Monday, November 28, 2011

De-Occupy Philly Deadline Comes, Goes

Turns out when Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter set a deadline for evicting squatters from Dilworth Plaza he didn't actually mean it.

According to Philly.com:
Police had no plans to evict anyone, Chief Inspector Joseph Sullivan said about 6:30 p.m. (last night.)

"We look forward to working with Occupy Philadelphia and a resolution of the problem. Confrontation is never good. Anyone who is being fair would have to say that there is a big difference between the police reaction to Occupy Philadelphia than in other cities," he said.

"I definitely, definitely want to really stress that the vast majority of people participating in this movement have been cooperative, nonviolent, and very respectful," he said.
It's certainly been good for police officers interested in collecting overtime.

As for the mayor, it will be hard to know the next time he declares something whether he means it. In the meantime, the $50 million renovation project of the site remains on hold until... well, apparently until it gets a little colder out and the squatters decide to leave on their own.

UPDATE: I met this guy, Michael Pierce (pictured in the Inky) Saturday. He was manning the information booth. Nice guy. Very friendly. He said he was from Mt. Holly, N.J. He didn't mention he was a Philosophy professor. But he did say he was the Pastor of the East Baptist Church in Fishtown.

He told me he wasn't sure what was going to happen Sunday but said he was interested in a solution that would allow the renovation of the plaza to get started while still "maintaining an effective occupation." He said the occupation has been a success in creating an "Internet Revolution" and "driving people to that conversation." To get people to "change their habits" to "grow your own food" and create more "sustainable lifestyles... not based on buying crap all the time."

Maybe Mayor Nutter can offer the occupiers some unused land in the city to farm so that they can grow their own food. But something about their lifestyles doesn't strike me as very sustainable without the help of people who buy crap all the time.

UPDATE: According to the Philly.com Pierce is a professor of Philosophy at Burlington County College. However, a perusal of BCC's online staff directory showed no Michael Pierce listed.

From the website of the BCC Philosophy Department:
The philosophy department has two full-time faculty and several adjunct instructors. The full-time professors are Francis (Rusty) Conroy and Anne Miller.

Dr. Conroy holds a BA in philosophy from Haverford College, an MA in philosophy from Yale University, and a PhD in philosophy and sociology (with an emphasis on East Asia) from the Union Institute. He has been a post-doctoral fellow at Princeton University and at the East-West Center (Honolulu). He also teaches in the sociology department. Dr. Conroy’s special interests are Eastern philosophy and religion, existentialism, Marxism, philosophy in literature, and ecological thought.

Prof. Miller holds a BA in philosophy from Rosemont College and an MA in philosophy from Boston University. Her special interests are ethics, philosophy of the person, history of Western philosophy, philosophy of religion, and literature. She has also taught English and literature.
UDATE II: Philly.com has demoted Pierce from professor to "instructor" here.

5 Comments:

Blogger steve mcdonald said...

"create more 'sustainable lifestyles... not based on buying crap all the time.' "

I don't think I can give credit for that to Occupy WS or Occupy Philly. I think it's better to attribute it to the economy being in a large slump over the last several years, resulting in individuals and families tightening their belts several times over.

November 28, 2011 at 8:57 AM 
Blogger Dannytheman said...

"It's certainly been good for police officers interesting in collecting overtime. "

As opposed to the Philadelphia Eagles overtime, or the Stadium concert overtime?

What have they done to deserve this nanny oversite? The rape that occurred was brought to the police attention immediately, via cell phone. Imagine that, they called the police when they needed them, how unique. Philly has been very peaceful, as opposed to other city's. They should be recognized for that!

November 28, 2011 at 10:05 AM 
Blogger Bob Bohne said...

Danny PLEASE! Don't mention the Eagles.

November 28, 2011 at 3:50 PM 
Blogger Michael said...

You dude - this is Rev. Michael Pierce - check your sources...I am a prof. at BCC and am teaching two classes this semester and 3 next...care to sit in one of my classes? Love to have you! Have a great holiday!
:) m

December 11, 2011 at 2:02 PM 
Blogger Spencerblog said...

Michael,
Finally found you in the directory under "adjuncts," (i.e. part-timers) What courses do you teach?

December 11, 2011 at 9:32 PM 

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