November 14th - November 18th, 2011

Occupy Wall Street Encampment Cleared

November 15 – The New York City Police Department ended the occupation of the two-month-old Occupy Wall Street protest in Zuccotti Park early Tuesday morning, as hundreds of officers cleared out protesters and their tents, reported the Wall Street Journal. The NYPD made its move shortly after 1 a.m., when officers in riot gear surrounded the camp and turned on large batteries of lights. Some used bullhorns to warn those sleeping there that the area was being temporarily evacuated so it could be cleaned and cleared of illegal structures. Within an hour of the start of the raid, most of the structures that had were dismantled by Department of Sanitation workers in green uniforms. There were at least 70 protesters arrested who refused to leave the camp.

1 WTC Pedestal Redesign Announced

November 15 – A new glass base design has been announced to be installed at 1 World Trade Center. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey made the announcement after resolving the technical problems forced the redesign of the previous scheme earlier this year, reported Crain’s New York.

The Port Authority’s board authorized $37.2 million for the project with Permasteelisa North American Corp. They will engineer, fabricate and install the new façade, which will consist of stainless steel slat panels, covered with glass fins. The fins will reflect light during the day, giving the 20 floor base a distinctive look.

Installation of the base glass will begin in 2013 and is scheduled to be complete by the end of that year.

New York Lawmakers Direct Funding for Parkland

November 18—The Associated Press reports funding has been secured for a Manhattan parkland project. Sen. Charles Schumer and state Sen. Daniel Squadron say the project will use part of remaining federal dollars from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. The funds will be used towards the completion of the East River Waterfront Park, and the development of public space at Pier 42.

Lower Manhattan Quiet After Occupy Wall Street ‘Day Of Action’

November 18 – Lower Manhattan is quiet this morning following Thursday’s “Day of Action” by Occupy Wall Street. The protest brought thousands of vocal but a mostly peaceful gathering to march down Wall Street to mark the two-month anniversary of the movement. However there were moments of violent clashes with police and approximately 300 people were arrested throughout the day, reported CBS New York.

Protesters had made attempts to block the opening of the New York Stock Exchange and to temporarily close the Brooklyn Bridge.  Scuffles between protesters and police in Zuccotti Park and elsewhere in Lower Manhattan left seven police officers injured. One officer needed at least 20 stitches in his hand after blocking a glass object hurled at him.