tents could be set up in Jones's Woods, on the North Shore of Staten Island, just behind a typically decaying urban mainstreet.:

http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h&daddr=40.63871767140%2C%20-74.08913345690%20%28Center%20of%20Jones%20Woods%20Park%29

Easy access by the free Staten Island Ferry to Zuccotti Park. Rally on Wall Street all day, and come home to a modern Hooverville at night.

The arrogant and narcissistic lie of cultish chants like "We are the 99 percent" and "this is what democracy looks like" has been fully discredited not by conservatives but by Democrat and progressive mayors who have moved against the dangerous and unlawful encampments nationwide which deserve to be called "Obamavilles" if the truth be told by the media.
All that is missing from this farce at OWS is Snake Plisskin.

Bravo Mayor Bloomberg! Finally the thugs and rabble-rousers have been swept out of the park. Without an evolving meaningful plan of action, their "occupation" was destined to fail. It's high time for the dissenters to "get a life" and allow others to "get on with theirs"...

Just another form of government restricting peoples rights. Those people were peaceful protesters. I feel our government has been moving in the wrong direction for some time. Its supposed to be of, by and for the people but is now against the people and for its self. Politicians don't ask their constituents what they (the people) want but instead do what they (the politician and or government) wants. People who wont to protest need a place to do that. Parks are a perfect place for that. After all the people paid for that park.

that last time i was so upset from hearing a comment on your show, enough to log on and fume, was over a year ago. Your show is fair and allows diverse comments, but Charles Cook of the National Review is an IDIOT and has moved me to take action against his publication. I respect foreigners and naturalized citizens, but I cant help but feel especially offended and defensive to hear his high-brow British(?) accent and tone and comparing the wall street protestors to criminals in HIS HOME is foolish! this is democracy. OUR democracy. we are common people with no power and we are attempting to be heard. Charles Cook's elitist tone and comments just adds insult to this attempt to take away our power. and his whiny, defiant protest to the host's comment about his position being predictable (based on his comments yesterday and today) was also insulting since it seemed like a fair comment. I hope the National Review feels even a small repercussion from common Americans demanding justice who he considers criminals. I used to wonder what they were talking about with the term "Class Warfare"...I think I am starting to see what that means and feel very much called to FIGHT.

I hope the Occupy Wall Street protesters understand they have been Molly Coddled for almost 2 months. Surely they must realize their message threatens a swath of entrenched power. Until now, their message and methods have been very high minded and noble. Their issues have resounded with a large number of progressive Americans that believe in justice, equality and cooperation.
Noble as they might be, they must now realize they have started a chess game and in chess the GOAL is to win! The have mounted an excellent opening that has thrown off the opponent who has now effectively countered and left the Occupiers flat footed. Where were the plans for this contingency? What is the plan for winning? It's their game but they haven't defined winning! Its wake-up time. Democracy and consensus are wonderful things but you don't see the army using that model. I'm not suggesting battle as a tactic; but perhaps Aikido.

"and while I think "Wall Street" defines the problem too narrowly, the corporatization of American politics is definitely a major impediment to current and future generations' ability to achieve a good life"

Kate, "Wall Street" defines the problem too narrowly DELIBERATELY. Read my comment above about the origins of the movement and the fact of extreme manipulation.
By chance, I was there in the first hour of the protest. A friend (which at this moment can be considered part of the 1%) was visiting with her husband and we went to see the Governor's Island. She, a house wife without children, no responsibility and an avid listener of Amy Goodman and NEO-NAZI stations, knew about "Occupy" and wanted to be there. Yes, she likes OWS. Yes, she also was a week ago or so at the lily white (with a couple of Native Americans tokens) pipeline protest together with Julia Dreyfus (a billionaire by birth), Robert Redford and other members of the 1% club. She has several millions of air miles, several millions in banks, several cars (used regularly) and a large house to heat. She has no interest in labor, universal health care, affordable education and anything else I consider central.
Someone is distracting you, people.

Zuccotti Park is a public/private space. In order for Brookfield to build their tower to a height beyond the zoning laws, they had to open the park to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The rules against sleeping bags and tents did not exist before September 17, 2011. So, yes, this is a direct violation of the citizens' first amendment right to peaceably assemble.

The need for the city to maintain safety and peace is obvious, however the manner in which we as a people are protected from ourselves has become draconian but my standards. Tear gas and sound cannons should not be required in EVERY instance of as the first option of extraction. The true strategic value they are gaining is the intimidation of future discernment.

I think the tendency is (and will be) to bubble about "freedom of the speech" and "democracy."
I doubt I will hear about political manipulation, corruption, etc.
The fact is that someone ABROAD (yes, Canada isn't part of the US yet) designed a poster, defined the theme, invented the title and ORDERED to show up at a certain place and a certain time. Doesn't seem to be very democratic.
Further, there are very ugly forces which are directing the movement to their advantage at the expense of the movement itself (at least those who joined early honestly believing in honest push toward needed changes) and at the expense of the society as a whole. In other words they are hijacking the event (predictably so).
I am one of those people, who actually witnessed (and participated slightly) one of the most important, intelligent and transformatve movements of the 20th century. I also am a historian and I know how ugly movements can be (even those which start as the most reasonable - this one didn't). I also despise demagogues who silence any critique of manipulation, demagoguery and abuse with "democracy is messy, close your eyes and enjoy it." Anarchy is messy too, plutocracy can be messy too and autocracy can be messy too if autocrats desire so.

The overdoses, thefts, illnesses, etc., are just as reflective of the U.S. at large as the need for homes that creating a place of tents and sleeping bags is. First the complaint among some is that the movement is too middle-class, hippie, and white; now that the poor and disturbed and abandoned of society have moved in, they aren't part of the humanity that the protest represents; they are somehow "separate" from the free-speech message and a danger. How much more representative of the U.S. today can you get? The mayor, as usual, is clueless as to how he is enacting his 21st century Robber Baron role in contemporary society. As he did not anticipate OWS, he will not be able to anticipate the next steps. It is far beyond him now.

I've been to Zuccotti Park several timestimes and my senses didn't notice anything unsanitary but there were cramped conditions.
I strongly support O.W.S and I'm surprised that the points O.W.S have made were never considered previously by print media journalists.
I now believe that most journalists are one-percenters themselves.

No surprise that Democratic Mayors have decided to end the occupy movement. They were useful tools for a while. With three deaths, several overdoses, tb outbreaks and Oakland protesters destroying property it is becoming impossible for the main stream media to pretend this is a peaceful movement. The hoped for transformation into pro democrat political activism does not seem to be occurring. Strange coincidence how Democrats love of free speech/protest and the usefulness of OWS end at the same time.

It is ironic that the Arab Spring uprising in Egypt brought about some near term changes, but here in the US, the "beacon of Democracy", hundreds of thousands of folks nationwide exercising their 1st amendment rights are sent packing. What will it take to drain the cesspool that Wall Street has become. No Justice-No Peace!

Like the Hoovervilles of the Depression, the presence of tents and sleeping bags are *part* of the Occupy Wall Street message.

Also check out the Bonus marchers of the World War I veterans.

Mayor of SF: Not all "anarchists" are violent, and it would be appreciated if public officials would refrain from tossing that word around without a genuine understanding the ideas behind it.

And it would be appreciated if Ms. Hedley would refrain from interrupting the inevitably brief press conference that this mayor deigns to give.

Bloomberg was hoping the weather would do his dirty work for him, but thanks to the global warming his friends have caused, his plan didn't quite go to schedule. I hope this provocative act will not end in violence, although it's in the interests of the Right to see that it does. The Occupiers have achieved a great feat: they have reframed the debate in this country and focused on the real priorities of our nation. Gore Vidal has called us the United States of Amnesia: in our ADD condition, I hope we wont forget what really matters: the political and financial corruption that caused this mess, gross and ever increasing inequality and the technocratic war on human rights. These conditions are not inevitable - the President may have given up on hope and change but these kids haven't.

Who is honestly surprised that billionaire Mike Bloomberg (who outspent his unheard of 3RD term opponent by 10:1) would feel justified in usurping the First Amendment rights by using the State's resources to shut down and confiscate the belongings of protesters? From the beginning, Bloomberg has consistently shown that behind his rhetoric, he aligns himself with the wealthiest 1% instead of the citizens he was supposed to represent. Perhaps it's better to Occupy (And seek a recall of) Bloomberg's City Hall.

I hope the NLG and ACLU fight this all the way up and that NYers let him know this was unconstitutional and unacceptable: http://preview.tinyurl.com/3ylaz9

Regardless of whether people stay in the park. It's time for this movement to enter the next phase. Standing in the park will only create awareness. Chance comes from organized action not inaction.

I'm a Wall Street worker who supports OWS. My husband and I have sent thousands of dollars worth of food and other supplies to assist the movement. I have been fortunate, but I can't imagine how our children are going to navigate their future, and while I think "Wall Street" defines the problem too narrowly, the corporatization of American politics is definitely a major impediment to current and future generations' ability to achieve a good life. My paltry $2,500 of student loans is trivial compared with today's education debt. OWS has changed the conversation on many important issues of the day, and I support them continuing the transformation of the national dialogue. It is good for America.

Of course you're getting "a lot" of anti-protester comments, Celeste. You're working drive time radio, what do you think you're going to get? What matters is what everyone feels about this action, not just the opinion of people driving in from the suburbs. Is that demographic analysis really beyond your capability?

They came like thieves in the night...Bloomberg's Blue Shirts...and robbed us of our rights. Bloomberg, the self-proclaimed number one defender of free speech (pause for gagging) has said in no uncertain terms: "yes, you have the right...the right to remain silent. So just shut up and obey". This is only the beginning, Mayor.0001%. It will be your legacy- of repression. But you will not succeed. These mayors,, governors, city councils, police chiefs, and street cops of America need to realize that it is NOT UP TO THEM whether or not Americans peaceably gather, protest, discuss, or demonstrate. It's up to a document called the US CONSTITUTION. You can beat us and arrest us and tear-gas us, you can try to "permit" us to death....but you can't kill an idea. You can't keep down a people’s hopes and dreams for a better life....for us, and for our kids. America USED to work. The people had work. The system worke (sort of). Hey, EVEN the Congress used to work (sometimes). God knows, it was far, far, far from perfect -but at least we all had some share in the struggles AND the rewards. But somewhere along the way, we lost our way. Because now we have an economy and a political system that seems to work only for the rich. With OWS America has found it’s voice, and that voice demands fairness and justice - for ALL. This land IS our land! AND WE WANT IT BACK! We want our LIVES back! We want our FUTURE back! But it’s much more than just words.... it’s much more than politics..... it’s your freakin’ LIFE, and how you want to live it, and how you WILL live it. Find a quiet place somewhere, and consider this: Each of us has only one brief life....one chance....one roll of the dice....and many choices. The time has come to choose....to risk...and to act. If not now...then when? If not you, then....who? You DO have the power my friend....and the choice IS yours. Don’t let your dreams die....

Can we get a link to the BBC interview with Mayor Quan where she talks about conference call with leaders of 18 #occupy cities?