With its central location in New York’s Financial District, its dense tree canopy and abundance of seating and wide-open spaces, Zuccotti Park provided the perfect frontline for the Occupy Wall Street movement.

The new book Beyond Zuccotti Park asks a myriad of noted designers about the use, role and importance of public space in democracy. Join us for a discussion with Michael Pyatok, designer of the Oakland Civic Center and the recipient of the 2013 AIA Thomas Jefferson Award for Public Architecture,about improving the design, use and access of public space.

also today: 6pm @ annie alley (annie/mission st near new montgomery), san francisco. free to the public.

“What was it about Zuccotti Park, and other public spaces around the world, that helps explain its success? And how can we preserve and strengthen such spaces as places of protest? This book, like Zuccotti itself, is a site of vigorous conversation, hard thinking, and bold proposals on such issues.”
—Mike Wallace, coauthor of Pulitzer Prize-winning Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898

“Beyond Zuccotti Park is an insightful and relevant book that challenges us to think differently about the role of public space for civic engagement. If you believe in the First Amendment’s right to freedom of assembly, then this is the book to read.”
—Mitchell Silver, AICP, President, American Planning Association

#respectourcity #oaklandish

like 25 “protesters” marching around downtown oakland right now, chanting ows stuff like “banks have got to go”, while breaking more shop and car windows.

NOT COOL.

ruined my night.

(do you see why my mom would pay $$ each month to park her car that she barely uses anymore in a secure parking garage?? ughhhhh thank you “protestors”/rioters/violent drunkards for perpetuating the reality that oakland is kinda dangerous)

i didn’t even want to take a picture of them from my window, that’s how embarrassing these people are to me.

a block away on Broadway.

good to be back home.

**I think it’s occupyoakland’s protest against foreclosures by Chase Bank..

yesterday afternoon after sunday streets berkeley, bf and i go to the pizza place nearby to redeem an extra voucher for a slice a pizza that another volunteer gave to us. 

but it’s only one slice—won’t be enough for both of us—so we plan to give it to some homeless person (not difficult to find in downtown berkeley) and then go to a restaurant for a more filling dinner.

I’m sitting at a table outside keeping an eye on our bikes leaned against a bike rack, unlocked. waiting for bf to order the pizza. a kid (well, teenager/in early 20s) comes up to me and asks if I have a dollar and ten cents to spare so he can buy a burger from mcdonalds across the street.

I tell him No, (well I did have the money, but it was my last dollar in cash in my wallet. and i follow the rule to never give money to homeless people, but actual food instead in case they use the money for drugs), but if you wait a bit, i can give you a slice of pizza. bf’s inside ordering it right now.

Cool, awesome, thank you so much. He sits on the ground/sidewalk right by the table, even though there’s an empty chair across from me. He has a hand on the ground, in a leaning position. People are walking carefully around him.

He looks pretty young, probably around my age. Face dirty—a bit sunburnt, oily and unwashed. Short/med black hair. Black north face jacket, blue jeans, black Nikes that still look pretty decent, except covered in dust/dirt. maybe a pair of Nike Frees.

After I very briefly tell him about myself (never one to talk about myself), I ask about himself. “Occupy Oakland ruined my life.” How so?

Read More

The Occupy movement has decided to fight fire with fire.

Last week, John Paul Thornton of Decatur, Ala. filed to create a PAC for the Occupy Movement..

atl.cbs, 16.02.12.