City issues 30-day permit to protesters

The Colorado Springs planning office issued an unprecedented permit Friday that allows Occupy Wall Street protesters to keep their pop-up tents, tables and chairs in a portion of Acacia Park for 30 days, provided they comply with a number of conditions that touch on public health, safety and accessibility issues.

The $100 permit, which was covered by donations to the protesters, also allows them to set up two more 10-by-10-foot pop-up tents and a porta-potty.

“I’m ecstatic today,” said Jason Warf, one of the protest organizers. “We got everything we asked for.”

City planners and police will assess whether the protest is affecting the park, the people who frequent it and the surrounding businesses and enterprises. The permit can be revoked with a 14-day notice if city officials believe it’s necessary to protect the public health, safety and convenience of park users, or if the protesters violate any laws.

“The location is immediately next to a favorite gathering spot for children and families as well as being adjacent to a high school,” the city said in a press release. “The City thinks it is important to assess whether the protesters are having a negative impact on children and families in the community.”

But city spokesman Mary Scott said that someone made to feel uncomfortable by the protesters’ presence is not enough cause to revoke the permit. There has to be a violation of a city ordinance, such a littering or public urination,  she said.

Warf said the protesters are law-abiding, so there shouldn’t be any cause for revocation. Several surrounding businesses have welcomed the protesters and allowed them to use the restrooms, he said, and once the porta-potty is in place, the group will have 24/7 access to it.

Scott said the protesters are still not allowed to camp at the park, but Warf said they’re allowed to sleep in the pop-up tents without violating the city’s no-camping ordinance.

Warf said protesters are likely to try to get the permit renewed for a year, but they’re waiting to get more information from city planners before putting in a request.

The Colorado Springs Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Team helped the protesters get the permit after there were threats that they'd be arrested if they violated the city’s no camping ordinance or entered the park after hours.

‘I have to give kudos to HOT,” Warf said. “The city sent them as the middleman, and they went to bat for us to get the permit.”

Scott said it’s the first time a permit has been issued for such an activity for such a long time. Most events at Acacia Park last a day or two, and long-term permits have only been issued for permanent structures, such as restaurant awnings.

Read about the easygoing relations between city police and the protesters.

Contact Barbara Cotter: 636-0194
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