Commuters Fed Up With Occupy Philly
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - It's day 40 of the Occupy Philadelphia encampment, and Mayor Michael Nutter's patience with the protesters appears to be wearing thin. In a press conference Sunday, Nutter said conditions at the camp have been deteriorating and it's becoming a health concern (see related story).
"Despite of the presence of Port-O-Pottys, the problem with public urination and defecation remains a significant health threat," Mayor Nutter said.
And the mayor isn't alone. Commuters, who have to walk past the tents every day, say they're tired of the camp. Some say they're concerned about safety, others say they don't like the smell.
Others say, "I don't want to walk through there; it's nasty looking."
Some city residents feel they're paying the price for this protest.
"I feel like they're coming from somewhere else for a cause and we're just pretty much walking around them."
One woman told KYW Newsradio she changed her route to avoid some less-than-desirable leftovers from the Occupy movement. "I used to have to enter that way and you can see the urine in the cups."
Reporter: "And that's different than it usually is?"
Woman: "Yes."
"Yeah, when I was walking up the stairs, it smelled like straight urine," another woman said.
Commuters say they're definitely noticing a decline in conditions at the camp. "I walk through here every day and I can tell you every day it gets worse. Smells bad, looks bad."
Some people even say they feel less safe walking through the Occupy area, now, than when the encampment first set up.
But, while some think the encampment should be moved out of sanitation concerns, others say it doesn't bother them.
"Yeah, but the whole subway smells, so what's the difference? They gotta do what they gotta do, and I'm gonna do what I gotta do."
Reported by Jim Melwert, KYW Newsradio 1060
